Historical Novels Review, Issue 68 (May 2014) by The Historical Novel Society

A PUBLICATION OF THE HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY

HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW Issue 68, May 2014

John Knox misogynist or ladies’ man? the artist’s call, the writer’s calling art-centered hf the magic of frog music emma donoghue’s latest novel parting the veil of time an interview with claire mcdougall philip margolin a lesson for aspiring novelists the artist’s war robyn young’s kingdom

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE publisher’s message | historical fiction market news | red pencil | new voices

Historical Novels R eview

pub lis h er

Publisher Coverage: Amazon Publishing, Hachette Book Group, Hyperion, W.W. Norton

Richard Lee Marine Cottage, The Strand Starcross, Devon EX6 8NY United Kingdom <richard@historicalnovelsociety.org>

edit o r ial boa r d

Managing Editor: Bethany Latham Houston Cole Library, Jacksonville State University 700 Pelham Road North Jacksonville, AL 36265-1602 USA <blatham@jsu.edu> Book Review Editor: Sarah Johnson 6868 Knollcrest Drive Charleston, IL 61920 USA <sljohnson2@eiu.edu>

Publisher Coverage: Bethany House; HarperCollins; Penguin Putnam; Random House (all imprints); Severn House; university presses; and any North American presses not mentioned below

Features Coordinator:

Features Editor:

Lucinda Byatt 13 Park Road Edinburgh, EH6 4LE UK <mail@lucindabyatt.com>

Myfanwy Cook 47 Old Exeter Road Tavistock, Devon PL19 OJE UK <myfanwyc@btinternet.com>

review s edit o r s , u k

Publisher Coverage: Creme de la Crime; Duckworth; HarperCollins UK (inc. Flamingo, Fourth Estate, Voyager); Orion Group (inc. Cassell, Gollancz, Phoenix, Weidenfeld & Nicolson); Piatkus; Picnic Publishing; Quercus; and all small independent UK publishers not handled by other editors

Elizabeth Hawksley <mail@elizabethhawksley.com>

Publisher Coverage: All UK children’s historicals

Edward James 2 Hayman Close Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL53 9FD UK <busywords_ed@yahoo.com>

Publisher Coverage: Arcadia; Atlantic Books; Canongate; Hodder Headline (inc. Coronet, Hodder & Stoughton, NEL, Sceptre); John Murray; and Robert Hale

Doug Kemp Tulip Lodge, Harrowden Road Wellingborough, Northamptonshire NN8 5BD UK <doug.kemp@lineone.net>

Publisher Coverage: Allison & Busby; Little, Brown & Co (inc. Abacus, Virago, Warner); Random House UK (inc. Arrow, Cape, Century, Chatto & Windus, Harvill, Heinemann, Hutchinson, Pimlico, Secker & Warburg, Vintage), Simon & Schuster (inc. Scribner); and Transworld (inc. Bantam Press, Black Swan, Corgi, Doubleday)

Helen Hollick Chapples Farm Chittlehamholt, Umberleigh, Devon EX37 9PB UK <author@helenhollick.net>

Publisher Coverage: all self-published, subsidy, and electronically published novels.

review s edit o r s , u sa

Andrea Connell 10011 Beacon Pond Lane Burke, VA 22015 USA <connell1453@verizon.net>

Publisher Coverage: Henry Holt, Other Press, Overlook, Sourcebooks, Tyndale, and other US small presses

Jane Kessler University Library 119, University at Albany, SUNY 1400 Washington Avenue Albany, NY 12222 USA <jkessler@uamail.albany.edu>

Publisher Coverage: Algonquin; FSG; Five Star; IPG; Kensington; and Trafalgar Square

Ilysa Magnus 5430 Netherland Avenue #C41 Bronx, NY 10471 USA <goodlaw2@optonline.net>

Publisher Coverage: Grove/Atlantic; Minotaur Books; Picador USA; Poisoned Pen Press; Soho Press; St Martin’s Press; and Tor/Forge

Tamela McCann 5265 Village Terrace Nashville, TN 37211 USA <jjmmccann@aol.com>

Publisher Coverage: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Simon & Schuster, including children’s divisions of both

Ann Pedtke 58-69 43rd Avenue, Apt. 2A Woodside, NY 11377 USA <ann.pedtke@gmail.com>

Alan Fisk Flat 25, Lancaster Court, Lancaster Avenue London SE27 9HU UK <alan.fisk@alanfisk.com>

Jessica Brockmole 14413 Worthington Drive Granger, IN 46530 USA <jabrockmole@hotmail.com>

Publisher coverage: US/Canadian children’s publishers (except S&S, HMH)

confe re nce s

The Society organizes annual conferences in the UK and biennial conferences in the US. Contact Richard Lee (UK) or Ann Chamberlin <annchamberlin@annchamberlin.com> (USA).

m e m be rs h i p d e ta i l s

Membership in the Historical Novel Society entitles members to all the year’s publications: four issues of Historical Novels Review, as well as exclusive membership benefits through the Society website. Back issues of Society magazines are also available. For current rates, contact: Richard Lee Marine Cottage, The Strand Starcross, Devon EX6 8NY UK <richard@historicalnovelsociety.org>

e d i tori a l pol i cy

Georgine Olson 400 Dark Star Court Fairbanks, AK 99709 USA <georgine@mosquitonet.com>

Reviews, articles, and letters may be edited for reasons of space, clarity, and grammatical correctness. We will endeavour to reflect the authors’ intent as closely as possible, and will contact the authors for approval of any major change. We welcome ideas for articles, but have specific requirements to consider. Before submitting material, please contact the editor to discuss whether the proposed article is appropriate for Historical Novels Review.

copy ri g h t

In all cases, the copyright remains with the authors of the articles. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the authors concerned. THE HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY was formed in 1997 to help promote historical fiction. All staff and contributors are volunteers and work unpaid. We are an open society — if you want to get involved, get in touch. HNS WEBSITE: www.historicalnovelsociety.org EMAIL NEWSLETTER. Read news and reviews: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HNSNewsletter

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Historical Novels R eview I s s u e 6 8 , Ma y 2014 | I SSN 1471-7492

| columns |

ed itor ia l r ich a rd le e

histor ic a l fic tion market n ews s ar a h joh nson

n ew voic e s p r of ile s of debut his torical f iction authors p. s. duf f y , snor r i k r istj an s s on , allis on p ataki & p h y llis t. smith | m y f anw y cook

r ed pe nc il j o an dr ue tt’s d e a r est enemy | cin dy vallar

| features & interviews |

9 J OHN KN OX m is o g y nist or la d ies ’ man ? | by marie m acpherso n 11 the artis t’s call, the writer’s ca l l i ng ar t-c e nte r e d h f | b y s tep han ie ren ée do s sa nto s 13

the m agic o f f ro g music

em m a donoghue’s lates t n ovel | by claire mo rri s

14 p artin g the veil o f ti me an int er v ie w with c la ire m cdoug all | by lucin da bya tt 15

philip ma rgo l i n a le s s on for a spirin g n ovelis ts | b y j ean n e greene

16 the arti st’ s w a r r o by n young’s kingdom | by g ordon o’ su l l i va n | reviews |

book r e v ie ws e d ito rs’ c h oic e & m ore

PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE t may just be that spring is budding, but I seem to have daily evidence at the moment that historical fiction is in the very best of health. Exhibit 1: Our HNS International short story competition has just closed, with well over 200 entries. The numbers: pretty much as expected. The quality – truly excellent. I am far from having read all my batch yet, but every story so far has merit and might be publishable. It will make the life very tricky for our hapless judges! Exhibit 2: At the RoNAs (Romantic Novelists Association Awards), the shortlisted authors were incredibly strong, with twelve books listed over two categories. These two categories actually represent at least four separate ‘romantic’ sub-genres, all of them vibrant, none of them ‘bodice-rippers’ – nor indeed the kind of fiction that should only appeal to women. I particularly noticed the resurgence of the ‘epic’ historical category. Men are certainly missing out if they read none of these books. Exhibit 3: Our HNS London Conference. It is a pleasure and a privilege to be closely involved with the organization of this for 2014, and I’m excited already. It will be held on the 5th, 6th and 7th September, at the University of Westminster’s Marylebone campus – and it will be quite a party. There are historical dinners on both the Friday and the Saturday night (author inspired menus at Hardy’s Brasserie). There are trips to the Sherlock Holmes Museum, The Wallace Collection and Madame Tussaud’s. And that’s outside the conference itself, where there will be the usual friendly atmosphere, a fabulous cast of authors, a number of agents and editors to pitch ideas to, and panels of experts to learn from. And a bar open till 1 am. My sincere thanks to of all you who help with the Society’s many projects. Our ever-reliable reviewers, our web team, our conference organisers, our chapter leaders: it is a joy to be a part of this team that gets bigger each year.

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RICHARD LEE subverted a promising academic career by choosing to write a thesis about John Buchan when given a research bursary at Merton College, Oxford. Since then, he has spent many years as a bookseller, founded the HNS, and has established a successful property business near his home in Devon.

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H I STO R I C AL FICTION MAR K ET NE W S

ould you like your latest publishing deal to appear here? Email me at sljohnson2@eiu.edu.

New publishing deals Sources include author and publisher submissions, Publishers Marketplace, Booktrade.info, Publishers Weekly, The Bookseller, and more. The Devil in Montmartre: A Mystery in Fin de Siècle Paris by Gary Inbinder sold to Maia Larson and Claiborne Hancock at Pegasus by Philip Spitzer at Philip G. Spitzer Literary Agency. Inc., for Dec. 2014 publication. Weina Randel’s The Moon in the Palace, based on the life of the famed 7th-century Chinese Empress Wu, who began as a court concubine and survived exile, poisoning, and other palace intrigue to become China’s first and only female emperor, sold to Shana Drehs at Sourcebooks, in a two-book deal, by Shannon Hassan at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. Patricia Bracewell’s The Price of Blood, second in her trilogy about 11th-century queen Emma of Normandy, sold to Emily Murdock Baker at Viking, by Stephanie Cabot at The Gernert Company. Mary Lawrence’s historical mystery A Matron’s Bane, set in Tudor London, in which the daughter of an infamous alchemist must prove her innocence in a friend’s murder and uncover its connection to a threatening pestilence, sold to John Scognamiglio at Kensington, in a three-book deal, for publication in May 2015, by Fred Tribuzzo and Maryann Karinch at The Rudy Agency. Shades of Deceit by Anna Lee Huber, the next book in the Lady Darby historical mystery series, in which an anatomist’s widow and gifted artist must uncover who poisoned her latest portrait subject and why, sold to Michelle Vega at Berkley in a two-book deal, for publication in Summer 2015, by Kevan Lyon at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. Becoming Josephine author Heather Webb’s Rodin’s Lover, set against the backdrop of 1880s Paris, in which Camille Claudel – student, lover, and artistic collaborator to Rodin – determines to succeed at a time when a woman’s artistic desires are caught between duty and freedom, sold again to Denise Roy at Plume, by Michelle Brower at Folio Literary Management. Kathy Lynn Emerson’s Murder in the Queen’s Wardrobe, first in a new Elizabethan mystery series in which a young mistress becomes a spy for Elizabeth I when her husband’s life is put in danger, sold to Edwin Buckhalter at Severn House, in a two-book deal, by Peggy Boulos Smith on behalf of Christina Hogrebe at Jane Rotrosen Agency. Author of The Queen’s Vow C.W. Gortner’s next novel, based on the iconic and controversial life of Coco Chanel, sold to Rachel Kahan at William Morrow, in a pre-empt, for 2 | Columns |

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publication as a lead title in early 2015, by Jennifer Weltz of the Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency. Bruce Holsinger’s sequel to A Burnable Book, set in late 14th-c London and featuring a buyer and seller of valuable information, sold to Rachel Kahan at William Morrow, for publication in 2015, by Helen Heller at Helen Heller Agency. Vanessa Lafaye’s debut Summertime, pitched as The Help meets The Perfect Storm, set in 1935 in a small community in the Florida Keys, sold to Shana Drehs at Sourcebooks, at auction, for publication in 2015, by Mitchell Waters at Curtis Brown. UK rights went to Orion, in a pre-empt, for publication in January 2015. NYT bestselling author of Rhett Butler’s People Donald McCaig’s Ruth’s Journey: The Story of Mammy from Gone with the Wind, the first authorized prequel to Margaret Mitchell’s novel, sold to Peter Borland at Atria, for Oct. 2014 publication, by Mel Berger of William Morris Endeavor representing the Mitchell Estate and GWTW Partners and Kris Dahl of ICM representing McCaig. Two Roads (UK) publisher Lisa Highton acquired Chicagobased writer Leslie Parry’s Church of Marvels, about four intertwined lives, centering on a sideshow act in 1899 New York, via Elizabeth Sheinkman of WME. Claudia Ballard at WME sold US rights to Lee Boudreaux at Ecco; Canadian rights to Iris Tupholme at HarperCanada. Author of Sex with Kings Eleanor Herman’s debut Legacy series, an epic historical fantasy saga based on the young life of Alexander the Great, sold to Annie Stone at Harlequin Teen, in a pre-empt, in a four-book deal, by Stephen Barbara at Foundry Literary + Media on behalf of Paper Lantern Lit. Crooked Heart by Lissa Evans, set in England during World War II, which brings together a young orphan, with his seemingly flint-hearted foster-carer, sold to Jennifer Barth at Harper and to Doubleday UK, by Georgia Garrett at Rogers, Coleridge & White. Woman with a Gun by Philip Margolin (profiled p. 15 this issue), centering around the stunning photo of a woman in a wedding dress holding a Western six-shooter that serves as evidence in a high-stakes murder case, sold to Claire Wachtel at Harper in a two-book deal, for publication in December 2014, by Jean Naggar of the Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency. Marissa Campbell’s Raven’s Blood, combining a forbidden romance between an English noblewoman (and secret pagan priestess) and Viking warrior with the violence and political turmoil of Alfred the Great’s England, sold to Toni Kirkpatrick at Thomas Dunne Books by Margaret Bail at Inklings Literary Agency. The Traitor’s Wife author Allison Pataki’s The Accidental Empress, the love story of “Sisi,” the Austro-Hungarian Empress and captivating wife of Emperor Franz-Joseph, who presided over the tumultuous twilight of the Hapsburg Court, pitched as The White Queen meets The Winter Palace, sold to Beth Adams at Howard Books, for publication in Spring 2015, by Lacy Lynch at Dupree Miller & Associates. Historian and broadcaster Kate Williams’ historical fiction

Deborah Schneider of Gelfman Schneider/ICM, on behalf of Ali Gunn of Gunn Media UK. Transworld editorial director Jane Lawson has acquired world rights to Susan Barker’s The Incarnations, described as a “tale of a modern Beijing taxi driver being pursued by his twin soul across a thousand years of Chinese history,” via Andrew Kidd of Aitken Alexander Associates, for publication by Doubleday UK in July 2014. New and forthcoming titles Jeanne Mackin’s The Beautiful American, a historical novel based on the life of Lee Miller – model, artist, war correspondent, and mistress of Man Ray in Paris – will be published by NAL in June. Whited Sepulchres by C.B. Hanley, third in her series of medieval murder mysteries featuring Edwin Weaver, will be published by The History Press in October. It deals with Edwin’s return to his home village following his bloodsoaked adventures in Lincoln; far from being able to rest, he is confronted with another murder which is rather closer to home than he would like. Mark Wiederanders’ debut novel, Stevenson’s Treasure (February, Fireship Press), follows Robert Louis Stevenson’s wild trip to California to make Fanny Osbourne his wife despite the fact that she is already married (unhappily), has children, and is ten years older. The experience inspires him to write his first hit, Treasure Island. Hild by Nicola Griffith, drawn from the story of St. Hilda of Whitby in 7th-century Britain (and a past HNR Editors’ Choice title), will be the first hardback from Little Brown UK digitalfirst imprint Blackfriars. It was published in e-format in April and will appear in hardcover from Blackfriars on 24th July. This Old World, second in Steve Wiegenstein’s Daybreak series set at a Utopian community in Missouri, continuing the story with the Daybreak men returning from the Civil War and the women who had survived on little more than dogged determination, will be published by Blank Slate Press in September 2014. Kate Mosse’s The Taxidermist’s Daughter, described as a “Gothic psychological thriller” which deals with a series of grisly murders which rock a flood-beset village in West Sussex in 1912, will be published by Orion this September.

For additional forthcoming titles, see http:// historicalnovelsociety.org/guides/forthcoming-historicalnovels/

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trilogy The Storms of War, following a family from their idyllic, privileged life before the First World War up until 1939, sold to Lorissa Sengara at Harper Canada, at auction, by Zoe Pagnamenta at the Zoe Pagnamenta Agency on behalf of Ariella Feiner and Robert Kirby at United Agents. The UK publisher is Orion. Green Island by Shawna Yang Ryan, weaving the story of three generations of family against Taiwan’s explosive and complex political heritage, from a small village near Taipei to the Golden Gate Bridge, sold to Carole Baron for Knopf, at auction, by Daniel Lazar at Writers House. NYT bestseller and multiple Pulitzer and National Book Award-nominated author Thomas Hauser’s The Final Recollections of Charles Dickens, historical fiction written in the form of a literary final testament by Dickens himself, sold to Dan Smetanka at Counterpoint by Scott Mendel at the Mendel Media Group. Kelli Estes’ The Embroidered Sleeve, told in alternating POVs in 1886 and the present day, about a mysterious Chinese-style silk sleeve that provides clues about the tragic story of Mei Lien, a Chinese-American woman who was ostracized for marrying a white man, sold to Shana Drehs at Sourcebooks by Beth Miller at Writers House. Journalist Hermione Eyre’s Viper Wine, a historical novel with modern flourishes, about Lady Venetia Stanley, 17th-c London’s greatest beauty, and her desperate quest for eternal youth, sold to Zack Wagman at Hogarth, in a pre-empt, by Charlie Campbell at Ed Victor Ltd. It was published by Jonathan Cape (UK) in March. Winter’s Tale author Mark Helprin’s Avocado, a romantic and madcap novel set in post-World War I that follows a married couple in search of success from Brooklyn to the California avocado groves and then to Hollywood at the twilight of the silent film era, sold to Jack Macrae at John Macrae Books/Holt, for publication in spring 2015, via Emily Forland and Emma Patterson at Brandt & Hochman. The Wednesday Sisters author Meg Waite Clayton’s The Race for Paris, in which a British military photographer and two AWOL women journalists race toward Paris in summer 1944, hoping to be among the first to cover the liberation of the city from Nazi occupation, sold to Claire Wachtel at Harper, by Marly Rusoff at Marly Rusoff & Associates. Barbara Wood’s Rainbows on the Moon, set in 19th-c Hawaii as missionaries arrive to convert the Hawaiians to Christianity and both sides fight for and against change, sold to Diane Gedymin at Turner, for publication in fall 2014, by Harvey Klinger at Harvey Klinger. Rebecca Godfrey’s The Dilettante, a literary novel set in the 1930s which retells the story of socialite, heiress, and art collector Peggy Guggenheim, sold to Robin Desser at Knopf in a pre-empt, by Christy Fletcher at Fletcher & Company. Canadian rights to Louise Dennys at Knopf Canada. Judith Kinghorn’s The Snow Globe, chronicling the story of the Forbes family and its servants during the upheaval of early 20th-century England, sold to Ellen Edwards at NAL, by

SARAH JOHNSON, Book Review Editor of HNR, is a librarian, readers’ advisor, and author of reference books. She reviews for Booklist and CHOICE and blogs about historical novels at readingthepast.com. Her latest book is Historical Fiction II: A Guide to the Genre.

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NEW VOICES War, justice, treachery and discovery are all enshrined in the debut novels of P.S. Duffy, Snorri Kristjansson, Allison Pataki, and Phyllis T. Smith.

norri Kristjansson is an Icelandic author whose novel Swords of Good Men ( Jo Fletcher Books/Quercus, 2013) was influenced “first and foremost by Plato’s Theory of Forms, elegantly summed up by James Joyce as ‘Horseness is the whatness of allhorse,’ and the idea of the archetype as related to stories of war,” he says. “It occurred to me, as it has to many, many people before me, that we had seen the same types and tropes so many times before, and that we were telling each other the same stories over and over. And if that was the case, what were the stories actually about? I was inspired by the narrative sweep of excellent authors – Martin, Abercrombie, Rothfuss, Hobb, Canavan and many others.” Another vital part in his writing process, he states, was his “general cultural heritage,” as he was born in Iceland. “I spent the first three decades of my life in the Nordic countries, only leaving to seek fame and fortune abroad. The Sagas and the people they begat have informed my whole life. Gautrek’s Saga was also a big influence, specifically the idea of man as a plaything of the Gods. Add that to the religiously informed realpolitik of Olav Tryggvason and the characters, setting and motives start to line up.” He continues: “In my foray into the world of storytelling, I have written something that is, depending on how you read it, a narrative deconstruction of the warrior myth, a philosophical treatise on the nature, effect and collateral damage of mythology, a historical fiction/fantasy genre-bender, or an action book with Vikings in it.” Similarly, the background for Allison Pataki’s debut novel clearly reflects her own heritage. The Traitor’s Wife (Howard, 2014), which has featured on the New York Times bestseller list, was inspired by her hometown. “Two years ago, while walking my dogs in upstate New York, I came across a faded historical marker,” she says. “Always up for an impromptu history lesson, I paused to read about the trail, known as ‘Arnold’s Flight.’ This was the same trail traversed by General Benedict Arnold, centuries earlier, when he fled from George Washington to the British warship, HMS Vulture. “On the historical marker next to Benedict Arnold was the 4 | Columns |

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portrait of Major John André, the British spy with whom the American traitor conspired. There was also a third portrait: a beautiful young woman beside Benedict Arnold. Peggy Shippen Arnold was described as a devoted wife, loving mother, and popular socialite who, with suspected fealty to the English crown, might have incited Benedict Arnold to his infamous treachery. “Most curious of all – the portrait of this beautiful young woman was drawn by none other than Major John André. “I could not stop thinking: who exactly was Peggy Shippen Arnold? What was her relationship to John André? How had she felt about these events that unraveled around her? What role had she played in this mesmeric plot? I could not wait to dig deeper into these historical questions. As I did, I uncovered a tale and a cast of characters that proved truly Shakespearean in its drama. Peggy Arnold is a confounding character – charming yet dangerous, loyal yet duplicitous, cunning yet reckless. “Writing this novel was an adventure that allowed me to investigate the story of America’s heroes and traitors; moments of triumph and moments of near disaster; stories of love and stories of lust. As I traveled from Philadelphia to West Point, from libraries into the colonial exhibits of museums, retracing the steps of one of history’s most salacious wouldbe power couples, I uncovered what I had always known to be true: real life is even more interesting than fiction.” P.S. Duffy’s The Cartographer of No Man’s Land (Liveright, 2013) also has war and its consequences woven into its fabric. Duffy spent her childhood in Baltimore, Maryland and summers sailing in Nova Scotia, and has always considered that writing was a part of her. She says, “I grew up in a family of animated storytellers. A bad day turned good if you could make it into a funny story. My written stories, however, were often tragic, much to my family’s dismay. “Although my path back to fiction took time, writing has also always been part of my work. I majored in history and while waiting to get into law school, and worked at a hospital identifying the John and Jane Does who came in through the emergency room. Many had head wounds or neurologic disease and could not speak intelligibly. I found what I really wanted to do was help them tell their stories. I went on to have a 25-year research and clinical career in neurologically based communication disorders, after which I began writing in the neurosciences for Mayo Clinic. Only then did I consider writing fiction once again. “I set the story in Nova Scotia because when I first encountered

photo credit: Karl Beighley

the beautiful Mahone Bay at age ten, I felt I’d been there before and would one day write about it. I wanted to explore the broken relationship between a father and son, a wound that stemmed from a war experience the father could neither explain nor express. After writing 250 pages of a pretty terrible novel, I realized that to understand the father, I had to go through the war myself, and took up the war research in earnest. The deeper I went, the darker the terrain became. I knew my only way out was through my characters. As strange as it sounds, they were right there with me in the war, their intimate acts of humanity my saving grace. That’s when the book became The Cartographer of No Man’s Land – at its heart about the redemptive power of connection to ourselves and each other and the hope of forgiveness, which is both a sacrifice of “self ” and its ultimate expansion. “Why fathers and sons? That is something beyond my knowing. The prologue came to me in full quite some time before I started the book. I just wrote it down. And there it was, a boy and his father in a boat, informing the rest of the story, waiting for me to see it and fill in.” For Duffy it was discovering Mahone Bay that sparked her imagination, but for Phyllis T. Smith it was “a classical civilization course in college” that kindled her interest and enticed her to write I Am Livia (Lake Union, 2014). Since then, she has “felt the pull of ancient Rome” and has been “drawn to the poetry, the art, the Roman way of looking at the world which can seem almost contemporary but is profoundly different,” she says. “My goal as a writer is to bring that world to life.”

She continues: “Livia appealed to me because she managed to become extraordinarily powerful in a society in which women were pretty much supposed to be chattel. She also had an intriguing personal life. Before she was the wife of Rome’s first emperor, she was a teenaged girl mired in an arranged marriage. Then she crossed paths with Julius Caesar’s heir, who also was married at the time, and they discovered they were made for each other. I found it interesting to imagine how she navigated those waters – because navigate them she did. The core of I Am Livia is her relationship with that extremely complex being, Caesar Augustus. There’s a story about Augustus telling other men he could boss Livia around. They were amused because they all knew he was lying. I loved the idea of exploring the marriage of Rome’s ultimate power couple. “At first I hesitated to write about Livia because she usually has been portrayed as evil. Who can forget Siân Phillips’ spellbinding performance as Livia in the I, Claudius miniseries? Cuddling up with a psychopathic protagonist for as long as it takes to write a novel would not be my cup of tea. But in the last few decades historians have argued that Livia got a bad rap. She actually was a force for peace, promoting reconciliation in the wake of civil war. My research leads me to believe she was vilified because she was a woman who broke the mould. “I became motivated to do Livia historical justice. My aim in the novel was to show her not as a monster or a saint but a living, breathing human being. It has been a special pleasure to write in her first-person voice and look at the Roman world through Livia’s eyes.” It is through the eyes of our four featured novelists that we are able to explore dark themes and to see beyond the veil of mere historical facts.

MYFANWY COOK would love for you to tell her about any thrilling debut novelists you uncover. Please email (myfanwyc@btinternet.com) or tweet (twitter.com/ MyfanwyCook).

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Left to right: P.S. Duffy, Phyllis T. Smith, Snorri Kristjansson & Allison Pataki

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THE RED PENCIL Cindy Vallar analyzes the work behind published manuscripts. In this issue, she profiles Joan Druett’s Dearest Enemy. Revising a story that’s already written is challenging. Over the past few years, I’ve been reworking a tale I wrote in college, back when I knew little about writing or editing. It’s not unusual for an author to regain the rights to her work and then make revisions. Although my story has yet to be published, Joan Druett’s Promise of Gold was first published in 1990 as a single volume that “was really the adventures of the brig.” Soon after I returned home from last year’s HNS Conference in Florida, she asked me to review her new trilogy, Promise of Gold. She had decided to expand the one book into three because each “has a different tone – the alpaca hunt is a riotous comedy, the gold rush has a much darker theme, and the third story is more conventional, being a resolution of the mystery and the romance. So dividing it up seemed logical.” Judas Island, the first book, focuses on “the hunt for the alpacas, with the back story of the developing relationship of Jake and Harriet, and her gradually evolving history, ending in the arrival at California.” Jake Dexter is captain of the Gosling, a ship once owned by an eccentric privateer, while Harriet Gray, his unwanted passenger, is a famous actress. If the reader only wants to read this book, Joan feels he or she will “feel quite satisfied, as his or her imagination provided the ending, with Jake and Harriet in a happy lover-mistress relationship.” The second book, Calafia’s Kingdom, takes place in California in 1848, after James Marshall discovers gold at Sutter’s Mill. Readers meet Frank Sefton, Harriet’s husband, whose polish and charm conceal his ruthless nature. Although he abandoned Harriet soon after their wedding in New Zealand, now he insinuates himself into her new life and incarcerates her in a mansion where her only companion is a Chinese servant named Ah Wong. Dearest Enemy concludes the trilogy, and encompasses Harriet’s desire to open a theatre in Sacramento 6 | Columns |

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with the help of Jake, his crew, and her brother, Royal, who’s also an actor. To Jake it’s a preposterous idea, but neither he nor Harriet ever dreams how life-threatening the venture will be. Finding a scene from the original book to compare with a scene in the trilogy proved problematic because only a few pages of the former still exist. Joan selected a fragment that depicts Harriet walking with Royal and one of the crew from the Gosling “along the riverside path to the brig, which is moored in Sacramento. Her brother makes her finally face how she truly feels about Jake.” Then, one morning, Royal was there as well as Davy to escort her to the brig, and when they walked out on to the path and Harriet looked across tent city to the Embarcadero, the brig had her sails out, the canvas all loose on the masts. Panic gripped her; she couldn’t think, she couldn’t move, she couldn’t breathe. Then she cried, “No – oh no!” and began to run. Davy grunted with fright, and Royal’s hand lunged out and stopped her. She was weeping wildly; she barely saw his face. Then he shook her, not at all gently and shouted, “Harriet, what’s wrong, for God’s sake?” “The brig. She’s . . . she’s . . .” Royal peered at her. Her eyes cleared enough to see him hunch his shoulders so that he peered into her face from her level. Then he said with eloquent disgust, “Oh, for God’s sake, Hat, ’tis only the canvas out drying.” “Drying? What . . . ?” Then she realized what a fool she’d made of herself. She knew that canvas had to be hung out every now and then, or else like household linen it went moldy, of course she knew that. She straightened her shoulders, gathered the shreds of her dignity about her and said haughtily, “I’m sorry.” Royal said brusquely, “When will you stop this performance, Hat? You’re sending the man to the end of his tether.” “I don’t know what you are talking about.” “Yes, you do. He loves you, Hat, he loves you.” Something jerked inside her. She pressed her lips together and said curtly, “I don’t inspire that emotion in men, Royal.”

“What utter poppycock! Just because Sefton treated you so shabbily . . .” The problem with this version is that Harriet isn’t the one finally comprehending that she loves Jake or that “she had, in fact, never fallen out of love with him,” in spite of an earlier scene where he drives a seemingly insurmountable wedge into their relationship. When Joan reworked this revelation, which appears in Dearest Enemy, Harriet arrives on the brig without the histrionics, and Jake asks her about Ah Wong. “Tell me about Ah Wong.” “Ah Wong?” Again, tears stung her eyes. Every day, she watched for him, but had never glimpsed him again. She took a deep, shaky breath, and said, “He was my servant, but he was also my friend. My only friend. Such a small, harmless man, and so frightened. His ambitions were innocent enough, just to learn good English, and . . . and I often wondered what kind of person he had been in his homeland, because he was so well educated. Perhaps he was a teacher, certainly a scholar. He liked to hear me recite, so he translated ancient Chinese poetry for me.” And then, before she knew she was going to do it, she was quoting softly, with more tears in her eyes – Yellow clouds beside the walls; crows roosting in the sky. Flying back, they caw, caw, calling in the vines. In the loom she weaves brocade, the Feather River girl, Made of emerald yarn like mist, the window hides her words. She stops the shuttle, sorrowful, and thinks of the distant man. She stays alone in the lonely room, her tears just like the rain. “Poetry like that,” she finished lamely. She wondered why she had chosen that poem, and wished that she hadn’t. When she looked at Jake, he looked startled. Then his eyebrows came down and he said, “Was Sefton the distant man in the poem?” “My God, no! How can you think that?” Why is this version better? In the original, “Harriet’s reaction is over the top and . . . she is a stereotype, without character.” The

rewrite, however, “is grittier, not so over the top, and yet more raw. Not only has Harriet betrayed herself by quoting the poem, but she has come to her own realization” that she loves Jake. “[S] he is a real person, with deep feelings, and a past.” Anyone who reads this trilogy, or any of Joan’s other novels, soon discovers she creates memorable characters. How does she do this? “By giving them comprehensible motives. . . . [It] makes them real men and women with personal triumphs and tragedies, real people who do their best to overcome the problems that are thrown at them by the story.” As any writer will tell you, characters don’t just miraculously appear. Something stirs an idea and as the story evolves, so do the characters. “Harriet was originally based on the real Mrs. Ray, of the Theatre Royal, New Zealand, famous for hailing the hero as ‘me ’ope, me only ’ope.’ As Harriet turned into a heroine (developing a strong character all by herself, often despite me), the guise of Mrs. Ray didn’t suit her any more. . . . Jake developed as a foil for the rapidly developing Harriet, gaining the necessary robust sense of humor along the way. And then there is Ah Wong. We were spending many weeks in mainland China at the time, and I was fascinated with ancient Chinese poetry . . . . Ah Wong is the servant who sacrificed himself for the heroine – the girl who became Columbine in commedia dell’arte, who is, of course, Harriet. Royal is Harlequin, and don’t tell Jake, because he would either be offended or find it very funny, but he is Pierrot. And Sefton, of course, is the villain. His scam, aided by Don Roberto and the Murietas, was a real crime – but in the Yukon gold rush, not the Californian one.” Joan did a lot of research for these books, which is evident to anyone who reads her stories. “I had to find a plausible pirate treasure for Judas Island – a real one . . . though the real island is Cocos. The alpaca hunt is based on the real story of Charles Ledger.1 The adventures of the brig on the Sacramento River are based on the journal kept by William Bradley on the Oscar of Mattapoisett, Massachusetts, which is held at the Martha’s Vineyard Historical Society. Just as in the novel, the ship was owned by a company, and the vessel was moored to the riverbank and turned into a boardinghouse. I didn’t want to turn the brig into a whaling vessel, so the Gosling has a different fate. Many of the details of the ‘diggings’ come from the Oscar journal, as well as the books I read.” When Joan first thought of writing the original story, she wanted to write about pirates. She just couldn’t think of an admirable hero, so she decided a pirate ship would take center stage. “Accordingly, the Gosling – the baby Golden Goose – came into being. My idea was that it was previously owned by a privateer . . . who collected anything to do with buried gold, and HNR Issue 68, May 2014 | Columns | 7

Watch your dialogue like a hawk. Obviously, modern words and phrases must be avoided, but overuse of ancient dialogue makes your characters quaint instead of convincing. A word like “comely” might have been commonly used in the period, but unless it is used judiciously, modern readers are more likely to be alienated than impressed. And personally, I also avoid dialect, as it jars on the eye. But never forget, despite the pitfalls, that writing historical fiction is terrific fun. There’s a double 8 | Columns |

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advantage – not only does the author have the joy of creating characters and putting them in a rich setting, but she or he has the fun of research, which is the closest most writers get to hunting for buried treasure.3

Notes: 1. To learn more about this Australian adventurer, Joan recommends this website: http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/ledger-charles-4004. 2. Taken from my review of Judas Island, which can be read in its entirety at http://www.cindyvallar.com/Druett.html 3. If you’d like to learn more about Joan and her writing, visit her website at http://www.joan.druett.gen.nz/

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that the next captain would find his journals and scrapbooks in a secret panel in the wainscoting of the great cabin, and become entranced with the idea of finding pirate gold.” What of the history behind Dearest Enemy? It’s based on the real story of the first theater on the Sacramento – not just its construction, but also the staging of the first play. The reporter, “Mr. Giles and his newspaper are equally authentic.” Joan then takes this historical information and seamlessly weaves it into “an exhilarating voyage not soon to be forgotten.”2 Since Old Salt Press published the Promise of Gold trilogy as e-books, all three titles were released fairly close together. Why e-books rather than print? “Once I had decided that it was logical to turn it into three books, digital publishing seemed the logical way to go. Also, I am a great admirer of Shayne Parkinson, who has developed digital serial publishing into a fine art.” For me, being able to read what happens from the moment Jake and Harriet meet until the mysteries that entwine their lives are solved was a true joy. As I wrote in my review: “Complete with humor, romance, tragedy, and fantastical exploits, Joan Druett expertly recreates the dizzying days of the California gold rush, where fortunes could be made and lost in the span of a day. Her characters come from all walks of life and are so vividly portrayed that they walk off the pages into your room.” The cover art for Dearest Enemy also caught my attention because it differed from the artwork used for the first two books. Her husband, Ron Druett, created those two paintings for her. The third cover came from a lithograph of Sacramento, which she discovered on Wikicommons. “It was perfect, as not only does it have the theater in the row of buildings, but there is a brig just across the Embarcadero, as I describe the Gosling in the novel. I had to hunt for its original use to give a decent sourcing in the book, and also make absolutely certain it is in the public domain.” I always ask the novelists who graciously agree to spotlight their writing in “The Red Pencil” what else they’d like to share with readers and writers of historical fiction. Joan writes:

CINDY VALLAR is a columnist, freelance editor, historical novelist, and workshop presenter. Dark Oak Press recently released her historical fantasy, “Rumble the Dragon,” in their short story anthology, A Tall Ship, A Star, and Plunder. You can visit her at www.cindyvallar.com.

John Knox

2 014 marks the 500

anniversary of the birth of John Knox, yet surprisingly little has been written about the founding father of the Scottish Reformation. Writers veer away from him, no doubt because, in the popular imagination at least, Knox has become a caricature of himself: the cartoon Calvinist who banned Christmas, the pulpit-thumping misogynist who wrote the notorious polemic, The First Blast of the Trumpet against the Monstrous Regiment of Women. Whatever else he may have achieved, Knox’s notorious ‘blast’ has reverberated throughout history, drowning out the legacy of ‘the one Scotchman to whom all others, his country and the world, owed a debt’ – in the words of the historian Thomas Carlyle. So who was John Knox? While Knox wrote reams about his later life, he was notoriously tight-lipped about his first thirty years. Several facts have been established, however. He was born in Giffordgate, on the banks of the River Tyne in Haddington, East Lothian around 1513/14. His father was killed at Flodden and his mother died soon after, leaving Knox and his brother William orphans. He attended the local grammar school before going on to St Andrews University, but for some reason did not graduate. Then, in 1536, though he was ordained a Roman Catholic priest, he served as a notary apostolic at St Mary’s Collegiate Church in Haddington. Around 1542 he became tutor to the sons of local Protestant lairds, but it was the charismatic reformist preacher, George Wishart, who changed the course of his life. According to Knox, he was born again when Wishart pulled him from ‘the puddle of papistry’. Dropping everything to follow him, Knox took up a two-handed sword to serve as his bodyguard. Finally arrested by Cardinal Beaton’s henchmen, Wishart ordered Knox to flee so as to escape the punishment for heresy that he endured in St Andrews in 1546 – burning at the stake. Two months later Fife lairds murdered Beaton and hung his body from St Andrews th

misogynist or ladies’ man?

