By Kelly Bridgewater
Agatha Christie meets Jane Austen in this atmospheric Regency tale
brimming with mystery, intrigue, and romance.
When Miss Rebecca
Lane returns to her home village after a few years away, her brother begs for a
favor: go to nearby Swanford Abbey and deliver his manuscript to an author
staying there who could help him get published. Feeling responsible for her
brother's desperate state, she reluctantly agrees.
The medieval monastery turned grand hotel is rumored to be
haunted. Once there, Rebecca begins noticing strange things, including a figure
in a hooded black gown gliding silently through the abbey's cloisters. For all
its renovations and veneer of luxury, the ancient foundations seem to echo with
whispers of the past--including her own. For there she encounters Sir
Frederick--magistrate, widower, and former neighbor--who long ago broke her
heart.
When the famous author is found murdered in the abbey, Sir
Frederick begins questioning staff and guests and quickly discovers that
several people held grudges against the man, including Miss Lane and her
brother. Haunted by a painful betrayal in his past, Sir Frederick searches for
answers but is torn between his growing feelings for Rebecca and his pursuit of
the truth. For Miss Lane is clearly hiding something. . . .
My
Thoughts:
Shadows of Swanford Abbey by Julie
Klassen delights readers with a Regency setting and a mystery of a murdered
body at an old abbey turned hotel. With a character filled story, Klassen dives
into a mystery that takes readers for a ride. As someone who reads a lot of
mysteries, it was nice to see a mystery take place in the Regency world. I
enjoyed the questioning of the characters. Reminded me a lot of how Agatha
Christie, renowned British mystery writer, crafted her mysteries. No modern day
forensics. Of course, when the villain was revealed, it was more from the
craftiness of the person working on the questioning than following the science
to find the bad guy. There is romance. It reminded me more of the romance
between Jo and Laurie in Louisa May Alcott's Little Women. Friends that should have turned into something more.
The writing is well-crafted. I love how Klassen captures the world, and readers
will forget that the story takes place almost 200 years ago. I love the setting
and the idea of the abbess who haunted the place. Overall, Shadows of Swanford Abbey by Julie Klassen was a delightful
historical Regency novel that kept me glued to the pages.
I received a complimentary copy of Shadows of Swanford Abbey by Julie
Klassen from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.
My
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Purchase Shadows of Swanford Abbey
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