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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a great one, but I didn't LOVE it. The mystery was good and the story played out well. But not my favorite by Julie Klassen. :) But still worthy of 4 stars! :)
So, to be perfectly honest, this was very good but just not Julie Klassen at her finest. The first half to three quarters of the book was stellar! The last bit kind of just seemed like such an awkward way to close out the book. It seemed rather thrown together and unnecessary. I honestly would've enjoyed the book better if that part had just been left out.
I definitely enjoyed the Regency era mystery! I absolutely love old mysteries, so that part was awesome! I also really liked the characters. Especially the complexity of the mixed social statuses.
All in all, it was very good but just not quite as good as what I know the author is capable of.
I definitely enjoyed the Regency era mystery! I absolutely love old mysteries, so that part was awesome! I also really liked the characters. Especially the complexity of the mixed social statuses.
All in all, it was very good but just not quite as good as what I know the author is capable of.
Wonderful! Loved the Jane Austen vibes, the unconventional protagonist, and the mystery. Halfway through I was thinking "This is definitely a 5-star book!" But I have to admit that it was kind of an awkward ending as if the author wasn't quite sure how to end the story. Past that, it was all just plain amazing!
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
It had been a hot minute since I read my last Julie Klassen book when I decided to pick up "Shadows of Swanford Abbey." I'm glad I did! It is a fun mystery.
Julie Klassen has woven mystery into her books before, but this time the mystery took center stage. I think she makes a good mystery writer!
One of the things I liked the most about this book was its gothic setting. The abandoned Abbey turned hotel had a spooky atmosphere that was tangible. I would love to visit a place like it (During the day time that is lol).
I also liked the characters. Rebecca is a sympathetic heroine. Her devotion to her family and friends is admirable. She also is a pretty good investigator!
I also felt for Fredrick, the male protagonist. Though he can be a bit jaded, he was a great co-investigator with Rebecca.
I also did like the romance. Rebecca and Fredrick have a cheesy, albeit cute romance. They aren't my favorite of Julie Klassen couple, but they are nice and definitely have chemistry together.
As for the actual mystery itself, it was well done. I did figure out a couple of things, but I didn't really figure them out until over the half way mark.
I hope that Julie Klassen will write more mystery novels in the future!
It had been a hot minute since I read my last Julie Klassen book when I decided to pick up "Shadows of Swanford Abbey." I'm glad I did! It is a fun mystery.
Julie Klassen has woven mystery into her books before, but this time the mystery took center stage. I think she makes a good mystery writer!
One of the things I liked the most about this book was its gothic setting. The abandoned Abbey turned hotel had a spooky atmosphere that was tangible. I would love to visit a place like it (During the day time that is lol).
I also liked the characters. Rebecca is a sympathetic heroine. Her devotion to her family and friends is admirable. She also is a pretty good investigator!
I also felt for Fredrick, the male protagonist. Though he can be a bit jaded, he was a great co-investigator with Rebecca.
I also did like the romance. Rebecca and Fredrick have a cheesy, albeit cute romance. They aren't my favorite of Julie Klassen couple, but they are nice and definitely have chemistry together.
As for the actual mystery itself, it was well done. I did figure out a couple of things, but I didn't really figure them out until over the half way mark.
I hope that Julie Klassen will write more mystery novels in the future!
Approaching the age of spinsterhood and relegated to reduced circumstances, Rebecca Lane serves as companion to an eccentric old lady. When her moody brother John needs assistance, she travels home to assure her mind that all is well. Irritably, John demands that she help him get his new novel published by putting it in front of a famous author who is staying at the nearby inn, Swanford Abbey. Reluctantly, Rebecca removes to the haunted abbey to make her brother’s appeal, only to discover that her childhood sweetheart, Sir Frederick, is also staying there with his brother.
When murder is done amidst the ghostly corridors of the abbey, Rebecca struggles to know what to share and what to conceal. Appearances are not always what they seem, and Frederick (as local magistrate) must decide whether to put his faith in the ostensible clues or in what he knows of Miss Lane’s character.
Klassen’s novels are always shot through with strands of mystery, but this is the first one that I remember being a straight-up murder mystery. Although this story was set in the 1820s, the general milieu of the book felt later, almost Victorian or Edwardian. The atmospheric Swanford Abbey with its ghostly legends is almost as important as the characters in the story.
Sir Frederick was a solid hero, with a good mix of principles, propriety, and affection. Rebecca held an unenviable position, caught between her duty to her irascible brother, her attempts to conciliate her employer, and her latent affections for Sir Frederick. The romance between them was simple and authentic, without any of the hyperbolic passion often found in historical romances. In the end, a commitment to truth proves the most important for all involved as deeds done in the darkness are brought into the light.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
When murder is done amidst the ghostly corridors of the abbey, Rebecca struggles to know what to share and what to conceal. Appearances are not always what they seem, and Frederick (as local magistrate) must decide whether to put his faith in the ostensible clues or in what he knows of Miss Lane’s character.