Castle before salting it like a side of beef in a vat in the dungeon. A year later, Knox came out of hiding to serve as chaplain to the Castilians under siege in St Andrews. When the French broke the siege Knox was arrested and sentenced to toil as a galley slave. Meanwhile, the Treaty of Haddington that betrothed the young Queen of Scots to the French Dauphin was signed in 1548. By a stroke of coincidence, Knox may even have been rowing the galley that ferried the young queen to France. After his release 19 months later Knox was outlawed in Scotland. Instead, the English reformers sent him as preacher to the north of England. Hearing of his rousing sermons, Edward VI called him to London to serve as a royal chaplain. On the death of the Protestant king, the accession of Catholic Mary Tudor incensed Knox. He fled to Geneva to wrench a statement from Calvin that the reign of a female Catholic monarch was unnatural or, as he called it, ‘monstrous’. Calvin baulked at the fiery Scotsman’s fervour and sent him off round the continent to consult other leading reformers. None supported him. In his wilderness years as an exile in Geneva, Knox preached daily, debated hotly with English reformers and married his wife Marjory Bowes, who bore him two children. He also made heroic journeys, traipsing back and forth from Geneva to Dieppe in response to Scottish lairds begging him to return to Scotland but then changing their minds. With the ‘monstrous’ reign of Mary Tudor still rankling, he wrote his infamous First Blast, which so outraged Calvin that he banned it from Geneva. Badly aimed, Knox’s revolutionary diatribe was also badly timed because, months later, Mary Tudor died and the Protestant Queen Elizabeth ascended the English throne. Not at all amused by this seditious pamphlet, she banned both publication and author. Knox had no option but to return to Scotland where the Protestant Reformation was underway. The final part of his life is better known and recorded, including his tempestuous relationship with Mary, Queen of

by Marie Macpherson

Writers... veer away from him, no doubt because, in the popular imagination at least, Knox has become a caricature of himself: the cartoon Calvinist who banned Christmas, the pulpit-thumping misogynist...

HNR Issue 68, May 2014 | Features | 9

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of historical fact with inspired guesswork, spiced with a liberal dose of artistic license, I cooked up a story with a dark secret at its centre. Like Knox’s original work to which the title refers, The First Blast of the Trumpet makes some startling claims and controversial conjectures. But any discussion of John Knox must address the issue of his notorious tract, The First Blast of the Trumpet against the Monstrous Regiment of Women, for which he has been severely lambasted as a rampant misogynist. But was he? With its highly charged and usually misinterpreted title, this controversial document appears to launch an attack on the whole of womankind as a battalion of battle-axes. Knox’s aim, however, was to challenge the right of female monarchs to inherit the throne on the premise that it was against nature for a member of the weaker sex to rule. But it was not his assertion of women as inferior beings that was shocking – most of his contemporaries, male and female, would have agreed, for women were treated as minors in law. No, what alarmed them was Knox’s call to depose and, if necessary, execute an ungodly monarch. That was tantamount to treason. Yet, in spite of his controversial ‘blast’, Knox did not hate women. On the contrary, the ‘bearded one’ loved women and, perhaps even more surprising – they loved him. Like many charismatic preachers, Knox attracted a retinue of female followers, but he genuinely seemed to enjoy the company of women – at least those who agreed with his religious ideas. Not only was he married twice, but other men’s wives left their husbands to follow him. In his correspondence with his mother-in-law, Elizabeth Bowes, Knox the firebrand comes across as patient and understanding, tender and caring and not at all condescending. To me, this affinity with women implied a strong female influence in his life. In the first book of the trilogy, I suggest that this was his godmother, Prioress Elisabeth Hepburn. While The First Blast sounds the fanfare for his 500th birthday, Book Two of the trilogy follows Knox in exile, where his life reads more like an adventure thriller than a history. Against the backdrop of public events – revolution, religious strife, political intrigue – his turbulent private life is played out like a soap opera, with dollops of sexual jealousy, adultery, ménage à trois, birth, and death. In contrast to the usual portrait of Knox as a bible-basher, The Second Blast of the Trumpet aims to pull him down from the pulpit to show the reformer’s more human face as lover, husband, father and friend.

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Scots. Ironically, it was not Knox, deposer of monarchs, who beheaded the anointed queen, but her Protestant female cousin. So why did I write about such a controversial character? The dour, finger-wagging bogeyman is hardly the obvious choice for the hero of a novel, but I was researching the Treaty of Haddington when I stumbled across Knox the galley slave. How did he end up there? That piqued my curiosity to find out more about the man behind the myth. Knox’s silence about his early life raised many questions. How did a poor orphan lad receive a university education only available to the sons of the nobility? Who funded his education? Why did he not graduate? When and why did he turn away from the Church of Rome? As I raked over the scrapheap left behind by biographers and historians, I unearthed fragments that had been overlooked, enough bare bones to construct a story, but one that could only be told as fiction. In most biographies of Knox, the poet and playwright Sir David Lindsay is barely mentioned. But the man who not only coaxed Knox out of hiding but inspired him to sound his first blast against the Catholic Church at St Andrews must have had a greater influence on Knox than he was given credit for. The radical ideas expressed in his play, Ane Satire of the Three Estates, a scathing attack on the Catholic Church, must have affected the young priest. Indeed, the role of Divine Correction could have been scripted for Knox – perhaps it was. The striking similarity between one of Lindsay’s poems and Knox’s first sermon suggested that the playwright may not only have written it, but also directed the young preacher-in-waiting. Knox also had kinship with the Hepburns of Hailes. His forefathers had served under the Hepburn banner, and Knox acknowledged James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell, as his liege lord. Had the Hepburn family taken responsibility for the poor orphan? If so, John Hepburn, Prior of St Andrews, who had endowed the college where Knox was educated, was the most likely benefactor. To protect family interests the prior had ensured that his niece, Elisabeth, was appointed prioress of the wealthy St Mary’s Abbey where the Treaty of Haddington was signed. But this spirited prioress refused to bend the knee, for she is reported in historical documents as riding to the hunt with James V’s court and then, more controversially, being accused of ‘carnal dalliance’ in 1541. As notary apostolic, did Knox have to clear up the scandal? Amongst the cast of corrupt clergy in Lindsay’s Satire, the prioress is exposed as a scarlet woman who excuses her behaviour by blaming those who compelled her ‘to be a nun and would not let her marry’. Did the real-life Prioress Elisabeth Hepburn inspire the role? Around 1546, jealous of his influence on her young son, James V, Queen Margaret Tudor exiled Lindsay to Garleton Castle outside Haddington. Did he meet Elisabeth? At this time Knox was attending Haddington grammar school and serving as an altar boy at St Mary’s Church. Did all three become acquainted and, if so, in what way? All these coincidences involving this trio were just too tempting to ignore and so, blending these few tantalising scraps

You can read more about MARIE MACPHERSON and how she combines an academic’s love of research with a passion for storytelling at http://mariemacpherson. wordpress.com/about. The Knox Trilogy is published by Knox Robinson Publishing (http://www. knoxrobinsonpublishing.com).

art-centered historical fiction

rt is a global language. It has the power to communicate, connect, engage, transform, relate, and heal. Artistic processes, purposes, and pieces have been the interest of writers since the time of Pliny the Elder’s Natural History (circa 77-79 AD), which featured passages on the development of Greek sculpture and painting. One can trace from these pages the ideas of the Grecian sculptor Xenokrates of Sicyon (circa 280 BC), possibly the first to write about the arts. In China there are references to ancient painting practices in The Record of the Classification of Old Painters (circa 550 AD), attributed to later influencing the sixth-century writings of Six Principles of Painting by Xie He. In early fifteenth-century Italy, Lorenzo Ghiberti, the Florentine artist known for his creation of the bronze doors of the Baptistery of the Florence Cathedral, wrote the Commentari. This may be the earliest surviving autobiography by any artist. Later during this period, Tuscan painter and sculptor Giorgio Vasari wrote Lives of the Painters, recording his period’s artistic developments and the biographies of his contemporaries. The desire and compulsion to write about the arts and artists has a long legacy. And as preeminent author of art in fiction Susan Vreeland writes, “Just as storytelling inspires art, so does art inspire storytelling.” Today’s historical novelists continue to explore the realm of the visual arts in a myriad of ways, using the verbal brush, the paint of words to bring artworks and the people and places that divined them to life for readers. This is a growing niche within historical fiction. In September 2013, on Facebook, Vreeland requested people send her titles of novels with “art tie-ins,” as she calls it. She soon amassed a list of more than 100 titles, posting many of them on her Goodreads page. For this article I’ve interviewed eight authors of historical fiction who’ve recently written novels with art aspects: Stephanie Cowell (Claude & Camille, Crown, 2010), Michael Dean (I, Hogarth, Overlook, 2013), Cathy Marie Buchanan (The Painted

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The Artist's Call, The Writer's Calling

Girls, Riverhead, 2013), Maryanne O’Hara (Cascade, Viking, 2012), Mary F. Burns (Portraits of an Artist, Sand Hill Review, 2013) Alana White (The Sign of the Weeping Virgin, Five Star, 2013), Donna Russo Morin (The King’s Agent, Kensington, 2012), and Susan Vreeland (Lisette’s List, Random House, August 2014, and seven other art-based novels). Here we’ll examine what compelled each author to explore the arts in their fiction, and what readers can gain by reading fiction with art threads. We are visual creatures, and for the historically curious the arts inspire unlimited ground to explore and create: storylines can include the art quest, artist and muse, plight of the female artist, artists’ biographies, the art heist, the secret messages woven into art, and onward. In the The King’s Agent, Morin brings us “the art quest,” an artistic spin on the hero’s journey: “It all began with my third book, To Serve a King, and my fascination with Francois I, truly the genitor of the Louvre Museum. He had art agents in all parts of Europe. One in particular, Battista della Paglia, Francois’ agent (The King’s Agent) in Italy, so captured my attention that I knew he had to have his own story. My research for these two books revealed the depth of obsession with art during the Renaissance, the noble’s fixation with acquiring it. It was extreme. Put together with Battista’s larger than life persona, and an art quest burst into my mind, begging to be told.” The “quest,” a classic narrative like tales of the search for the Holy Grail and the Fountain of Youth, is now infused with art by Morin. Love, or the desire for it, is central to most of our lives. Couple this with an obsessive compulsion to create art, to be the object of and in competition with the artist’s vision, and you have the powerful, heart-wrenching drama of Cowell’s Claude & Camille, the artist and muse love story of Claude Monet and his beautiful, upper-class Parisian

by Stephanie Renée dos Santos

devote myself to writing about art is for me; the other is for the reader and the world. One reason... IArt’s effect on the imagination is crucial to our civilization. HNR Issue 68, May 2014 | Features | 11

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relay it to the masses: inspiring awe, glimpses of God, moving us to tears, striking us speechless, triggering revulsion, humbling us, or setting a smile upon our faces. Artworks and artists, historic or imagined, that attempt and produce such lofty measures, stirring such strong human emotions, are what entices me to write about the arts and artists. What compels me is the longing to enter the artist’s world, which is often obstacle-ridden, but where magic takes place, and to transmit this awesomeness and struggle to readers – to make real the experience of what it is like to wrestle in the arts, while steeped in the time period, places, and amongst the personalities that created such affecting and lasting works, to make the artists and art alive for others, for the reader to hold the paintbrush, to execute the line, to be in contact with the divine. And as Dean poetically says, “art infuses and inspires life. Hogarth’s life, as portrayed, inspires the wider society around him. I am very visual. Music means little in my life but great art works – especially the great colourists – move me. A lot.” I find this particuarly interesting, since music is the sister to the visual arts, and another creative niche within historical fiction that has been written about passionately, along with the lives of writers. I think it’s an important perspective to keep in mind because different artistic media speak to and reach different audiences. And the final question: what can one gain by reading historical fiction about art? “I believe stories add emotion to the artwork itself. They add breath and life…fiction infuses art with blood and bone. Such fiction explores artists as human beings with the same problems and victories we all experience,” says White, author of The Sign of the Weeping Virgin, which features an eleventh-century Italian painting at the center of a mystery. Buchanan, author of The Painted Girls, explains, “I do love the idea of readers looking at Degas’s artwork through a new lens after reading The Painted Girls, and I’ve heard from many readers that they have gone in search of his artwork and, in fact, seen it with new eyes. Readers, hopefully, gain a new appreciation for an artist’s body of work and the times in which he lived.” The benefits to readers are multifaceted and, as Vreeland insightfully writes, “I am not an art historian. I’m a storyteller. A novel reaches a different audience – an audience or a society that needs art and may not know it. That’s where I want to point my pen.”

Editor’s Note: Beginning this month, a weekly interview series featuring each author in this piece will be available on the Historical Novel Society website. http://historicalnovelsociety.org

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wife, Camille Doncieux. Cowell explains: “I am fascinated with how great art comes to be, the very messy, haphazard way things happen. The great artists of history had to deal with what we all deal with every day: love and kids and clean socks and bills, but they had, in addition, something extraordinary, and the amazing thing is, they had no idea how extraordinary it was or what it would be worth.” Nor did they have any idea, I’m sure, that their lives would become the focus of a future novelist and read by scores of doting readers. O’Hara, author of Cascade, reveals the predicaments of a fictional female artist during the Great Depression of the 1930s: “I was originally interested in writing a short story about artists who painted for Roosevelt’s New Deal arts projects during the Depression. Then I saw a wonderful exhibit at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts: ‘A Studio of Her Own, Women Artists in Boston, 1870-1940.’ I realized I wanted to write about the particular struggles of the female artist.” The female artist’s story is one that has been historically neglected; stories like O’Hara’s are changing that, elucidating the unique sacrifices and obstacles for women who pursue the fine arts. Artist biographies make for fascinating novels, as evidenced by Dean’s I, Hogarth, which depicts the life story of eighteenthcentury British painter and engraver William Hogarth. Dean notes: “Novels are about emotion. I had an instinctive emotional response to Hogarth as a man and as an artist. I also wanted to write about a man’s life-experience from birth to death. Hogarth had a very interesting life.” In Portraits of an Artist, Burns also waxes biographical with her story of American portrait painter John Singer Sargent, told by, incredibly, fifteen first-person narrators. Says Burns: “Then it hit me: the portraits would be the characters! They would tell the story of Sargent, from their point of view – each with his and her own voice – reliable or unreliable.” These comments illustrate the story structures pursued, but what compels writers to choose the arts and artists as subject matter? Vreeland explains why she has dedicated her writing career to art: “The short answer is love. One reason I devote myself to writing about art is for me; the other is for the reader and the world. Art’s effect on the imagination is crucial to our civilization. Thanks to art, instead of seeing only one world and time period, our own, we see it multiplied and can see into other times, other worlds which offer a window to other lives. Each time we enter imaginatively into the life of another, it’s a small step upwards in the elevation of the human race. When there is no imagination of others’ lives, there is no human connection. When there is no human connection, compassion does not develop. Without compassion, then community, commitment, loving kindness, human understanding and peace shrivels.” I personally believe visual art can reveal the essence of life and

STEPHANIE RENÉE DOS SANTOS is a fiction and freelance writer and leads writing and yoga workshops. She writes features and interviews for the Historical Novel Society. Currently, she is working on her first historical novel, Cut from the Earth. www.stephaniereneedossantos.com

Emma Donoghue discusses her latest novel

The gold rush is over, and San Francisco is growing into the

eclectic Californian city we know today. In the 1870s, people are moving there from across the globe, and Blanche Beunon is among them. Leaving Paris’s Cirque d’Hiver, she establishes herself as a dancer in the House of Mirrors, entertaining many of its patrons after-hours, using this income to keep her companions Arthur and Ernest fed and clothed in the best bohemian style. But during a smallpox epidemic, she meets Jenny Bonnet, who, in the words of author Emma Donoghue, is “a risk-loving, cross-dressing, quirky young woman who live[s] as if she knew she’d only get 27 years.” Jenny is inquisitive, and her questions over a shared meal of frogs’ legs make Blanche examine her life choices. When Jenny is shot to death, Blanche embarks on a quest that involves both survival and justice. This is the premise of Donoghue’s latest novel, Frog Music (Little Brown and Picador, 2014), which is comprised of two intricately woven stories: that of Blanche’s life immediately after Jenny’s murder, and what happened in the weeks leading up to the murder. Frog Music contains the deft storytelling, graphic prose, and lifelike characterization that Emma Donoghue has become known for through novels such as international bestsellers Room (Little Brown, 2010) and Slammerkin (Virago, 2000). I was transported deep into the lives of Blanche, Jenny, Arthur and Ernest, who, along with most of the other characters in this novel, really lived. Donoghue tells me she knew she had to write a novel about Jenny Bonnet when she discovered her in Autumn Stephens’ Wild Women about 15 years ago. It was not only the sense of Jenny’s character that compelled her, but also post-Gold-Rush San Francisco, which she describes as “self-consciously diverse and proud of its eccentrics”. The novel’s title refers to what Donoghue calls “the sound a large horny chorus of frogs makes when they want to mate” ( Jenny caught frogs in the ponds around San Francisco and

The Magic of FROG MUSIC supplied them to French and Chinese restaurants), but also alludes to the French immigrants who are central to this story. Because of their performing background, music is ever-present. Blanche and Jenny are often humming tunes, and a reference section on these is included at the book’s end. Naturally this use of period lyrics adds wonderfully to the atmosphere. “I knew my main characters all had a performing background in circus/burlesque,” Donoghue explains, “so music seemed an obvious way to suggest that, but I came to rely more and more on the tangled knot of folksong (in the broadest sense) that would have been heard in 19thcentury California, for suggesting not only the different cultural groups who made up that society, but how promiscuously they rubbed up against each other.” Music is just one element the author employs to convey a convincing sense of time and place. The details of Blanche’s home in Chinatown, the various establishments she frequented, the saloon outside the city where Jenny died, and the institutions where parents left children in often dubious care provide a believable image of San Francisco 140 years ago. Donoghue used census information, municipal records, guidebooks, memoirs, photographs and other material to build up a picture of the city at that time in her own mind, which she then shares with readers through descriptive sentences such as: “This quarter’s always filthy – mostly because the City Supervisors won’t fix its sewers or pay for garbage collection. Arthur claims to relish it: skirting piles of fishtails makes him feel like a true bohemian.” I asked Donoghue what she’s working on now. “A children’s book,” she told me. A new genre for her, but one in which we know she’ll excel.

Claire Morris was the managing editor of Solander from 2004 to 2009, and currently serves as features editor for the HNS website. She is also the principal of Claire Morris Strategic Writing & Editing, www.claireonwriting.com

by Claire Morris

I KNEW...

my main characters all had a performing background in circus/burlesque, so music seemed an obvious way to suggest that. HNR Issue 68, May 2014 | Features | 13

V eil of T ime Claire McDougall speaks to Lucinda Byatt

C laire McDougall now lives in Colorado, but her first historical

novel is set in Scotland, or more precisely in Argyll, where she grew up. Her family lived three miles away from Dunadd, a rocky prominence that was the stronghold of Dalriada, the kingdom of the Scotti. “When my family had guests, we would take them up Dunadd to see the boar in the rock and the famous imprint of the foot. Kilmartin valley where I lived is full of standing stones and rock art, and you can hardly help but feel the presence of all this history around you.” Then, about twenty years ago, she started to visit a childhood friend who had bought the cottage at the base of Dunadd, the same one that her character Maggie stays in. “I would climb up to the top of Dunadd in the evenings. The view over the sea from up there is astounding with the sun going down behind the Isle of Jura.” In Veil of Time, Maggie lives in the present-day but she “slips” back in time to a crucial moment in the history of Dalriada, when their enemies, the Picts, are gathering strength in the north. Time-slip is a device that appeals to both reader and author: “It is a more accurate way of looking at what happens to Maggie. I had the idea of writing about Dunadd for quite a few years, but I couldn’t think of a way to do it. I knew the story would have to take place in the eighth century, Dunadd’s heyday, but very little is known about that era, so I didn’t think I would have enough material to sustain it for the length of a novel. In addition, I have always liked the notion of going back in time. I had never written anything like that, though, and I resisted for quite some time. However, I wanted a modern-day protagonist that I could relate to more closely. The more theoretical physicists delve into the notion of time, the less of a stretch this notion of time-slipping is becoming.” The role of the ban-druidhe is central to the story. These druidesses were immensely influential in Gaelic society prior to the arrival of Christianity. Maggie becomes Ma-Khee to those she meets at Dunadd and they view her as foreign druidess. But Ma-Khee finds it hard to accept some of their strange ways. “Different customs meant that people’s mindset would have to be different from ours with regard to love, relationships and

Parting the

fidelity.” Researching this “woman-led culture” posed problems: “We do know that the royal line was matrilineal, and we do know that the indigenous pagan religion was goddess-centred. Once I had established this, and I started thinking about what would become of the druidesses, I could see that a few hundred years down the line the opposition of the church to these women would manifest itself in the witch burnings.” For more clues, the author turned to other indigenous peoples. “In many native American peoples, women make up the council for the important decisions of the tribe, while the men hold positions with more outward prestige. This balance seems to work well, as long as the wise women are not ousted, which is what happened once Christianity took hold. Matriarchal societies are more about cooperation and nurturing.” The male characters offer a contrast: Fergus, a prince of Dalriada, is fascinated by Ma-Khee but wary of her otherness; Jim, an older man who is Maggie’s neighbour at the farm, is a wry Scotsman, who provides an important anchor at a very difficult time in Maggie’s life. Yet, Claire did not find it easy to write about the people of Dalriada: “The more I wrote, the more it seemed to me that theirs was a whole different way of looking at things. Getting into Fergus’s head and heart was hard, but I hope I managed to convey him to the reader in the end.” I think she did and, what’s more, a sequel, Druid Hill, has already been written. It takes place in the years following 735 CE and focuses on the druidess-monk conflict, and on what was lost when the Christian worldview took over. An endearing detail is the presence of Winnie, a black kitten who befriends Maggie at Dunadd and follows her back in time. Winnie survives to be included in the sequel, too. And, on a bizarre note, Claire told me that a black cat was an uninvited guest at her book launch.

More about Veil of Time (Simon & Schuster’s Gallery Books, 2014). and Claire McDougall can be found at http://clairemcdougall.com Lucinda Byatt is the Features Coordinator for HNR and also has family in Argyll, so she knows Dunadd well!

by Lucinda Byatt

The more... theoretical physicists delve into the notion of time, the less of a stretch this notion of timeslipping is becoming.

14 | Features |

HNR Issue 68, May 2014

a lesson for aspiring novelists

ever told the younger Phil he could write. The author Nobody of Worthy Brown’s Daughter and seventeen bestselling legal

thrillers, Philip Margolin, can laugh now — but there were no gold stars, no honor rolls back then. He hated school. Like any kid in New York who couldn’t put a sentence together, much less a page full of them, he was coded for future failure. He read voraciously, but the idea of writing something never occurred to him. Why would it? He had to repeat math. When he took a chessboard to class with him, he was caught — but instead of confiscating the board, the teacher challenged him to a game. Soon, young Phil was beating his teacher regularly, providing a much-needed boost to his confidence, and he passed remedial math. The chessboard proved a fitting precursor for Margolin’s career choice: he decided to be a criminal defense lawyer. “You don’t have to be Perry Mason to outwit an opponent and lure him into making the wrong moves.” His goal of becoming an attorney took him through high school, college, and, after two years in Africa with the Peace Corps, into New York University School of Law. By going to class at night and teaching high school in the daytime, he got his law degree and his first job, clerk for the Chief Judge of the Oregon Court of Appeals, which led him to private practice in Portland. By this point, Margolin was writing. “If you read a lot and have a feel for a good story, you should be able to write a few pages about something, right?” A novel about his African experiences didn’t sell, but a crime story set in Portland did. Writing a few pages at a time because of his job — and because that’s what he was comfortable with — he completed a novel about a murder case as complicated as a chess problem. Heartstone, his first published novel, was nominated for an Edgar as best original paperback mystery in 1978 and made Philip Margolin a familiar name. The rich history of Oregon fascinated Margolin. An article

If you read a lot...

C C

Philip Margolin

about Holmes v. Ford (1853), a heart-breaking case involving a former slave, led to six years of research for Margolin’s historical novel, Worthy Brown’s Daughter. Dissatisfied with the first draft but convinced the story had merit, Margolin was to work on Worthy Brown’s Daughter on and off for years. Still, the law outweighed the writing. For twenty-five years, Margolin practiced law at the trial and appellate levels, speaking before courts as august as the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the United States Supreme Court. His first responsibility was to his clients, some of whom were on trial for murder. He wrote, successfully, but always in his spare time. The scale tilted in the other direction when book publicity required more time than a trial lawyer could spare. Although he loved the law — no, because he loved the law, Margolin had to leave it. He could have gone back if his writing career failed; it did not. His legal thrillers received numerous prestigious nominations, book club selections, and awards. One was an HBO movie, another, a TV miniseries. Every single one was a best seller. Margolin did not forget Holmes v. Ford, however. In 2010, he finished the story of a white lawyer who, in 1860, represents a black man in court. Published in 2014 by Harper (after Sleight of Hand, 2013), and reviewed in the February issue of HNR, Worthy Brown’s Daughter is that rare novel that spans several genres: literary, historical, western, and thriller. Worthy Brown’s Daughter is selling well, attracting new readers, and pleasing old fans, all thanks to the author’s perseverance. Not only can Philip Margolin write — take note, aspiring novelists — he has faith in his writing.

Jeanne Greene has degrees in European History and Modern English History from UCR. She once lived in Suffolk, England, for three years. At home in Washington State, she has been a book reviewer for HNR since 2009.

by Jeanne Greene and have a feel for a good story, you should be able to write a few pages about something, right? HNR Issue 68, May 2014 | Features | 15

Robyn Young’s Insurrection trilogy

C C

The Artist’s War

I find writing a historical novel rather like a dot-to-dot painting,

that lasted a couple of hours. where many unconnected points have to be joined with lines the In Kingdom, the texture and pacing of Robyn Young’s novelist must create in order to give a full picture.” In Kingdom, battle scenes are extraordinary, Bannockburn in particular is the final novel in her medieval Insurrection trilogy, Robyn Young riveting, but those qualities were not achieved solely through has painted the medieval world of Robert Bruce with the the customary book research and site visits. Young is not an verisimilitude of a war artist. armchair general, finding hands-on research invaluable: “When This new novel, so new that this is actually Young’s first I started Insurrection I spent a year being taught to ride by a skillinterview for Kingdom, brings to a thrilling conclusion Bruce’s at-arms instructor, which gave me new respect for the skill of my long journey to be crowned king of an knights. I also wore mail and tried my hand independent Scotland. In Kingdom, “he’s at sword fighting and archery.” The clarity literally been stripped down to the shirt on the page is not without cost. Says Young, on his back” and he’s “forced to ‘take to the “I usually find battle scenes tough. It can be heather’ with his surviving men” relying “on a draining experience immersing yourself men and women from every social class and in these hellish events, imagining what from all across his kingdom.” your characters would have felt, witnessed, Bruce is an extremely complex hero, heard, even smelled and tasted. My partner brutal and deceitful yet inspirational and says he always knows when I’ve been unimaginably brave. That complexity drew writing a battle scene because I come out Young to him. “He isn’t your typical hero. of my study pale and drawn.” This is all so He’s the victorious rebel who gains a crown readers can “feel as if they’re there, however only to lose everything else. The broken repulsive or uncomfortable a place it is.” man who is forced to build himself back up Now that the last trumpet has sounded from nothing, learning courage, humility for Robert Bruce, Robyn Young’s mind is and passion. The good king who leads his already on a new series: “the Renaissance people to freedom.” But it isn’t just Robert’s Series (working title) is due to be set in character that drives this trilogy. Young the period between the end of the Wars of renders authentic and intimate portraits of the Roses and the birth of the Tudors and Bruce’s enemies – a real challenge “to create will follow soldier of fortune, Jack Vaughn, individual voices in such a large cast of characters – especially across war-torn Europe. It’s another time, like the Crusades, when so many of them have the same name! I did my dramatis when nations were clashing and struggling for supremacy and personae for Kingdom last week and discovered there are 130 the world was opening up. You’ve got war and intrigue, great characters in the novel, 92 of them real people.” power struggles, quests for new lands, towering kings and The battle of Bannockburn has taken on considerable political queens – all great material for the historical wordsmith!” Or significance this year with its 700th anniversary and the Scottish dot-to-dot artist. independence vote. Bannockburn is also Kingdom’s climax and its contemporary significance was just as important for Scotland. Kingdom, Book 3 of the Insurrection Trilogy, will be published Young contends that “this remarkable victory cemented Robert’s by Hodder & Stoughton UK on 5 June 2014. position as king in the eyes of the Scots… the English, under Edward II, were forced out of Scotland and… negotiations Gordon O’Sullivan is a digital project manager and a reviewer led, in 1328, to the Treaty of Edinburgh and the securing of for the HNR. Scotland’s independence from England.” Not bad for a battle

by Gordon O’Sullivan

It can be... 16 | Features |

a draining experience immersing yourself in these hellish events, imagining what your characters would have felt, witnessed, heard, even smelled and tasted.

HNR Issue 68, May 2014

Reviews |

online exclusives

Due to an ever-increasing number of books being reviewed and space constraints within HNR, many reviews are now published as online exclusives. To view these reviews and much more, please visit http://www.historicalnovelsociety.org/ reviews/?type=online

ancient history

SHE WROTE ON CLAY Shirley Graetz, Hadley Rille, 2013, $12.00, pb, 190pp, 9780989263122 She Wrote on Clay depicts daily life in the ancient Mesopotamian city of Sippar with great detail and scholarly research. I enjoyed Graetz’s depiction of an unusual group of women who foreswear having a family in order to live within the temple precincts and make regular offerings. Their high status and internal conflicts engage the reader. Within this community, Graetz’s heroine, Iltani, wishes to pursue an even rarer role for women, that of a scribe. The descriptions of the process of writing on clay and later, engraving in stone, are quite vivid. However, Graetz’s storytelling is less compelling than her historical portrayal. This is a quiet book. Iltani meets with challenges along the way but none that hold great tension or suspense, and all are quickly surmounted by the introduction of various helper characters who love and support the young scribe. This makes for a sweet novel, but not a page-turner. Like many excellent historians who turn to fiction, Graetz has succumbed at times to the temptation of including extended details that slow down the tale. However, since her details are genuinely fascinating, if you are looking for an entertaining way to learn about life in this ancient and exotic place, this is an excellent book to read. Judith Starkston DAUGHTER OF THE GODS Stephanie Thornton, NAL, 2014, $15.00, pb, 448pp, 9780451417794 For those passionate about ancient Egypt, there are few pharaohs as intriguing as Hatshepsut. In Thornton’s telling, Hatshepsut is the pharaoh’s second daughter, a bit of a tomboy who loves to drive her chariot fast, practice her archery skills, Ancient History — Classical

and make love to the handsome but dangerously ambitious Mensah. When her older sister dies, it falls to her to marry her half-brother Thut, become queen of Egypt, and bear a male heir. But it’s Thut’s second wife who bears him a son while Hatshepsut falls for his brilliant advisor, the commoner Senenmut. After Thut’s death, Hatshepsut rules as regent for her two-year-old nephew, but then takes on the mantle of pharaoh herself. Even as she leads the army to victory and oversees massive building projects, her enemies plot her downfall, putting everything – and everyone – she loves at risk. Hatshepsut, who began her rule in 1479 BCE, is considered by modern Egyptologists to be one of the most successful dynastic rulers and one of history’s most powerful and intriguing women. At the beginning of the book, I found Hatshepsut’s character – the typical out-of-control wild child – a little trite. It is her reckless behavior that leads directly to her sister’s death and sets her on the path to the throne, but it read a bit too modern for me. Nonetheless, it is, in Thornton’s hands, the defining event in the young girl’s life and the cause of Hatshepsut’s guilt as well as a primary motivation for her determination to be a good ruler, one worthy of her sister’s memory. For readers looking for strong and determined female protagonists or for those who can’t get enough of all things ancient Egypt, this is a recommended read. Kristina Blank Makansi

biblical

IN THE SHADOW OF JEZEBEL (Treasure of His Love, Book 4) Mesu Andrews, Revell, 2014, $14.99, pb, 412pp, 9780800721701 Princess Jehosheba was reared to be a Queen of Destiny, following in the footsteps of her domineering mother, Athaliah, Queen of Judah, and tyrannical grandmother, Jizebaal, mother of the King of Israel. Living in the shadow of these powerful women, Jehosheba fears their manipulative ploys to establish a stronger king on the throne and their iron-fisted control over her future destiny. In a ploy to increase the worship and dominance of Baal Melkart, Jehosheba, a priestess of Baal, is ordered to marry and seduce the high priest of Yahweh. Andrews’ latest novel is packed with political intrigue and the clash of two religions striving for dominance in Israel. Interspersed with references to the Bible and a character chart and family tree, Andrews provides guidance for the reader to the historical connection and a much-needed explanation of who the major players of the book

are, since so many character names are similar. The pairing of Jehosheba and the high priest (two completely opposite personalities) and their respective struggles with faith and healing make for a powerful look at what life may have been like in 843 BC in the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Lauren Miller THE THIEF Stephanie Landsem, Howard, 2014, $14.99, pb, 368pp, 9781451689105 It’s the time of the greatest prophet, the Messiah, awaited by the Jewish people of Jerusalem. It’s also the time of fierce Roman rule and a determination to stamp out anything and anyone providing a threat to Caesar. During the time of Pontius Pilate, the Procurator of this hotbed land, everything always seems on the brink of rebellion. Nissa lives with her blind brother, Cedron, and has been forced to become a thief, an option that could have her stoned at the Temple or brutally lashed by Roman centurions. Longinus is one of those centurions, a bitter man who mourns a great loss. He hates his service post until he finally makes a gamble to earn his way out of Jerusalem. For all his initial planning, even his best-laid plans go awry. Stephanie Landsem has written a beautifully crafted, inspiring novel that parallels two paths of turmoil. The inability of Roman soldiers to control these spiritual people, especially at the time of the Passover, parallels the danger for those who live day by day, never knowing if each will be their last. It also parallels the path Jesus has chosen, misunderstood by his followers but dramatically impacting all he meets. There is an interesting addition with the focus on just what it means to die for another’s sin or guilt – and no, you can’t imagine what it is, so unusual is this part of the story. As we approach the celebration of Passover for Jews and the Easter cycle for Christians, this is a wonderful, credible historical novel. Highly recommended! Viviane Crystal

classical

THE PRINCESS OF SPARTA (Heroes of the Trojan War) Aria Cunningham, Mythmakers, 2014, $12.99, pb, 302pp, 9781495304415 King Tyndareus rules Sparta in 1250 BC as one of the great superpowers of the time. When he sends word to the surrounding kingdoms that his beautiful 15-year-old daughter, Helen, seeks a royal husband, suitors arrive daily by ship to their harbor. Helen had watched as her twin sister was given to a king she did not love at the tender age of 13, moving to the faraway kingdom of Mycenae. HNR Issue 68, May 2014 | Reviews | 17

Helen fears her own upcoming marriage to a powerful stranger and leaving her loving father, but when the king instead gives his favorite daughter the choice of kingdoms to sail to, she does not choose wisely. Six years later, the unhappy princess finds a kindred spirit in the handsome Prince Paris, an ambassador of Troy who arrives in Mycenae to negotiate a peace. This historical novel, the first in a series, ends just as their relationship begins. It is interesting to read this historical fiction account of Homer’s famed Helen of Troy. The author shows her as a teenage girl growing into womanhood and how sad her life becomes. We also see Paris growing up as the least favored son in a large royal family, lonely and unloved. The reader gets a nice spin on how this couple could have been drawn together in the most dangerous romance of that period. As a reader, I was left wanting to read the next book in Aria Cunningham’s series, so that I can see how she will flesh out this next part of their lives. Legend has taught us how this will end, but the Heroes of the Trojan War series promises to bring it to life for me. Beth Turza AGE OF BRONZE: Betrayal, Part Two Eric Shanower, Image Comics, 2013, $28.99, hb, 175pp, 9781607067573 The preliminaries are over, and the Trojan War actually begins in volume 3B of Shanower’s graphic novel series. The Achean fleet lands at Troy. The prophetess Kassandra interrupts the wedding of Hektor and Andromache with her message of doom. Achilles kills Kyknos. Pandarus promotes a romance between his niece Cressida and Prince Troilus, arranging for them to spend a night together only to learn that she is to be exchanged for an important prisoner. Troilus splits a piece of cloth and asks that she keep half to remind her to be true to him, which she swears to do. But when Troilus meets Diomedes on the battlefield and discovers that Cressida has given Diomedes her piece of the cloth, he believes she has been false. The author includes an impressively extensive bibliography of sources, and a plot summary of the previous volumes. He also includes an afterword on how readers can contribute towards the modern-day archaeology of the Troy site. Since I had not read the other volumes and am not wellversed in Trojan history, I made extensive use of the genealogical charts and character list. Shanower’s drawing is admirable, especially in capturing the subtleties of facial expressions. He is also skillful in the use of shading and crosshatching to enrich the drawings. I was surprised at how graphically black and white lines can depict the awful ways of dying in sword-and-spear combat. Devotees of ancient history, sword-and-sandal film fans, and graphic novel lovers will all appreciate Shanower’s excellent series. I recommend starting at the beginning instead of with this volume, however. B.J. Sedlock

