The Boleyn Curse is a dual-timeline historical fiction/modern time novel by Alexandra Walsh set in the court of King Henry VIII and present-day Hampshire.
Title: The Boleyn Curse
Author: Alexandra Walsh
First Published: March 15, 2026
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Genres: historical fiction
Acquired: from the publisher
*** Thank you to the publisher, Boldwood Books, for providing me with an advanced ebook via Netgalley for review purposes. ***
Elizabeth Boleyn, loyal wife to Thomas Boleyn and devoted mother to Anne, Mary and George, believes she can navigate the shifting tides of court life. But when she catches the eye of the lascivious king, Elizabeth is drawn into a perilous game and the cost of her defiance will echo through the generations.
In present day Hampshire, Tabitha Mundy has found a haven in Cerensthorpe Abbey. Since the death of her husband, her work as archivist for the abbey’s owner, Edith Swanne, has been her refuge. When her research uncovers hidden clues rumoured to lead to a lost manuscript of The Canterbury Tales and a connection to the Boleyn family, Edith is eager to investigate. With the help of Gulliver, Edith’s enigmatic nephew, Tabitha begins to decipher the riddles and before long a mystical thread binds Elizabeth and Tabitha across the ages – two women destined to protect the truth.
As Henry’s vengeance consumes Elizabeth, she sets his treachery down in writing, determined her voice will not be silenced. But another man’s secrets mean that Elizabeth’s tale has been hidden. Can Tabitha finally unlock the mysteries of the past or will the Boleyn curse haunt Cerensthorpe Abbey forever.
A brilliant dual-timeline book
While I don’t read as much Tudor historical fiction as I used to, I never pass on a chance to read anything by Alexandra Walsh. Her dual-timeline stories are always brilliant, featuring two fully-fleshed-out stories that could easily stand on their own, and a cast of strong, resourceful, smart women.
The Boleyn Curse is no exception.
In the historical plot, the story of Elizabeth Boleyn comes to life in a rich, beautifully detailed drama set in Henry VIII’s court. I loved being transported to the past & immersing myself in the Tudor era. You can tell the author really did her research and knows this period well. I really enjoyed reading this fictional account of Elizabeth Boleyn, a character that has always just existed as a minor supporting in most of the Tudor historical fiction stories I’ve read.
The modern story was just as captivating and I found myself rooting for Tabitha as she navigated a painful past & a clue-based treasure hunt. Tabitha is a strong, smart main character and I enjoyed getting to know her. Tabitha’s past gives her a haunting, tragic background but it was good to see her start to come out of that and embrace a new future.
There were some memorable characters, both good and bad and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough as the plots started to intertwine and I raced toward the conclusion of the book.
Two books in one
As with most of Alexandra Walsh’s books, if you separated the two plots (historical and modern) you would have two brilliant stories on their own. Each separate plot has its own set of characters and detailed setting. But, it’s how they combine together that makes these books special.
Walsh has a book series, The Marquess House Saga (there are a few short crossover references in The Boleyn Curse to characters from Marquee House) and I wonder if we’ll see Tabitha and Gulliver in future adventures (I do love a literary-based treasure hunt!)
Even if this is a standalone novel, it was truly enjoyable to read and I highly recommend The Boleyn Curse (and any of Walsh’s other books)