Klassen’s novels are always shot through with strands of mystery, but this is the first one that I remember being a straight-up murder mystery. Although this story was set in the 1820s, the general milieu of the book felt later, almost Victorian or Edwardian. The atmospheric Swanford Abbey with its ghostly legends is almost as important as the characters in the story.
Sir Frederick was a solid hero, with a good mix of principles, propriety, and affection. Rebecca held an unenviable position, caught between her duty to her irascible brother, her attempts to conciliate her employer, and her latent affections for Sir Frederick. The romance between them was simple and authentic, without any of the hyperbolic passion often found in historical romances. In the end, a commitment to truth proves the most important for all involved as deeds done in the darkness are brought into the light.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
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
Julie Klassen has done it again. As the book description says, this is an ode to both Jane Austen and Agatha Christie, and it is a work of art. The characters are well developed, and the mystery is full of twists and intrigue. The setting in an old abbey turned hotel makes this novel even more fascinating. The cast of characters is superb. The hotel guests add even more suspense and intrigue. As you are navigating this historical romantic mystery, you might even see a ghost. Mystery, history, and romance are all woven together masterfully. Fans of all of these genres will love this compelling read. Fans of Julie Klassen will not be surprised that she’s produced another winner.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.
Jane Austen meets Agatha Christie? Sign me up! I was sold on the premise, and it didn’t disappoint.
While I don’t usually read Regency fiction beyond Jane Austen, I enjoyed Klassen’s take. A mysterious abbey, old ghost stories, a mix of lovable and hatable characters…perfection.
I can’t say I was overly surprised by the mystery aspect. Like Christie, there was a large cast of suspects to choose from, but the narrowing down process wasn’t earthshaking. Fascinating but not wholly unexpected.
The romance was sweet, not too much. Present but not in your face.
On the whole, probably one of my favourite books by Klassen!
While I don’t usually read Regency fiction beyond Jane Austen, I enjoyed Klassen’s take. A mysterious abbey, old ghost stories, a mix of lovable and hatable characters…perfection.
I can’t say I was overly surprised by the mystery aspect. Like Christie, there was a large cast of suspects to choose from, but the narrowing down process wasn’t earthshaking. Fascinating but not wholly unexpected.
The romance was sweet, not too much. Present but not in your face.
On the whole, probably one of my favourite books by Klassen!
This was a fun little romp! I loved the nods to Austen (super cute that Becky reads her novels) and I thought the mystery was fun without being too obvious. I appreciated the treatment of mental illness in this novel, as well as the character building. Overall, it was a cozy regency read, and I enjoyed my time with it!
SPOILERS AHEAD!
Where this novel fell a bit flat for me totally falls on my personal tastes. The romance was cute... until they repeatedly brought up the age gap, Listen, I understand that that was common in the Regency era, one of my favorite books is Emma, but Austen was living in the time when that was normal, and... I don't know, we're writing fiction, can't we just make it less creepy with the constant reminiscing about a child? The relationship wouldn't have suffered AT ALL from them being the same age, and like, if you're going to be upset because that makes it "historically inaccurate" I don't know what to tell you other than you're weird.
I also think that it got a bit heavy-handed at the end with the Christianity influence. At first, it makes sense, the main character is a vicar's daughter, and the amount of reflection on religion makes sense, but near the end, it just got VERY blatantly religious out of nowhere, and felt very disconnected from the rest of the novel. I just didn't like it and felt that the ending would have been better without it. But! That's just my personal opinion.
Again, I overall enjoyed the book, these points of conflict just kept it from five stars. :)
SPOILERS AHEAD!
Where this novel fell a bit flat for me totally falls on my personal tastes. The romance was cute... until they repeatedly brought up the age gap, Listen, I understand that that was common in the Regency era, one of my favorite books is Emma, but Austen was living in the time when that was normal, and... I don't know, we're writing fiction, can't we just make it less creepy with the constant reminiscing about a child? The relationship wouldn't have suffered AT ALL from them being the same age, and like, if you're going to be upset because that makes it "historically inaccurate" I don't know what to tell you other than you're weird.
I also think that it got a bit heavy-handed at the end with the Christianity influence. At first, it makes sense, the main character is a vicar's daughter, and the amount of reflection on religion makes sense, but near the end, it just got VERY blatantly religious out of nowhere, and felt very disconnected from the rest of the novel. I just didn't like it and felt that the ending would have been better without it. But! That's just my personal opinion.
Again, I overall enjoyed the book, these points of conflict just kept it from five stars. :)