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HNR Issue 68, May 2014

1st century

AN ACCIDENTAL KING Mark Patton, Crooked Cat, 2013, £7.99, pb, 350pp, 9781908910875 Cogidubnus, once a Celtic priest, but now appointed Great King of Britain by the Romans, receives an important visitor to his sumptuous palace at Fishbourne in Sussex on a rainy day in 79 A.D. Cogidubnus’ briefing to his visitor sets off a trail of memories that take us around southern and eastern Britain and beyond as far as Rome, bringing in many historical characters both British and Roman, including Vespasian, Agricola, Cartimandua, and Boudicca. The atmosphere and culture of both the time and the place are convincingly described. There are many changes of period back and forth, and once or twice I got lost and had to backtrack to reorient myself. Places are all given their modern names, which is reasonable, except for only one strange exception: the island of Andium, which turned out to be Jersey, after a little online research. I liked the admiring picture of Cogidubnus, who is often represented as a Quisling who was made a client king and given his palace as a reward for treachery. The story is colourful, exciting, and unpredictable. Fans of Rosemary Sutcliff and George Shipway (an odd pairing, I admit) will enjoy this one. Alan Fisk THE DEADLIEST LIE June Trop, Bell Bridge, 2013, $13.95, pb, 208pp, 9781611943672 Miriam, Binyamin, and their father live in 1stcentury Alexandria, a city that vacillates between stunning beauty and wealth and harsh cruelty mounting against its Jewish residents. Miriam is resisting the increasing pressure to marry Noah, the son of a wealthy business partner. Her secret passion and dream is to become a reputable alchemist, a dangerous occupation since all who work with the mercury-laden elements are dying from exposure to its poison. When the scrolls she borrowed from Joshua, the bastard she really loves, are stolen, Miriam sets out to recover the priceless documents. At the same time her brother pursues his hope of leaving Alexandria to become a renowned gladiator. Much danger follows as the characters wrestle between embracing traditional roles to please their father and following their dreams. While the mystery of recovering the missing scrolls fuels the central plot of this mystery, the author provides beautiful descriptions of the architecture, jewelry, food, vegetation, commercial shops, and so much more that clearly defines Alexandria as a vibrant, energetic metropolis. Herein lie the mingling cultures of Greeks,

Romans and Jews, and readers will feel like they are really there, walking, eating, and observing what are exotic yet also familiar experiences. Readers will be surprised not only by the shocking discovery of the thief but also by the rapidly appearing tragedies and scenes involving the healing of years of misunderstandings. June Trop is a skilled mystery author who has created memorable characters and a rich depiction of the city known as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Finely crafted and fascinating historical fiction! Viviane Crystal

3rd century

HANNIBAL: Clouds of War Ben Kane, Preface, 2014, £12.99, hb, 438pp, 9781848094086 In 213 AD, Rome is at war with Carthage, and the town of Syracuse in Sicily is under siege. Outside the walls is Quintus, a brave servant of Rome and equestrian masquerading as infantry. Sent by Hannibal to help the rebels is Hanno, old friend of Quintus but on a mission to bring death to all Romans. As if loyalties could not be divided enough, Aurelia, Quintus’ sister and Hanno’s love from the past, becomes a captive in the besieged city. Kane is already well-known as a writer who delivers on immersing the reader in his world, and this book does not disappoint. His fight and battle scenes, whether on land or sea, are visceral and compelling. While I expected to (and was) engrossed in Quintus’ and Hanno’s struggle, Aurelia’s story was even more compelling for me. Much historical fiction of this type consigns women to the background at most. But Aurelia’s challenges are just as terrifying and heartbreaking (I will not risk spoilers by detailing what they are). As one would expect from Kane, they reflect the experiences of what many women from this period in history would have gone through and are all the more powerful for that. Enough questions remain to draw the reader into the next chapter in their lives, and it’s one I’ll be reading. Existing Kane fans won’t be disappointed, and this book deserves to increase that following. E.M. Powell

5th century

TONGWAN CITY Gao Jianqun (trans. Eric Mu), C. N. Times, 2013, $26.00, hb, 272pp, 9781627740067 On “a stage of great tumult… numerous heroes, beauties, and other fascinating characters made their spectacular and often dramatic debuts” in the late 4th and early 5th centuries AD. This is a novel about two key figures representing the formidable political and spiritual world of the tribe who created and developed Tongwan City, located in Classical — 5th Century

northeast China. One was a Hun general and the other a Buddhist monk from India. Helian became king of a city haunted by turmoil and destruction. This son of the great Chieftain of the West, Xiongnu, was a man hardened by a brutal childhood and the distrust rife in the “turmoil of the Five Tribes and the Sixteen Warring Kingdoms,” a harshness he later and frequently employed in battle and in ruling Tongwan City. He believed that fear would keep those he ruled compliant and obedient. Such rigidity did not stop him from being intrigued and impressed by the compassionate Buddhist monk, Kumarajiva, who taught a simpler form of Buddhism welcomed across all of China. Tongwan City reads partly like a novel, a history book, and a collection of legends, fables and allegorical tales, a most unique presentation that isn’t easy reading but is mesmerizing after one becomes accustomed to the shifting writing patterns. While the multiple characters are somewhat difficult to follow, it is well worth the effort to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the Huns who were strong enough to defeat and rule China for a brief period. Tongwan City is a notable contribution to understanding the history of a nomadic tribe transformed into a civilized people who toppled warring kings and created a lasting metropolitan wonder. Viviane Crystal

7th century

EDWIN: High King of Britain Edoardo Albert, Lion Hudson, 2014, $14.99/£7.99, pb, 320pp, 9781782640332 There are reasons why so little historical fiction has been set in England in the 7th century. Not only are contemporary accounts scarce, but the scant information they provide is of continuous conflict between warlike and vengeful rulers on the one hand and on the other of the struggle of the early Church to convert the barbarian tribes. Since the author adheres closely to his sources, the AngloSaxon chronicles and Bede’s Ecclesiastical History, these two preoccupations dominate his account of the life of Edwin, King of Northumbria and High King of Britain. Nor is it easy to establish much sympathy for the central characters, who are little if any better than their foes. The harsh reality is that if rulers hope to survive, they have to reward their followers continuously with victories in battle and loot pillaged from those weaker than themselves, until eventually they are defeated by someone younger and stronger: all very Darwinian, but a rather depressing vision of life. To illuminate the darkness of the Dark Ages, poets recited the glorious achievements of heroes like Arthur and Beowulf, but there is little of that here. Christian missionaries preached for more compassionate conduct, but it has little discernible effect upon the listeners. Although he eventually embraces 5th Century — 9th Century

Christianity, Edwin remains a calculating and predatory ruler, ready to strike without warning at a potential foe. This, the first of the Northumbrian Thrones series, offers a credible picture of the era, but the focus remains narrow. It will appeal to those who like their history authentic and wish to know more about a little-known time and place. Ray Thompson

8th century

THE SCRIBE Antonio Garrido (trans. Simon Bruni), AmazonCrossing, 2013, $14.95, pb, 363pp, 9781477848838 Theresa, trained to become a talented scribe, is about to take her final exam in Würzburg, Austrasia, in the 8th century. At a time when women are viewed as Eve, the first and ultimate sinner according to Christianity’s Bible, everyone but her father believes that no good will come of taking this exam, and this day turns into almost indescribable tragedy. Theresa flees the city for an unknown destiny, leaving behind confusion, mourning, and accusations. Theresa’s skills in reading and writing Latin and Greek serve to help her find a job copying codices and other works for the monk Alcuin of York, King Charlemagne’s right-hand man. Two mysteries arise out of a missing document written for Charlemagne by Theresa’s father. Numerous brutal fights, executions, murders and wounds ensue, and Theresa is hard-pressed to decide if Alcuin and a lover, Hoos, are sincere or are blatant liars contending for a mysterious ultimate prize. The desperate criminal characters are the glue that holds readers’ fascination along with Alcuin’s and Theresa’s unique powers of observation and connection. While the language between the latter is somewhat stilted and drawn out, the progressive steps to solve these mysteries are superb. Of even more interest is a question raised by Theresa regarding Alcuin’s fanatical quest to find what Charlemagne is desperate to possess. The Scribe depicts the primitive and challenging culture of medieval life within a riddle-ridden story, elements that are notably intriguing as well. In summary, The Scribe is exhilarating, highly recommended historical fiction. Viviane Crystal GOD OF VENGEANCE Giles Kristian, Bantam Press, 2014, £14.99, pb, 425pp, 9780593066195 Sigurd has been deserted by the gods. His father, Jarl Harald, and his kinsmen have perished in an almighty sea battle fuelled by the double treachery of King Gorm and Jarl Randver. Harald’s splendid mead hall and land have been despoiled, his wife and his people murdered. At 17 Sigurd is a hunted fugitive, his sister enslaved. Six of his comrades have survived, and they are joined by Crow’s Wing,

the skald, and the godi Asgot. Sigurd will force recognition from the gods who have shunned him. Emulating Odin the Allfather, starving, freezing, hanging from a tree in agony, he endures six days and nights, sustained by the godi’s dream-inducing potions. The gods acknowledge him, and now his purpose is revenge. Life is worth little as he scours land and sea for men or women like himself who value honour above all. Leaving a trail of blood, he now has 15 men and one woman, a true shield maiden. Nothing is spared of the reality of the ensuing implacably violent and bloody encounters, but there are some wonderful characters who will surely engage any reader’s support, especially Olaf the veteran: he surveys the results of mayhem; spilled guts, severed limbs and heads with indifference or contempt. In times past when he was a boy, Vikings really were Vikings. Glorious, always apposite metaphors and similes are rewarding reminders of the natural beauty of Norway. This novel is of a higher calibre than the entertaining Blood Eye and a spectacular success. Nancy Henshaw

9th century

THE POLARIS WHISPER Kenneth Gregory, Blackstaff, 2013, £8.99, pb, 457pp, 9780856409127 This story begins in the year 830 AD, turns back to 801 AD (and drops by 831 AD, 835 AD, 800 AD, 836 AD, 837 AD, 802 AD, and 838 AD) then moves to 840 AD. Add in that the story begins with a prologue that has no given time and that the reader must follow several different sets of characters, and you will see why I found it difficult to get a grip on what was happening. I couldn’t decide which character was the hero – there isn’t a heroine – a disinherited and exiled Norseman, Vidar, or the son, Niclaus, he places into foster care while he spends years on a quest to find a glacial cave. The reader is not told what the import of such a discovery might be, but the dwarf who charged Vidar with this quest has invested considerable wealth and time into the venture. The tale also involves two monks working on illustrated manuscripts; one becomes involved with the dwarf ’s request for a secret book, and the other decides he must have the power he thinks it will confer. Initially the pace is slow, but the last third of the book has a strong, faster-paced theme. It follows the Trial of Endurance in which Niclaus must win a race across the winter landscape against four other contenders, battling the wilderness, wolves and treachery. The book is an odd mixture of fantasy and the harsh reality of living in such a time, and the writing, especially the dialogue, is equally mixed. I feel that to understand and appreciate what was going on, especially since this is said to be Book 1 of a trilogy, I should settle down and begin the book again. Jen Black HNR Issue 68, May 2014 | Reviews | 19

10th century

THE MIRACLE THIEF Iris Anthony, Sourcebooks, 2014, $14.99/£9.99, pb, 384pp, 9781402285318 The Miracle Thief is set in France of the early 900s, a period of political turmoil, Viking invasion, and a decidedly Dark Age for women’s rights. Charles the Simple sits on a precarious throne, attacked directly by Danish forces under Rollo, and indirectly by his cousin, the Count of Paris. Charles the “Straightforward,” however, is not the focus of the novel. Instead, the story moves between the points of view of Juliana, the concubine of Charles’ youth; Gisele, the daughter resulting from that relationship; and Anna, an orphan cursed from birth by a deformed hand. Each woman needs a miracle, and the saint they petition is Catherine, whose finger-bone relic resides at the Abbey of Rochemont. Gisele, the princess offered in marriage to Rollo as part of the famous bargain for peace that resulted in the Danish possession of Normandy, may or may not have existed historically. Iris Anthony cleverly creates a plausible historical context for a legend. In the process, she most convincingly – and starkly – evokes the powerless position of women and the disabled in 10th-century France. Less convincing are the two rather hastily developed and concluded romances at the novel’s end. So too, occasional anachronisms crop up: the Danes ride glorious “Frisian” horses with wavy manes, Gisele hears noises “out of synch,” and the Vikings are stereotypes – all tall, blonde, bearded, wearing furs and bearing axes. In an author’s note, Anthony herself admits that the knight Andulf ’s character is chronologically inaccurate. Further, characterisation is occasionally uneven and dialogue confusing. Nevertheless, The Miracle Thief treats of a fascinating topic within a little-mined historical setting. The near magical power of saints and their relics seems to transport us to a different reality, one in which the miraculous climax of the novel is not at all out of place. Carol Hoggart

11th century

PEOPLE OF THE MORNING STAR: A Novel of North America’s Forgotten Past W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O’Neal Gear, Tor, 2014, $25.99, hb, 496pp, 9780765337245 In the 11th century, the Mississippi River city of Cahokia is at its zenith. Hundreds of thousands of people live in this “mound society” and worship their gods; the leader of the city has assumed the personage of Morning Star, the divine hero of the tribe. A member of the ruling clan of Cahokia, he is in danger from an unknown assassin. Matron Blue 20 | Reviews |

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Heron tries to keep the assassination attempts quiet as she tries to discover who is causing these crimes. She enlists the help of a local thief named Seven Skull Shield, while another of her clan, Lady Night Shadow Star, whose husband had been killed by a local tribe, uses the captured leader of that tribe, Fire Cat Twelvekiller, to help protect her. I have read many Gear books over the years, but this was probably one of the most difficult of their stories to remain interested in. With over 100 characters and numerous clan and spirit names, I found it hard to follow. After 20 pages, I began to highlight the character names; it wasn’t until I was about 150 pages in that I was able to follow the plot. If future books in this new series are anything like this one, I will not even waste my time reading them. The authors are both archaeologists who know the history of the Cahokia nation. Before I read this book, I did some research about this tribe of Native Americans and found this book to be accurate in its descriptions of the people’s culture and lifestyle. If you can get by the number of characters and the side stories of their spirit gods, then you may enjoy this book. If not, I would not recommend this novel. Jeff Westerhoff IMPERIAL FIRE Robert Lyndon, Sphere, 2014, £18.99, hb, 512pp,

A KING’S RANSOM

9781847444998 In this sequel to Hawk Quest, Vallon, older, harder and perhaps even wiser, has become one of Byzantium’s great generals. Emperor Alexius is deeply suspicious of all brilliant and possibly ambitious generals, and has the perfect assignment for this one. Vallon will escort a diplomatic embassy into the ancient, legendary region of China, his own specific task to obtain the secret of Imperial Fire, a weapon said to outdo Byzantium’s own deterrent of Greek fire. Failure will mean degradation or execution. More likely the whole expedition will vanish forever. Treachery accompanies him, but Vallon will have the advantage of old comrades: Hero, physician; Wayland, hawk master; Wulfstan the Viking. Soon detached from the main mission, Vallon and the escort face an extraordinary journey. The sparse inhabitants are wary, cheating, hostile or simply intent on massacre and plunder. Terrain of beauty and terror, mountains so high as to inhibit breath, desert sand dunes that change shape when the wind blows, impassable lakes, and underground rivers into darkness: all is told with a fund of original and striking metaphors. So far, so thrilling. What makes this novel exceptional is an in-depth characterisation seldom found in the adventure genre. The ruthless author does not hesitate to eliminate anyone, however endearing or charismatic in the story; this, he tells you, is how it

E D I TORS’ C H OICE

Sharon Kay Penman, Putnam, 2014, $35/C$40, hb, 704pp, 9780399159220 / Macmillan, 2014, £18.99, hb, 704pp, 9780230768055 Historical fiction can be a tricky genre to write and read because many times we know how the story is going to end. If the author is diligent, however, that is no impediment because the story becomes less about the destination than the journey. Sharon Kay Penman knows this, and nowhere is it more evident than in her brilliant final novel of the Angevins, A King’s Ransom. Told from multiple viewpoints, A King’s Ransom is ultimately the story of Richard I’s imprisonment at the hands of the German Heinrich and the years following his release. Richard’s time as a prisoner is fraught with worry, demands, and fear, and once he regains his freedom, he spends his remaining days trying to recapture the lands and loyalties lost to France during his unwelcome custody. Richard’s arrogance and brilliance drive his actions, and he is proven to be his parents’ son as he re-establishes himself as king. As much as this novel is Richard’s, it is also the story of his mother Eleanor’s fears for both her sons, his brother John’s attempts to gain power, and his sister Joanna’s support amid the chaotic, turbulent family. Filled with familiar faces such as William Marshal and Queen Berengaria, the story is balanced well by the appearance of fictional characters such as Welsh cousin Morgan and even Justin de Quincy. Now back to the one problem with A King’s Ransom: It being historical fiction, I knew how it was going to end. I found that I had to push myself to get through the emotional ending, not wanting history to continue to its unflinching conclusion. Yet I was rewarded with perhaps one of the sweetest epilogues ever when I did finish. Breathtaking and riveting, this is how historical fiction is supposed to be done. Highly recommended. Tamela McCann 10th Century

must be. If the dwindling band reaches its fabled destination, the masterly centuries-old Chinese bureaucracy will surely have Vallon foaming with rage and frustration. Nancy Henshaw

12th century

THE CASTLE OF WHISPERS Carole Martinez, Europa, 2014, $22.95/£15.99, pb, 181pp, 9781609451820 The Castle of Whispers is the tale of 15-year-old Esclarmonde, who, on her wedding day, chooses the living death of an anchorite over marriage to a violent man. Thus cloistered from the world, she develops a reputation for holiness that is really based on manipulation and begins to believe in her own power, directing the lives of others for good and ill. The Castle of Whispers is a strange tale of brutality and madness made all the weirder for Carole Martinez’s use of magical realism to justify a mystical vocation her main character shows no signs of actually possessing. The prologue and epilogue place the reader in the position of one who is exploring the ruins of the old castle and encounters one of its ghosts, Esclarmonde herself, who must tell her story to gain freedom from the stones that have entombed her spirit for over a thousand years. Thus begins a tale that on its surface is about religious vocation and mystical experience, but is really about how the madness of a single person can change the fate of many. Over the course of the book, several characters succumb to this insanity based in religious fervor traceable back to Esclarmonde, and the results are nothing short of tragic. Magical realism is not my cup of tea, but if you like it and take your stories dark and twisted with a dash of religious fervor, The Castle of Whispers might just be the tale for you. Nicole Evelina

13th century

THE WINTER KING: A Hawkenlye Mystery Alys Clare, Severn House, 2014, $28.95/£19.99, hb, 240pp, 9780727883490 England in 1211 is a dangerous place in more ways than one. When a baron who was close to King John dies under suspicious circumstances, healer Meggie d’Acquin is summoned to investigate; soon afterward, a young squire is murdered near Hawkenlye Abbey, causing Meggie and her father, Josse, to suspect a larger plot may be at work. Matters are further complicated by a mysterious old woman whose visions prophesy the king’s doom, visions soon shared by Meggie. As the body count grows, Meggie and Josse must find the connection between these events and uncover the plot before it’s too late. 12th Century — 14th Century

With a large cast of characters and multiple points of view, it may take a while for a newcomer to get everyone straight; however, this does not detract from enjoying the story. Much attention is given to historical detail, particularly abbey life and knowledge of herbs and medicine. Meggie’s supernatural skills do feel somewhat out of place in a murder mystery, but reading the previous titles would no doubt be helpful. Regardless, The Winter King is an entertaining murder mystery in a rich historical setting. Heather Domin GRAIL KNIGHT Angus Donald, Sphere, 2013, £17.99, hb, 414pp, 9781847445087 After following the outlawed Earl of Locksley in his many adventures as Robin Hood, Alan Dale feels ready to settle down in his manor of Westbury, with his beloved wife at his side. It soon becomes apparent, though, that if he thinks he is done looking for trouble, trouble is not done looking for him, in the shape of the French Templars he once helped cheat and rob in France. With his manor burned down, and his wife ailing and likely cursed, Alan has little choice but to join in a quest for the Holy Grail, the mystical cup rumoured to cure all illnesses – that also happens to be the object of Locksley’s obsession. Latest in a series that re-imagines the legend of Robin Hood, this novel brings on board the myth of the Grail, together with evil Templars in the way of Walter Scott. The result is a vivid, colourful, adventurous page-turner, in which well-loved characters face old and new foes. Chiara Prezzavento THE BLOODY CITY C.B. Hanley, The Mystery Press, 2013, £7.99, pb, 224pp, 9780752497044 This novel follows on from The Sins of the Father (HNR 49), now also reissued by The Mystery Press, and takes place only a few days later. It is May 1217, and young Edwin Weaver, having come to the attention of his politically suspect lord by his acute memory and deductive and arithmetical skills, is now carried off to the besieged city of Lincoln. French and rebel forces hold Lincoln, except for the castle. The relief force into which Edwin has been called up, commanded by King Henry III’s Regent, William Marshal, is approaching. Edwin is sent into Lincoln to make contact with loyalist citizens within. Having had to turn detective in the previous novel, Edwin must now turn spy, but he finds himself dealing with murders and with the question of who is treasonably aiding the French and rebels. Espionage, mystery, and romance combine to make The Bloody City an entertaining read, although you may find it helpful to read The Sins of the Father first for more of the backstory. Alan Fisk

14th century

SINFUL FOLK Ned Hayes, Campanile, 2014, $15.99/C$17.99, pb, 362pp, 9780985239305 England, 1377. Mear has been disguising herself as a man for almost ten years, raising her son and helping out at the smithy. Then her child and four other boys are killed in a mysterious fire. Mear sets out with other men from their remote village to take the five boys’ corpses to London to seek the king’s justice. Their trek is filled with hardships and revelations as Mear’s life-threatening secrets are unveiled and she finds bittersweet redemption at the end of the journey. This riveting, poetic story puts Mear and her companions through a series of brutal medieval adventures. It is a little difficult to suspend disbelief at times, because it seems impossible that the characters could survive the frigid winter and other perils that beset them. Life is relentlessly cruel, but halfway through the book the reader can start to guess who Mear’s lover was, and why it was necessary to hide herself and her child. It seems incredible that Mear’s true gender was never discovered during the village years, but that it is noticed so quickly by a relative stranger during one of their adventures. Still, this is a rich medieval tapestry of a story, and offers an intriguing fictional answer to one of English history’s unanswered questions. It is not a happy story, but it feels very authentic, as if the author had actually lived in the Middle Ages. Medieval fans should like this. Elizabeth Knowles THE SCANDALOUS DUCHESS Anne O’Brien, Harlequin MIRA, 2014, £7.99, pb, 624pp, 9781848452985 It is 1372. The young widow Lady Katherine Swynford is facing destitution after the death of her husband. She appeals to John Plantagenet, Duke of Lancaster, for a position in his household. But his offer is not one of servant or maid: it is to become his mistress. Although Katherine wrestles with her conscience, she soon gives in to her desire for John. The novel chronicles the challenges and triumphs of their 25-year love affair. Though many novelists would balk at attempting a story on this scale, it is clear that O’Brien approaches it with relish. Her writing is highly evocative of the time period, and her portrayal of the characters of Katherine and John is skilful. They are at times highly conflicted about their affair, and it is a relationship that had serious implications for Katherine’s reputation and happiness. We really feel her despair at her position but grow to admire her strength and courage in how she deals with it. John’s wife, Constanza, is also well drawn, and the scenes where she tries to assert her position are tense and bitter. Rumours turn to open accusations when the affair is made public. Katherine has to face the loss of her lover as well as the dangers of revolt. HNR Issue 68, May 2014 | Reviews | 21

The reader is kept guessing as to whether she will find lasting happiness with John. The conclusion is gentle, moving and satisfying. O’Brien has produced an epic tale of love and loss which is to be admired. E.M. Powell REST NOT IN PEACE Mel Starr, Lion Hudson, 2013, $14.99/£7.99, pb, 254pp, 9781782640080 Bampton Castle, near Oxford, England, 1368: This, the sixth chronicle of Hugh de Singleton, surgeon, finds Hugh settled down both into married life and into his role as bailiff for Lord Gilbert. Lord Gilbert asks Hugh to provide a sleeping draught for Sir Henry Burley, a visitor at Bampton, and shortly afterward the man dies in his sleep. Although at first it appears the death was natural, Hugh soon discovers that Sir Henry was slain in a particularly devious manner. Hugh’s investigation takes him down several avenues, and deep into the secrets of Sir Henry’s family. I have enjoyed reading several of Mel Starr’s previous Hugh de Singleton mysteries. Rest Not in Peace proves no exception to that pleasant rule, but the book easily stands alone. Hugh, a genuinely likeable sleuth and character, seems a true man of his era. This mystery is well researched, well plotted, and well written. Although the difficulties of life in the 1360s are not glossed over, Starr provides a relaxing foray into a different era. Highly recommended for all fans of medieval and historical mystery. Susan McDuffie A SLENDER TETHER Jess Wells, Fireship, 2013, $17.50, pb, 202pp, 9781611792614 Three novellas combine to create a greater whole in Jess Wells’ A Slender Tether. Fourteenth-century France was submerging into a period eventually known as “the little ice age,” a nearly 200-yearlong era of climate change that caused harsher and longer winters in the northern hemisphere. The book brings together a cast of characters from all ranges of common society during this period. A young woman, Christine de Pizan, the court physician’s daughter (and an actual historical figure), struggles with her desire to be a writer and scholar in a time when it was not an appropriate path for women. There is a doctor coping the death of his wife; a paper maker, Bernard, whose failing eyesight may cost him his livelihood; a merchant’s daughter fearing an arranged marriage; a hunter, Jean; a falconer; and the unlucky singer, Guillaume. This cast is woven together, their stories loosely and yet intimately connected. Wells has artfully captured with economy and delicacy a time in history that is overlooked in favor of more revolutionary time periods. Notably, instead of focusing on royalty or nobility – often the inclination of historical fiction in this period – Wells has focused on ordinary people. Each of these characters is struggling with survival, their desires, and the ridged reality of society at the 22 | Reviews |

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time. For a relatively short book that is comprised of three even smaller parts, one at times wonders what exactly the “tether” is. But, as the story draws to a close, one realizes the tether is both in the interwoven threads of characters within the story as well as the similarity of their struggles. One is left feeling connected to these people, and their cold harsh time comes across beautifully in this well-written and researched work. Hanne Pearce

15th century

PRINCE OF SHADOWS Rachel Caine, Allison & Busby, 2014, £7.99, pb, 411pp, 9780749015138 / NAL, 2014, $17.99, hb, 368pp, 9780451414410 Did you ever wonder, when reading Romeo and Juliet, about the staid, reasonable, slightly dull Benvolio? If you did, in this book Rachel Caine provides you with an answer, making him the halfEnglish “spare Montague” and, at night, a daring thief – for both profit and the hell of it. With Benvolio a sort of Robin Hood, Romeo a bumbling, if good-hearted fool, Mercutio more than a little mad, Juliet an insignificant child, and Rosaline a much pluckier Capulet, the old tale soon twists and turns out of familiar ground. Perhaps, with its very, very vague late-medieval setting, Prince of Shadows is not so much a historical novel as a retelling with a supernatural twist, good characters and a likable narrating voice – occasionally awkward in its mix of Shakespearean and un-Shakespearean language. Unfortunately, in recreating her violent and

dangerous Verona, Caine seems to have relied on a modern map of the city, and so has her characters visit such places as Via Mazzini, a street named after a 19th-century father of Italian unification. Chiara Prezzavento THE KING’S CORRODIAN Pat McIntosh, C & R Crime, 2013, £18.99, hb, 307pp, 9781472101051 A widely disliked lay pensioner, the corrodian of the title, has seemingly vanished from a locked chamber within Perth’s Dominican priory, and the Devil himself has been seen abroad that night. Gil Cunningham, a Quaestor or criminal investigator, is sent to dig into this mystery, and his questions soon elicit accounts of blackmail, theft, nasty secrets and ancient murder within and without the walls of the priory. As the bodies start to mount up, Gil has to rely on his wits and the educated insight of his wife, Alys, to solve this damnable puzzle. This is the tenth novel in a continuing historical detective series set in 15th-century Scotland and featuring Gil Cunningham, and that extensive backstory shows with the main returning characters being very well-drawn and the background period detail both authentic and authoritative. This particular tale is a fairly convoluted but finally satisfying mystery which moves forward at a fair clip. The only real weakness for this reader was the amount of dialect used in the dialogue throughout the novel, which can make the conversations hard to follow at times but which is often leavened by a wee dollop of humour. The King’s Corrodian is, in the end, an enjoyable mystery. Gordon O’Sullivan

THE TEN THOUSAND THINGS

E D I TORS’ C H OICE

John Spurling, Overlook, 2014, $27.95, hb, 368pp, 9781468308327 / Duckworth, 2014, £18.99, hb, 368pp, 9780715647318 Wang Meng is a low-level government worker in 14th-century China. A gifted painter who is devoted to his art, Wang becomes entangled in this turbulent era of Chinese history, a time when opposing military forces are trying to overthrow the Yuan Dynasty. He gets caught up in the fighting between two powerful bandit chiefs, Zhu and Zhang, who wish to take control of the country. John Spurling is a well-known British playwright and art critic, and he uses his art background in developing the main character and his obsession with painting pictures, evoking precision and depth; his paintings come to life with vivid pictures of trees, waterfalls, and fields of beauty. The author’s knowledge and understanding of the political turmoil in China in the 14th century are excellent. He did a masterful job of drawing me into this era of Chinese history. The culture and politics of this tumultuous time are clearly presented and bring the period to life. The characters are credible and products of their time. This sweeping novel should be on your bookshelf if you wish to learn more about China’s history and feel the pain of those forced to live under totalitarian rule. I highly recommend this novel. Jeff Westerhoff 14th Century — 15th Century

FIRE AND SWORD Louise Turner, Hadley Rille, 2013, $18.50, pb, 454pp, 9780989263139 In June 1488 two Scottish armies meet at Sauchieburn. The Sempills of Ellestoun fight for their king, but lose to the king’s son’s forces. When John Sempill comes to amidst the carnage, he finds his father’s corpse. Young and unwed, he is the new laird and Sheriff of Renrew. It’s the last thing that he wanted. The fallout from the battle falls hardest on John, as the new king, having supplanted his father, consolidates his power. John and his people must endure the fire and sword policies enacted against those who had fought for the old king. He must find a way to cooperate with the man who killed his father, the very man who might come to be his patron. And he must earn the love of his bride, a woman who despises him. Turner gives her readers and thorough grounding in these tumultuous times in Scottish history, including a detailed historical note at the end revealing that nearly every character in the book is an actual historical figure. Being Scottish herself, her knowledge of the history and the land shine through the narrative. John proves to be a complicated and compelling young man, one the reader can readily sympathize with. The book is brutal in places and left me at times emotionally drained. But that just shows that I came to care about the characters. Recommended. Justin Lindsay CICELY’S KING RICHARD Sandra Heath Wilson, Robert Hale, 2014, £8.99, pb, 345pp, 9780719812330 We pick up this story in the early days of Richard III’s reign, when Elizabeth Woodville has gone into sanctuary in Westminster Abbey with her children, including her two eldest daughters, Elizabeth (Bess) and Cicely, after the death of Edward IV. Richard has been crowned King of England, acting on the belief that Edward’s marriage to Elizabeth Woodville was bigamous, and his children by her therefore illegitimate and barred from succession to the throne. Henry Tudor lurks in the background and, thanks to the machinations of his mother, Margaret Beaufort, an agreement is made with Elizabeth Woodville that after his invasion of England and the deposition of Richard, he will marry Bess and so unite the houses of Lancaster and York. In this novel the well-known story of Richard III’s reign as portrayed by the Tudor annals and by Shakespeare is refreshingly absent, and Richard is shown in a totally different light. Even so, it is as unconvincing as the famous hunchback portrayed by Lawrence Olivier. It is a well-known Tudor rumour that Richard poisoned his wife, Anne, to marry his niece, Bess, because Anne was unable to give him another legitimate heir after losing their only son, but in this version of the story it is Cecily whom Richard loves, and she him. The author admits in her notes that she has no sound basis for writing this love story between 15th Century — 16th Century

Richard and Cicely, nor that of Cicely and John of Gloucester. In my opinion she has missed a golden opportunity for righting an historical wrong by letting her imagination totally run away with her – with the result that it does no more credit to Richard than the usual much-maligned version. Disappointing. Marilyn Sherlock

16th century

A STITCH IN AIR Lori Marie Carlson, Texas Tech Univ. Press, 2013, $24.95, pb, 199pp, 9780896728134 In 16th-century Granada, the convent of Saint Margaret’s houses a community of sisters renowned for their fine lace making. This novel is the story of their unusual community and in particular of Adela, abandoned there at age five by her mother. The other sisters, among them the Abbess Ana, Milagros, Sister Clara, saintly little Beatriz, and bitter Sister Dulzura are finely drawn in this gossamer novel, like the delicate lace the sisters fabricate. But the self-contained and magical life of Saint Margaret’s will soon be threatened, both by reported claims of heresy and by the forces of nature herself. Carlson writes lyrically. The picture she paints of life at Saint Margaret’s is colorful and engaging, the foibles of the inhabitants, endearing. The author states that many women in nunneries did not have a religious vocation and she wanted to tell their story. Although my nerdy research side wondered a bit at some of the plot twists and depictions of life at Saint Margaret’s, when read as a work of magical realism, A Stitch in the Air is charming, as sweet and delicate as the luscious saffron buns baked by the sisters at Saint Margaret’s. Recommended. Susan McDuffie THE QUEEN’S MAN Rory Clements, Hodder & Stoughton, 2014, £17.99, hb, 386pp, 9781848548442 This is the sixth novel in Clements’ John Shakespeare series, although it is a prequel to his first book and is set in 1582. I have been a big fan since the beginning, and this latest addition is no exception. Fears of Catholic plots swirling around the imprisoned Mary, Queen of Scots are rife. Shakespeare is given his first major investigation role, which is made more difficult by the enforced companionship of the fanatical Topcliffe. The sense of time and place cannot be faulted and really brings home to today’s more secular and tolerant reader the impossibility of reconciliation between religious viewpoints and the way that religious affiliation was the key political debate and issue of loyalty. Family problems with John’s brother William are also part of the plot, and the shadowy historical character of Anne Hathaway is given flesh. The plot is tense with last- minute rescues and bloody

fights. At the end, bodies litter the ground like the finale of a Shakespearean tragedy. Historical notes added afterwards add veracity to an exciting, wellplotted adventure investigation with twists, turns and believable, well-created characters. Highly enjoyable and highly recommended. Ann Northfield BEATRICE AND BENEDICK Marina Fiorato, Hodder & Stoughton, 2014, £19.99, hb, 426pp, 9781848548015 Written as a prequel to Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, this book tells what might have happened prior to the events of the play. The press release tells us that hidden within Shakespeare’s comedy are several clues that Beatrice and Benedick had a previous youthful love affair, and so the author weaves a tale around how they met, parted and met again. She also expounds on the identity of Shakespeare himself and comes up with the theory that he was not born in Stratford and was not even English but Italian, or to be more exact a Sicilian from Messina, and that this explains his knowledge of Italy. She even gives him an Italian name, Crollanza, which translated becomes Crolla (Shake) and Lancia (Spear). Her Author’s Notes are worth reading. To be fair, I don’t quite see how all of this fits into the genre of historical fiction other than through the Shakespeare connection. Whatever the case, this is a good read with plenty of action, and if you enjoyed the play you will like this book. If you are not familiar with the play I would suggest that you google up the synopsis of it and read that first. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will look up other books written by this author. Marilyn Sherlock THE VENETIAN BARGAIN (US) / THE VENETIAN CONTRACT (UK) Marina Fiorato, St. Martin’s Griffin, 2014, $15.99, pb, 416pp, 9781250042958 / Hodder, 2012, £6.99, pb, 416pp, 9781848545670 It is the year 1576 on the Christian calendar, and the Ottoman Sultan means to take revenge on the Venetians for destroying his 300-ship fleet at the Battle of Lepanto. And his strategy is quite ingenious. He is returning one of their captured ships, and aboard it, a man suffering from the plague. Our heroine, Feyra, is the ship captain’s daughter and, though she contracts the plague, both she and the plague victim survive. When all disembark at Venice, the tension in the story rises dramatically. But Feyra is no ordinary young woman. She was trained as a physician to the women in the Sultan’s harem and possesses knowledge of the medical arts. It is this and her courage that ultimately save her and the city of Venice. The Venetian Bargain has several interesting subplots and numerous unexpected twists. The depiction of life in Constantinople and Venice feels authentic, as do the descriptive details of the city’s history during the plague years. If you are willing to suspend your disbelief in the very early pages, you HNR Issue 68, May 2014 | Reviews | 23

will be rewarded with hours of reading pleasure. Veronika Pelka THE GIRL WITH THE PAINTED FACE Gabrielle Kimm, Sphere, 2013, £6.99, pb, 480pp, 9780751550344 Set in 1582 in Italy, The Girl with the Painted Face tells the story of the young seamstress, Sofia Genotti – a vulnerable, sensitive and heartwarming heroine who must go on the run after being falsely accused of theft. Sofia joins a troupe of travelling actors as their costume mistress, but is soon appearing on the stage as a budding actress. When she falls in love with fellow actor, Beppe, life seems finally to be treating her well, until Sofia is wrongly accused of murder and forced, once more, to run away. Through her scrupulous research and vivid descriptions, the author has woven an historical tale that is both entertaining and educational. Sixteenth-century Italy and the world of the Commedia dell’Arte are vividly brought to life; the reader is almost able to see and smell the countryside, the crowded taverns, the lively marketplaces, and the colourful characters, some of whom have very dark and dangerous sides. I found The Girl with the Painted Face a nice, simple read, a cosy mystery with no great surprises or plot twists and turns. I would recommend this as an easy read for historical fiction lovers who enjoy tales of adventure, romance and a whodunnit in the storyline. Liza Perrat HER LAST ASSASSIN Victoria Lamb, Bantam Press, 2014, £18.99, hb, 348pp, 9780593068021 This is the third novel featuring Lucy Morgan, lady-in-waiting to a now aging Queen Elizabeth I, Lucy’s guardian Faithful Goodluck, and William Shakespeare. The Queen is under threat from a Catholic conspiracy that may be coming from abroad or within her own court. Her loyal spy Goodluck is charged with discovering who is behind this conspiracy. The result is a gripping, exciting read that is part historical fiction, part thriller with a hefty dollop of romance. The brisklypaced story is told from the four perspectives of the main characters. Lamb executes this with style. Each of the stories intertwines with the others in four very individual voices, with excellently observed characterisation. Lucy has many conflicting loyalties and desires and has the extra challenge of living as a black woman in Elizabethan London. Goodluck is courageous and resourceful but has had conflicts in his own past that come to the fore and have to be resolved. Elizabeth’s descent into older age with its attendant fears and losses is poignant, but never maudlin. I would defy anyone to read Shakespeare’s story within the novel and not be deeply moved. I was also completely engrossed in the setting. Lamb’s sense of time and place is vivid and evocative and pulled me deep into the world of the novel. But while deeply descriptive, her prose is always 24 | Reviews |

