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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Hooked me with description of "Agatha Christie meets Jane Austen."
For those of us who love both of these authors, this was a fantastic read!
For those of us who love both of these authors, this was a fantastic read!
An accurate description of the book is given on the cover… ”Agatha Christie meets Jane Austen in this atmospheric regency tale brimming with mystery, intrigue, and romance.”
I finished it.
The comparisons on the cover liken this work to Agatha Christie and Jane Austen; neither of which are fair. It's the same period as Jane Austen but lacks the wit of Austen herself as well as distinct characters. It's got a murder mystery, but it's not as well plotted as Christie's. Nor is it so deplorable that the very comparisons of the work is a sin against literature. It's an okay period piece and an okay murder mystery.
Didn't love it as much as I hoped I would but it was too good to give a one star and not good enough for a 3.
The comparisons on the cover liken this work to Agatha Christie and Jane Austen; neither of which are fair. It's the same period as Jane Austen but lacks the wit of Austen herself as well as distinct characters. It's got a murder mystery, but it's not as well plotted as Christie's. Nor is it so deplorable that the very comparisons of the work is a sin against literature. It's an okay period piece and an okay murder mystery.
Didn't love it as much as I hoped I would but it was too good to give a one star and not good enough for a 3.
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Alcohol
Minor: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy
I enjoy reading Julie Klassen. However, after reading other reviews on various works of hers, I do agree she reuses quite a bit of her own material. As I read this one, I thought of Rachel & Sir Timothy, snobbish Margaret and Nate, two brothers one dark and one fairer, . . . etc. This book felt a bit long and drawn out, and then a rushed ending. I would have liked to have an included epilogue; the ending of this novel felt too similar to Hallmark, where we don't get a peek into our characters' future.
Shadows of Swanford Abbey is a lovely and atmospheric whodunit set in a gorgeous location with a sweet romance thrown in for flavor.
There's been a murder most foul at Swanford Abbey. So many suspects! Such a dastardly victim! (We think he's a bit of a lout for most of the book, but what we think we know pales in comparison to the truth we actually discover in the end. To say he had it coming pretty much sums it up, IMO) Ms Klassen drew upon many inspirations when she wrote Shadows according to her author's note, and it shows--there's just as many Jane Austen touches here as there are Agatha Christie--and the novel comes out a cohesive whole in the end, all of the different elements blending together nicely.
The setting of a hotel allows for a lively assortment of characters, and I especially loved all of the family relationships Ms Klassen wove into her tale. The bonds between siblings are significant--and complicated!--here for many of her characters, as they are in real life as well, heartbreaking and hopeful in equal measure.
And the delicious slow burn romance between Rebecca and Frederick...happy sigh <3
This was my first book from [a:Julie Klassen|928415|Julie Klassen|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1438099690p2/928415.jpg], but it definitely won't be my last!
Rating: 4 stars / A-
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
There's been a murder most foul at Swanford Abbey. So many suspects! Such a dastardly victim! (We think he's a bit of a lout for most of the book, but what we think we know pales in comparison to the truth we actually discover in the end. To say he had it coming pretty much sums it up, IMO) Ms Klassen drew upon many inspirations when she wrote Shadows according to her author's note, and it shows--there's just as many Jane Austen touches here as there are Agatha Christie--and the novel comes out a cohesive whole in the end, all of the different elements blending together nicely.
The setting of a hotel allows for a lively assortment of characters, and I especially loved all of the family relationships Ms Klassen wove into her tale. The bonds between siblings are significant--and complicated!--here for many of her characters, as they are in real life as well, heartbreaking and hopeful in equal measure.
And the delicious slow burn romance between Rebecca and Frederick...happy sigh <3
This was my first book from [a:Julie Klassen|928415|Julie Klassen|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1438099690p2/928415.jpg], but it definitely won't be my last!
Rating: 4 stars / A-
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Julie Klassen is sincerely one of those authors that I can read no matter what mood I am. And, I’m a definite “mood reader”. She was one of the first authors who writes Christian fiction, that I ever read. And, I was hooked–way back when she wrote The Apothecary’s Daughter and The Lady of Milkweed Manor.
I feel like she’s only gotten better.
Shadows of Swanford Abbey was such a wonderful read for me. It held all the wonder of a Julie Klassen book–amazing writing, amazing characters, and a book I couldn’t put down–and paired those things with some mystery and intrigue that kept me even more hooked into the story.
The suspense of this one added a whole new excitement for me–because I feel like now, there’s nothing that Julie Klassen can’t tackle!
There was just enough romance in this one to keep that part of me satiated, along with some great characters and an excellent ending.
I don’t think there’s a book of Klassen’s that I haven’t loved. And I don’t ever see that changing.
I feel like she’s only gotten better.
Shadows of Swanford Abbey was such a wonderful read for me. It held all the wonder of a Julie Klassen book–amazing writing, amazing characters, and a book I couldn’t put down–and paired those things with some mystery and intrigue that kept me even more hooked into the story.
The suspense of this one added a whole new excitement for me–because I feel like now, there’s nothing that Julie Klassen can’t tackle!
There was just enough romance in this one to keep that part of me satiated, along with some great characters and an excellent ending.
I don’t think there’s a book of Klassen’s that I haven’t loved. And I don’t ever see that changing.
As always this was another great read from Julie Klassen!