Agatha Christie Meets Jane Austen

in this Atmospheric Regency Tale

  • Rating: ☆☆☆☆
  • Genre:  Mystery
  • Length: 416 pages
  • Publisher:  Bethany House
  • Release Date: December 2021

Publisher’s Synopsis

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

There was much to love about this story. The beautiful writing intertwined the setting and the characters into a seamless story. And all three things, setting, characters, and the plot kept me turning the pages.

The relationship between Rebecca who was a traveling companion to Lady Fitzhoward intrigued me immediately, and I loved it. One minute Lady Fitzhoward was a take-charge, almost gruff, employer. The next, I would feel an underlying love and concern for her young companion.

For me, the character development and writing stood above the story, though it was very good as well. I never had to push myself to continue reading, since the story was quite enjoyable.

My Concerns

My main concern was the length of the book. At times it felt too drawn out and I wanted the story to progress a little more quickly.

Final Thoughts

It was extremely easy for me to imagine the setting and the characters. The story caught my interest and held it, though I do wish it would have moved a little quicker in some places.

Though the main characters are quite likable, they do have flaws that make them even more believable.

This is an author to watch and a book to read. While I am a fan of Christian Fiction, I’m not a fan of Christianity overtaking the story. If you are like me, you will like this book. The notion of faith is softly woven in and not intrusive.

My thanks to Bethany House for a copy of this book and the ability to review it without stipulations regarding ratings.

Rating: 4 Stars

Rating: 4 out of 5.
© Farrow Media

About the Author

Julie Klassen (www.julieklassen.com) loves all things Jane–Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. Her books have sold over a million copies, and she is a three-time recipient of the Christy Award for Historical Romance. The Secret of Pembrooke Park was honored with the Minnesota Book Award for Genre Fiction. Julie has also won the Midwest Book Award and Christian Retailing’s BEST Award and has been a finalist in the RITA and Carol Awards. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. She and her husband have two sons and live in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota. For more information, visit www.julieklassen.com.

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