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deft and economical. The only minor criticism I would have was the cover design. I did not expect the mystery/thriller elements to be as strong as they were, as the cover reflected a more traditional historical fiction read. I believe this novel has many elements that would appeal to fans of C.J. Sansom’s Shardlake series. Highly recommended. E.M. Powell THE RED LILY CROWN: A Novel of Medici Florence Elizabeth Loupas, NAL, 2014, $16.00/C$18.00, pb, 448pp, 9780451418876 April 1574. Daughter of an anti-Medici bookseller and secret alchemist, Chiara Nerini is driven by her family’s hunger and poverty to sell her dead father’s remaining alchemical equipment to Prince Francisco de Medici, the heir to the Florentine ducal throne. Alchemy-obsessed Francisco forces the virginal Chiara into his dark and forbidding world as his soror mystica, his sister in the mysteries of alchemy. Francisco is in search of the elusive alchemical compound to formulate the Philosopher’s Stone, which can confer on the discoverer the thing most desired, including immortality. English alchemist Ruanno dell’Inghilterra is the third member of the alchemical trinity and Chiara’s mentor and teacher. The attraction they feel, forbidden by the vow of chastity forced upon Chiara by the Prince, is not their only danger. Once Francisco inherits the throne from his dead father, Duke Cosimo I, he rules with an iron fist, destroying strangers, family and friends heedless of the consequences, uncaring about the blood on his hands. Elizabeth Loupas has written with the authority of an expert on Medician Florence and imbued her story with tension, treachery, and terror. The reader cannot resist the urge to turn the next page to discover if love or hate will be victorious, whether darkness or light will prevail. Though the story stands alone, Loupas provides a list of characters and detailed author’s notes for those unfamiliar with Florentine history and the Medici family. I thoroughly enjoyed The Red Lily Crown and recommend it without reservation to anyone who loves historical fiction. Monica E. Spence THE SECRET LIFE OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE Jude Morgan, St. Martin’s, 2014, $26.99/C$31.00, hb, 464pp, 9781250025036 / Headline, 2012, out of print We know little of the glovemaker’s son from Stratford. We know he was married at age 18 to Anne Hathaway, a woman six years his senior, and had a child shortly after the marriage. He lost a child to the plague. We know he was a great playwright – perhaps the greatest of all time – having left Stratford to become a player and ultimately a play-maker in London. He became wealthy and respected, had a sponsor and wrote sonnets about a Dark Lady who, to this day, is

suspected of being any number of women. Morgan has his own theory. Morgan crafts a tour de force in this novel, one which often demands some patience from the reader – who will be rewarded with painfully beautiful prose. We see a struggling and selfquestioning Will; an aching and lonely Anne, an obnoxiously glorious Marlowe, a self-righteous and brilliant Ben Jonson. The players are all brilliant. The plays are secondary. We do not see Will struggling with his words, which seem to spring full-blown. Obviously there are those who are jealous of his talent. Written in the tone and rhythm of Shakespearean prose – in Will’s voice, in Anne’s head, in Ben Jonson’s banter with Will, in Marlowe’s pushing the limits of Will’s patience – Morgan nails the times and personalities. Peopled with well-known actors and aspiring playwrights, this is more than well-worth the read and the time. In retrospect, I am left wondering what part of Will’s life is here revealed to us as “secret” – is it his unspoken homosexuality? His inability to truly love? The effect of his father’s denial of love to him and his to his father? I believe that each reader may decipher that secret for himself or herself as Morgan reveals it. Ilysa Magnus PAINT Grace Tiffany, Bagwyn, 2013, $15.95, pb, 266pp, 9780866988025 Paint is the fictionalized story of reallife Emilia Bassano Lanier, a member of the family of Elizabethan court musicians, the first Englishwoman to publish a book of poetry, and quite possibly the “Dark Lady” of Shakespeare’s sonnets. Orphaned and painfully shy, Emilia artificially darkens her hair and skin with elaborate potions in order to assume an Italian persona, so that she might hide in the background at the queen’s court. She achieves the opposite, her dark, exotic beauty attracting the rich and influential, including the Lord Chamberlain and William Shakespeare. Repeatedly used and discarded by powerful men, Emilia must use her wits to carve out a life of her own. Tiffany, a professor of Shakespearean and Renaissance literature, is clearly an expert on the times. She weaves Italian phrases and period details throughout the book, including a fascinating look at the cosmetics of the era. Emilia is portrayed as a savvy survivor, and yet remains one of her own worst enemies. Shakespeare, Raleigh, and others are portrayed unsympathetically, as men who only want to use her for their own ends. The real shame is that Emilia’s poetry is treated almost as an afterthought, mentioned only in passing until the last third of the novel, and only intermittently then. If you are looking for an overview of who Shakespeare’s “Dark Lady” may have been, this is a good place to start, but a portrait of the woman as a writer remains elusive. Rebecca Henderson Palmer 16th Century

17th century

THE PAINTER’S APPRENTICE Charlotte Betts, Piatkus/Trafalgar Square, 2013, $12.95/£7.99, pb, 391pp, 9780749954598 On the cusp of England’s Glorious Revolution, a family is drawn into dangerous political events while desperately trying to save their safe-house for the melancholy from financial ruin. Beth, eldest of the four Ambrose children of Merryfields, is a gifted painter specializing in reproducing lifelike plants and flowers on canvas. Through a wellconnected relation, she comes to the attention of the illustrious Bishop of London, Henry Compton, known for his love of gardening, and is asked to further the work of the recently deceased botanical artist, Alexander Marshall. Just as she’s settling into her beloved new profession, Beth is swept into intrigue involving a member of the king’s court. Meanwhile, she is struggling with personal matters and must choose sides between family and friends split by religious factions. I wasn’t aware of this upon picking up the novel, but it is an extension of the author’s characters from a previous book, The Apothecary’s Daughter. However, it doesn’t read like a sequel; the flow is natural for a stand-alone. There are many endearing and well-rounded characters, but a few did not have balanced personalities. The sometimes predictable plot is redeemed by a significant twist in the second half of the story, and at that point it picks up momentously and is wrapped up nicely with a satisfying close. With an uncommon setting in an interesting, under-written era and relevantly dramatic circumstances, this novel will appeal to a wide range of historical readers. There is romance and mystery, art and architecture, as well as psychological and herbal remedies strewn throughout the narrative. The rebuilding of London after the Great Fire and events surrounding King James II’s short reign are brought to life in this vibrant tale. Arleigh Johnson THE SPICE MERCHANT’S WIFE Charlotte Betts, Piatkus, 2013, £7.99, pb, 381pp, 9780749959289 This novel is set during the 1666 Great Fire of London and its fascinating but less well-known aftermath. The heroine is the wife in the title. To get my misgivings out of the way, there is an actual recipe at the end of the book along with countless descriptions of baking throughout. My feeling is if I want a recipe I’ll go to my grandmother or to a cookery book, not to a novel, but I suppose the publishers know their market. Having said that, I found it an interesting read with plenty of descriptions of the living conditions of ordinary people whose lives were devastated by the fire. The encampment of the homeless on Moor Fields is particularly telling. This is a romance, and the hero makes a fetching debut with his sea-green eyes and matching coat – 17th Century

and then there are the red-heeled shoes. I thought this might be a difficult act to pull off, as such accessories along with an interest in perfume are not usual in your standard hero, but I was pleased to find that by the end of the book he does deliver. Thoroughly nice and suffering physically as he must, he’s always there when needed, proving himself a proper hero in the final mini-conflagration. The villain, a property speculator – as then so now – is suitably nasty. But for the incessant baking, I would have enjoyed this more. It’s a pity the blurb on the back gives away an essential of the plot, but I suppose murder always sells, too, so it would have been folly to miss a chance. Suskind’s Perfume this is not. That’s a very different world; this is rather more pleasant and undemanding. Cassandra Clark THE ORENDA Joseph Boyden, Knopf, 2014, $26.95, hb, 448pp, 9780385350730 / Oneworld, 2013, £16.99, hb, 496pp, 9781780744353 Historical novelists, according to Hilary Mantel, allow readers to feel what it was like to live during a particular historical moment. Joseph Boyden achieves this and more in his third novel, The Orenda. Samuel de Champlain has established the province of Québec, giving the Jesuits an opportunity to bring Christian light to the indigenous population. The Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) and the Huron (Wendat) are at war. The story opens to reveal the tribal customs of revenge and of adopting the children of your dead enemy. Yet Bird, Boyden’s protagonist and one of the three first-person narrators of the novel, also brings back a Jesuit priest as part of the booty from his raiding party. Christophe is a religiously devout man whose mission to convert those he calls “sauvages” leaves no room to appreciate the spirituality of the people who saved his life. Snow Falls, another narrator and the daughter of the man Bird has just killed, resists Bird as a new father, on occasion submitting to Christophe’s proselytizing in an attempt to anger Bird. The Jesuits want Huron souls for God, but the Wendat have their own spirituality in a land that is as fierce and unforgiving as their enemy. The novel opens before the death (1635) of Champlain. It follows the father-daughter bond that develops between Bird and Snow Falls and the mixed results of Christophe’s proselytizing. This novel is also explores the ancestors of Niska and Xavier Bird, the two first-person narrators of Boyden’s World War I novel, Three Day Road, and Annie and Will Bird, the two first-person narrators of Boyden’s contemporary novel, Through Black Spruce. By connecting the past with the present, Boyden emphasizes the depth and richness of the past for all indigenous people while he explores the damage they do to each other. His characters have depth and complexity, make an indelible image, and provide a fascinating journey into the past for those who want to experience life in the wilderness of 17th-century Canada. Terri Baker

THE CRIMSON RIBBON Katherine Clements, Headline, 2014, £19.99, hb, 344pp, 9781472204202 This story concerns Elizabeth Poole, who really did appear before the Army Council in the days before the trial of Charles I, where she spoke of visions and argued for the life of the King. Her pamphlets can still be read in the British Library. In the book, Ruth Flowers, a servant girl in Cromwell’s household in Ely, has been accused of witchcraft by Samuel Ward, a local man, and flees to London, where she is taken in by Elizabeth Poole. They become close. When Samuel turns up in London and recognises Ruth, the two women escape to Abingdon. The main thrust of the book is the frenzy over witches which took place at this time and the fervent wish to seek them out and destroy them, all set against the background of the Civil War. I found it interesting but heavy going in places. Although half the characters are based on real people, they don’t come across any more clearly than the fictitious characters, such as Ruth Flowers and Joseph Oakes, who were put in to flesh out the story. The author also takes several liberties with the facts. Her Author’s Note says it all: ‘We don’t know much about Elizabeth Poole, who she was or why she was given a voice during one of history’s most controversial prosecutions. This novel is my attempt to answer those questions… to that end I have invented certain things and altered others.’ Marilyn Sherlock THE SHADOW QUEEN Sandra Gulland, Doubleday, 2014, $25.95, hb, 336pp, 9780385537520 / HarperCollins Canada, 2014, C$29.99, hb, 400pp, 9781554687817 Set in 17th century France during the reign of the Sun King, The Shadow Queen chronicles the life of Claudette des Oeillets, a woman whose childhood was spent travelling the French countryside as part of her family’s acting troupe and whose adult life included time spent as personal servant to Louis XIV’s mistress, Athénaïs de Montespan. After the death of her father, Claudette and her family move to Paris, where they find work in a famous Parisian theatre. Despite Claudette being afforded the opportunity to work with some of France’s greatest playwrights and perform for members of the French court, players are looked down upon by society and banished from the Church. It is this section of the novel that proves to be the most rewarding, as Gulland vividly brings the colourful personalities and politics of the 17thcentury theatre to life. Through her life in the theatre, Claudette comes to the attention of Athénaïs de Montespan. Deciding to leave the theatre behind, Claudette agrees to serve as personal attendant to Athénaïs, who as mistress to Louis XIV is one of the most powerful women in France. Athénaïs’ need to maintain power at any cost, however, prompts Claudette to reconsider her own position. Although set at court, given that the narrative is told from Claudette’s perspective, the reader doesn’t get much HNR Issue 68, May 2014 | Reviews | 25

THE ANATOMY LESSON

E D I TORS’ C H OI C E

Nina Siegal, Nan A. Talese/Doubleday, 2014, $25.95, hb, 288pp, 9780385538367 Offering a glimpse into a distant place and era often requires a sleight-of-hand trick or two from writers. They produce the flavor of the place and times, sometimes with scanty details, relying on plot and characters to carry most of the story. That is not the case with The Anatomy Lesson. Virtually every sentence is drenched in the atmosphere of 17thcentury Amsterdam. We feel as if we are walking at Rembrandt’s side, in a cell awaiting the execution of a thief, rushing through the streets with the condemned’s lover in hopes of saving him. This is a novel to be absorbed for its rich evocation of a single day when one man died and another rose to fame for his art. True, Siegal’s masterful imagining of the tale behind the famous painting that launched Rembrandt’s career holds no surprises. We know that Aris the thief will end up on Dr. Nicolaes Tulp’s slab. And yet we are drawn to read on. Siegal chooses to tell the tale through seven well-focused points of view. The players are labeled with an aspect of either body or mind, necessary to keep them straight, since all seven narrate from the first-person perspective. And so, Aris the thief is (or will be) The Body. Flora, the woman bearing his child, is (appropriately) The Heart. Fetchet, the procurer of cadavers and oddities, is The Mouth. Descartes, the famous philosopher, stands in as The Mind. Nicolaes Tulp, as the anatomist, is The Hand. And Rembrandt himself, observing all that happens, is The Eyes. The seventh voice we hear is of Pia, a 21st-century art historian. Getting used to hearing so many characters speaking up as “I” takes awhile, but once one is acclimated there is little to do but sit back and soak up the 17th century for as long as this brilliant novel lasts. Kathryn Johnson of a feel for court life or how Athénaïs interacts in it. As a result, the context for some of Athénaïs’ actions, which always involve Claudette, is absent. While The Shadow Queen is ostensibly about Claudette, it is Athénaïs who proves to be the more compelling of the two characters. As a result, when Athénaïs’ principal part in the narrative came to an end I didn’t find the story as engaging. Melissa Morrisey DARK AEMILIA Sally O’Reilly, Myriad Editions, 2014, £14.99, hb, 436pp, 9781908434500 / Picador, 2014, $26.00, hb, 448pp, 9781250048134 Sally O’Reilly has presented a colourful, enthralling, erotic, magical and mysterious debut novel based on extensive historical research. She presents a fascinating woman in Aemilia Lanyer Bassano who, in 1592, enjoys a privileged position at the ageing Queen Elizabeth I’s Whitehall court as the mistress of the Lord Chamberlain. Shimmering, beautiful, outspoken, impatient Aemilia is well-educated and highly intelligent and aspires to become a published poet, despite this being the preserve of males. When introduced to playwright William Shakespeare, neither of them can deny their feelings for each other. Forced to leave court when pregnant, she accepts an arranged marriage to a handsome court musician, Alfonso Bassano, and is housed near the court 26 | Reviews |

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at Westminster, served by Joan Daunt, a skilled apothecary. Aware of her son Henry’s paternity, she ends her passionate affair with Shakespeare, who in the depression of betrayal writes and publishes his sonnets describing her as his Dark Lady. Vengeful enemies use witchcraft against her, but she confounds them and emerges as a survivor. When plague threatens, she uses both orthodox and unorthodox methods to try to save her son’s life. A coincidental meeting with Shakespeare at the hour of her greatest need, and a brief meeting with the Queen after a ten-year interval had me questioning plausibility, but the author truly reveals insight into what Tudor life was like for Aemilia. The story contains realistic characters and is full of passion, and intriguing plot developments that enthral from start to finish. Historical notes, a chronology of background events, a glossary of terms, and short biographies of actual characters complete the book. Aemilia’s story was so compelling I did not want it to end. It demands a sequel. Highly recommended. Janet Williamson MARBECK AND THE PRIVATEERS: A Martin Marbeck Mystery John Pilkington, Severn House, 2014, $28.95/£19.99, hb, 192pp, 9781780105178 London, 1604. In the third of a series (after

Marbeck and the King-in-Waiting, 2013), Lord Cecil gives his skillful intelligencer what appears to be a routine assignment; but Marbeck smells a rat. The accession of James I/VI to the throne in 1603 ended Elizabethan laissez faire on the open seas. Those who can no longer attack and loot Spanish vessels with impunity are finding more dastardly ways to use their ships. When Marbeck follows his suspicions, he uncovers the illegal operations of powerful pirates called the Sea Locusts. Like James Bond with a soft heart, Marbeck interprets his remit loosely, wins his battles with tricky weaponry, and rescues a helpless maiden, while ending a vicious kidnapping and slavery operation – which is exactly what Lord Cecil had in mind. Marbeck’s extensive perambulations through named streets and neighborhoods are tiresome. The author knows 17th-century politics, however, and his plots are clever enough to hold the interest of discriminating readers. Recommended for anyone who enjoys a swashbuckling adventure. Jeanne Greene A DIVIDED INHERITANCE Deborah Swift, Pan, 2014, £7.99, pb, 520pp, 9780330543446 Set in Jacobean London in 1609 and then Spain, this book tells of both the fashionable lace trade and the religious conflicts between Catholics and Protestants in England as well as between Catholics and the Muslim Moors in Spain. It begins in London with Nathaniel Leviston’s lace business, in which he is helped by his daughter, Elspet. Her mother has died, but all is going well until Zachary Deane appears on the scene, purporting to be Nathaniel’s son. A ne’er-do-well, he quickly gains support from Nathaniel, who sends him on a Grand Tour to improve their business connections. Shortly afterwards Nathaniel dies, and Elspet discovers, to her horror, that Zachary has inherited almost everything, even the house she lives in. She goes to Europe to find him and regain her inheritance. This is a long book of over 500 pages, and I found it somewhat tedious. It took a long time to get into it, as it is very slow moving, although it did improve in the second half. The characterisation is not impressive, and I did not warm to either of the two protagonists. The historical research is good and detailed, but I felt that the author had tried to include too much, concentrating more on the religious conflicts of the day than the lace-making industry with which she begins the story. It was almost as if having done the research, she was not going to allow the reader to miss any of it. This is the first time I have read this author, but I am not drawn to repeat the experience. Marilyn Sherlock

18th century

THE PURSUIT LITTLEJOHN

TAMSEN

17th Century — 18th Century

Lori Benton, WaterBrook, 2014, $14.99/C$17.99, pb, 400pp, 9780307731494 The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn, Lori Benton’s second novel, is set in the Appalachian Mountains in western North Carolina and Tennessee in the 1780s, right after the American Revolution. This inspirational novel tells the story of Tamsen, a young woman who escapes an arranged marriage to Ambrose Kincaid by fleeing with frontiersman Jesse Bird. Right before she runs away, Tamsen’s mother is killed by her stepfather, but not before her mother lets her know they both carry a secret, a secret that would make marriage to Kincaid impossible. As Tamsen leaves, she takes her mother’s special box with her, a box that will have the answers Tamsen seeks. As they travel to the Watauga settlement, Jess and Tamsen slowly fall in love, even though they face many hardships on the frontier trail. The love story is predictable, but tension is added when they discover they are being pursued by Kincaid, who believes Tamsen has been kidnapped. As the story progresses, Tamsen is not the only one with a confused identity; for Jess, too, things are not what they seem. The novel delves into a chapter of American history that might be new to some: the formation of the independent State of Franklin. As Tamsen and Jess travel, their journey is made more dangerous by this smoldering political development, and the addition of this interesting situation enhances what might be an otherwise typical frontier tale. Benton does a good job with writing descriptions of the area, but the Indian names, such as ThunderGoing and Catches Bears, are a bit distracting, especially when Catches Bears is referred to as “Bears.” Readers who enjoy the colonial period of American history will most likely also enjoy this novel. Anne Clinard Barnhill TURNING THE STONES Debra Daley, Heron Books, 2014, £16.99, hb, 434pp, 978184866617 In 18th-century Cheshire, Em Smith, a foundling, was fostered by the Waterland family, first as a playmate and later as a lady’s maid to their daughter, Eliza. Em’s destiny would seem to be tied inevitably to the family, but on a trip to London, she discovers there is no record of her arrival at the foundling hospital or of the Waterlands as her foster parents. On an excursion to a pleasure garden with Eliza and her brother Johnny, she is drugged and comes to in a strange house next to the murdered Johnny. Fearing arrest, she flees. After various adventures, Em is washed up on the Galway coast where, mysteriously, it seems she has been expected. Daley is superb at landscape, atmosphere and weather. The Waterland house in its Cheshire fishing port, Em’s sea journey and most particularly, 18th-century Ireland are beautifully captured. A shipwreck and the depiction of life in primitive Irish villages –these alone would make the novel 18th Century

SECRECY

E D I TORS’ CH OICE

Rupert Thomson, Other Press, 2014, $16.95, pb, 320pp, 9781590516850 / Granta, 2014, £7.99, pb, 320pp, 9781847084828 Set in late 17th-century Florence at the Medici court of the Grand Duke Cosimo III, Secrecy tells the story of Zummo, a talented sculptor, and a man on the run from his past. His work pleases Cosimo, who, in secret, commands him to create a lifelike woman in the artist’s favorite medium: wax. Disappointed in love by his beautiful French wife, Cosimo has instituted a rule of sexual repression, which has led to a community full of spies and informers, backed by torturers and police. This has also led, inevitably, to a situation in which an allpowerful Dominican, Stufa, can abuse the power of the confessional and extract sexual, business and political favors from those who confide in him. Stufa believes that Zummo, now privileged by the secret commission, is a threat to his absolute control, and a gripping battle to the death ensues. Every character in this brilliantly executed historical hides a secret and most of those, from bastardy to murder, are eventually revealed. While never faltering as a historical novel – the particulars of day-to-day life and the arcana of Zummo’s disturbing art form are not scanted – Secrecy is also a stunning literary piece. The author uses language with as much skill as his hero Zummo uses wax, and the luminous city of Florence reveals a shocking core of corruption and darkness. If you are a fan of Umberto Eco, don’t miss Secrecy. Highly recommended. Juliet Waldron worth reading. The stoicism of the Irish kelp harvesters in the face of grinding poverty is very powerful. But we also have a strong heroine in Em; her travails keep us on tenterhooks. Mrs Waterland and Johnny make sly antagonists. The structure of the novel flips back and forth over time and place but the reader, if occasionally bewildered, is never completely lost. If the complicated plot’s conclusion is just this side of preposterous, never mind. Suspend belief and enjoy. Lynn Guest THREE WEEKS WITH LADY X Eloisa James, Avon, 2014, $7.99/$9.50, pb, 400pp, 9780062223890 1799. Lady Xenobia India St. Clair, a marquess’s daughter, is in constant demand by members of the ton looking for guidance on matters of taste, and assistance on all matters from matchmaking to the latest fashions. Her latest challenge: turn Thorn Dautry, former mudlark, bastard son of a duke and self-made man, into a sophisticated, elegant gentleman worthy of marrying a lady – in three weeks! Sparks fly between the well-bred India and the diamond-in-the-rough, Thorn, in some of the funniest dialog in historical romance. Neither of them sees passion creeping up until it explodes between them. But the course of love never runs smooth: each has ghosts to eliminate, memories to face, expectations to evaluate before either is worthy of the other’s heart. James has written a complex, very funny and

touching story of love, loss and vindication. Her characters have personality and depth, her plotting is complex and keeps the reader turning pages well after she should be on to more mundane tasks like laundry or editing her own next novel. I can’t recall when I have enjoyed a romance as much as Three Weeks with Lady X. I recommend it. Monica E. Spence FAR BEYOND RUBIES Rosemary Morris, MuseItUp, 2014, $10.95/ C$12.95, pb, 224pp, 9781771274067 Inside Riverside House in England in 1706, the seventh baron William Kemp is heard shouting at his 18-year-old attractive half-sister: “Bastards, Juliana! You and your sister are bastards.” He plans to banish them from Riverside. William has not only inherited the title but is claiming the estate as well. Juliana knows that under her grandpère’s will, she was the rightful heir. Juliana has to prove her legitimacy and her claim. Juliana and her sister flee Riverside to seek legal counsel in London. With William in pursuit, Juliana meets a suave gentleman named Gervaise. He has recently returned from India, having amassed a fortune and a dark complexion to boot. He offers to help Juliana in her quest as he is immediately besotted by her, for she reminds him of his late Indian wife. His proposal leads to more than a helping hand. Rosemary Morris has penned a magnificent historical romance with superb, intimate descriptions and politico-religious conflicts of HNR Issue 68, May 2014 | Reviews | 27

E D I TORS’ C H OI C E

SEDITION

Katharine Grant, Henry Holt, 2014, $26.00, hb, 320pp, 9780805099928 / Virago, 2014, £14.99, hb, 304pp, 9781844089840 As a fan of K.M. Grant’s historical fiction for children, I was eager to read her adult debut. Set in London in the late 1700s, Sedition is a darkly comic tale of music and sexual politics. Four wealthy businessmen have five marriageable daughters among them, and the fathers have decided their fortunes will buy the girls titles. The daughters, save one, are nothing special in themselves, so in order to attract the attention of eligible young lords, the fathers come up with a plot. They buy a piano, hire a teacher, and schedule a concert to which gentlemen will be invited and the girls’ talents displayed. Everything that can go wrong does. The embittered piano maker convinces the piano teacher to seduce the five innocent girls, ruining them for marriage. The daughters prove difficult to teach. The piano teacher’s seductions don’t go quite as he’d hoped. Somehow, the men who imagine themselves in charge find themselves undermined every which way. This is a startlingly good read. Grant, a skilled writer, makes each of the characters distinctive. She immerses the reader in late 18th-century London. The novel relies heavily on music, and when the characters sit down to play, you can practically hear the piano. It’s a wonderful story that is not as farcical as the plot outline would suggest. Underlying it all is the darkness of the sexual politics and the sex, which permeates the story. Love plays very little role, although there is an impressive love of music. And although I recommend this fascinating story, be prepared for an adult book. Sue Asher the era which immerse us into an elite society. The inclusion of snippets about Indian customs, religion and cuisine give the story a unique flavor. While the ending is predictable, the plot twists in Juliana’s and Gervaise’s quest and the evocative narration of the sexual tension between them keeps us turning the pages. Highly recommended. Waheed Rabbani WHISPERS OF VIVALDI Beverle Grave Myers, Poisoned Pen Press, 2014, $14.95, pb, 288pp, 9781464202100 Tito Amato is back, and this time he has a plan to save his beloved Teatro San Marco: A new opera called “The False Duke” that will surely amaze Venice and prove that Tito is worthy of becoming the new director of the Teatro. Only he has to convince the Savio alla Cultura of the Opera and bring in a new castrato, Angeletto, and navigate the rumors of whether this new singer is really a boy or a girl in disguise. As if this wasn’t enough trouble, Tito finds himself the sole suspect of the murder of his mentor and current director of the San Marco. He vows to unravel the murder, set the rumors about Angeletto to rest, and bring “The False Duke” to its grand opening. With her novel set in Venice of 1745, Beverle Graves Myers delicately weaves both an operatic and visual tapestry of a city that was fevered with opera. Myers builds a complex mystery and sets it in a beautiful world long since past. Her characters are as vivid as the city she sets them in. A strong 28 | Reviews |

HNR Issue 68, May 2014

AN ELEGANT SOLUTION

book for anyone who loves historical mystery. Bryan Dumas EMPRESS OF THE NIGHT: A Novel of Catherine the Great Eva Stachniak, Bantam, 2014, $27.00, hb, 400pp, 9780553808131 It is 9 AM on November 5, 1796. Catherine II, Empress of Russia, is 67 years old. Her splitting headache is followed by numbness in her hand. By the time her attendants find her minutes later on the floor of her privy, she has suffered a massive stroke. During the next 36 hours, Catherine, who cannot communicate, relives her life, from her days as the young and innocent Princess Sophie to being the most powerful woman of her time. Using vignettes peppered with returns to Catherine’s sick bed, Stachniak tells the story of Catherine’s family, her marriage, her “favorites,” her successes and failures. The purported insatiable sexual desires that have sometimes colored opinions about Catherine’s success in building an enormous and powerful empire are underplayed in many instances. (Indeed, were she a man, those sexual liaisons would have had no part in determining her success as a ruler.) Her most significant liaison with the man she called Grishenka – the man who helped her build her empire and the highest in the pantheon of “favorites” – is the glue that holds the story together, even after Grishenka’s death. The other glue is her distaste for her inadequate

E D I TORS’ CH OICE

Paul Robertson, Bethany House, 2013, $14.99, pb, 432pp, 9780764205705 The name “Bernoulli” is as recognizable to mathematicians as “Tudor” is to historians. The Bernoulli brothers, Jacob and Johann, each in turn the Professor of Mathematics at the University in Basel, significantly advanced the new fields of calculus and probability; and in the next generation Johann’s sons – Daniel, Nicolaus, and Johann II – equaled or exceeded their father’s accomplishments. It is an interesting fact of history that another mathematician, Leonhard Euler, now recognized as one of the world’s greatest intellects, spent his formative years within the Bernoulli family sphere. In An Elegant Solution, set in 1725, Leonhard Euler is an eighteen-year-old student with a particular keenness of mind that allows him to see ‘other than by sight.’ As he walks the streets of Basel, the remote past is as vivid to him as the present and the spiritual realm as obvious as the physical. This same gift enables him to see and understand the deep laws of mathematics. “I lived in an invisible world of logic and theorem more evident to me than ink and paper...” When a coachman’s body is found in a trunk, Leonhard becomes involved in the investigation, and it is not long before he begins to suspect that someone in the Bernoulli family may be responsible. Leonhard’s fondness for the entire family does not blind him to the bitter rivalries amongst them as they compete for prized positions and honors. This is one of the most intriguing works of historical fiction I have ever read. Leonhard, a likeable genius with a subtle sense of humor, narrates with a voice that is both analytical and lyrical. Although it is a challenge to follow his thoughts down their unusual pathways, the journey is a fascinating tour of academia during the Age of Reason. Highly recommended. Nancy J. Attwell 18th Century

son and her abiding love and devotion for her grandchildren, whose stories form a significant portion of the last segment of the book. Although the novel read quickly and it was absorbing, I found myself at the end asking whether I thought it was a recommended read – a situation in which I rarely find myself. After reconsidering how I felt about Catherine – somewhat distanced and not being able to bond with her on a consistent level – I decided against a recommendation. The only time I felt close to Catherine, and understood her motivations and feelings, was when her grandchildren played a role in the storyline. Ilysa Magnus THE REBEL PIRATE Donna Thorland, NAL, 2014, $15.00/C$17.00, pb, 381pp, 9780451415400 Donna Thorland’s latest novel, like her debut The Turncoat, tackles the complex loyalties and shifting allegiances of the American Revolution. This time the action unfolds in Boston Harbor, where British naval commander James Sparhawk has captured a ship carrying gold and flints toward the Rebel forces. The tables are turned on Sparhawk by Sarah Ward, the daughter of a once powerful pirate now crippled by illness.

MY NAME IS RESOLUTE

Romantic sparks fly, but Sparhawk cannot make a commitment to Sarah until he has proven his own identity and decided where his loyalties lie. His hesitation throws Sarah into the company of the man Sparhawk would least have her meet, and into the power of her dangerous, amoral former lover. Having enjoyed the surprises and complexities of The Turncoat, I was dismayed to see The Rebel Pirate starting out like a straightforward romance. Happily, though, the hero and heroine were soon forced into different paths and the story began to take on some satisfying twists. It slowed down a little after that, only to become fast-paced and convoluted toward the end. I came to the conclusion that Thorland is more comfortable writing the history of battles, raids and intrigues than love stories, and the unevenness of tone may be due to the effort to recreate the romantic heat of The Turncoat. Other than the revolutionary setting, there is little in common between the two novels other than the presence of the spy known as the Widow, and a heroine who is caught between gentility and wildness. I enjoy Thorland’s writing, which is lively enough to carry the reader through any number of plot twists. Her command of dialogue is excellent, as is her attention to historical detail. I’ll be looking

E D I TORS’ C H OI C E

Nancy E. Turner, Thomas Dunne/St. Martin’s Press, 2014, $27.99/C$31.99, hb, 593pp, 9781250036599 Turner’s engrossing novels always present hardy, intelligent women who endure challenging historical circumstances, and her fifth book is no exception. As Resolute Catherine Eugenia Talbot spins the tale of her long, eventful life, the story zips along merrily while providing superb attention to detail. It is entrenched in its era – the tumultuous decades leading up to the American Revolution – and lets readers experience the ever-changing scenes alongside the heroine: her terrifying time belowdecks on a pirate ship; her degrading years of slavery to a Puritan family; the thoughtful pride she takes in her handicrafts as she secretly works for the patriot cause. And much more. In 1729, Resolute and her siblings are torn from their British parents’ Jamaican plantation by Saracen pirates. Only ten, she doesn’t see how her older sister, Patience, protects her innocence. Resolute, “Patey,” and their brother, August, are separated and reunite multiple times, their futures determined by their fates on this forced voyage. As a child, she is feisty yet occasionally naïve; as an adult, she is resourceful and devoted to her loved ones. Resolute’s perspective matures over time, and she learns from both others’ cruelty and kind treatment. Among the best advice comes from a barmy Scottish widow who helps her when she’s left alone in Lexington, Massachusetts: “You must ha’e a boon… a means to go on if all comes to fail. A woman is a fool that lives from penny to farthing and n’er looks to the possibility of loss.” As Resolute settles into her new American identity, she discovers how to ensure her own livelihood – and teaches others the same. Although fictional, Resolute represents the diverse women whose strength was woven into the fabric of early America. Full of adventure, romance, and unexpected surprises, her account remains captivating throughout its nearly 600 pages. What a fabulous story; what an inspiring life! Sarah Johnson 18th Century — 19th Century

out for her next novel. Jane Steen

19th century

PIG’S FOOT Carlos Acosta (trans. Frank Wynne), Bloomsbury USA, 2013, $27.00, hb, 333pp, 9781620400814 / Bloomsbury, 2013, £12.99, pb, 352pp, 9781408833704 Oscar Kortico, descendant of the founding family of a small, poverty-struck hamlet in a far flung part of Cuba, takes readers on a wild ride through three generations. He has inherited both the magical pig’s foot amulet of the title and the story of his family and how it interweaves with his country’s history. As his tale unfolds with the quality of a fable, we learn that Oscar’s relatives were fearless fighters in the 19th-century war against Spanish occupation, originated Art Deco architecture, and taught the first world champion boxer to hail from Cuba. They are unschooled and educated by Emilio Bacardi, the rum baron. They are sensitive poets and horrible monsters, bent on destruction. Family feuds abound, as do secrets, but there is plenty of affection among all the combustible relationships. Characters are gunned down or laugh themselves to death over the sly, surreal narration. And the colorful heritage of a multi-race people and culture teems with life. Throughout his story, Oscar is more interested in the deep past than his near present, and by the end, readers find out why. He’s about as reliable a narrator as Don Quixote. A triumph of magical realism, translated in its glory by Frank Wynne. Eileen Charbonneau THE DARING LADIES OF LOWELL Kate Alcott, Doubleday, 2014, $25.95, hb, 304pp, 9780385536493 Typifying the experiences of Lowell’s mill girls in the 1830s, Alice Barrow leaves her restricted farm life in New Hampshire, hoping to make her way in the world by taking a job working the looms in a Lowell, Massachusetts textile factory. There, she experiences relentlessly long hours and dangerous work conditions and, over time, comes to represent the working girls’ grievances with the mill owner’s family. Through her boldness, she soon catches the eye of the mill owner’s son, Samuel, and becomes wrapped up in the murder trial of her closest friend – an event that is based on a real-life situation. Alcott’s second novel under this name (she has previously written as Patricia O’Brien) explores the harsh life that these young women have chosen, as well as the promise of freedom. I felt the descriptions of the lifestyles, housing, and working conditions of Lowell’s mill workers were apt, having visited the Lowell mills myself and been fascinated with the harshness of this life. However, the book offered a taste of the details I have been craving but did not completely fulfill my HNR Issue 68, May 2014 | Reviews | 29

expectations. The novel could have used stronger character development – it seemed there was just enough to keep the reader engaged – such as more detail wrapped into the plot and expanded sensory descriptions. The smell of the mills lingers to this day in Lowell, a powerful reminder of the claustrophobic conditions, yet this kind of detail is not conveyed here. This novel had the potential to be excellent but sadly fell short. Andrea Connell THE SCANDALOUS ADVENTURES OF THE SISTER OF THE BRIDE Victoria Alexander, Zebra, 2014, $7.99/C$9.99, pb, 352pp, 9781420132243 Delilah, the widowed Lady Hargate, has a delicious fling in 1887 New York with an attractive man she never expects to see again. Then he appears at the family’s English manor to attend her sister’s wedding. Delilah tries to pretend she does not know or like the wealthy, eligible Samuel Russell. After finding only heartbreak in her first marriage, she now intends to avoid love and all the distressing problems that can go with it. Can Samuel change her mind? Will this engaging couple manage to overcome their differences and find true love by the end of the story? Any reader of light, frothy Victorian romance will know what the resolution must be, but the fun lies in the journey to the happy ending. Some may think Delilah’s objections to this eminently suitable bachelor are a little weak, but this is a minor quibble. Ancillary

SILENT WE STOOD

characters are lively and help speed the plot along, while Samuel’s motorwagon is almost a character in itself. Fans of early automobiles will chuckle at Delilah’s reluctance to ride in it. This is Victoria Alexander’s thirtieth novel. Elizabeth Knowles THE CHINA MEMOIRS OF THOMAS ROWLEY Dean Barrett, Village East Books, 2014, $12.95, pb, 222pp, 9780978888831 Based on the once lost memoirs of Thomas Rowley, this novel takes the reader on an erotic and subservient journey through the Taiping Rebellion (1850–64). Rowley is an American soldier for hire serving in China under “the devil soldier” Frederick Townshend Ward. Within the first few pages, Rowley finds himself fighting, and then captured by, the Taiping women warriors – women who held a zealous grasp on the contorted Christian beliefs of the Taipings and ferocity in battle defending it. Upon his capture it is left to Taim Moi (Sweet Little Sister), a girl of no more than nineteen, to break Rowley like a horse is broken and mold him as her slave. Rowley endures beatings that leave his backside raw, the humiliation of being ridden naked like a horse, and the mischievous sexual slavery of Sweet Little Sister as she matures into a young woman. Despite it all, Rowley finds that he is falling in love with Sweet Little Sister and, in the end, is willing to sacrifice his own life to protect hers.

