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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
They said "Agatha Christie meets Jane Austen" and they delivered! I'd describe this book as an excellent whodunnit novel set during the Regency era, complimented with some gothic undertones. If you're looking for a very cozy historical mystery with a little bit of a romantic sidenote, there you go.
emotional
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
There are some books that are able to pull off period fiction from language to behaviour and everything. There are some who try to pull it off, but are unable to because the way it is written sounds too clunky, too forced. I'm sorry to say that this was one. It wasn't a chill-down-your-spine type of read. The mystery part was quite enjoyable and some parts kept me guessing. But it was kind of hard for me to read. It could be the author's writing style, it could be something else.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The beginning was a little slow, but definitely necessary to build the characters and scene. Gradually as you get to know these characters more and more you wonder what is going to happen and how each will be involved. I kept thinking I need to remember some of the details knowing it was a mystery book. Each character is so unique and well thought out.
Once things happened I was suspicious of everyone. Each had enough I didn’t know about them or had said odd things since the beginning. I held on wanting to know more and to figure out what in the world was going on.
This is definitely a mystery book and written as such. Lots of details, suspicious activity, and questioning.
Rating is a mix of how well it was done as a mystery and my personal liking. I don’t think I’ll read it again, but as a mystery it was well done.
I received a gifted copy from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own.
Once things happened I was suspicious of everyone. Each had enough I didn’t know about them or had said odd things since the beginning. I held on wanting to know more and to figure out what in the world was going on.
This is definitely a mystery book and written as such. Lots of details, suspicious activity, and questioning.
Rating is a mix of how well it was done as a mystery and my personal liking. I don’t think I’ll read it again, but as a mystery it was well done.
I received a gifted copy from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
I absolutely loved this book! It was so atmospheric. I felt like I was there with Rebecca exploring a spooky abbey. I’m finding I really like books set in large, slightly creepy buildings and this one had such a neat one. When there are mysterious cloaked figures about, that’s even more intriguing. It had all the Jane Eyre, Gothic vibes which I loved!😍 The descriptions were perfect. I loved the writing. It kept me engaged the whole time.
Rebecca and Frederick were wonderful characters! I loved them both. I felt so much sympathy for both of them, especially Frederick. The love story was so, so sweet! I love friends-to-more/ unrequited love and this one was so sweet.❤️
I couldn’t put it down. The mystery was so intriguing. I had absolutely no idea who-did-what and it was so fun to try to figure it out! I was suspicious of pretty much everyone. There were plenty of plot twists that had me second-guessing myself. In the end, I was completely surprised.
The faith was subtle but still beautifully there. It touched me and even teared me up at the end.
In conclusion, the setting was atmospheric, the characters were wonderful, the mystery intriguing, the love story sweet… I loved it!
If you love Jane Austen, Charlotte Brontë, and Agatha Christie, I think you’ll love this book!
“Don’t lose heart, brave Miss Rebecca.”
“Don’t lose heart, brave Miss Rebecca.”
Too late, she thought. She had already lost her heart to him all over again.
“He smelled of spices and safety, childhood memories and unrequited love.”
*Thank you to the publisher for a copy in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
2023 reread-
I was in the mood for a cozy historical mystery to read during these fall evenings so I decided to reread this one. I thoroughly enjoyed it! It’s so atmospheric and mysterious. The suspense is perfect. It was a wonderful fall read.🥰
I was in the mood for a cozy historical mystery to read during these fall evenings so I decided to reread this one. I thoroughly enjoyed it! It’s so atmospheric and mysterious. The suspense is perfect. It was a wonderful fall read.🥰
Content Warnings
Minor: Mental illness, Violence, Murder
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Julie Klassen crafts another compelling historical romance/mystery with Shadows of Swanford Abbey. I was instantly drawn in with the Gothic vibes and imagery, with the story being set in and around a purportedly haunted abbey. Klassen has a great sense of place that comes through in her writing, and that was absolutely one of the highlights of this one.
I really liked Rebecca, especially her relationship with her brother, who deals with mental health issues. I could understand her motivations, even if it did look suspicious to others. As someone who struggles with and has family who struggle with mental health issues to varying degrees, I appreciated this depiction of a mentally ill person and their family, without the sensationalism, in spite of it being common in the Gothic novels that Klassen is paying homage to.
While he didn’t wow me like some previous Klassen heroes (Henry Weston FTW), I did warm up to Sir Frederick, and I had a consistent appreciation for him trying to do his best in unprecedented circumstances. He’s leading the investigation into the murder, but he also has a past romance with Rebecca, so it’s kinda…complicated…as he tries to unravel what’s going on. But I really liked seeing them getting reacquainted, and my feelings toward him grew along with Rebecca’s.
The mystery was engaging, and it kept me guessing. With the victim not being the most pleasant person, it wasn’t shocking to find that he wasn’t well-liked, so there were plenty of possibilities, enough to keep me guessing and be left pleasantly surprised by the outcome.
Pacing wise, it did feel a bit slower, with it taking its time to establish the environs and characters before things really kicked off. But Klassen makes this worth your while, and I was consistently engaged for the most part in this well-crafted story.
Julie Klassen has written another engaging, immersive story, evoking Jane Austen and Agatha Christie vibes to perfection. If you like historical romance/mystery, I recommend trying this one.