E D I TORS’ C H OI C E

Henry Chappell, Texas Tech Univ. Press, 2013, $29.95, hb, 352pp, 9780896728325 This novel is based on a true event: a fire occurring in Dallas, Texas in July 1860 in which three slaves were accused of arson and hanged without a proper trial. In Dallas, there are a number of abolitionists working in secret to help escaped slaves flee across the border into Mexico. Joseph Shaw, an undertaker, along with his freedman assistant Samuel Smith, helps to hide the slaves at his home and transport them south using his coffins as “human carriers.” Ig Bodeker, a local preacher, and his wife, Rachel, assist his endeavors. Other major characters include an African-American named Rebekah, along with a onearmed runaway slave who helps move escaped slaves to Dallas. Filled with suspense and human drama, this novel could become a classic work of pre-Civil War America. Chappell is a superior writer of literature in his use of language, blending in historical characters with his fictional ones with great success. Throughout the tale, the reader remains on edge, unsure when or if the abolitionists will be caught while feeling empathy for the blacks fleeing slavery and traveling the Underground Railroad. The abolitionists, who must not voice their opinions, are constantly faced with negative attention by those in the community who favor slavery. This is historical writing at its best, a must-read for Civil War aficionados. This novel has all the breathtaking cruelties and valor a lover of historical novels can hope for. Highly recommended. Jeff Westerhoff 30 | Reviews |

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From a historical fiction perspective, The China Memoirs offers a unique perspective of the Taiping Rebellion, and Barrett’s command of Chinese history is strong. It is laced with folktales (a place called Peach Blossom Springs) and well-written battle scenes. But, it is also a candid exploration of the erotic worship one man will learn to have for his captor. Strongly recommended. Bryan Dumas POISON SPRING Johnny D. Boggs, Five Star, 2014, $25.95, hb, 232pp, 9781432827656 Though it saw few major Civil War battles, Arkansas is riven in 1864. Its residents hail from both North and South, and regard each other with deep suspicion. Though Arkansas is a slave state, those slaves begin to vanish after the Emancipation Proclamation. Soon, famine stalks the captive labor-dependent region. In Camden, the family of thirteen-year-old Travis Ford struggles on many fronts. Travis’ father, a Confederate cavalryman, hasn’t been heard from for months. Hostile neighbors consider Travis’ mother a Yankee sympathizer. Then Camden is occupied by the Northern Army, and a vicious battle erupts between retreating Confederates and the First Kansas Colored Volunteers. In this truelife massacre, even surrendering black soldiers are slain. Then Travis finds a pair of wounded refugees; Northern and Southern, black and white… In Poison Spring, Johnny D. Boggs presents a sensitive exploration of this tragic episode, suitable for both adult and YA readers. Though its genre is “Western,” Poison Spring is also superb historical fiction, and highly recommended. Jo Ann Butler MEN OF VIOLENCE Bill Brooks, Five Star, 2014, $25.95/C$27.95, hb, 236pp, 9781432827670 Fifth in the John Henry Cole series, this Western’s protagonist is a frontier detective. A former lawman, he now collects bounty by capturing outlaws. A tip turns into an ambush, and two of Cole’s men are killed and another wounded by the Sam Starr gang. It’s no coincidence that Starr is Cole’s half-brother. Their team decimated, Cole and wounded Charley Hood return to Red Pony, in the Cherokee Strip. Rather than a welcome, the two and Hood’s wife, Franzetta, are run out of town by townspeople threatened by Starr. They take refuge in Cole’s remote cabin. Cole’s longlost son makes an appearance, and there are a few violent encounters with other bad guys before the inevitable showdown with Starr and his gang. There are few surprises in this tale, but that’s not a bad thing. Cole is a loner, an alcoholic, but a man of principle. Starr is out-and-out evil. The story moves along at a good pace with plenty of violence, yet it’s not gratuitous, just the way of the West. What make it readable are the pace and the characters; the strong are flawed and the weak are interesting. Starr is the one false note, just onedimensional without enough backstory to explain 19th Century

his maliciousness. I’m all in favor of another Cole story. Ellen Keith IN LOVE WITH A WICKED MAN Liz Carlyle, Avon, 2013, $7.99, pb, 374pp, 9780062100290 When a riding accident lands a man in her home suffering from temporary amnesia, Kate, Lady d’Allenay, finds herself physically attracted to the handsome stranger, despite her reputation for common sense and responsible behavior. Unfortunately, when he recovers his memory he realizes he is the disreputable owner of a high-class gambling club, disowned by his aristocratic family. Can this mismatched pair find happiness together? This Regency romance follows a predictable formula: the hero is hunky and eager to abandon his wickedness to win the capable heroine; she is happy to be wooed by such an ardent (and experienced) lover, and willing to excuse his past misdeeds, especially since they arose from an abusive childhood; the villain is suitably despicable and cowardly; and the minor characters are amusing. There is even criticism of aristocratic wastrels who squander their inheritance: all very gratifying. The plot bogs down a bit in the middle as complications obstruct the path of true love, but that is the way of these stories, and the climax builds satisfyingly. A pleasant read by an accomplished author for lovers of the sub-genre. Ray Thompson THE MAN WHO WALKED AWAY Maud Casey, Bloomsbury USA, 2014, $25, hb, 234pp, 9781620403112 / Bloomsbury, 2014, £12.99, hb, 9781408850305 Maud Casey’s poetic and beautiful account of a late 19th-century French mental asylum explores both patients’ and caregivers’ struggle with the new science of the mind. Young Albert is brought in by the town’s lamplighter when he’s found drifting in a trancelike state. He has been walking all over Europe, it seems, with no memory of life or identity except fleeting images. The asylum’s doctor takes a keen interest in his patient and discovers touchstones of his own life and mind during treatment. Both a kind nurse and fellow inmates bring Albert into their family behind the asylum’s gates. With prose descriptions that are achingly beautiful, the effort of tormented souls to find peace and health comes through story. Likening Albert’s malady to the fairy tale of the Swan Prince, left with one wing by his sister’s incomplete magic, the doctor raises his wandering life to that of a hero’s journey. Albert’s answers to the doctor’s questions become “pebbles at the bottom of a vast and mysterious ocean.” The photographer stealing images from patients in agony discovers mysteries illuminated in the flash of a captured moment. Intimate and deeply human, the challenges of reading a narrative of madness are well rewarded with insight, beauty and understanding. Eileen Charbonneau 19th Century

ROMANCING THE DUKE Tessa Dare, Avon, 2014, $7.99/C$9.50, pb, 370pp, 9780062240194 In the first of her Castles Ever After series, the author pokes fun at a whole range of conventions beloved in Regency and Gothic romance: a brooding, half-ruined castle (named Gostley Castle, no less) with secret chambers; a handsome but wounded hero (a duke, of course), behind whose harsh manner beats a heart that just needs love; a practical but unappreciated heroine in dire straits; an author fan club dressed in costume; a loyal servant; villainous solicitors… Though amusing, the extraneous elements become a distraction that bogs down the story, but as long as the focus remains on the protagonists and their wooing, the novel is highly entertaining. Izzy is a delightful heroine, a born romantic whose childish dreams have been dispelled by the realities of life, and the duke finds her unexpectedly enthusiastic reaction to his threats to ravish her quite disconcerting. But then when will she find another attractive man, whose partial blindness leaves him more impressed by the feel of her responsive body than the sight of her plain face? Warmly recommended to lovers of Regency romance. Ray Thompson GOLD WEB Vicki Delany, Dundurn, 2013, $17.99/ C$17.99/£11.99, pb, 320pp, 9781459707726 Yukon Territory, 1898. A stabbing in a back alley is not unusual in Dawson, but the victim’s final words shock Fiona MacGillivray. The beautiful owner of the Savoy Saloon and Dancehall cannot even repeat them to the man she most admires, Corporal Richard Sterling of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Meanwhile, foreigners bringing their politics from Europe roil Dawson like a rip tide. A beautiful American photographer arrives in town just as a Russian nobleman departs for the Capitol in Washington. A “protective” father puts his innocent daughter on the stage, interfering with the British magician’s act. When the RCMP connects the murder to someone with a secret history, will it be one of them – or Fiona? The shifting point of view, from Fiona to her teenaged son to Cpl. Sterling, is almost as distracting as clichés like “grizzled” old men, eyes like “deep pools,” and “red-nosed drinkers.” That aside, Delany uses international politics and immigrant backgrounds in interesting ways to deliver another light mystery (after Gold Fever, 2012) with an interesting protagonist. Jeanne Greene THE FROST OF SPRINGTIME Rachel L. Demeter, Black Lyon, 2014, $17.95, pb, 286pp, 9781934912614 Chance brought them together. A moment of mercy linked their futures. Ardent affection healed their hearts and forever entwined their fates. Tormented by personal demons, Vicomte Aleksender de Lefèvre takes passing interest in a

kindred spirit and shelters an abused child from the misery and neglect of life in a Parisian brothel. Years later, determined to deliver her savior from the purgatory of his waking nightmares, Sophia Rose dares offer him solace through steadfast and passionate devotion. Dark, tragic and heavily romantic, The Frost of Springtime is reminiscent of Gaston Leroux’s The Phantom of the Opera. Ideally I might have liked to more emphasis on the historical material, particularly the politics of the 1871 Paris Commune against which the story takes place, but I really enjoyed the intense imagery and thematic scope of Demeter’s debut. A sensuously gothic tale, The Frost of Springtime isn’t to be missed. Erin Davies THE THREE EMPERORS: An Ethan Gage Adventure William Dietrich, Harper, 2014, $25.99/C$31.99, hb, 369pp, 9780062194107 The Three Emperors is the 7th installment of the Ethan Gage series, and while this was my first encounter with Ethan, it didn’t take me long to fall under his spell. After surviving the Battle of Trafalgar, Ethan is making his way across the continent to Prague to reunite with his wife, Astiza, and their son, Harry. Astiza, an Egyptian priestess, is on a mission of her own. She seeks the fabled Brazen Head, a medieval automaton that purportedly can tell the future. The Three Emperors offers two adventurers with two voices within one novel. The reader follows the wily Gage as he dodges, weaves, and slides his way across a field of war as he is continually plagued by his reputation as a scoundrel. Astiza also relates her own story as she searches for the Brazen Head, and I found her character especially intriguing. She is an intelligent and beautiful woman, and as Astiza narrates, the reader is treated to her mental assessment of given situations and how she would play each moment to her best advantage. The novel is filled with a myriad of personalities, each with his or her own agenda. The physical landscape is another important dimension as the fictional characters make their way across the European landscape. One can almost imagine catching a glimpse of Gage as he disappears into the Cesky Krumlov Theater. I thoroughly enjoyed following the adventures of Ethan Gage and Astiza and found Dietrich’s novel historically accurate with an especially interesting underlying tension of mysticism and science. A fast-paced and engaging read. Shannon Gallagher FROG MUSIC Emma Donoghue, Little, Brown, 2014, $27.00/ C$29.99, hb, 416pp, 9780316324687 / Picador, 2014, 16.99, hb, 416pp, 9781447249740 Among Donoghue’s many talents is the ability to take little-known tidbits of history and weave intricate, page-turning tales about them. As she did with Slammerkin, she now does with Frog Music, in a brutal story about identity, gender, fear, HNR Issue 68, May 2014 | Reviews | 31

and hatred. The facts about the unsolved murder of Jenny Bonnet are few: in 1876 San Francisco, she was known as the woman who caught frogs for restaurants to serve as a delicacy. She was also known as a trouser-sporting petty thief and general trouble-maker, and was repeatedly jailed on all counts – but mostly for the offense of wearing pants. In September of that year, during a smallpox epidemic and a months-long heat wave, she and French burlesque dancer-cum-prostitute Blanche Beunon travel to San Miguel Station, to avoid a confrontation with Blanche’s longtime lover Arthur Deneve and his friend Ernest Girard. There, Jenny is shot dead while she lies in bed, singing. This is but the first of many violent scenes, as Blanche re-lives the events of the previous month that led to this bloody state. Interspersed with these flashbacks, Blanche struggles to move forward, frantically grasping at theories of who would have wanted Jenny (or herself ) dead. Guesses range from wealthy madams, to crime bosses, to her former lovers, and Donoghue explores all these sordid avenues, with added subplots about Chinese immigrants, Blanche’s baby, P’tit, and the horrific state of contemporary childcare, at “baby farms” where most infants died of neglect. Readers wanting a happy, breezy book about life in San Francisco in the late 19th century will not find that here; indeed, the grueling hardships of existence – not to mention being female or an immigrant – are brought alive in vivid detail. Donoghue poses many questions that will haunt readers well after finishing this fact-based tale. Helene Williams MARK OF DISTINCTION Jessica Dotta, Tyndale, 2014, $14.99, pb, 379pp, 9781414375564 Following some dreadful incidents, 18-yearold Julia escapes the clutches of evil Mr. Macy and seeks refuge at Maplecroft, the vast estate of her real father, Lord Pierson. Although he hasn’t seen her since her birth, widower Pierson surprisingly offers her not only sanctuary but also announces her as his daughter returned from boarding school – and heir to his enormous fortune. He plans to present her to the young Queen Victoria, an event conveniently arranged by his bosom friend, Lord Melbourne, the Prime Minster. Pierson’s schemes for Julia include protecting her from the brewing scandal and marriage to another protégé, Lord Dalry. With Macy stalking her, Julia goes along with the disciplinarian Pierson’s intentions, although his sudden change of heart suggests mysterious motives. However, she cannot get her first love, Edward, out of her mind and eventually has to take charge of her life. While this is the second book in Jessica Dotta’s Price of Privilege trilogy, it can be read as a standalone. The early Victorian era is presented vividly, both in London townhouses and country estates. The hustle and bustle of service staff in their daily chores (including the ironing of newspapers) make us feel at home with the characters in their charming mansions. The dropping of names 32 | Reviews |

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in conversations (such as Palmer, Burns, Lord Auckland, and Dost Mohammed) is skillfully employed to inject intrigue into the story. The author’s aspiration of writing in a blended AustenBrontë style is largely successful. While the ending will satisfy most readers, Dotta has left enough loose ends to perk our interest for the series’ final volume. Waheed Rabbani THE REVENANT OF THRAXTON HALL Vaughn Entwistle, Minotaur, 2014, $24.99/ C$28.99, hb, 336pp, 9781250035004 / Titan Books, 2014, £7.99, pb, 336pp, 9781783292660 The first in a series dubbed “The Paranormal Casebooks of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle,” The Revenant of Thraxton Hall features not just one but two famous authors as its detectives: Conan Doyle and Oscar Wilde. What a pair they make! It’s 1894 and Conan Doyle is facing the wrath of the public: he has just killed off Sherlock Holmes in The Final Problem. Hated by once-adoring fans and burdened by his wife’s tuberculosis, he finds distraction in a beautiful young psychic, Hope Thraxton, who summons him to solve a murder – her own. Conan Doyle and his friend Oscar Wilde travel to remotest Scotland to gloomy Thraxton Hall, the site of the Society for Psychical Research. A motley crew of psychical researchers awaits them, along with a classic locked door mystery, and perhaps worst of all, Conan Doyle finds himself haunted by his own creation, Sherlock Holmes. In addition to the locked door mystery, there’s the Ten Little Indians effect; Wilde would like to leave but finds himself trapped at Thraxton Hall by the weather, along with the rest of the guests. Still, there are some elements of surprise, including a reveal at the end that I never saw coming. This may not be the book to console lovers of the BBC Sherlock series. Conan Doyle doesn’t seem much like his creation. His friendship with Wilde makes him more likeable, but his behavior is more emotional than logical, and his lusting after Miss Thraxton is hard to take as his wife wastes away. Wilde, however, is a delight, very much bigger than life but wholly recognizable. I’d read another book where he takes the lead. Ellen Keith MOUNT TERMINUS David Grand, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2014, $26.00, hb, 365pp, 9780374280888 It is the very early days of cinematography – so early that Thomas Edison is still inventing the Kinetoscope – and Jacob Rosenbloom is the genius who invents a small part that makes it work better. Hard work and enormous wealth follow, as do love and tragedy and death, and before too long Jacob and his ten-year-old son Joseph (nicknamed “Bloom”) are heading across the country for some property inland from the West Coast, a nameless “desert” area where Jacob had spent some happy years long before the present. In a villa with a tragic past, young Bloom grows up in relative isolation, with the stars and the desert and the

all-encompassing silence of the estate on Mount Terminus that nurtures his soul and imagination to fantastical heights. This is not an easy book to read; there are some incredibly lyrical passages as well as descriptions that are labyrinths intertwined within mazes. The imagery that informed early movie making – with its motifs of surrealism, magical realism, dreams and fantasy – is almost overwhelming at times, as I expect Grand intends it to be. Bloom is an artist of the imagination who becomes intimately involved in creating unearthly spectacles on film. But his early and long isolation from the world becomes both an asset and a liability when he is confronted with certain realities his father has kept hidden from him – the true story of his mother’s madness, the existence of a half-brother, the burden of life and death his father has struggled with. Mount Terminus is a fascinating, magical story which lingers in the mind long after one reaches the end. Recommended, but be patient! Mary F. Burns THE BERKELEY SQUARE AFFAIR Teresa Grant, Kensington, 2014, $15.00/C$16.95, pb, 452pp, 9780758283955 In 1817, the Napoleonic wars are over, but former British intelligence agent Malcolm Rannoch and his wife, Suzanne, can’t resist the allure of another investigation. Their friend, playwright Simon Tanner, arrives wounded at their Berkeley Square house after thieves had attempted to rob him of a manuscript of an alternative version of Hamlet, which may predate the familiar version. An investigation into the manuscript’s authenticity takes a dangerous turn when Malcolm discovers that French spies had used it as a codebook during the war. Lord Harleton, father of Malcolm’s friend Crispin, had recently been murdered; he and Malcolm’s father, along with several Oxford classmates, had formed a secret society called the Elsinore League. Malcolm wonders whether his father’s death was murder and whether the Elsinore League was actually a spy ring. Meanwhile, Suzanne has a secret of her own, which Malcolm’s investigation might reveal, and which would threaten the happiness of their marriage if he were to discover it. This book is full of breathtaking twists and turns as the reader is led on an intriguing journey into the characters’ past. This is the first adventure of Malcolm and Suzanne that I’ve read, but it won’t be the last. Vicki Kondelik KANSAS BLEEDS Melody Groves, Five Star, 2014, $25.95, hb, 304pp, 9781432828073 Lucas Colton believes in the Confederate cause, but William Quantrill’s brutality keeps him from joining the Bushwhackers. He becomes a gun runner, although not a particularly successful one. The lies he tells to his wife and family mount, while his work hauling legitimate freight suffers. In his anger over losing his job, he changes his mind and 19th Century

helps the Bushwhackers burn and loot Kansas farms. His actions have a grave effect on him and his family, but will he change in time to save those he loves or the city of Lawrence from Quantrill’s wrath? Groves ably depicts the bloody struggle along the Kansas-Missouri border during the Civil War and realistically portrays Quantrill and those who followed him, including Jesse and Frank James and Cole Younger. The depiction of her protagonist, however, is a problem. Luke professes to believe in the importance of family, yet his actions show little concern for anyone but himself. He constantly lies to his wife, leaves her and their children alone, and drinks – actions that prevent the reader from caring about him. As a result, when he finally understands how important they are to him, the reader doesn’t believe the change in him. Cindy Vallar GLORIOUS Jeff Guinn, Putnam, 2014, $26.95, hb, 232pp, 9781597099592 You can’t get any more remote than Glorious, Arizona in 1860. That’s where Cash McLendon winds up, simultaneously fleeing a vengeful fatherin-law, and following an old flame from St. Louis. She is not interested, but McLendon likes the hardscrabble town anyway. Then he is summoned out to Culloden Ranch. Mr. McPherson is the region’s major employer, since the silver prospectors aren’t having much luck. He wants to extend his holdings in Glorious, and tells McLendon that he could earn some cash by persuading his friends to sell their stores, and passing along useful information. McLendon had his fill of informing on his friends as his fatherin-law’s spy back in St. Louis, and refuses. Then the livery stable owner is called out to Culloden Ranch with an offer for his business, but is killed on his way home. His corpse is found riddled with Apache arrows, but McLendon isn’t the only person in Glorious to turn suspicious eyes toward Culloden Ranch and its sinister hired hands. Glorious is the first novel by Jeff Guinn, an award-winning author of non-fiction works about such legends as Bonnie and Clyde. The first in a trilogy, Glorious portends the OK Corral shootout when the bully Ike Clanton is hired as the Culloden Ranch’s spy. Guinn’s reporting background is put to good use with his meticulous history and his lovely eye for detail, all wrapped in fluid storytelling. If you like an Old West tale overflowing with atmosphere, give Glorious a try. Jo Ann Butler THE STORYTELLER AND HIS THREE DAUGHTERS Lian Hearn, Hachette Australia, 2013, Au$29.99, pb, 265pp, 9780733630293 Akabane Sei IX is an aging storyteller in the traditional rakugo style of mostly woolly yarns. To his horror, he has hit a dry patch. His world is changing too fast, and two of his daughters have left their husbands and returned home. In the 19th Century

chaos, his mind begins to thrum with new stories, and he is at the centre of the most intriguing and perilous story of all. It is Tokyo of 1884, a time of social, economic and political uncertainty. Western influences are causing Akabane-sensei further angst as he must compete with a popular young rival, an Englishman from Yokohama. In this wonderful snatch of dialogue (all the dialogue is written in play-script style), the sensei’s no-nonsense wife gives him a drubbing about the talented and handsome Jack Green. “Tae: You’ve been to see the Englishman? Isn’t he every bit as good as I told you? Is that why you are so quiet and grumpy? Sei: I hope I am not that mean spirited! Tae: But you have to admit he’s good! Sei: Yes, he is very good. I felt physically stabbed by my own words. My wife turned the blade. Tae: And you’re very jealous! Aren’t his stories fresh and original? I am sure you are as good a storyteller but your material is so old and boring.” The story is delightful and the characters so convincing they could step off the page in their traditional Japanese dress. However, beneath the simplicity and quaintness is the darker political reality of Japan’s new expansionism. Akabanesensei finds himself in mortal danger as he inadvertently becomes the target of right-wing militarists and is mixed up in a plot to annex Korea. Lian Hearn (real name Gillian Rubinstein) also wrote the popular Tales of the Otori fantasy series set in feudal Japan. Though English-born, she spent much of her childhood in Nigeria and moved to Australia in 1973. Bronwen Jones DIAMONDS & DUST Carol Hedges, Crooked Cat, 2013, £6.99, pb, 238pp, 9781909841246 Here we have a fast-paced, sharply characterised slice of Victoriana, set in London in 1860. There is a nippy, present-tense narrative with the same wry omniscience as Michel Faber’s The Crimson Petal and the White, and the author mercilessly skewers the pretensions of all levels of society, whether aristocrats, nouveaux riches or snobbish servants. Our heroine, feisty, red-haired Josephine King, comes into possession of an allegedly cursed diamond on the sudden death of her uncle. She determines to investigate the circumstances surrounding his demise and finds staunch allies in Lilith Marks, her uncle’s mistress, and the young crossing-sweeper known only as “Oi” – the detective police are baffled and it is up to the women who loved Herbert King to find out who – or what – killed him. The author acknowledges the “wonderful Victorian authors whose work I have shamelessly plundered, paraphrased and pastiched”. Unfortunately, I found this very distracting to begin with. The first paragraph for instance, is a direct take on Dickens’ celebrated opening to Bleak

House, and this is quickly followed by allusions to Jane Eyre, The Hound of the Baskervilles and The Moonstone, among others .The final introduction of a supernatural element was, for me, a jarring note, but all in all, this was a vivid page-turner and an enjoyable read. One little historical slip – we are told “the great Mandolini” has been persuaded to perform excerpts from Puccini’s opera Tosca at a masked ball, but this was not premiered until 1900. Mary Seeley BLACK ROCK Louise Hoole, Barranca Press, 2014, $29.95, hb, 212pp, 9781939604255 In 1815, Napoleon was exiled to the island of St. Helena in the southern Atlantic Ocean. In May of 1821 he died there. Black Rock is the story of the days following the death of Napoleon, told by Napoleon’s ghost. He watches his own autopsy, marveling at his layers of fat, curious about the disagreement between the English doctors and his own physician, Antommarchi, over whether his liver was enlarged or not. The ghost is surprised at the reading of his will that his son and wife were not mentioned. Did he forget them when he rewrote the document, burning with fever, or has someone meddled with his will? Napoleon’s ghost discovers that the men who stayed by his side until the end – Montholon, Gourgaud, Marchand, and Bertrand – are not the loyal, obsequious men he thought them to be. In fact, he starts to believe that one of them may have murdered him. Black Rock is a slow-moving, detailed look at the days between Napoleon’s death and the departure of the emperor’s entourage from their island prison. Napoleon’s ghost is an arrogant, unlikeable narrator, and the other characters are not much more appealing. The pace of the story picks up when the idea of arsenic poisoning is revealed. The eventual exhumation of Napoleon’s body, narrated by the son of Bertrand, along with the author’s historical notes, helps to explain the curiosity of Napoleon’s death. For me, this made the ending of the book quite satisfying. Elizabeth Caulfield Felt SECRETS OF SEDUCTION Nicole Jordan, Ballantine, 2014, $7.99, pb, 322pp, 9780345525314 In this entry in her Legendary Lovers series of Wilde family adventures, it’s time for “Beauty and the Beast” to get a Regency England treatment via Jordan’s sparkling skills. Charming and beautiful Lady Skye plants herself on the Earl of Hawkhurst’s front door in a storm, confident he’ll take in a damsel in distress. She has been in love with the Napoleonic Wars hero since she was a child. But he is a scarred and tormented recluse since the death of his wife and child in a castle fire ten years before. Schooled by her Aunt Isabella, Skye is determined to unlock her true mate before he’s scheduled to court and wed another in a marriage of convenience. A subplot brings the couple to Ireland to reunite lovers of a previous generation whose lives have HNR Issue 68, May 2014 | Reviews | 33

been marred by violence and tragedy. Lady Skye is a sly, winsome and sanguine beauty in the mold of Jane Austen’s Emma, well-matched by her melancholy Beast from whom she charms laughter that sounds “rusty from disuse.” The narrative moves at a well-clipped pace with both an interesting mystery to solve and a gloomy castle to transform along with the Earl’s heart. These and the sizzling love scenes are bound to keep romance readers enchanted. Eileen Charbonneau 47 SORROWS Janet Kellough, Dundurn, 2013, $11.99/C$11.99, pb, 358pp, 9781459709287 A mysterious drowning opens this third installment of Kellough’s Thaddeus Lewis Mysteries as four children discover a disfigured victim washed up on the shore of Lake Ontario. It is 1847 in Southern Ontario, and Lewis’s son, Luke, wants to be a doctor. The questions of how the male victim came to such an end, why he was wearing women’s clothes, and why there was a green ribbon on his person are neatly answered by the end of this mystery. Between that beginning and ending, Luke discovers the physical and emotional challenges of healing people by volunteering with the overwhelming numbers of Irish immigrants suffering from typhoid fever. The personal connections Luke makes on his journey help him put the pieces of the puzzle together in the final denouement of this mystery. Whereas Kellough has a clever plot here that methodically answers the questions raised and brings to our senses the depredations suffered during an epidemic, there is a sense that the tension could be sharper, the suspense edgier. Luke is a naive character who, on occasion, seems like the voice of a narrator for a mystery for young adults. Nevertheless, Kellough competently transports the reader back to the days when transport between Southern Ontario towns was tedious, communication was worse, and the suffering Irish were struggling to make a place for themselves in 19th-century Canada. Terri Baker SINCERELY YOURS: A Novella Collection Jane Kirkpatrick, Amanda Cabot, Laurie Alice Eakes, and Ann Shorey, Revell, 2014, $14.99, pb, 384pp, 9780800722043 This collection of inspirational romance novellas is worth reading. Each works with a theme based on a Bible verse epigraph, and they are arranged chronologically, set in 1825, 1858, 1892, and 1911 America, respectively. All of them end with an author’s note describing her interest in the historical aspect that led to the story, offering insight into the writing and research process. The standout among these tales is Amanda Cabot’s “One Little Word.” In this story, Cabot explores what happens when a rich socialite meets a carousel carver, who challenges her to make her life useful. The relative simplicity of Cabot’s plot makes this novella appealing, because the main 34 | Reviews |

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historical focus is on the carousel carving, rather than a more complicated historical issue. Cabot focuses on character development, whereas in the other stories the historical issue overtakes the characters. The other stories should have been longer works in order to more comprehensively pursue the issues they want to cover. The other three novellas are certainly enjoyable, covering topics like female writers attempting to be published in magazines (Shorey), the changes wrought by steamboat travel and trade (Eakes), and a clinic that prescribed a “wasting diet” which was in fact starving its patients (Kirkpatrick). Amy Watkin CAPTURED Gregory J. Lalire, Five Star, 2014, $25.95, hb, 404pp, 9781432828752 In the spring of 1866, pregnant Elizabeth Duly decides to leave her tenement home in Chicago for the mining town of Virginia City, Montana Territory. Her sister Cornelia and her husband have struck it rich and want “Libbie” to live with them. Since Libbie’s husband is incarcerated in a mental institution, she feels she has no reason to remain in Chicago. Along the way to Virginia City, she and her child meet with a hostile Sioux tribe led by Chief Red Cloud. The author has written a novel with an unusual point of view – the unborn child, Danny Duly, and then the newborn boy. At first it is difficult to believe that an unborn child could have the rare ability to see with his mind’s eye and then be able to record the events later when he can write. Even with this offbeat approach to writing a novel, the author was able to keep me interested in the story, the plot as it unraveled, and the various characters the child and his mother meet along the way. The author does a fine job mixing actual historical characters such as Red Cloud, and the soldiers William Fetterman and Henry Carrington, with his fictional characters. This novel is a fun read, with its twists and turns, and I recommend it highly to western as well as historical fiction devotees who may enjoy novels with an unusual twist. Jeff Westerhoff THE REGENCY DETECTIVE David Lassman & Terence James, The Mystery Press, 2013, £8.99, pb, 319pp, 9780752486109 / The History Press, 2013, $15.95, pb, 320pp, 9780752486109 The first in a proposed new series set in Bath in 1803, this is written both alongside the development of a TV series and with the backing of Bath City Council and the Jane Austen Centre. The hero, Jack Swann, is classically educated, single and wealthy. He is also obsessed with his father’s murder when he was a boy and devotes his time to fighting crime as the Regency Detective. Swann arrives in Bath from London for his mother’s funeral and stays to look after his sister, Mary, but is soon caught up in a gang war that could lead him to his father’s killer.

This is a disappointment. Jack Swann, someone comfortable with servants and masters alike, tough in a knife fight, a forensic scientist and master of disguise, is most decidedly not of his time and doesn’t convince on the page. The relationship between Jack and his sister lacks vitality and the dialogue authenticity. Too often the mechanics of how Swann solves crimes are just that, mechanical, baldly stated and lacking any real integration into the narrative. While the authors have considerable knowledge of and affection for Bath, the reader’s tour of the city doesn’t advance the plot, and slows the action down to crawling pace. Random facts and acts are introduced throughout the novel. For example, Mary Swann receives a letter of condolence from Jane Austen’s mother, the first and last we hear of her in the book, and a full page on the merits of Mary Wollstonecraft is added for no obvious reason. Perhaps this will develop into an interesting TV series, but unfortunately it doesn’t work as a novel. Gordon O’Sullivan GRIST Linda Little, Roseway, 2014, $20.95/C$20.95, pb, 240pp, 9781552665992 Penelope is a “great horse of a girl” who teaches school in late 19th-century Nova Scotia. She has few prospects as far as men are concerned until she meets quiet miller Ewan MacLaughlin. They court, and he shows her his plans for a new mill, his ideas brilliant, his manner respectful. But after marriage, she discovers Ewan is a humorless, rigid man who treats her like a servant. When children are late in coming, Ewan is even crueler toward her. Soon he travels all over the country for months, fixing other people’s mills, leaving her to manage their own. Reluctant at first, Penelope learns the millwork and becomes adept and a fixture in the community Ewan shuns. Tragedies follow until one night in a blizzard she finds a moment of happiness. Ever courageous and determined, now it’s her mission to protect her livelihood and her grandchildren. The author knows the intricate working of mills and the day-to-day life of a woman of this era. While we spend a brief time in Ewan’s point of view, we’re never allowed deep into his heart to fully understand the emotionless man he’s turned out to be. Through Penelope we comprehend the limited choices and power a female had in this century. She suffers from the men who come into and command her life, and I wish she had committed the crime she decides not to. An absorbing read, and a poignant – though tearful – journey through one woman’s hardscrabble existence. Diane Scott Lewis MADAM: A Novel of New Orleans Cari Lynn and Kellie Martin, Plume, 2014, $15.00, pb, 336pp, 9780142180624 Madam: A Novel of New Orleans follows the true story of Mary Deubler, a back- alley whore born into the licentious world of late 19th-century 19th Century

New Orleans. Mary comes from a long line of prostitutes but dreams about a better life in order to provide for her younger brother, Peter, and his wife, Charlotte. In this novel set against the push for a regulated district of vice, Mary must overcome tragedy and heartbreak on her rise to become New Orleans’ most famous madam. New Orleans has always been a city set apart, and the world of sweltering temperatures, corruption, ragtime, and voodoo is brought vividly to life. In addition to Mary, this novel features a wide cast of characters, all interconnected in their dealings: Tom Anderson, the savvy but ruthless ruler of the New Orleans underworld; Countess Lulu White, the city’s premiere madam and queen of the demimonde; Ferdinand, an educated octoroon musician fighting against Jim Crow and the oppression of the late 19th century; and finally Sidney Story, the alderman who originated the district that would become known as Storyville. While they are all diverse and interesting, the sheer number of perspectives keeps the focus of the novel off Mary, who is the most fascinating of all. Madam ends with Mary’s transformation into Josie Arlington and, to some extent, suffers from it. Fewer deviations from Mary’s story would have allowed for more detail once she had achieved her fame; instead, the reader is treated to an epilogue written by Mary’s niece, Anna. Despite these drawbacks, Madam is a fascinating account of New Orleans’ unsavory history and is recommended for lovers of New Orleans and general historical fiction readers. Caroline Wilson LOVING LORD ASH Sally MacKenzie, Zebra, 2014, $7.99/C$8.99, pb, 333pp, 9781420123234 For eight long years, his entire married life, Kit, the Marquis of Ashton, has lived apart from his wife, Jess. But the duties of his rank require an heir and a spare to carry on the line. He returns to the manor where he abandoned Jess, with a proposition: give him the requisite male children, and she can do what she likes after that. Jess, the daughter of an Irish groom, is far below her husband on the social scale. But, no matter how she tries, she cannot forget Kit, whom she loved since childhood. Neither trusts the other, but they agree to try again despite too many bad memories, and too many rumors in the scandal sheets to be forgotten. Can the secret love they still hold for one another survive long enough to discover the truth behind the foul rumors that have ruined their relationship for so long? Will they rekindle their love to find the family life they both so desperately want? Read Loving Lord Ash and find out. Sally MacKenzie, author of the hilarious Naked Royals series, brings us the third novel in her Regency-set Duchess of Love series. The thread holding this series together is the family and family life of Venus Valentine, duchess and matchmaker to the ton. Like all MacKenzie’s other novels, Loving Lord Ash is whimsical, enjoyable and very 19th Century

funny. I recommend it! Monica E. Spence SURFMEN C.T. Marshall, Fireship, 2013, $19.00, pb, 302pp, 9781611792874 When Captain Hooper is approached by his congressman to become the keeper for the new United States Lifesaving Service’s most notorious station, he wants nothing of it. Life as a sea captain is enough for him. But after the congressman tracks him down to meet with him in person, Hooper relents. If he can do it, then he feels he must do it. It was such thinking that led him to become a Confederate blockade runner. There is a reason why Cape Hatteras station is the last to be staffed. No one else will take the position; not to lead it, and not to man it. It’s too dangerous. But Hooper knows just the men to recruit. With the winter storms on the horizon, this unlikely crew must strive not only to become a cohesive team that can brave the Diamond Shoals, but also overcome the incompetence and bigotry of their fellow surfmen. Marshall’s earnestness shines through in this debut novel. Perhaps too much. He does a good job of weaving the formation of the Lifesaving Service into the fabric of the complicated politics and culture of Gilded Age America. But his characters are a bit predictable, and Thomas is a bit too perfect. Indeed, he can seem to do no wrong. There are no surprises, and the sensibilities of the characters are modern. That said, it’s an easy read, and like the best of historical fiction, it instructs as well as entertains. Justin Lindsay MURDER ON THE BREAKERS Alyssa Maxwell, Kensington, 2014, $15.00/ C$16.95, pb, 296pp, 9780758290823 Emma Cross, a society reporter and poorer Vanderbilt relation, borders on respectability with her re-styled gowns and a summer cottage inherited from a forward-thinking aunt. It is 1895, and Alice and Cornelius Vanderbilt II are reopening their summer cottage, The Breakers. When one of Cornelius’ business associates is murdered and Emma’s brother is arrested, everyone but Emma ignores the possibility of another suspect within the hundreds of guests. Emma winnows down the choices in this rousing whodunit, the first of a new series by debut author Alyssa Maxwell. Maxwell, a history lover who married into an old Newport family, recreates the dynamic relationships within the Vanderbilt household. The cobblestone streets and beach mansions of Newport become the setting for family intrigues and murder. A subplot introduces Emma’s potential romantic partners if they can match her independence and sense of adventure, which frequently get her into trouble. Emma must grow into getting out of scrapes on her own if the series reader is to believe in her plausibility as an independent detective. Emma’s investigation will keep you guessing who is responsible for the

Murder on the Breakers, all the way to its clever, semi-comical ending. Lauren Miller THE ISLAND OF DOVES Kelly O’Connor McNees, Berkley, 2014, $15.00/ C$16.00, pb, 384pp, 9780425264584 1835. Young wife Susannah Brownell Fraser suffers physical and mental abuse at the hands of her wealthy husband, Edward. After he crushes her hand, she seeks the help of Sister Mary Genevieve. With her assistance Susannah flees Buffalo, headed toward Magdelaine Fonteneau, who runs a safe house for abused women and a school on Mackinac Island in Michigan Territory. She carries only a necklace as security. In the meantime, Sister Mary Genevieve tells Edward his wife has fallen into the river and leads him to believe she has disappeared over Niagara Falls. On the boat Susannah is assisted by Father Milani, a drunken priest, who pays for her food. One morning when docked in Detroit she recognizes Wendell Beals, Edward’s employee, who had been on board since they had left Buffalo. Terrified he will recognize her and report her whereabouts to Edward, she escapes from the boat into the heart of Detroit. She attempts to sell the necklace at a goldsmith shop, but the jeweler tells her the stones are only imitation garnets worth nothing. Not trusting his estimate of their value, she slips out and finds herself sheltered in a brothel. The rest of the novel continues Susannah’s journey to Mackinac Island and Edward’s furious quest to discover her whereabouts. The author captured my interest from the first page of description and action. The setting details of life aboard ship and daily life in a brothel teach us about the historical life and times of the early 1800s. Her characterization of Susannah and the prostitutes in Detroit is especially strong and compelling. The novel’s plot unfolds step by step with the backstory interwoven masterfully. We are in Susannah’s point of view, facing her dilemmas and fears, gaining understanding of the ways women faced the world ruled by men. A most enjoyable and page-turning tale. Liz Allenby THE SPOOK LIGHTS AFFAIR Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini, Forge, 2014, $24.99/C$28.99 hb, 251pp, 9780765331755 In 1895 San Francisco, a debutante throws herself off a cliff during a festive party. Sabina Carpenter, a female private detective hired to watch the girl, is devastated. Sabina, along with her partner, Quincannon, investigates the suspicious suicide. The deb’s rumored attachment to a man far beneath her, and her parents’ disapproval, appear to be the catalyst for her despondence. However, the further Sabina digs, and after the body disappears, the less she believes this spoiled girl killed herself. Quincannon, meanwhile, is on a quest of his own. He’s investigating a recent theft of $35,000 from a Wells Fargo office. His snooping leads him to murders in the seedier sections of the city, and HNR Issue 68, May 2014 | Reviews | 35

attempts on his own life. Strange lights that seem to float like ghosts along the foggy coast might tie both these crimes together. Muller and Pronzini have written a lively tale that kept me hooked. Descriptions of Victorianera San Francisco are sharp and distinctive, putting you right there with the characters. Sabina – a woman in an unusual occupation for this time period – and Quincannon are interesting and flawed people. Quincannon’s attraction to Sabina, and her absolute refusal to consider him, adds to the mix. I would definitely read more in this series. Highly entertaining. Diane Scott Lewis THE CITY OF PALACES Michael Nava, Univ. of Wisconsin Press, 2014, $26.95, hb, 368pp, 9780299299101 In 1897 in Ciudad de México, lovingly called the City of Palaces on account of its numerous Spanish colonial edifices, Condesa Alicia Gavilán asks Doctor Miguel Sarmiento’s assistance at a prison. A spinster, Alicia is there on a charitable mission to see a destitute woman who is expecting. The young bachelor doctor, having recently returned from Europe, is there seeking the release of his father, who was imprisoned for publishing antigovernment sentiments. Alicia is greatly impressed by Miguel’s “pure Spanish stock” looks and also by his kindness. While it may not be love at first sight, as Alicia wears a veil to hide her smallpox scars, Miguel cannot get the lady dressed in “shimmering silk of midnight blue” out of his mind. He longs to see her again without raising a scandal. Alicia herself provides the opportunity by inviting him to a church for the baptism of the child he’d helped deliver at the prison. Although Alicia and Miguel are attracted to each other, they have to resolve some major differences in their outlook on life; she is a devout Catholic and he an atheist. These deviations were likely the result of certain childhood mishaps. Acclaimed crime novelist Michael Nava has penned this remarkable historical novel, the first of a quartet, covering the years prior to the Mexican Revolution and its aftermath. It is told through a love story and includes both fictional and real people. The introduction of a gay character, estranged as a “sodomite” by that era’s society, and the portrayal of his mental state are masterfully handled. While the plot is linear and driven by historical events, the strong evocative writing keeps us reading on. The detailed descriptions of life in the streets, behind the flowering vine covered palatial walls, and also in the hovels are a pleasure to read. Waheed Rabbani SKULL MESA Wayne D. Overholser, Five Star, 2014, $25.95, hb, 182pp, 9781432828516 Young Clay Roland learns that his father has died suddenly at his ranch in Skull Mesa. During the late 19th century, powerful ranchers are trying 36 | Reviews |

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to take over more grazing land for their cattle. Clay had left his father’s ranch, the Bar C, over a disagreement several years ago. Since then, he became a town marshal and is known for his ability with the gun. Roland returns home to find that a local rancher, known as Queen Bess, controls Skull Mesa and the local town of Painted Rock. He soon learns that his life is in danger because Queen Bess wants the Bar C and Roland dead. Clay decides to stay in Skull Mesa and fight her and her gang of cutthroats. The author is a Spur Award winner and writer of many fine westerns. I have enjoyed his tales over the years. His knowledge of western lore is unsurpassed, and his ability to spin a tale is comparable to many other western writers today. He has a knack for placing his protagonist, in this story Clay Roland, in life-threatening situations throughout the book. The plot is fast-paced and gripping. Highly recommended for western novel enthusiasts. Jeff Westerhoff IN PURSUIT Sharman Burson Ramsey, Mercer Univ.Press, 2013, $20.00, pb, 269pp, 9780881464542 Joie Kinkaid is astounded to see Godfrey Winkel in a London café. Godfrey had sneered at the “half-breed” girl back in Alabama, but what is he doing here? Joie barely recognizes him before she is kidnapped by pirates. The foppish writer tries to rescue her, only to be taken as well. Fortunately, the pirate captain Gasparilla recognizes Godfrey from a speech about Captain Kidd, and commands, “You will write my story.” In Pursuit continues the story of Joie and Godfrey, which Sharman Ramsey began with her 2012 novel Swimming With Serpents. Claiming Joie as his wife to save her from the pirates, Godfrey is the Indiana Jones of literati. Both turn pirate with gusto, swinging aboard enemy ships and wielding weapons with dexterity. Then Joie is taken by Gasparilla, and sent to his quarters on the Isle of Captive Women. In his search for Joie, Godfrey is caught up by General Andrew Jackson’s army as it pursues Creek Indians into Florida. And Joie, who is half-Creek, is rescued by Red Stick Creeks fleeing Jackson. I commend Ramsey for bringing nearly forgotten incidents of the Seminole Wars to life. However, In Pursuit seemingly begins where Ramsey’s previous book left off, and Joie’s initial hatred of Godfrey made little sense to me. Ramsey shuttles her readers between the couple’s adventures and the search for Joie conducted by her brother, and sometimes I was left behind. It is well written and entertaining, but start with Swimming with Serpents if you want to try this novel. Jo Ann Butler AN UNTAMED HEART Lauraine Snelling, Bethany House, 2013, $14.99, pb, 352pp, 9780764202032 In 1878 Valdres, Norway, twenty-year-old Ingeborg, unlike her mor, is not concerned about

still being single. Although she has received some offers, she prefers to continue working on her parents’ farm. Nevertheless, she longs to get away for the summer to their seter up in the mountains, away from her mor’s constant nagging. The children spend the summer at the cottage, not in leisure activities but toiling like homesteaders from morning to late into the long evenings. It seems Ingeborg’s life might change when a rich and handsome Oslo University student, Nils, is injured while hiking, and she attends to him. However, life takes a tragic turn, but in compensation Ingeborg receives a marriage proposal from Roald, a widower who is planning to immigrate to America. This is Lauraine Snelling’s prequel to her acclaimed Red River of the North series set in North Dakota. While light on romance, it was written at the behest of her fans and will not disappoint them. Although they will be familiar with how it ends, Snelling’s vivid presentation of the daily chores of harsh farm life and the opulent life in Oslo mansions and soirées will enthrall them. Waheed Rabbani DANGEROUS WAVES Amanda Taylor, Northern Heritage, 2013, £7.99, pb, 340pp, 978906600945 Dangerous Waves by was originally published under the title The Chinaman’s Bastard in August 2009 but has been re-visited by the author, substantially revised, re-edited and re-published. It is a great read by an excellent crime writer, and it has certainly been well researched; both the court drama and the descriptions of Yorkshire bring the novel alive. A real sense of time and place is created; Staithes in 1897 is a great backdrop to the story. The characters are well developed; from the naïve, childlike Daniel to the professional barrister James Cairn, individual personalities come through. It has a great pace, and the reader is placed headlong into the story from the first page. The language is suitable for the era, and it reads easily with well-written, concise dialogue and vivid descriptions. The chapters are not too long and help build up the tension. The plot keeps the reader guessing, starting with a dead body washed up on the rocks, and the twists and turns add drama, making it engaging and compelling. This is a good read for historical and crime fans. It is set in an area I know well, but if I didn’t I would love to visit. I look forward to the next book in the series, Mortimer Blakely Is Missing. Barbara Goldie FATAL ENQUIRY Will Thomas, Minotaur, 2014, $25.99/C29.99, hb, 304pp, 9781250041043 With Fatal Enquiry, Will Thomas brings us a sixth entry in the suspenseful Barker & Llewelyn series set in the streets and back lanes of Victorian London. Throw in a beautiful and mysterious woman, a dead nobleman, and accusations that Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn made him that way, stir well with Barker’s oldest enemy Sebastian Nightwine, and you have a can’t-miss winner. 19th Century

Sebastian Nightwine has not only finagled reentry into England, he’s been able to do it wearing the cloak of diplomatic immunity, and it all has something to do with the Chinese and the legendary Shambalaa. The immunity is designed to keep Cyrus Barker off his back, but Nightwine is not content to leave it to just that. Quickly, a nobleman is found dead and the deed is laid at Barker and Llewelyn’s feet, leaving the intrepid pair the difficult task of both staying out of police custody and finding out exactly what Nightwine’s real scheme is. And, in the process, revealing a good bit about Cyrus Barker’s history. While comparisons can certainly be made between Holmes and Watson and Barker and Llewelyn, author Will Thomas does an excellent of differentiating the pair. With the Asian intrigue, Barker and Nightwine’s enmity, and Llewelyn’s sometimes humorous commentary, Fatal Enquiry is a welcome addition to author Thomas’s wellwritten series. Recommended. Tony Hays THE PERSHORE POISONERS Kerry Tombs, Robert Hale, 2014, £19.99, hb, 223pp, 97807198117115 This is the sixth in Kerry Tombs’ Inspector Ravenscroft series. Inspector Ravenscroft is an exLondon detective who currently lives and works in the West Midlands, supported by his faithful sidekick Constable Crabb, the inspired genius and his down-to-earth assistant. All the books in the series are set in Worcestershire and Herefordshire in the 1890s, each in a different town. In this latest book, there are two poisonings in a Pershore guesthouse. The murderer is clearly the landlord, his wife or one of the guests: a classic whodunnit in a closed community with a finite number of suspects, each of whom has his or her own secrets. As one would expect, it is the least likely person who is the culprit. The story is neatly handled, and it is an easy and entertaining read. The Victorian atmosphere is just as we imagine it from Conan Doyle, and the characters are a credible crosssection of the Victorian lower middle class, striving to keep up genteel appearances despite their hidden tragedies. Edward James BLACKWELL’S PARADISE V.E. Ulett, Old Salt Press, 2014, $15.50, pb, 290pp, 9780988236059 In the early 19th century, Royal Navy captain James Blackwell is assigned to survey and protect the trade routes in the Great South Sea of the Pacific Ocean, with the leave to take along his wife, Mercedes. During a storm, Captain Blackwell falls overboard, and unfortunately his ship remains on course. Rescued by natives of a nearby Hawaiian island, he must develop the means to survive while living with headhunters and cannibals. Meanwhile, his ship returns to the area where he may have fallen overboard. Unable to find Blackwell, they assume he is dead and decide to follow orders and continue their voyage. Mercedes does not believe 19th Century

Blackwell is dead, however, and is placed on the main Hawaiian island to await his return. The author is able to tie together the romance between Captain Blackwell and his wife, constantly putting them in harm’s way, while showing the conflicts that existed between the peoples that lived on the Hawaiian Islands in the 19th century. Ulett compliments the drama with likeable characters that make you want to read on and quickly turn the pages. The steady unraveling of the plot – the rescue of Captain Blackwell – is genuinely exciting. This second book in her series also works as a standalone. It’s a real pleasure to read, and I look forward to her next novel. Jeff Westerhoff BAYONETS ACROSS THE BORDER John Wilcox, Allison & Busby, 2014, £19.99, hb, 345pp, 9780749014018 The tribes are gathering, putting aside intertribal feuding to take on a worthier foe, the British Empire at the peak of its power. The Pathan Revolt in its thousands assembles, at home in inhospitable mountain territory, and fearless, even welcoming death under inspiration of their leader: the mullah Sayid Akbar, charismatic, ruthless and cruel, clever in planning, quick-witted in action. Everything is apparently in his favour if he can succeed before the irresistible weight of the mighty British Army

THE VISIONIST

can be brought to bear. But the mullah’s enemy, so far pitifully small in number, has some remarkable people: Simon Fonthill, a veteran of many famous campaigns, cool, brave, intelligent, compassionate, hardy; his dauntless wife, Alice, who is a journalist accustomed to warfare; and two trusted comrades: Jenkins ‘352’, a fierce Welsh crack shot, and daffadar Inderjit Singh, a misleadingly harmless infiltrator. Plus those most glamorous of the Empire’s fighting men: Queen Victoria’s Corps of Guides. A story told in a style both pacy and superbly detailed, there are thrills throughout, and the vital importance of the appropriate weapon in each implacably dangerous situation is demonstrated to satisfy even the most knowledgeable reader. Near starvation, sudden and slow death, poisoned wounds, threat of torture (at worst in the hands of the tribal women) – this novel has something for everyone. Nancy Henshaw A MATCH MADE IN TEXAS: A Novella Collection Karen Witemeyer, Mary Connealy, Regina Jennings, and Carol Cox, Bethany House, 2014, $14.99, pb, 378pp, 9780764211768 Heaven help the residents of Dry Gulch, Texas when one of their own decides to play

E D I TORS’ CH OICE

Rachel Urquhart, Little, Brown, 2014, $26.00, hb, 345pp, 9781316228114 / Simon & Schuster UK, 2014, £12.99, hb, 352pp, 9781471113321 Three strong and haunting voices tell this tale set mostly among the Shakers of Massachusetts in the 1840s. The first voice is that of Sister Charity, left on the doorstep of the City of Hope community as an infant; she knows no other life than this of strict sexual segregation, where new members come only as she did, from the wicked, complicated World. In her lifetime, the Shakers received visitations from the heavenly world beyond in the form of speaking in tongues and other artistic manifestations. Polly grows up in the World, and very complicated it is indeed, with a father so abusive that her little brother Ben is brain damaged from one of the madman’s attacks, an attack Polly blames herself for. Finally Polly takes the initiative to get her brother and their bludgeoned mother to escape with her. Her final act sets the house on fire with their father asleep, drunk in bed. To cover their traces, their mother brings Ben and Polly to be cared for by the Shakers, where on her first day, Polly’s traumatic past causes her to become a Visionist. Enter the third voice, Simon Pryor, a young man prematurely cynical from the underhanded life he is forced to live, investigating suspicious fires and reporting back to worldly land speculators who hope to profit. The cover of this book is beautiful, a golden Shaker tree set over the haunting photograph of a woman of the sect in all her simplicity. In this case, the book itself outshines even this beautiful design, the language rich with pitch-perfect metaphor of the simplest things from the time. Belief foreign to us seems real – a rare and difficult thing in historical novels – even when it is brutal or open to exploitation. Ann Chamberlin HNR Issue 68, May 2014 | Reviews | 37

E D I TORS’ C H OI C E

THE ART OF THE DEVIL

John Altman, Severn House, 2014, $28.95/£19.99, hb, 224pp, 9780727883841 It is 1955, and although America is at peace, not everyone in the halls of power is happy. A cabal of politicians and businessmen has decided that President Eisenhower, despite his role as Supreme Commander of Allied Forces during World War II, has gone soft on communism and needs to be taken out. Under the direction of a United States Senator, two assassins – one a disgruntled American veteran and the other a young woman who had been a trained killer in Nazi Germany – move in for the kill. After the first two attempts fail, Emil Spooner, Chief of the Secret Service, brings in Francis Isherwood, an agent who’d been semi-retired after his battle with the bottle nearly washed him out of the service completely. Isherwood, Spooner knows, needs a second chance. He also knows that if there’s one thing that can drag Isherwood back from the brink, it’s being back in action. Isherwood feels more alive than ever when his battle instincts take over and his instincts are rarely wrong. The only thing I did not like about this book was the title; it surely deserves something more imaginative. With lovely phrases and often beautiful writing – sometimes hard to find in political thrillers – Altman treats us to plenty of action while also giving us in-depth insights into the personalities and motivations of the characters. Highly recommended. Kristina Blank Makansi matchmaker! This sweet collection of western romances brings in well-established authors Karen Witemeyer, Mary Connealy, and Carol Cox and newer-to-the-genre Regina Jennings, each penning stories about cowboys, widows and town folk who find love. Neill is “A Cowboy Unmatched” (Witemeyer), who finds his hands full once he starts helping Clara, a stubborn widow. Fans of the Archer Brothers series will like this companion novella but may be disappointed that Neill doesn’t merit his own book. In “An Unforeseen Match” ( Jennings), tempers flare when a cowboy and former schoolteacher clash, and an unexpected plot twist further complicates things. When Lucy leaves to be a caretaker for Andrew’s daft aunt, she finds there is “No Match for Love” (Cox), but is Aunt Martha really crazy or is something sinister afoot? In “Meeting Her Match” (Connealy), readers learn the identity of the matchmaker, and the town of Dry Gulch decides to give her a taste of her own medicine, although their method feels rushed. This collection is ideal for new readers looking to sample each author’s style but will appeal to anyone who enjoys inspirational frontier romance. Lauren Miller THE LAST RIDE Ethan J. Wolfe, Five Star, 2014, $25.95, hb, 250pp, 9781432829322 In 1885, Walter Burke, along with his two partners, Slick and Sweetwater, former Pony Express Riders, decide to put their savings together to buy a ranch. They had been working as bounty hunters for the last twenty years and saved their reward money. Walter learns that his younger sister 38 | Reviews |

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died in New York, so he travels there to attend to her estate. He meets his sister’s son, William, who has been coddled by his parents, and learns that his sister’s last request was to have Walter take William to San Francisco to live with relatives. He also learns that William has inherited all of his sister’s money, which makes William a very rich boy. Jealous of his inheritance, his sister’s second husband, who appears a bit shady, seems glad to turn the boy over to Walter for his trip west. This is the first western novel for Ethan Wolfe. The author has combined his ability to tell a pageturning tale with his knowledge of the old West. The plot is fast paced, like many western novels, and kept me interested in learning the outcome. His characters live and breathe and are totally believable. I look forward to reading more of his westerns in the future. Highly recommended. Jeff Westerhoff

20th century

MAGNOLIA CITY Duncan W. Alderson, Kensington, 2014, $15.00, pb, 439pp, 9780758292759 Socialite Hetty Allen enjoys the formality and opulence of the Houston upper crust while still dabbling in more risqué activities like smoking in public and going to jazz clubs. She is young, beautiful and from an elite family, the perfect match for Lamar, who is the sole heir to an oil fortune. Or is she? She has to be careful to guard the secret that could disrupt her family’s precarious footing

in society, and she isn’t so sure about Lamar when she meets the rough-around-the-edges aspiring wildcatter, Garrett. She is forced to choose between the two men, a choice that will change both the course of her life and the lives of her entire family. She quickly learns the consequences of her actions, transforming her from a spirited, fun-loving girl into an independent and calculating woman. One gets the sense that Alderson wants Magnolia City to be a sweeping epic, a sort of Texas version of Gone With the Wind, but the novel ends up being a little contrived and forced. There are too many competing ideas that go from high society and jazz clubs to bootlegging and oil drilling. They are all interesting, but it seems unlikely that one character would be involved in all of them over the course of a few years. Several of the main characters are called multiple names, which is confusing to the reader but which ultimately seems appropriate since the characters all go through radical, inexplicable changes throughout the novel as well. The early descriptions of Houston in the 1920s are detailed and lovely, but as the story moves away from its initial setting, it loses momentum. Janice Derr THE MOON FIELD Judith Allnatt, HarperCollins, 2014, £12.99, hb, 384pp, 9780007522941 This is a book about Britain in the Great War, and George, junior postman, his pranks as a youth, his infatuation and his hopes for love. Sent to war, George is wounded, recovers and returned to Lakeland with a broken face. Now that his face is partly hidden by a painted metal prosthesis, dare his loves look at him? In an extraordinary record of Britain at war, the towns, landscapes, people, commerce and industry are changed immeasurably from 1915 to 1919. This book details army trench life as well as the home life of a wealthy girl both loved by George and, by coincidence, his CO. At a well-observed gaming table, officers drink and gamble as poor George peels spuds. Shells bring dirt and plaster down, equally on them all. Amazing details of trench warfare, the wail of shells, and the rolling sounds of men taking cover in muddy “funk holes” are revealed. The terror of pain, the horrendous butchery in slime and mud give new slants on men’s behaviour under fire with fine telling of both feelings and sounds. I rejoice being in the first generation of British men never to have been forced to war. This masterpiece must have taken years to write, for it encompasses a vast resource of research and memories. The narration, though lengthy, is never tiresome, and introspection is as valuable here as dialogue. The ending is touching, as it should be, but holds one or two surprises. Geoffrey Harfield LEAVES BEFORE THE STORM Angela Arney, Robert Hale, 2014, £19.99, hb, 244pp, 9780719811784 This beautifully written novel makes a change 19th Century — 20th Century

from the increasing number being published with an eye to the interest in both World Wars aroused by the centenary of WW1, as it begins at Easter 1939 and ends in Winter 1947, concluding satisfactorily in 1991 with a heart-breaking little coda. I loved this novel, and I’m someone who hates war books. Arney has a light touch and writes without false sentimentality about the horrors of WW2 and the ways the lives of ordinary people were changed forever. The main character, Megan, is tough and resourceful but no one-dimensional heroine. She is as changed by the everyday dramas and tragedies that war brings as everyone else and is also believably devastated by love in its many different guises. It is a pleasure to find a novel written with respect for human failings but with a strong moral centre where the author does not flinch from pointing out evil and bad faith. Megan draws many people into her life and allows them to flourish in their own way: the little refugee, for instance, or the land girls, prisoners of war and the wonderful characters running Folly House in the New Forest where most of the action is set. All are imagined with a sure touch, with humanity, with humour and with a vital place in the central story of Megan and the love of her

life. Of course there is a villain, the monstrous and believable Gerald who, not to spoil the plot, gets his deserts in a satisfyingly spectacular way. Written with compassion and understanding, this is a book that should be on everybody’s shelf of war novels. It also has an evocative cover and is beautifully produced by Hale. Cassandra Clark THE VISITORS Sally Beauman, Little Brown, 2014, £16.99, hb, 544pp, 9780751551679 / Hachette Australia, 2014, Au$29.99, pb, 529pp, 9780751551686 / Harper, 2014, $27.99, hb, 544pp, 9780062302687 In 1922, eleven-year-old Lucy Payne is sent to the invigorating climate of Egypt to aid in her recovery from a near-fatal bout of typhoid. Her chaperone brings her into contact with the elite coterie that includes Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon, the men about to become world famous as the discoverers of Tutankhamen’s tomb. Lucy makes friends with Frances, the daughter of an American archaeologist, and the two girls are witnesses to the public and private affairs of the individuals around them. The story also flashes forward to the modern era, when the elderly Lucy grudgingly gives her time to the producer of a

E D I TORS’ C H OI C E

ROOSEVELT’S BEAST (US) / THE BEAST IN THE JUNGLE (UK)

Louis Bayard, Henry Holt, 2014, $27.00, hb, 320pp, 9780805090703 / John Murray, 2014, £14.99, hb, 352pp, 9781848542341 1914. Teddy Roosevelt is a Bull Moose without a cause. Defeated for re-election, he redirects his boundless energy into an expedition to chart the Rio da Dúvida (River of Doubt), a 1,000-mile expanse of God-only-knows-what in the dark heart of the Amazonian jungle. His son, Kermit, reluctantly accompanies him. Things go from bad to worse when the Roosevelts are captured by natives and given a daunting task: hunt the unseen Beast that has been preying on the tribe, leaving behind only the hollowed-out husks of its victims. This novel is hard to pigeonhole; it’s an Amazonian adventure, rife with the requisite daily hardship. It’s also a horror/mystery thriller: the Roosevelts perform Edwardian CSI to draw a bead on the harrowing Beast. But primarily, it’s an introspective character study – not, as one might think, of Teddy, but of Kermit, his internal conflict, the nature of evil and emptiness, and his relationship with a larger-thanlife father. Bayard’s characterization is admirable; one feels Teddy’s boisterous charisma while still understanding how he appears to Kermit: an aging lion burdening a son whose sole purpose is to give the great man “scope.” Despite instances of repetition, Bayard’s prose is solid and evocative, creating an immersive, heart-thudding atmosphere and pitch-perfect dialogue. Teddy’s staunch principles figure largely: “Civilization is not a place, Kermit... it is a practice, a way of living one’s life – meeting one’s death, if necessary.” What the Roosevelts encounter in the jungle is beyond Teddy’s ken, though somehow... expected by Kermit, and will affect both for the rest of their lives. As Teddy omits the events from the official expedition journals, he pronounces: “What happened out there belongs out there. The jungle has it; let the jungle keep it.” But the Beast will not be contained... An absorbing, frightening, thought-provoking literary thriller – highly recommended. Bethany Latham 20th Century

television documentary on the tomb’s discovery, and she is forced to look back to her past. The historical research can’t be faulted, and the characterisations and motivations of the real individuals are fascinating and well-explored, as are Egyptian politics and the finer details surrounding the discovery of the tomb, but the novel is less effective in its sub-plots. Both Lucy and Frances seem just too precocious in their perceptions and conversations with the adults to be totally convincing. There are unresolved circumstances relating to the fate of a beautiful ‘bolter’, and the personal tragedies in Lucy’s later life are dealt with in an oddly perfunctory manner at the expense of shallower narratives involving her manipulative governess and her clique and these tend to overshadow the moving denouement with Frances. A welcome plus is the cast list differentiating the real characters from the imagined, also the comprehensive closing notes and a bibliography (a map would have capped it), but ultimately this overly long book is a feat of endurance akin to struggling up and down those Egyptian sand dunes in search of a rewarding oasis and never quite reaching one. Marina Maxwell BITTER SPIRITS Jenn Bennett, Berkley, 2013, $7.99/C$9.99, pb, 328pp, 9780425269572 In San Francisco, during the Roaring Twenties, Aida Palmer makes a living conjuring up the spirits of the dead at sold-out audiences in Chinatown’s Gris-Gris speakeasy. But Aida is no charlatan; by holding personal artifacts of recently deceased individuals, she can summon their ghosts, and can also dispel unwanted spirits. When she meets talk, dark, and handsome bootlegger Winter Magnusson—a man more comfortable with guns than ghosts—she finds herself succumbing to his fierce magnetism. Magnusson hires her to get rid of the murderous ghosts that plague him, wrathful wraiths set upon him by an unknown conjurer. Together, they set out to track down Magnusson’s adversary while simultaneously indulging their erotic passions. Although this novel is hardly “swoon-worthy,” as one reviewer wrote, it does have a strong and entertaining narrative combining the adventure of the bootlegging era with a ghost story. Bennett’s interpretation of ghosts, however, might annoy serious students of the paranormal. For instance, some of the ghosts might more accurately be considered zombies and Aida’s method of dispelling spirits by personally electrocuting them has little credence among the paranormal experts. Still, the story is compelling so readers should be willing to forgive the author’s fictive indulgences. John Kachuba THE BLACK-EYED BLONDE: A Philip Marlowe Novel Benjamin Black, Henry Holt, 2014, $27, hb, 304pp, 9780805098143 / Mantle, 2014, £16.99, hb, 320pp, 9781447236689 HNR Issue 68, May 2014 | Reviews | 39

It’s 1950s California, and P.I. Philip Marlowe sits staring at a silent telephone in a quiet room, empty of eager clients. Soon the buzzer sounds and sultry the click of high heels reveals a beautiful, elegantly “coutured” blonde with deep black eyes. She wants him to “find someone”. Just his line, plus Marlowe knew he wouldn’t mind her company – in a professional way, of course. Although she was “Mrs.” Cavendish, she was seeking Nico Peterson, her lover, a denizen of the higher echelon of the Cahuilla Club, a bit out of reach for the Marlowes of the world. Details discussed and a few leads forthcoming and Marlowe was set to earn his twenty-five dollars a day plus expenses. Eager to begin, he was reluctant to see her leave, but he knew where to reach her. Good thing: she left without paying his retainer. After intial inquiries, the shock hit. Nico Peterson was dead, residing at Woodlawn. When he broke the news to her, the aftershock was worse. She already knew and apologized for not mentioning it, yet she saw Nico recently and he didn’t look dead at all. A simple lost-and-found case eventually mushrooms into a puzzle of Russian dolls, and the cool, determined Marlowe is continually caught off guard. As the case climaxes, this tough, gentlemanly and well-read detective uncovers the worst and best aspects of Los Angeles’ hotbed of humanity. It’s a long and harrowing tale, this revival of the Philip Marlowe character. Not an easy task but the experienced author comes through on his first attempt to channel the spirit of Raymond Chandler’s unusual hero. Tess Heckel A TIME FOR PEACE Sylvia Broady, Robert Hale, 2013, £19.99, hb, 222pp, 9780719811005 In one of the best starts I’ve read, Rose bumps into a sad and drunken airman while on her way to help at the centre for WW2 bombing victims. This is a fine saga of great humanity set in working-class Hull, England. There are many war books but few of the results of war. With the ending of WW2 the ‘peace’ seems worse than the war itself. Predictably the dreary post-war period shows qualities of the British character under pressure. Rose says goodbye to her boyfriend, Harry, whom she hopes to marry after the war. Shocked at a letter from him saying ‘it’s all over’, she endures her pain and starts to help others in air raids. There are details of streets and cafes in wartime Hull, where Rose and her friend Sally move, and conditions in the impoverished war-weary homes. I well remember Dali prints in British restaurants, set up by the government to assist production and maintain good diet. But Harry returns, expecting Rose’s love, and so a triangle begins which, with family complications, continues to the end of this story of Rose finding a man when young men are short. With a jealous, selfish boyfriend, the now-helpful airman with a young son, and Rose trying to do her community work, this is a poignant telling of loving human contact. The smell of hair, the warmth of cheeks and softness of arms make it a very touchy novel. When Rose’s brother brings home a German wife pregnant with the baby of his dead army colleague, the family is torn with anti-German feeling. Rose stands firm as peacemaker. The 40 | Reviews |

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German mother dies in childbirth, compounding problems further, but all ends well. Geoffrey Harfield

plausible. This is history brought alive. More please! Recommended. Mike Ashworth

THE LAMBS Peter James Cottrell, Robert Hale, 2014, £19.99, hb, 223pp, 9780719811838 Dublin, September 1914. Nineteen-year-old Kevin Flynn hates his job, which he finds dull and boring. Along with a group of his friends, and desperate to impress the girls, he enlists in the Army keen not to miss the adventure of a lifetime, fighting in a war which will be over by Christmas. He joins the 9th Battalion, the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, nicknamed “The Lambs”. However, confronted by the vagaries of army life and the realities of trench warfare, Kevin finds not only his courage tested, but also his loyalty, with Irish Republicanism challenging the status quo, demanding an independent Ireland. The novel culminates in the attack on Ginchy at the Battle of the Somme in September 1916. While a work of fiction, the book is rooted in fact, actual historical events based on records relating to the 9th Battalion. It is highly readable; the author brings alive the harsh realities of life in the trenches, which are effectively portrayed in a vivid, unsentimental way without being graphic or overstated. The battle scenes are exciting and

ICE COLD: Tales of Intrigue from the Cold War Jeffery Deaver and Raymond Benson, Grand Central, 2014, $25.00/C$28.00, hb, $16.00/$18.00, pb, 400pp, 9781455520718 The events of the Cold War colored my childhood, and when my mother wasn’t reading historical novels, she was reading mysteries. She subscribed to Ellery Queen Magazine, and here I acquired a taste for short stories, so reviewing this anthology written by stars of the mystery genre seemed an easy task. It turned out not to be duck soup, however, and here’s why. This anthology contains twenty stories, and many of them set in or about the strangled silence that existed in Communism’s front line: East Germany. Here we enter a shadow world of endless, multi-layered conspiracies, of people who are walking Matryoshka dolls – each shell outwardly different, but with a final emptiness inside. A short story is such a brief form, that, in many cases I could detect the awful, downward plot twist long before it arrived, and so the effect became not shocking or thrilling, but simply depressing. (After all, we still live in a world where imminent destruction hangs over our heads. Nothing much really has

E D I TORS’ CH OICE

EVERYONE IN THEIR PLACE: The Summer of Commissario Ricciardi

Maurizio de Giovanni (trans. Antony Shugaar), Europa, 2013, $17.00, pb, 272pp, 9781609451431 Set in 1930s Naples, Italy, Everyone in Their Place features a remarkable protagonist in the shape of Commissario Luigi Alfredo Ricciardi. Ricciardi is a solitary soul. He seldom speaks. When he does it is with a cool irony that most fail to understand. He is an enigma, one his fellow police officers fear while respecting his ability to solve murder investigations. No one knows Ricciardi has visions. He sees and hears the final seconds in the lives of victims of violent deaths. Thus, he has closed himself off emotionally. How can he involve people – a lover – in his private torments? In this utterly delightful and compelling novel, a wealthy duchess has been murdered. Ricciardi means to find her killer, despite his commanding officer’s warning not to offend her privileged Neapolitan family. As Ricciardi stubbornly continues his investigation during the sweltering Neapolitan summer, we meet the many characters who come alive in the story. The author admirably puts each in their place, from Ricciardi’s indefatigable partner, Brigadier Maione – who is convinced his wife is having an affair with the local fruit vendor – to the duchess’ stepson, who loathed the murdered woman and mocks her death at her funeral dressed in a white suit and red tie and sporting a splendid gardenia in his lapel. The author’s gentle touch has Ricciardi trading shy waves from his bedroom window with the pretty young woman who sits embroidering in the sitting room of her home across the way each night. This, even as his visions continue: a young boy killed in a car accident on the way for ice cream, the murdered duchess’ last lament. This is the third book in this wonderfully original series, which is a runaway hit in Europe. Adding to this particular title’s virtues is Antony Shugaar’s seamless translation from the Italian. Very highly recommended. Alana White 20th Century

changed, except, perhaps, our awareness.) My favorites among the selections were those by Sara Paretsky, which is narrated by a child, and takes places in a 1960s infectious disease lab, and one by Jonathan Stone, a “pure” murder mystery, which centered around the demolition of the Berlin Wall. Linda Lippman’s “Everyday Housewife” not only had a nice twist, but was a historically vivid (read “suffocating”) evocation of an ordinary newlywed’s life. Outstanding others that relieved the formulaic gloom were by J. A. Jance, Katherine Neville, Gary Alexander, and Joseph Wallace. A mixed bag. Juliet Waldron PLAGUE AND CHOLERA Patrick Deville (trans. J.A. Underwood), Little, Brown, 2014, £14.99, hb, 304pp, 9781408704745 Translated from the original French, this is a fictional biography of the scientist Alexandre Yersin. Born in Switzerland in the mid-19th century, Yersin moves to Paris and works with Louis Pasteur as a bacteriologist, developing a reputation as a talented scientist. But he soon gets wanderlust and is by instinct a loner; so Yersin goes to sea as a ship’s doctor to the Far East. His subsequent career veers from one discipline to another; his insatiable curiosity to discover leads him to develop a range of skills. He creates a mini-empire in his adopted homeland in Indochina (now Vietnam). But the peak of his career was in Bombay when he discovered the source of the bubonic plague and isolated the bacillus – known subsequently as yersinia pestis. The narrative switches between the elderly Yersin’s escape from Paris ahead of the

THE LIE

advance of the German Army in May 1940 to his beloved Indochina, and an account of his life leading up to his fame and achievements of 1940. The story is unfolded by an omniscient narrator, who makes all sorts of observations and gives the reader advance notice, somewhat in the manner of Anthony Trollope, of developments and influences. The life as told by the narrator is fully keyed in with the contemporary history and Yersin’s part in this. It is an intriguing story with a highly detailed and informative historical context; but I’m not sure the form fully works, as the tale reads more like a sort of informal and inchoate history rather than the fictional unfolding of a man’s life. Douglas Kemp HEIRS OF THE BODY Carola Dunn, Minotaur, 2013, $24.99/C$28.99, hb, 292pp, 9780312675493 In this latest entry in the popular Daisy Dalrymple mystery series set in 1920s England, Daisy’s cousin Edgar, Lord Dalrymple, invites all his potential heirs to the family estate to celebrate his 50th birthday. Edgar and his wife are childless, and the estate is entailed away from Daisy’s immediate family, the female line – a situation familiar to fans of Downton Abbey. The family lawyer finds four plausible claimants, who live in different parts of the world, and Daisy decides to represent the family in his interviews with them. But one of the claimants, a sailor from Jamaica, disappears on a voyage, and his pregnant wife, desperate to find him, arrives in England. Daisy quickly takes her under her wing. Soon after the

E D I TORS’ C H OI C E

Helen Dunmore, Hutchinson, 2014, £14.99, hb, 300pp, 9780091953928 / Atlantic Monthly, 2014, $25.00, hb, 304pp, 9780802122544 Cornwall 1920. Daniel Branwell has survived the Great War as an infantryman; with his mother, his only relation, having died whilst he was serving in France, he lives upon a smallholding on the north coast of Cornwall that belonged to an elderly recluse, Mary Pascoe. She dies, and Dan assumes possession of the small plot of land to survive on a subsistence basis. Although Daniel was fortunate to escape serious wounding on the battlefields, it is soon apparent that he is suffering some mental trauma; his closest friend Frederick Dennis was killed whilst attacking German trenches, and Daniel blames himself for surviving while allowing his friend, whom he cared for with an unexpressed homosexual intensity, to die. Frederick came from a wealthy family, and the narrative follows the course of Daniel’s memories, as he recalls happy days with his friend as boys, alternating with the harrowing events in the War. Frederick’s younger sister Felicia is a young widow with a baby, now living alone in the large house of the Dennis family. They restart a tentative friendship, based upon their shared grief for Frederick. Although not formally educated, Daniel is a bookish young man and avidly read volumes from the large library in Frederick’s house – the books and poems stay inside him. This is a lovely novel, beautifully observed and moving. The reader empathises with the damaged Daniel, and his nostalgic memories of happier times before the War turned his world upside down are almost painful in their intensity. Helen Dunmore handles the scenes of Daniel’s disturbances deftly and credibly. A story to treasure. Douglas Kemp 20th Century

heirs are gathered at the estate, a series of accidents happen, and one man turns up dead. Daisy and her husband, Scotland Yard detective Alec Fletcher, must locate the missing man and find out which of the heirs is a murderer. The intrepid Daisy is as delightful a heroine as ever, and the descriptions of life on an English country estate should appeal to Downton fans. This is an entertaining read for longtime Daisy fans and newcomers alike. Vicki Kondelik THE STORY OF A NEW NAME Elena Ferrante (trans. Ann Goldstein), Europa Editions, 2013, $18.00/£11.99, pb, 471pp, 9781609451349 This is a sequel to My Brilliant Friend, translated from the Italian by Ann Goldstein. The first book followed friends Elena Greco and Lila Cerullo as schoolchildren in postwar Naples. This volume begins in the early 1960s with Lila’s marriage at 16 to Stefano, a well-off grocer, while Elena’s chosen path out of poverty is to continue her studies. Lila’s union starts badly, after she discovers that her husband broke a pledge he made to her, and learns of his business ties to a criminal family. Lila turns bitter, but now and then she will perform an act of kindness, such as purchasing school books Elena can’t afford. During a summer idyll at the seaside, Lila becomes attracted to Nino, the girls’ schoolmate, whom Elena admires from afar. Elena watches a bit jealously as Lila and Nino develop a romance, yet Lila manages to talk Elena into helping her meet Nino secretly. After Elena goes off to college in Pisa, Lila becomes pregnant with Nino’s child. This novel depicts a complicated friendship between two women amid the ins and outs of everyday life. They seek different and difficult paths to happiness. Elena, the more sympathetic character, begins to suspect that education will not entirely shake off her poverty-laden roots. Lila is in turn an annoying and endearing friend. Perhaps I would have liked Lila better if I had had background information about the women’s childhood from reading the first volume. The numerous people and relationships get confusing, so consulting the author’s character list in the front of the book is a must. I did not enjoy this epic story of a Neapolitan friendship between two complex women as much as other reviewers have, but readers who begin with the first book in the series may come away with a different opinion. B.J. Sedlock WHEN I WAS YOUNG Mary Fitzgerald, Arrow, 2014, £5.99, pb, 524pp, 9780099585381 Sixteen-year-old Eleanor has been given the opportunity to travel to the Loire Valley on French-language exchange in the 1950s. Coming from a remote farm in Yorkshire, Eleanor’s mother has been an austere parent whose priorities lie in running the farm and managing Eleanor’s father, a casualty from the Second World War, with equal distance. On her arrival with her host family, Eleanor is met with indifference and hostility in a setting which exudes beauty and tranquillity. In her struggle to overcome these obstacles, she discovers herself as a valued being, capable of love HNR Issue 68, May 2014 | Reviews | 41

and maturity beyond her previous experiences. Alongside her discoveries of the hidden secrets within her host family, Eleanor has also to contend with information relating to her parents’ change in circumstances in her absence, which has lifechanging consequences for her. Tangible throughout this book are the after-effects of war within families and small communities on both sides of the channel. The destruction wreaked by the War was in effect for many years after peace treaties were signed and the individuals affected were scarred beyond outward appearances. But I feel that this story lets the reader down with the lack of depth of the characters’ responses, for example, where Eleanor is supposedly falling in love with Etienne and developing a physical relationship with him. Cathy Kemp IN THE WOLF’S MOUTH Adam Foulds, Jonathan Cape, 2014, £16.99, 332pp, 9780224098281 / Farrar Straus & Giroux, 2014, $26.00, hb, 336pp, 9780374175825 Set mostly in the battlegrounds of North Africa and Italy in the Second World War, this is a poetic and beautifully observed novel. The two main characters who alternate the narrative are William Walker, a rather pompous junior recruit in British field intelligence, and Ray Marfione, US infantry of Italian ethnic background. Both are deployed to

North Africa, where Ray endures some traumatic fighting, while Will’s opinion of his limited abilities is inflated. They then are moved to Sicily to engage the retreating Axis forces – Ray to fight, while Will is given the task of assisting in law enforcement and filling in the vacuum created by the departure of the Fascist administration. But he comes up against the local Sicilian vendettas and long-running disputes that continue, and in some cases are made worse, by the military conflict. The descriptions of the fighting are excellent and seem authentic to a non-combatant. Likewise, the understanding of motivations and the analysis of character and behaviour have a genuine and intelligent essence that fully engages the reader in the experiences of the main players in this tale. This is a story about war and its pervasive influence examines the human condition under such times of terrible stress, as well as periods of boredom and anomie. Douglas Kemp ‘TIL THE WELL RUNS DRY Lauren Francis-Sharma, Holt, 2014, $27.00/ C$31.00, hb, 400 pp, 9780805098037 Secrets abound in Francis-Sharma’s sparkling debut novel. Marcia Garcia – pronounced so her first and last names rhyme – is a smart and sassy teenager in a small village in Trinidad in 1943. Her family has been beset by tragedy, and Marcia and

E D I TORS’ C H OI C E

THE ICE CREAM QUEEN OF ORCHARD STREET

Susan Jane Gilman, Grand Central, 2014, $26.00/£19.99, hb, 528pp, 9780446578936 Lillian Dunkle, celebrated matriarch of the ice cream business, recounts her life from penniless immigrant to food tycoon. Because it is written as a retrospective narrative, and infused with the wit of Jewish, Italian-raised Malka “Lillian” Treynovsky Bialystoker Dinello Dunkle, it delivers insightful and reflective honesty while acquainting the reader with the protagonist’s formative years in early 20th-century New York. Through the two World Wars and decades beyond, the creators of Dunkle’s Ice Cream Company juggle destructive relationships, financial hardship and difficult decisions with experimental recipes, marketing ingenuity, francizing and fame. They are the top of a competitive industry – until it all comes spiraling down. One of the most poignant themes of the book is the glaring poverty within the immigrant quarters of the city, and the sheer number of people suffering illness, permanent deformities and death from diseases that are today warded off by vaccination. The Great Depression, war, competition and new inventions impact sales, though Lillian usually finds a way to turn it to her advantage. A natural entrepreneur, she is the leader of the company even if she has to relinquish the title to her husband while enduring snide remarks from other men of the business world. Phenomenally researched and filled with period detail, this story empathetically appeals to readers as it relates, with much humor, a raw depiction of a tremendously difficult childhood – yet endears with the remarkable strength of a well-lived, though sometimes penitent, character whose signature line is, “So sue me!” This novel is truly as much of a summer treat as its subject matter, and is highly recommended to readers of the literary and historical genres! Arleigh Johnson

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two young boys are all that’s left; in her tiny hut she sews beautiful clothes for neighbors and politicians’ wives, catches possums to eat, and keeps the two boys out of trouble. Farouk Karam, an up-and-coming policeman from a town down the road, is first intrigued by, then besotted with, Marcia. Their love doesn’t easily cross religious and class boundaries, however, and both they and their children suffer. Although Marcia closely guards her family’s secrets, trouble continues to brew over the years of her relationship with Farouk, and his investigations into her past lead to painful and dangerous revelations. All Marcia wants is to keep her family safe and whole, but to do that she is forced to make tremendous sacrifices, learning more than she wants about the dark side of human nature along the way. The story was inspired by Francis-Sharma’s desire to know more about her family’s roots in Trinidad, and its immigration to New York; she effectively evokes that longing to belong, to live a good life, both in the tiny villages in sunny, colorful Trinidad, and in the bustling yet impersonal cacophony of New York. Sober overtones of racial and gender violence, class oppression, and witchcraft haunt the narrative. Chapters are voiced by different characters, so we see the story unfold from multiple perspectives, all of which agree on one point: secrets can be very complicated to keep. Helene Williams ALL CHANGE FOR NURSE MILLIE Jean Fullerton, Orion, 2013, £8.00, pb, 518pp, 9781409137412 This sequel to Call Nurse Millie (HNR 64) opens in July 1945 as the National Health Service is introduced throughout the country. District Nurse/Midwife Millie (née Sullivan) marries Jim Smith, an aspiring politician. Cycling through the war-ravaged streets to run various clinics, conducting home visits to the sick and terminally ill, monitoring difficult pregnancies, tending the injured and war-damaged, and handling cases of domestic violence rob Millie’s time and that of her nursing colleagues. Miss Dunstan, the spiteful Nursing Superintendent, allocates extra work as they adapt to new practices and procedures which prove difficult to implement in the post-war disorder. Life is demanding for the newlywed, who manages competently at a time when Jim insists on her canvassing beside him for the forthcoming election. New patients having different expectations, changes in her mother’s and Aunt Ruby’s circumstances, and an interesting exchange with a manipulative hypochondriac lead to an enjoyable battle of wits, which could have destabilised a friendship. After a dramatic emergency, Millie calls the police and is floored when her former love interest Sergeant Alex Nolan attends the incident, believing him to be still working abroad. Their mutual attraction remains, but she omits to tell him of a change in her marital circumstances after the birth of her daughter, Patricia. . Plot strands are drawn together and resolved masterfully as she and Alex re-establish their friendship. Millie’s admirable, turbulent story is packed with evocative post-war details and is fastpaced, plausible, and highly engaging, though the complexities of the issues covered lend the story a 20th Century

darker, serious tone. Highly recommended. Janet Williamson THE GIRL WHO CAME HOME Hazel Gaynor, William Morrow, 2014, $14.99/£8.99, pb, 384 pp, 9780062316868 Maggie Murphy is being taken to America to begin a new life with her aunt, and she is unsure about leaving her Irish home and her sweetheart, Seamus, behind. Still, she feels compelled to accompany her aunt and twelve others from her village on board the great ship Titanic, never suspecting it will not complete the voyage. Meanwhile, almost seventy years later, Maggie’s great-granddaughter, Grace, is suffering through the loss of her beloved father and uncertain how her life should proceed. Can Maggie’s experience somehow bring guidance to Grace and provide her with the means to go forward? The Girl Who Came Home is ostensibly a book about the Titanic, but it also deals with the wrenching decision to leave one’s roots and travel to the unknown future. Though the main story is about Maggie and her decision, there are also other points of view that help to tell the story of the fateful night in 1912. Based on the true story of an Irish village that lost many of its own aboard the ship, this part of the story is well done, if a bit slow to get going. Flashbacks to Maggie’s poignant good-bye to Seamus would just as easily have shown emotion and carried the plot along more quickly. This reader’s biggest problem in the overall story is with Grace, who seems to allow life to flow over her rather than working her way through it for much of the time. While I enjoyed Grace’s interactions with Maggie, I did wish she’d shown more spark along the way to solving the “mystery.” This is a satisfying read, however, and the author has taken a well-traveled theme and given it a personal spin that shows that the sinking itself was only one part of the overall story of the Titanic. Tamela McCann THE STEADY RUNNING OF THE HOUR Justin Go, Simon & Schuster, 2014, $26.00/ C$29.99, hb, 480pp, 978147670458 / William Heinemann, 2014, £14.99, hb, 352pp, 9780434022335 In 1916, a few days before going to war, Ashley Walsingham falls in love with Imogen SoamesAndersson. In 1996 San Francisco, Tristan Campbell learns that when Ashley Walsingham died during the 1924 Mount Everest expedition, he left his money to Imogen Soames-Andersson, who never claimed it. If Tristan can prove he is a direct descendant of Imogen, he will gain the fortune. The catch: Tristan has only a few months to prove his connection or the money will be given to charity. The story switches between Tristan’s investigation and Ashley and Imogen’s love story. Tristan’s grandmother, the daughter of Imogen’s sister, was born in rural Sweden, where Imogen and her sister spent the winter. Timing suggests that the baby could have been Imogen and Ashley’s outof-wedlock child. The days before Ashley leaves for war are the stuff of love’s poetry. Go makes you believe their love is unique in all history. Imogen cannot understand why Ashley chooses the war over staying with her. They write beautiful letters 20th Century

to one another, but when Ashley almost dies, and again refuses to run away with her, Imogen breaks it off. Or does she? Ashley and Imogen’s love story is breathtaking, the characters intense and perfectly flawed. The war is grimy and terrifying, the Everest expedition cold and fascinating. Tristan’s frantic ancestry search takes him all over Europe where he finds clue after clue, getting so close to discovery. I read the last 200 pages without breathing. The ending left me utterly disappointed. I understand the author’s literary reasons, but as a reader I was not satisfied. Until the last two chapters, I thought it one of the best books I’d read this year. Cautiously recommended. Elizabeth Caulfield Felt ANNIE’S PROMISE Margaret Graham, Arrow, 2013, £5.99, pb, 404pp, 9780099585800 1950s Britain is re-building after the war. Annie Manon has had a traumatic war as a prisoner of the Japanese; now, she wants to put it behind her. Reunited with her loving husband, Georgie, and her daughter, Sarah, Annie wants to do her bit and provide work in her fledgling fashion business for the women of her home town, Wassingham, in Northumberland. Family is all-important to Annie: her brother Don has been looking after her financial inheritance, and the money will be essential in getting her workshop up and running. Georgie will look after the business side for her. Young Sarah is showing a talent for art and fashion design. The future looks rosy. But there are problems. An accident cripples her husband, and things go wrong in the business. Not everyone in the family is as supportive as she’d like to believe. Will Sarah have the courage and tenacity she needs to keep going? This is a book of two halves: Annie’s story in the 1950s, and Sarah’s as a student in London in the 1960s, a time of sexual liberation, drugs and wild parties. Annie cannot help worrying about what Sarah is getting up to… Margaret Graham has plainly does her research. The feel of 1950s Wassingham is absolutely convincing: the assumption that women have no head for business; the introduction of such innovations as answering machines; the traipsing round towns in the North East desperately trying to drum up orders. 1960s London is equally well conveyed: the grottiness of Sarah’s digs, the excitement of the new fashions with their psychedelic colours and patterns, and the newlyavailable recreational drugs. Margaret Graham offers her readers a gripping and realistic slice of life during a vibrant and transitional period. If you like well-written and gritty sagas, you will enjoy this. Elizabeth Hawksley LONG MAN Amy Greene, Knopf, 2014, $25.99, hb, 288pp, 9780307593436 This novel takes place in the river valley town of Yuneetah, Tennessee in 1936, as a young couple faces three days of terror when their three-yearold daughter, Gracie, disappears. The Tennessee Valley Authority has completed their dam project and is about to flood the valley as the Long Man river rises, drowning the many caves and farmland.

Time is running out to find Gracie. Two reclusive women, the town sheriff, and a government man round out those left behind in the town to aid in the search. The day before she went missing, a vengeful, disfigured man had returned to his former town and becomes a suspect in kidnapping or killing the little girl. Each of these people’s lives are interconnected, either through youthful romance or being related by blood, which deepens the mystery. What lengths will each of them go to find Gracie while protecting those they love who might be connected to her disappearance? Will she be found dead or alive? Everyone’s loss and fear for this little girl serves as the springboard for a bigger story. Amy Greene captures the regional rural folk authentically by showing their mistrust of the government. Her characters play out wonderfully; they are both edgy and simple in their needs and education, not wanting the modern changes that the dam would offer them. I found it interesting that not all families accepted the buyout and relocation option; although the dam would create the energy needed to bring electricity into the area, progress would uproot those farmers from homes and land that they had held for generations and clung onto during the depression. This is a very human story. Beth Turza DIVIDED LOYALTY Roberta Grieve, Robert Hale, 2014, £19.99, hb, 224pp, 9780719811562 Cecelia is a young woman in wartime England who lives on a farm and works in an office in the nearby town. Her boyfriend, Mat, and her brother, Ed, are aircrew in the same bomber flying missions over Germany. Mat is brave and resolute; Ed is brave but has a crisis of conscience about bombing civilians. Mat fears that Ed is undermining morale. Cecelia stands up for her brother at the risk of a break with Mat, although privately she wishes Ed would ‘get help’. The dilemma is resolved when Ed takes the controls of his stricken bomber after Mat and the others have bailed out. He ditches the plane and loses his leg but at least exits flying duties as a hero. Mat makes it home and marries Cecelia. That ostensibly is the main plot of the book. However one gets the impression that the author is more interested in the various sub-plots about Cecelia’s family, the farm and the office. She certainly gives them more space than the aircrew sequences and handles them better. There is more emotional tension on the farm than in the bomber. Frustratingly, the sub-plots are left largely unresolved when the book ends with Cecelia’s wedding. Edward James CLEVER GIRL Tessa Hadley, Harper, 2014, $25.99, hb, 256pp, 9780062270399 / Vintage, 2014, £8.99, pb, 342pp, 9780099570523 A girl on the brink of young adulthood. A young woman on the edge of maturity, unsure of whether, or how, to take that next step. An overburdened adult who takes on responsibilities at an early age, because of circumstances or poor choices. Clever Girl is the story of all of these people, and all of these people are Stella. HNR Issue 68, May 2014 | Reviews | 43

The only child of a supposedly-widowed working mother in Bristol, England, Stella’s early years reflect her surroundings: small, and grey, with the devastation of the World War II bombs still evident two decades later. As she grows, we move full force into the colorful 1960s and ´70s, complete with sex, drugs, and tragic relationships. The ´80s and ´90s bring Stella more stability and self-reliance, with occasional forays back to her younger life. Each chapter is a set piece, the story of a time or an event that is not necessarily connected with what came before, or what comes after; it takes a while for the reader, and Stella herself, to fit the pieces fit together and move forward without running away. Stella’s cleverness provides the unifying thread for these disparate images. For years she, and those around her, ignored or pushed it away, but ultimately she accepts her strength, to complete her education, to make conscious decisions about her future, and to fully integrate her own life with those around her. Hadley deftly reflects the second half of the 20th century – the turbulent mid-century decades to the disaffected and self-centered ´70s and ´80s, and finally, the calmer 1990s – in both the narrative and her characters. Stella’s story is not so different from that of most of her readers, yet the intense images and polished prose serve to make it much more memorable than the average life. Helene Williams WINGS OVER CAIRO Simon W. Herbert, Fireship, 2013, $18.50, pb, 392pp, 9781611792638 RAF pilot Jack McClelland has suffered a heartbreaking loss as the war heats up in London of 1941. As he prepares for his next assignment, he meets WAAF (Women’s Auxiliary Air Force) Corporal Isabel Winters working in his squadron

A LITTLE MURDER

leader’s office. Jack is not the only man interested in this fetching woman, and their budding romance makes a formidable enemy of an unstable wing commander. Jack gets his orders to leave for Egypt and worries about leaving Isabel behind. As luck would have it, he finds that his nemesis has also been assigned to fight in Cairo, but with the power now to assign Jack to a suicide mission in hopes to win the woman that he covets. As a newly appointed squadron leader, Jack needs to follow orders, but he also needs to preserve his life, returning to the woman he loves. A good wartime love story has the elements of authenticity, passion, and a villain to make the story more interesting. Simon has blended his elements well, giving the reader a compelling book about what it is like to be in the RAF and the dangers and the friendships that are formed. The love between the couple is genuine, and the support of her family in Cairo offers them opportunity for developing their commitment to one another. As a reader of WWII historical fiction, I would recommend this book. Beth Turza OF LITTLE FAITH Carol Hoenig, Steel Cut Press, 2013, $14.95, pb, 304pp, 9781933680056 The 1960s were tumultuous times, sounding a death knell for those who distorted reality, and those under fire had to make a choice to flee or hide behind the protective shield of denial. Laura, Beth, Eric, and his wife, Jenny, are the children of fundamentalist Christians who believe faith is the center of existence. But they have left two of their children hiding behind secrets that need to be revealed in order for necessary healing to occur. Laura rebels and rejects religion; she wants to have a child by a surrogate father, a desire that sets her apart from almost everyone she knows. However,

E D I TORS’ C H OI C E

Suzette A. Hill, Allison & Busby, 2014, £7.99/$16.95, pb, 382pp, 9780749015527 Marcia Beasley is found shot through the head at her home in St Johns Wood, London, wearing nothing but a coal-scuttle. While Detective Sergeant Greenleaf struggles to get sense out of Marcia’s upperclass relatives and a terrifying charlady who demands cocoa and Ginger Nuts, Marcia’s niece Rosy Gilchrist unearths more than she ever wanted to know about her aunt’s colourful past. This delightful dark comedy is set in a London that is recovering after the Second World War. Chocolate truffles and not-quite-cream buns have reappeared, ladies shop in Marshall and Snelgrove, and Tommy Trinder is on the stage – but like the losses and the battle scars, unsettled scores still remain. Rosy finds herself embroiled with a series of dubious characters that includes the wondrously-named artist Clovis Thistlehyde, a young lady desperate for a mink coat, several irascible academics, a woman in a pork pie hat, and a mysterious man with a wooden leg. All is washed down with the contents of numerous decanters. Wittily and fluently written, with a neat plot that twists and turns to a satisfying conclusion, A Little Murder is a fine entertainment. Ruth Downie 44 | Reviews |

HNR Issue 68, May 2014

she is a talented author whose children’s novel has just been accepted for publication with a lucrative deal. Constant tension over the unspoken past builds between the siblings. All of this, however, proceeds unusually with the help of another writer, Peter, and a shocking development. Reactions by this novel’s readers may depend on one’s beliefs or lack thereof, but it cannot be denied that the essence of compassion is the theme brilliantly shining through this poignant story. The reader’s feelings evolve parallel to those of the characters. Change and honest caring were the by-products of the ´60s, all of which the reader experiences in a wondrous way that remains long after the story and its afterword are finished. Excellent historical fiction and highly recommended! Viviane Crystal CHURCHILL’S ANGELS Ruby Jackson, Harper, 2014, $14.99/£7.99, pb, 400pp, 9780007506231 Daisy Petrie works in her parents’ grocery store as the war begins to invade her sleepy little English town of Dartford. With her brothers off fighting, she becomes more important to the family business. One of her jobs includes driving the delivery van and keeping it running, expertly servicing the engine as her father and brothers trained her to do. To be a skilled female mechanic is indeed an unusual talent in 1939, and during one of her grocery deliveries out in the country, she meets a RAF pilot named Adair Maxwell. He stores his broken-down Aeronca aircraft in his relatives’ barn near the air force base, and later takes up Daisy on her boast that she can “take an engine apart, clean it, and put it together again.” Daisy’s hard work is rewarded with flying lessons from both Adair and a famous Czech pilot, Tomas Sapenak, who both suggest that she join the Woman’s Auxiliary Air Force as a mechanic. Joining the WAAF is bittersweet, as she faces her peers’ and superiors’ doubts about her flying and mechanical skills. She finds she has to work very hard to achieve her dreams. This book not only follows Daisy and Adair but has a great cast of brothers, friends and customers who interact to give us a complete picture. The author brings to life the rationing, the fears of loved ones off fighting the war, and how Daisy’s friends are choosing to serve their country. Ruby Jackson shows readers the harsh realities of life during wartime. I like the authenticity of her writing and look forward to her fleshing out Daisy’s schoolfriends’ lives as they move on to their own war jobs and life changes in the following books in the series. Beth Turza THE SON OF A CERTAIN WOMAN Wayne Johnston, Knopf Canada, 2013, C$32.00, hb, 435pp, 9780345807892 It doesn’t take readers of award-winning author Wayne Johnston’s latest novel, The Son of a Certain Woman, to recognise all the elements of a Greek tragedy – the fateful hero with a healthy Oedipus complex, mythological endeavours, historical references, a small but complex central cast together with a large and boisterous chorus, religious and political chicanery and actors wearing masks, both 20th Century

physical and psychological. But what may take readers a bit longer to recognise is Johnston’s deft hand at interlacing the tragedy with less frequent but much welcome Greek comedy. Percy Jones is our eponymous hero, born in 1950s Newfoundland to the wildly attractive but single mother, Penny Joyce. Percy’s ‘mask’ is a large port wine stain and misshapen hands and feet, characteristic of his False Someone Syndrome, a disorder both physical and prophetic. His life amongst the small town, small minded folk of the Mount is not an easy one. The children, often egged on by the adults, think nothing of jeering, name calling, physical assault and invoking the sacred name of Penny Joyce in their efforts to rile him. He, in turn, sees nothing wrong in creating myth after myth about himself in an effort to protect his fragile existence and entertain his audience. Johnston complex portrayal of Percy and his highly dysfunctional extended family is lightened considerably by the delicate thread of comedy which is also woven through the novel. This comedy primarily takes place between Percy’s paternal aunt (and Penny’s true love), Medina, and Pops, the purveyor of unrequited love for Penny but who sleeps with him nonetheless in exchange for rent. In what might otherwise become a very disheartening, disquieting read, this quick fire banter allows the reader a moment of classic Greek comedy to effectively set off Percy’s tragedy. Janice Parker THE THOUGHTS AND HAPPENINGS OF WILFRED PRICE, PURVEYOR OF SUPERIOR FUNERALS Wendy Jones, Europa, 2014, $17.00, pb, 235pp, 9781609454851 / Corsair, 2012, £7.99, pb, 272pp, 9781780335810 Set in a small Welsh town in 1924, Jones’ novel meanders through, as the title indicates, the thoughts and happenings of a young man named Wilfred Price. This easy pace seems reflective of the townspeople characterized within, and the ups and downs of life in a small town during a conservative time. Beneath this unhurried writing, however, lies a rich unfolding of complicated events. At first readers believe that the major occurrences in the novel are Wilfred’s spontaneous (and immediately regretted) marriage proposal to Grace Reece – daughter of the town doctor and wearer of the captivating yellow dress – and the death of Flora Myffanwy Edwards’ father. Traveling through day-to-day life with Wilfred, Grace, and Flora, however, it becomes clear that major occurrences have preceded these events, and readers may find themselves crossing their fingers or holding their breath in hopes that the characters find their way through all of it. There is grace and tragedy in Jones’ book, drawing readers in to both the loveliness and the pitfalls of small-town life and making them want to read more about all of the residents, like Willie the Postmaster with his new central heating system, and Wilfred’s Da, the gravedigger. The easy flow of the book belies the note of suspense and tragic circumstance contained within, but readers will feel fully transported rather than shocked or offended. Jones never breaks her measured pace, which brings even the nastiest unveilings in the book an almost poetic air. Amy Watkin 20th Century

THE PINK SUIT Nicole Mary Kelby, Little, Brown, 2014, $26.00, hb, 288pp, 9780316235655 If you’ve ever wondered about what it takes to create haute couture, The Pink Suit offers a behindthe-scenes look. It is an atmospheric novel of an Irish immigrant’s quest to make the world a more beautiful place through her creation of beautiful clothing. The pink suit in the book’s title refers to the iconic suit worn by Jacqueline Kennedy the day that her husband was assassinated. The book’s narrator is Kate, an Irish immigrant working in a New York boutique called Chez Ninon. Kate, in her late 20s, is exceptionally skilled at her craft, working for two elderly women who copy the latest fashion designs from Paris. Kate’s precision work makes her a hot commodity in the industry, though her personal and love life is up in the air. Kate is as captivated by the First Lady (who is never named in the book, but only referred to as the Wife) as the rest of America. When she has the opportunity to help create the pink suit and to meet the Wife in person, Kate makes a move so bold that it almost costs her her job. The story, which flows smoothly, intertwines the emblematic pink suit with the politics of the day. Getting a behind the scenes glimpse inside the fashion industry of the 1960s was a treat. But the real charm of the book is the protagonist herself, portrayed as a strong, independent and courageous woman who defies conventional expectations. Hilary Daninhirsch THE FALLEN SNOW John J. Kelley, Stone Cabin Press, 2013, $32, hb, 320pp, 9780988414839 When Joshua Hunter returns from the Great War to Appalachian Virginia in 1918, he’s surly to all his loved ones, including the fiancée he’d stopped writing to. He’s a limping, hurting “hero” who hates the label. Is it post-traumatic stress disorder? As the book’s chapters alternate between 1918 Virginia and flashbacks to the war in France, it becomes clear that Joshua fell in love with another soldier there, and is agonizing how to integrate the new person he now knows himself to be with his family’s and friends’ expectations that he’ll be the same old Joshua. Joshua’s mother’s story is also unwinding, her marriage to a churlish man, her pride over her two sons, and what to do about her husband’s impending death from cancer. I didn’t enjoy this story for the first hundred or so pages. I was too annoyed with Joshua’s surliness and simultaneously feeling guilty about it. We all know veterans with PTSD deserve sympathy, not annoyance. Then the story captivated me after all, in particular the scenes with Joshua and his lover, Aiden, in Paris, and scenes with Joshua and his brother, Scott, in the Virginia hills. (Aiden and Scott nearly steal the show with this story, leaping off the page as sympathetic, fully formed characters.) There is a narrative reason, beyond PTSD or testosterone-driven angst disguised as unpleasantness, for Joshua’s behavior. How many of us can genially manage to pretend to be something we’re not? This novel offers up that lesson perhaps better than anything I’ve ever read. I finished it with

its characters and that understanding resonating, admiring how the author told a story around that simple yet complex truth. Kristen Hannum THE BLACK SNOW Paul Lynch, Quercus Royal Fiction, 2014, £15.99, hb, 272pp, 9781782062042 In rural Ireland, in the spring of 1945, with the war in Europe a distant echo barely disturbing the steady routine of farming life, labourer Matthew Peoples runs into a burning byre in an attempt to save the cattle, and does not come out alive. Farmer Barnabas Kane, himself barely escaping death, is powerless to intervene. Following the disaster, as Barnabas and his family are compelled to rely on their neighbours for help, rifts and prejudices are exposed in the community, and the Kane family’s efforts at recovery are threatened. This is a beautifully observed subversion of the rural novel, which calmly and ruthlessly demolishes the traditions of the form. There is much to admire, particularly in Lynch’s astutely poetic observations of weather and landscape, and his lacerating exposure of the small cruelties of a community closing against those perceived as outsiders with ideas above their station. At his best, Lynch can nail a mood or a moment with devastating acuity. However, although I felt I should admire this novel even if I couldn’t quite love it, in the final analysis I found it disappointing. Much has been made of Lynch’s poetic language and original voice, but while these sometimes lead to vivid and memorable prose, more often than not they leave the reader with the sense of an author trying too hard. In his efforts to achieve a poetic prose, Lynch sometimes produces sentences so convoluted, so burdened by an excess of word reversals, that I needed to read them several times to get the sense of them, which frustrated and distracted me. Furthermore, the denouement is so dark it descends into melodrama and is hard to take seriously. Sarah Bower CEMENTVILLE Paulette Livers, Counterpoint, 2014, $25.00, hb, 304pp, 9781619022430 This debut literary novel is set in 1969, in a small Kentucky town that produces cement and whiskey. A funeral cortege brings home seven dead Cementville soldiers, all members of the National Guard whose families had expected them to remain safe from the conflict in Vietnam, and one surviving, maimed hero. An eighth dead soldier is not part of the cortege; severed from the others by religious denomination and class divisions, his family must mourn him separately. Around these deaths form a number of stories reaching back into family histories and well-kept secrets of love, hatred and violence. With a large cast of characters united variously by ties of kinship and community, this is a novel that rewards the reader who can keep its diverse threads straight in her mind. Beautifully written and sensitively executed, it weaves the Vietnam era deftly into the family stories and touches on the civil rights issues that still arouse strong feelings in Cementville’s population. The novel’s even tone and its understated ending HNR Issue 68, May 2014 | Reviews | 45

may not satisfy readers looking for the sense of completion a rounded-out story brings, but it should certainly gratify those who enjoy good prose and a complex interweaving of past and present. A promising debut. Jane Steen LIGHT OF THE DIDDICOY Eamon Loingsigh, Three Rooms Press, 2014, $15.95, pb, 230pp, 9780988400894 The first installment of Eamon Loingsigh’s Auld Irishtown trilogy, Light of the Diddicoy illuminates the dark underbelly of Brooklyn’s Irish roots through the fictional story of Liam Garrity. Fresh off the boat in the early 20th century, Garrity is swept into the brutally violent world of New York’s Irish-American mobs, where survival demands living outside the law. Having thoroughly enjoyed Black Mass, The Gangs of New York, The Westies and Paddy Whacked, I was eager to see an author tackle Irish gang culture in a fictional setting, and in terms of subject matter, Loingsigh didn’t disappoint. I liked the atmospheric quality of his narrative and the depravity he wasn’t afraid to depict within these pages. Unfortunately, I felt the story was undermined by inconsistencies in the author’s tone and somewhat shallow characterizations. An original and poetic coming-of-age story, Light of the Diddicoy touches on some fascinating material, but might prove difficult for those looking for truly captivating, character-driven fiction. Erin Davies

SHAKEN IN THE WATER

AUTUMN SOFTLY FELL Dominic Luke, Robert Hale, 2013, £19.99, hb, 223pp, 9780719810800 Although very different, this book is obviously inspired by Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden, with an abandoned heroine of eight becoming friends with a crippled, bed-bound boy. However, the resemblance ends there. In the early 20th century, Dorothea, from the slums of London, is left at her wealthy uncle’s house in the country by her father, with no explanation, and finds it difficult to fit in. She asks herself ‘Where is my place?’ and the theme of the book is her search for the answer over the next seven years. Written from the child’s point of view, there is enough information given for the reader to understand the events surrounding her, which the child does not. So there are sub-plots within the main plot which are indistinct and the reader has to fill in what has happened for herself. Although well-written, there are a few quibbles; because it is episodic, some events are not carried to their conclusion. And the ending, while answering Dorothea’s original question, leaves several questions about other characters and events up in the air, which leads me to suppose that a sequel is planned. jay Dixon

promise of his pension if he is killed in action. Despite their strictly pragmatic beginning, a genuine attraction develops between Peter and Katharina, and their passionate letters carry them through the horrors of Stalingrad and the humiliation of German defeat. By the time Peter manages to get back to Berlin, however, both have been profoundly changed by their experience and their shared dream begins to look increasingly frail. The spare, dialogue-driven style of this novel makes for a somewhat jerky pace which is difficult to get used to. Once you do, however, the story is gripping and absorbing. Magee’s unadorned and unflinching account of the German defeat at Stalingrad, contrasted with the comfort of life in Berlin for favoured party members, drives a thoughtful meditation on guilt and survival, honour, fidelity and political expediency. Peter and Katharina are very human characters, and it is their very humanity which bestows on them a kind of heroism. Though a sense of redemption is hard to find in this bleak story, it is there, leaving the reader with a concrete, though slender, hope for Peter and Katharina’s futures in the new world order. An original, clear-sighted and unsentimental narrative of ordinary life during a momentous period in recent European history. Sarah Bower

THE UNDERTAKING Audrey Magee, Atlantic, 2014, £12.99, hb, 287pp, 9781782391029 Desperate to escape the Eastern Front, German soldier, Peter Faber, makes an arranged marriage to Katharina Spinell, the daughter of an ambitious Nazi. Peter obtains ten days’ leave, Katharina the

MORYAK Lee Mandel, Glagoslav Publications, 2013, £20.50, pb, 400pp, 9781782670469 The Russian Revolution takes up a large portion of the novel it is also about the plight of Soviet Jews and the anti-Semitism that existed in early 20thcentury America. It covers a period from 1883 to

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HNR Issue 68, May 2014

E D I TORS’ CH OICE

Jessica Penner, Foxhead, 2013, $15.00, pb, 377pp, 9780984748686 This multigenerational story is set in early 20th-century rural Kansas, in a German-speaking, Ukrainian Mennonite community rooted in tradition yet marching inexorably into the modern world. The tensions of belief, tradition, and change pull against an interleaved narrative of human experiences – love, loss, despair, lust – that darts back and forth over a period of around a hundred years. Penner’s writing style is lyrical and precise, a pleasure to read. The absence of quotation marks in dialogue and the use of both High and Low German – sometimes translated, sometimes not – help to build a sense of otherness, of a community that understands its own rules even as it chafes against them. The sense of place is very strong; I could feel the blinding sun and smell the wheat and dust of harvest. The cast of characters is vivid, each of their stories quickly sketched and yet memorable. They center loosely around Agnes, her husband Peter, and his sister Nora, whose story forms the core of the novel. It is Nora’s presence – as a memory, as a white tiger, as a disembodied Voice – that provides the dissonant note to lift the narrative further out of ordinariness and reinforce the feeling of tension I found to be present throughout the text. Altogether I found Shaken in the Water an enjoyable, compelling literary read that gave me a sense of how the Mennonite community is evolving. Jane Steen 1918 and is largely set in America and Russia. The plot revolves around the story of Lieutenant Stephen Morrison, born a Russian Jew but adopted into a high-ranking American family. He becomes a naval officer sent by President Theodore Roosevelt on a top-secret mission in 1905 to work with British agent Sidney Reilly to kidnap Tsar Nicholas II and remove him from Russia before he can sabotage the upcoming Portsmouth Peace Conference (to bring about the end of the RussoJapanese War). The mission, of course, goes wrong, and Morrison is captured and sentenced to death. He finds himself, however, sent to the infamous Russian prison on Solovetsky Island for ten years’ hard labour. It is there that Morrison is transformed into Moryak, a cold-blooded, brutal and feared killer. The novel then proceeds to describe Morrison’s later exploits and involvement in the Russian Revolution proper, mixing with the likes of Lenin, Stalin and Trotsky and even playing a part in the execution of the Romanovs in 1918. Morrison is a charismatic and deeply drawn character who wins our sympathies at the plight in which he finds himself. At 400 pages long, the novel feels much longer. This is because of the wealth of detail included and Mandel’s tendency to indulge in overwriting, being thorough where more conciseness would have sufficed. But there is no doubt that he can also thrill, and I defy any reader not to want to finish it to discover Moryak’s ultimate fate. Ray Taylor A LIFE APART L.Y. Marlow, Broadway, 2014, $16.00, pb, 464pp, 20th Century

0307719391 On December 7, 1941 the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan. Stationed at Pearl Harbor, Morris Sullivan owes his survival to Robert Dobbins, a black seaman who died pulling his comrades from the water. Seeking closure, Morris is determined to thank Robert’s family for his sacrifice, but his effort to honor a fallen hero blooms into a romance that will define the man he becomes and challenge everything he believes. Spanning the better part of five decades, A Life Apart is a tedious historical novel, but underneath that it is a heartbreakingly beautiful book about prejudice, strength, forgiveness and love that defies convention. I personally found Marlow’s peppering of the story with tenuously relevant headlines from the ‘40s, ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s distracting, but the depth and earnestness of the love triangle she created between Morris, Beatrice and Agnes provided a powerfully moving thesis that struck me to the core. Erin Davies ONCE WE HAD A COUNTRY Robert McGill, Knopf Canada, 2013, C$24.95, pb, 394pp, 9780307361202 Set in 1972, Canadian author Robert McGill’s latest novel, Once We Had A Country, might just sneak into the definition of ‘historic fiction’ (rather than being ‘recent memory’ for some of us) but the period covered, the Vietnam War, is one of the most intriguing in the United States military’s complex history. In the summer of 1972, Maggie Dunne, a young, idealistic trainee teacher, escapes with her boyfriend, Fletcher, to a tumbledown cherry farm in southern Ontario. Apart from Fletcher’s father’s hope of sparing him from the US draft, they also intend to set the farm up as a commune, ‘the first commune in history to be underwritten by a corporation.’ In an effort to deal with the dramatic changes affecting her life, Maggie begins to document events using a Super 8-millimetre camera given to her by her father. As she struggles with her hopes and aspirations, fear and jealousies and unfamiliar surroundings, she must also struggle with the remnants of her relationship with her father, Gordon, who has gone missing whilst carrying out missionary work in Laos. The US involvement in the Vietnam conflict had increased the strategic value of this neighbouring country, with the local Royal Lao and their controlling American generals fighting the pro-Communist forces through the hostile jungle terrain. Robert McGill’s novel cleverly juxtaposes Maggie’s position with that of her father, imagined hardships and danger versus actual, physical danger and uncertainty at the hand of an unseen and ruthless enemy. His use of Maggie’s 8-mm camera is also an interesting devise which allows the reader to ‘see’ as Maggie sees whilst examining the surrounding information to which she is not privy. The camera also proves to be a mixed medium, however, ultimately showing Maggie more that she realistically or idealistically might have wanted. Janice Parker 20th Century

DON’T PASS ME BY Julie McGowan, Sunpenny, 2013, £9.99, pb, 310pp, 9781909278103 London, 1940. Desperate to escape from Billy, her violent soldier husband, Lydia seizes the chance when a blast destroys their flat. She flees with her infant daughter but without family to turn to, she joins a party of schoolchildren being evacuated from Bermondsey to South Wales. But has Billy survived the blast or is he dead? The evacuees are placed with local families in a small village. Lydia and the baby are delivered to the local doctor, a taciturn bachelor, to act as his housekeeper. The novel follows three characters: Lydia; Arfur, an East End urchin, homesick for his mother, an amateur prostitute, and their scrappy life together; and Amy, who is billeted with a sour Chapel widow and her unappetising son. The children must adjust to rural life with people who often speak a different language. The villagers resent this invasion of raucous, unhappy Londoners who are afraid of farm animals and bored by the country while missing their families and the busy streets. For Lydia and the doctor, their mutual attraction brings complications. So far, so predictable. But among the plot clichés and stereotypes (are there no pleasant Chapel members in Wales?) McGowan has put in enough twists to keep the reader turning pages. One child, in particular, has a very harrowing time. The village and the villagers are strongly depicted, as is the countryside. The children are so alive they jump off the page. Perhaps the ending is a bit too convenient, but this is a well-constructed, very well-written novel and a most enjoyable read. Lynn Guest THE FRENCH PROMISE Fiona McIntosh, Allison & Busby, 2014, £7.99, pb, 510pp, 9780749015657 Having read The Lavender Keeper, the first in this series, I was interested to follow the developments in the story surrounding Luc and Lisette Ravens in this book. Their survival of the Second World War, as an undercover agent working for the French Resistance and as a British spy, respectively, left them both scarred, and they flee to Tasmania to seek a new life, free from the constant reminders of their old lives. Lisette supports Luc in his dream of becoming a lavender farmer once more, and their family settles into a loving community with ambitions to develop their business internationally to rival the perfume houses based in Europe. Back in Strasbourg, a young law student has discovered part of the history relating to the father he has wanted to know of all his life, as his mother lies dying from cancer. Max discovers there is a link between his father and the Ravens, so he sets out to delve further and in doing so uncovers the answers to a number of questions harboured by Luc Ravens. As this story evolved I found myself prepared for the developments in advance, possibly due to the similarities to the storyline in her previous book. This left me a little disappointed with the plot and somewhat robbed of the surprise and anticipation generally associated with a good read. Cathy Kemp

HANNAH’S LEFT HOOK Brian McKeown, Garland, 2014, $15.00, pb, 276pp, 9781940782003 England, 1916. In the predominately-Irish area of Liverpool, a woman’s place is in the home, not in the shipyard and certainly not in a man’s job. When a young woman applies for a job as a laborer, the supervisor is shocked, but there is a wartime labor shortage, and so he hires Hannah Corcoran, age 26, thus opening a door for hundreds of other women. Hannah only works to feed her family, but injustice makes her livid. She has been known to use a wicked left hook in defense of working-class people ignored by the law. Her convictions draw Hannah into labor politics between the wars. As she ages, her aim gets wilder and, after she decks a priest, Hannah retires her left hook. Although it’s hard to separate McKeown’s family anecdotes and fiction from history like the General Strike – one wonders about Hannah’s conversation with George V – the rivalries and tragedies of three generations living mostly under one roof rival the drama of real events. Hannah’s Left Hook is a touching family saga to be read for enjoyment. Jeanne Greene STRONGWOOD: A Crime Dossier Larry Millett, Univ. of Minnesota Press, 2014, $24.95, hb, 296pp, 9780816690930 After reading about the famous Strongwood case, the author decided to share the trial documents with his readers rather than write another novel (after The Magic Bullet, 2011). Minneapolis, 1903. The facts are not in question. Addie Strongwood, 21, shot and killed Mikey Masterson, 26. On trial for murder, Addie claims self-defense. To convince a jury of 12 men that she feared for her life, Addie must discredit Mikey without discrediting herself. The trial is a sensation. Witnesses assume the two were lovers, which, like Addie’s self-possession, works to her disadvantage. Yes, Mikey was a hottempered drinker, a frequenter of brothels, but Addie has skeletons in her closet too. Is she a thief as well as a murderer – or a woman wronged? The plot is too familiar, but the “strategicallyedited” trial records, newspaper articles, and personal notes are fascinating. Sharp-eyed readers will realize there is a game afoot, which may heighten their interest (or not) but will certainly please Millett fans. Strongwood is recommended for anyone who enjoys a good trial. This one is a humdinger! Jeanne Greene NIGHT IN SHANGHAI Nicole Mones, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2014, $25.00, hb, 288pp, 9780547516172 Shanghai in 1936 is an open city, strictly controlled yet in its own way lawless. Several foreign powers rule their own quarters; only Chinese forces themselves are forbidden to enter. Farther north the Communists and Nationalists fight over China’s destiny even as Imperial Japan prepares to invade. But for now it is Ye Shanghai – Night in Shanghai, a brief moment when the precarious balance between these destructive forces allows peace, and jazz. Enter Thomas Greene, a classically trained HNR Issue 68, May 2014 | Reviews | 47

American pianist. He can only play from written music; can barely manage swing, can’t improvise at all. But the dark skin that bars him from playing Chopin and Bach under Jim Crow laws in America qualifies him to lead a jazz orchestra in Shanghai. The years pass by; Greene falls in love with a Chinese woman who is secretly a Communist. He learns the blues from his bandmates and begins to play his own, unwritten tunes. Meanwhile the situation in Europe darkens. Thousands of refugee Jews arrive, including several excellent musicians. The band plays on as Ye Shanghai fades away forever like the memory of a dream. Soon Japanese bombs will begin to fall, and any ship home to America could be the last. Mones works seamlessly with a large and disparate group of characters – gangsters and Communists, jazz men and diplomats – always with a sympathetic hand. Music jumps from every page; even if the reader doesn’t know quite what it means to flat the 7th, the sound comes through just fine in Thomas Greene’s voice. A touching story and highly recommended. Richard Bourgeois IT HAPPENED IN WISCONSIN Ken Moraff, Amazon, 2013, $14.95, pb, 257pp, 9781477848180 In April 1939, the Racine Robins, a minor league baseball team, become stranded in Wisconsin after a sudden spring snowstorm forces them to find shelter at the Rockefeller Hotel. The team meets a man named Spencer, who is traveling with his young daughter and who offers to buy the team dinner. In the past, the team played not for the profit earned from the game but by giving their winnings to those less fortunate. The players all carry a strong belief that major league baseball, along with big business and government, controls the lives of those who work for them and prevents people from succeeding unless you play by the rules of those who hold the power. The team will learn that Spencer, a smooth talker, is associated with those same powerful men and will attempt to steal their best player to play in the major leagues. This is the author’s first novel. A Red Sox fan, he has written a novel about the game he loves, about a team of men playing for a just cause. These ball players would wind up after this eventful trip into Wisconsin with conflicting emotions concerning the seduction of money, and ignoring the possibility of eventually settling down in one place and leaving baseball behind. Moraff has presented an excellent description of the economic forces that existed during the final years of the Depression. The characters are believable and likable. The plot is slow in developing (there is very little action), but as the story unfolds, the reader is caught up in the crisis the protagonist (whose name is never mentioned) faces between marrying the girl he loves or remaining with his teammates and fighting the good cause. Highly recommended and a pleasure to read. Jeff Westerhoff CITADEL Kate Mosse, William Morrow, 2014, $26.99, hb, 704pp, 9780062281258 / Orion, 2013, £7.99, pb, 976pp, 9781409120834 Kate Mosse completes her trilogy of novels set 48 | Reviews |

HNR Issue 68, May 2014

in and around Carcassonne with Citadel, a story that takes place largely in World War II. When Sandrine Vidal becomes involved in Audric Baillard’s search for the Codex, a document hidden in the 6th century and reportedly able to summon up an army of ghosts, her life changes. Gradually Sandrine’s eyes are opened to the tensions of occupied France, and she grows into a brave and daring young woman. The supernatural/ grail-esque story intertwines with the work of the French Resistance and in particular, of Citadel, a group of female resistance fighters led by Sandrine and her sister. Although readers of Labyrinth and Sepulchre will enjoy the return of Audric and the many references back to those earlier novels, Citadel has a strong enough story for the novel to be enjoyed on its own. Living and loving in occupied France was challenging, especially for Jewish families, and Mosse paints these scenes extremely well. She doesn’t shirk away from the violence of the times, and the novel builds to a satisfyingly dramatic climax. Although the plot relies rather heavily on coincidence at times, and the short chapters and changes in point of view may jar, the desperate search for the Codex ultimately becomes a gripping read. It would be a cold reader who is not swept up in the fates of Sandrine and her lover Raoul. Kate Braithwaite IN THE NIGHT OF TIME Antonio Muñoz Molina (trans. Edith Grossman), Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $30, hb, 641pp, 9780547547848 We meet Ignacio Abel, a prominent Spanish

PRESENT DARKNESS

architect, at Penn Station in 1936 as he flees from Madrid, where he was in danger from his allies on the left and the growing menace of Franco’s Falangists. The action moves between 1935 and 1936 as we learn the story of Abel’s affair with Judith, a young American woman 20 years his junior who fell in love with his language and his city. Their romance progresses from furtive petting in the cinema to assignations in rooms rented by the hour in “the sordid border territory where adultery and prostitution come together.” Abel conceals her love letters in a drawer, where he is sure his wife will never find them, and they eventually explode on the scene with the inevitability of Chekhov’s stage pistol. Madrid becomes progressively more violent with the republican supporters increasingly suspicious of each other, endangering a bourgeois moderate socialist like Abel. Eventually he leaves his wife and children to be protected by her conservative Catholic family. Through the intervention of a friend of his American lover, he is offered a position designing a university library in upstate New York, but he cannot overcome his jealousy of their relationship, even though his patron is clearly homosexual. The most interesting parts of the book come from the lovers’ attempts to teach and learn each other’s languages. Abel’s most prominent characteristic may be cowardice, not so much his reasonable fear of impending violence as a reluctance to face his obligations to his wife and her family. Nonetheless, Molina provides an intriguing story of a complicated time. James Hawking

E D I TORS’ CH OICE

Malla Nunn, Atria/Emily Bestler, 2014, $16/C$18.99, pb, 352pp, 9781451616965 Police Detective Emmanuel Cooper has wrangled a temporary assignment in Johannesburg from Durban so that he can be near his beloved Davida and their daughter Rebekah. Emmanuel is called in on a bloody robbery of a white middle-class couple and the son of his best friend, Zulu Detective Constable Samuel Shabalala, is the prime suspect. But Emmanuel thinks the evidence has fallen into place a bit too glibly. He’s stymied in his efforts to truly investigate by a superior who seems to have it in for the Zulu teenager – who doesn’t help matters by refusing to give an alibi. After that the events and action come fast and vividly. I first wondered if this book really was historical fiction. The action felt immediate and topical. As I kept reading (I had no choice, the book is a page turner!), I fell deeper and deeper into Jim Crow, or rather apartheid, South Africa. Nunn does a brilliant job of seeing that evil system through Emmanuel’s eyes. Davida is a woman of color, meaning that Emmanuel’s love for her is illegal. That business of caste, of making some people more worthwhile than others, is at the heart of Present Darkness, where brutal men protecting a brutal system are rewarded and men like Emmanuel and Shabalala must fight their corrupt coworkers and the system itself in order to protect their loved ones. This well-plotted book is like a jigsaw puzzle whose pieces fit together with a terrible precision, and yet can be read with hope that the good guys will prevail. (It is a series, after all.) Recommended for anyone who loves a good mystery with a complicated, tough protagonist worth falling for. Kristen Hannum 20th Century

THE WORLD’S SMALLEST BIBLE Dennis Must, Red Hen Press, 2014, $16.95, pb, 232pp, 9781597099721 The World’s Smallest Bible is an impressive work of literary fiction that chronicles the life of Ethan Mueller, over a span of 43 years, as he ponders the mysteries of life and death, and whether it is even possible to tell the difference between the two. Ethan is nine years old in 1942 when his mother escorts his six-year-old brother, Jeremiah, into his bedroom and charges him with his younger brother’s care. Ethan happily accepts this responsibility and introduces Jeremiah, whom he calls Popeye, to the rivers and ghosts in their room. As the boys grow up in the bleak mill-town of Hebron, Pennsylvania, they observe that the townsfolk, including those in their own family, escape their depressing existence by retreating into an alternate reality – unless they die. Instead of moving linearly through time, or even flashing back to various memories, Ethan tells his story topically, viewing the same time periods of his life from different angles. This format works well, except on those few occasions when the boy’s speech seems too sophisticated for a child. That one flaw aside, this is a powerful story that leaves a lingering feeling of hopelessness long after it ends. Fortunately, the melancholy is mitigated somewhat by the charm of the enduring brotherly love. This is a challenging, thought-provoking, and worthwhile book. Nancy J. Attwell GERTRUDE Hassan Najmi (trans. Roger Allen), Interlink World Fiction, 2013, $25.00, hb, 9781566569453 Hassan Najmi, a renowned Moroccan author and poet, presents in Gertrude an unusual novel about the famous American Gertrude Stein. Najmi’s narrator is himself a writer, self-consciously relating a story he has been told by his friend and fellow Moroccan, Muhammad. Much older than the narrator, Muhammad has confided that when he was a young man he met Gertrude and became her lover. On his deathbed, he urges his friend to write it all down. Somewhat reluctantly the writer settles to his task, and as he does so, embarks on his own love affair with an American woman who helps him research Gertrude. This present-day story intertwines with Muhammad’s time in Paris in the 1920s where the fictional Moroccan is given a room in Alice Toklas’ and Stein’s home. He attends her salons and observes her obsession with the portrait Picasso has painted of her. He becomes her lover, sleeping with Gertrude upstairs while her other lover, Alice, sleeps downstairs – and vice versa. The portrait of Gertrude that develops out of this structure is intriguing. She is a complex character, not always sympathetic, but at the same time warm and charismatic. In writing Gertrude, Najmi is clearly concerned with the ideals and challenges of creativity and he examines this through his characters and their reflections on their own and each other’s work. This makes it an interesting and thoughtful novel – in no sense a biography of Stein – but it should appeal to anyone interested in the period. Kate Braithwaite 20th Century

THE MAN WHO LOVED DOGS Leonardo Padura (trans. Anna Kushner), Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2013, $35, hb, 576pp, 9780374201746 / Bitter Lemon, 2014, £20.00, hb, 576pp, 9781908524102 Three men who loved dogs play major roles in this novel about the assassination of Leon Trotsky. A Cuban veterinary magazine editor meets an old man walking two borzois. He finds that the man is suspiciously knowledgeable about the life of Ramon Mercader, the man who had murdered Trotsky some years previously. Chapters alternate between the Cuban, Trotsky, and Mercader with his many aliases. Under the influence of a Stalinist mother and an equally committed Communist woman friend, Mercader begins training as an assassin, directed by an agent whom he meets during the Spanish Civil War. The Trotsky chapters follow him into exile in Turkey to Norway to France and finally to Mexico, while he remains the leader of the anti-Stalinist opposition. Trotsky has occasional doubts when he reflects on his own totalitarian actions, but he remains faithful to the idea of a Communist society. The Cuban sections are surprisingly frank about the economic failures and the homophobia of the Cuban revolution, considering that the author still resides in Cuba. Trotsky is a broken old man in the process of losing his allies and his family to Stalin’s vengeance, but he still has enough energy to conduct an affair with the wife of Diego Rivera, the man who gave him a home. The most striking sections are those which show Mercader’s training and his complete submission to the Stalinist cause. When challenged to kill a smelly beggar, he dutifully knifes him. When ordered to make love to a woman he considers ugly in order to get close to Trotsky, he again does his unpleasant duty. All events build toward the dramatic moment when he splits Trotsky’s skull with an ice axe. James Hawking THE PEERLESS FOUR Victoria Patterson, Counterpoint, 2013, $23.00, hb, 212pp, 9781619021778 In 1928 women competed in the Olympics for the first time, and Canada sent a track team to Amsterdam. In this fictionalized version, the four young women and their coach are accompanied by a chaperone, Marybelle Eloise (Lee) Ross, better known as Mel, who narrates. Though the team is made up of women favored to win their events, The Peerless Four is an underdog story from beginning to end. In the 1920s, women who competed in sports were regarded as near-freaks, and the press treats the Peerless Four with a combination of adulation and bemusement. The future of female participation in the Olympics rests on these athletes’ performances, and also on how they bear up under the world’s scrutiny. As a former runner, Mel sympathizes with the athletes’ struggles both on and off the field, for she too has battled with society’s disdain and also her husband’s disapproval of her athleticism. For me, Patterson’s novel shines when Mel is focused on her charges, both on and off the track. However, The Peerless Four is not so much a sports story, but a story about women who participate in sports, and the men around them. The Peerless Four opens with a chapter narrated

by each character in first person before Mel takes over, and I didn’t settle into the story line easily. Mel’s personal life was confusing at times as she tries to sort out her husband’s disapproval of her athletic participation and her mutual attraction to the team’s coach. The Peerless Four also struggle with memories of glory and failure as their particular Olympic moments fade. They each tried their best, and that was their victory. Jo Ann Butler IN THE LIGHT OF THE MORNING Tim Pears, William Heinemann, 2014, £17.99, hb, 338pp, 9780434022748 May 1944 in the midst of the Second World War, and Lieutenant Tom Freedman is parachuted into Slovenia. He is an interpreter in intelligence and part of a small team of British military sent to co-coordinate the delivery of military supplies by air to the partisan groups operating in the area. His role is also to liaise with the various groups and is escorted to numerous units to organise drops of equipment. Freedman was plucked from academia and adapts with difficulty to the demands of the harsh and occasionally brutal nature of the partisan conflict with the occupying forces in Slovenia and the wider Yugoslavia. There is very little back-story to the narrative – the focus is on the immediate marches from one group of partisans to another and his relationship with members of his partisan escort team. There is an element of romance with female partisans, even though the author hints quite strongly that Tom has unacknowledged homosexual inclinations. There are issues of political double-dealing among the military missions to complicate the project. The tale rattles along and focuses on the emotions of Tom, a sensitive and introspective young man, in surviving this harsh environment, knowing that he and his small band of soldiers will face immediate execution if caught by the occupying Nazi forces or the similarly brutal Home Guard. Tom grows into this challenging task as the tale unfolds, and the reader is fully engaged with the story and the cast of credible characters. Douglas Kemp THE HOLY DRINKER Neil Randall, Knox Robinson, 2014, £19.99, hb, 142pp, 9781494273835 This short fable opens in the remote Russian village of N, which is far removed from the ravages of the Bolshevik war. In the village, Taverner Ragged Peter stops a scuffle by narrating the story of Anatoly Vasilevich, Maximov – the Drinker. Peter used to work for this man, who had to be carried home after a three-day drinking binge and deposited on his sofa. Left alone, his whole life flashed before him. He cried for his lost love and realised he’d wasted his life on drink, and then transformed into a vat of ruby red wine. When aged Marfa Orlova discovers this, her cries attract Captain Levsky of the local garrison and Father Simonon. Levsky notifies the authorities in St. Petersburg, and the priest sends for Father Zassimov, the highest regional cleric. The effects of the wine soon become an open secret, and speculation about Maximov’s absence arouses the Taverner’s suspicions. Trouble arises when people sneak illicit drinks from the vat. Everyone who HNR Issue 68, May 2014 | Reviews | 49

drinks is subject to a transformation. This mystical and entertaining fable engages from the outset, conveying period details of rural Russian life and the nature and relationships of the multiple characters with sparse but effective detail. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but this well-written and well researched mix of history and fantasy may not suit serious historians or rationalists. Janet Williamson CITY OF JASMINE Deanna Raybourn, MIRA, 2014, $14.95/$17.95, pb, 368pp, 9780778316213 Deanna Raybourn’s latest novel, City of Jasmine, is set in the Middle East shortly after the end of the First World War. Famed aviatrix Evie Starke, still grieving the loss of her husband Gabriel five years earlier, embarks upon a quest to travel the Seven Seas and, in the process, get her life back on track. But when she receives a mysterious photograph of her supposedly dead husband, Evie puts her quest on hold and sets off for Damascus in the hope of learning the truth behind the photo. Evie’s search leads her into the heart of the Syrian Desert, where opposing forces are racing for possession of a priceless relic. While her time in the Syrian Desert may give Evie the answers she so desperately seeks about Gabriel, the dangerous game of intrigue she finds herself involved in ultimately could cost Evie her life. Interesting, well-drawn characters and a vividly described setting are hallmarks of Deanna

Raybourn’s novels, and City of Jasmine is no exception. Evie Stark is a likeable heroine, one who is willing to defy society’s expectations and follow her own path in life. The novel’s secondary characters are endearingly quirky, especially Evie’s loveable Aunt Dove. One of the novel’s greatest strengths is Raybourn’s ability to seamlessly weave colonial Middle Eastern politics into the narrative. While the novel is a work of fiction, much of the political and historical context described in the book is real. Although some aspects of the plot are a little far-fetched and convoluted, the story is still entertaining. My only disappointment rested with the romantic subplot, which, although billed as passionate, didn’t work for me. Recommended to fans of Deanna Raybourn’s previous novels, as well as to readers interested in historical fiction set in the Middle East. Melissa Morrisey THE RICE PAPER DIARIES Francesca Rhydderch, Seren, 2013, £8.99, pb, 235pp, 9781781720516 The novel begins in London in 1996 in a nursing home, but very quickly jumps back in time to Elsa Jones in 1940 Hong Kong, just prior to the Japanese invasion, which was to alter forever the lives of so many. Elsa undergoes a personal tragedy, but it is subsumed into the greater world events happening all around as Elsa, her husband Tommy and their new daughter Mari are interned in a prisoner of war camp.

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LOVERS AT THE CHAMELEON CLUB, PARIS 1932

Francine Prose, Harper, 2014, $26.99/C$33.50, hb, 448pp, 9780061713781 Even the best photograph is no more than an instant in time. For Louisianne “Lou” Villars, the photograph that gives the novel its title is an inflection point. It is not the highest moment of her life, nor the lowest, but perhaps her final chance for a different fate. She poses in a man’s tuxedo and short hair with a pretty blonde girl on her knee, at home in a nightclub for cross-dressers where the password is “Police! Open up!” and everyone admits that “love is strange.” Not long after the photo is taken, Lou breaks up with the blonde; she races cars on the women’s international circuit, falls in love with a German driver and after attending the Berlin Olympics comes under the Führer’s spell. She spies for Germany before and during the invasion, ultimately becoming a Gestapo torturer in occupied Paris. In many ways France has betrayed Lou as much as Lou betrayed France. In her youth she was a formidable athlete, as big and as strong as most men. A later age would have nurtured her abilities and accepted her differences. Instead she is seen as a freak for cutting her hair short and wearing trousers; how quickly they forget that Joan of Arc did much the same. Lou’s story is not an apology but a tragedy, told convincingly through a variety of expository techniques: the brilliant photographer’s letters to his parents in Hungary; the “to be destroyed after my death” autobiography of his eventual wife; an American expat’s salacious essays; the memoirs of a baroness who fought for the Resistance. When Lou meets her end, as we know she must, it is easier to understand – though never excuse – the collaborators. Highly recommended. Richard Bourgeois 50 | Reviews |

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There are four different narrators, so we see events from different perspectives; this, while providing insight into internal thoughts, sometimes means that the events in the novel are not as clear as they could be. This is particularly so when we come to the part narrated by Mari as a child. Naturally she does not understand all that is going on, and the reader has to work out a lot from hints and suggestions. The jumps between viewpoints, while interesting, sometimes means that there is very little linking between sections and ideas, and themes which began promisingly are then not developed or considered in any depth. Themes such as race relations, expat lifestyle and the after-effects of being interned are touched upon, therefore, but not got to grips with enough really. Overall, it was an interesting novel which was well written and evocative, but perhaps required more “flesh”’ to really do full justice to the many ideas of the novel. Ann Northfield BRIDGE TO HAVEN Francine Rivers, Tyndale, 2014, $25.99, pb, 468pp, 9781414368184 In the 1950s, teenage foster child Abra leaves her small-town California home, escaping the ordinariness of provincial life in the flashy company of Hollywood’s Dylan Stark. She leaves Dylan to find company in agent Franklin Moss, who helps her reinvent her image to transform her into a starlet with the new name of Lena Scott. With his assistance, she travels in the most star-studded circles in Los Angeles, populated by the likes of Mickey Rooney and Elizabeth Taylor. Instead of the happiness she expects, she finds misery when faced with her new fame. Franklin remakes her image to suit his Hollywood ideal, so she appears in films as a made-up doll, with little connection to her own identity. The book follows her redemptive path as she learns that the ordinariness of smalltown life glitters in comparison to the dull realities of Tinseltown. The novel begins with an interesting premise: foster child runs away from family and hometown in order to experience the fast life. At times the plot lacks energy, yet at other points the style is riveting. The strength of the book lies in the many setting details of time and place. The author carries us back to the 1950s Hollywood glamour of Elizabeth Taylor and Billy Wilder. She captures the wideeyed world of the starlet and the men who preyed on such young girls, then cast them aside. Liz Allenby ECHOES OF MERCY Kim Vogel Sawyer, 2014, $14.99, pb, 352pp, 9780307731272 Kim Vogel Sawyer has once again crafted a quirky and fun Christian romance. In 1904, Caroline Lang works for her adopted father, Noble Dempsey, at the Labor Commission in Nebraska. She goes undercover as a factory worker in the famous Dinsmore Chocolate factory in Kansas to investigate the mysterious death of Harmon Bratcher, who had gone there inspecting child labor rumors. Meanwhile, Oliver Dinsmore also goes undercover in his father’s chocolate factory, posing 20th Century

as a janitor to get a real world feel for how the factory is run. Ollie takes an immediate interest in the people his father employs, and is especially intrigued by one of the newest toters, a Miss Carrie Lang. Predictably, Caroline and Oliver are quickly drawn together. They become good friends, but each feels the pressure of keeping their true identity secret. Even while clashing over their ideals and thoughts on child labor laws, the two learn to work together to solve the mystery of Harmon Bratcher and to save two children from dire circumstances. Sweet and fun, with surprising plot twists, this is a lovely romance that is sure to delight. Recommended. Rebecca Cochran THE WHISKEY BARON Jon Sealy, Hub City Press, 2014, $26.00, hb, 240pp, 9781891885757 When two men are callously shot dead in front of the Hillside Inn, Sheriff Furman Chambers has to decide if the rumors that “Mary Jane” Hopewell had shot them are true, or if something more sinister happened involving the local bootlegger, Larthan Tull, and owner of the Hillside. True to Southern literature, Jon Sealy brings us beyond the façade of a Prohibition-era southern town and into the lives of those grappling with the Depression, family, and work, from Sheriff Chambers contemplating his life as he winds down his duty as sheriff with one last task to complete, to Tull watching his bootlegging empire collapse to the youngest Hopewell, the nephew of “Mary Jane,” trying to come to grips with an ever-changing world, and his older brother playing a dangerous game of love with Tull’s daughter. The Whiskey Baron is a hard-hitting, pageturning debut novel from South Carolina native Jon Sealy. He deftly weaves place with his cleverly crafted characters into an intoxicating tapestry of intrigue, tension, and suspense. There are moments when the characters seem almost predictable and the descriptions of the village redundant; nevertheless, this is a novel that understands time and the people living in it, making for a read that will capture your attention well after you have set the book down. Bryan Dumas WHEN LOVE STIRS Lorna Seilstad, Revell, 2014, $14.99, pb, 352pp, 9780800721824 Charlotte Gregory is ready to change the world. A recent graduate of Fannie Farmer’s School of Cookery, Charlotte is determined to improve hospitals everywhere by making hospital meals more appetizing and nutritious. Dr. Joel Brooks does not like change. In his carefully ordered world, everything has a place. No book is out of order, no pencil is out of its holder. When Charlotte’s crusade disrupts Joel’s perfect world, can he handle the change? Can Charlotte see past Joel’s faults and into his warm heart? The second novel in her series The Gregory Sisters, Lorna Seilstad’s When Love Stirs is a fun and inspirational read. Set in the early 20th century, when women were expected to cook in the home, and not in a restaurant, feminist issues are a major concern in this novel. All three of the Gregory sisters—lawyer Hannah, chef Charlotte, and 20th Century

actress Tessa—have big dreams, and the spirit to make those dreams come true in a male-dominated society. The characters are loveable and the plot is entertaining, but the novel’s greatest strength lies in the number of interesting historical facts sprinkled throughout the narrative. Readers of inspirational historical fiction are sure to enjoy Seilstad’s latest creation. Shaylin Montgomery LONDON CALLING Sara Sheridan, Polygon, 2013, £7.99, pb, 272pp, 9781846972652 1952. Sixty years ago, the changes imposed by the war years had worked their way deep into the psyche of many people. Some for good, and some for bad. Mirabelle Bevan, socialite and ex-Secret Service, leaves her expensive flat with the Georgian windows and walks through early morning Brighton to the debt-collecting agency she runs with her friend and colleague, Vesta. She is surprised to find someone waiting there for her. Wearing black and white shoes with red laces, he holds a battered saxophone case. He is looking for his friend Vesta in the hope that she can help him escape questioning by the police over the disappearance of a young girl in London. From such unpretentious beginnings, the story unfolds in a logical sequence of events in which not everyone comes out unscathed. The period and social detail of this cosy mystery is accurate and delivered with a light touch. I enjoyed both the characterisation and fast pace of the story, though I did wonder how much cash Ms Bevan carried with her on a daily basis, as she whizzes up to London and back to Brighton several times without needing to replenish her supply. No credit cards then! Hotels also seem very accommodating to the point of providing a new pair of stockings when Ms Bevan falls foul of the villains. Perhaps they added their cost to her bill, but it is discreetly never mentioned. This tale of two females turned amateur detective was unusual, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, though it does at times have the overall tone of sixth-formers following up clues to help a friend. This is not a bad thing, as Ms Bevan always survives the worst the villains can throw at her, and the reader is not overwhelmed with the depressing and often sadistic violence found in other thrillers. Jen Black THE MEANING OF NAMES Karen Gettert Shoemaker, Red Hen Press, 2014, $16.95, pb, 232pp, 9781597099592 Germans began flocking to Nebraska in the mid-1800s, pushed out of Germany by revolution and drawn by cheap farmland. Their tightly knit communities are still speaking German when World War I erupts. Modern readers will recognize old sentiments – instead of eating “Freedom Fries,” Nebraskans dined on “Liberty Cabbage,” not sauerkraut. Rumors spread that the “Kaiser-lovers” swear loyalty to their fatherland, and suspicion escalates to attacks on people with German accents. Friendships, loyalty to family and country, and even people’s faith are put to the test. Gerda Vogel, a farmer’s wife, is already struggling to hold her family together and feed her children when she learns that her husband, Fritz, has been drafted,

as has every neighbor with a German surname. It seems there is broad agreement to let the Krauts to face the perils of war. Then the 1918 influenza epidemic further tests the Vogels and their neighbors, striking people down with frightening speed, taking the young and strong as well as the weak. Can the avalanche of need following in the flu’s wake overcome prejudice? The Meaning of Names, Karen Shoemaker’s debut novel, explores exactly that – what message does a simple name convey? How is that meaning twisted during times of trial? Shoemaker presents readers with a simple, realistic cast of characters, a heart-rending story of endurance, and reminds us that both prejudice and forgiveness take many forms. Jo Ann Butler MONSIEUR LE COMMANDANT Roman Slocombe (trans. Jesse Browner), Gallic, 2014, $14.95/£8.99, pb, 191pp, 9781908313508 In World War II German-occupied France, Paul-Jean Husson, man of letters and member of the Académie Française, writes a long confessional letter to the German commandant in charge of propaganda with whom he has been collaborating. Husson relates some personal misfortunes, and how his son Olivier married a foreign actress. After the birth of the couple’s first child, Husson has his daughter-in-law Ilse, née Elsie Berger, investigated and discovers she is a German Jew. Husson is an avid devotee of Maréchal Pétain and the Vichy government, supporting the Nazis with his literary clout and by writing anti-Semitic newspaper articles. He reveals himself to be a man torn by loyalty to his chosen leaders and his obsession for the beautiful Ilse. Paul-Jean Husson is not a sympathetic character, yet his tale unfolds in an authentic, unsparing, even entrancing manner. Olivier, a Resistance fighter, flees the country to join the Allies, throwing Ilse and her two small children on Husson’s protection. Husson’s treatment of a vulnerable woman, and his association with the Gestapo and its dreaded French agents, result in cruel and brutal consequences. Explicit in terms of violence and sadly based on actual events and personages, this is not a typical World War II story. Monsieur Le Commandant concerns a Nazi collaborator, and it is a fine examination of one man’s downward spiral and the frailty of humans. Eva Ulett SILENCE FOR THE DEAD Simone St. James, NAL, 2014, $14.00/C$15.00, pb, 384pp, 9780451419484 In 1919, young Kitty Weeks is fleeing her past and her abusive father. Forging her credentials, she secures a nursing position at Portis House, a crumbling and isolated old mansion now turned into a hospital for shell-shocked veterans of the Great War. As if the veterans’ mental illnesses were not enough, there seems to be an unseen presence in the eerie house that also attacks them. Cold spots, strange noises, and a sickly ooze are only part of the patients’ torments. They are also tortured by the same terrifying dream which has driven some of them to attempt suicide. Kitty discovers that one of the patients is Jack Yates, a handsome, decorated war hero who had HNR Issue 68, May 2014 | Reviews | 51

become Britain’s poster-boy for the war effort. Whether he is truly mad or not is anyone’s guess, but Kitty allies herself with him in an effort to understand the mysterious events occurring at the hospital. An unexpected medical emergency leaves the couple and only a few patients to fend for themselves against the evil ghostly forces within the house which seem to be quickly gathering strength. This is a chilling and suspenseful mystery with echoes of Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw. Most of the characters in the novel suffer from emotional and mental disorders and are therefore unreliable narrators; are they really experiencing paranormal events or are these events products of their own fevered brains? In novels featuring young nurses and shattered war veterans, a stereotypical trope is that the nurse will fall in love with one of her charges. It would have been a bold twist if Kitty and Jack teamed up together without the romance. Still, this is a well-told story and should not be missed by those readers that like their mysteries laced with the paranormal. John Kachuba SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE MYSTERY OF ALBERT EINSTEIN’S DAUGHTER Tim Symonds, MX Publishing, 2013, £8.99, pb, 167pp, 9781780925721 Yet another tale of the famous detective from 221B Baker Street to entertain and dazzle his legion of fans, this is quite a traditional take on the genre, unlike the modern TV show starring Benedict Cumberbatch. Here, Holmes and Watson are very much more the Conan Doyle creations of yore, although this is set in the first years of the 20th century. Holmes is asked to investigate the background and possible scandal connected to the young Albert Einstein, who has applied for a post in the Physics department at the University of Bern. The mystery concerns the strange disappearance of Liserl, the infant daughter of the Einsteins, and the action moves from London to Switzerland to Serbia. The whole idea of the novel is based on real events as the copious historical notes and vocabulary in the back testify, and I certainly learnt a lot about Einstein’s early career. My main issue with this novel is the brevity. It feels like as soon as the reader gets his or her teeth into the book, it ends. Perhaps this is a good criticism, as certainly the characterisation, writing and plot made me wish that the book was longer and more fully fleshed out. A starter rather than a main course, therefore, and for that reason, disappointing. Ann Northfield SHE’S GONE SANTA FE Maida Tilchen, Savvy Press, 2013, $12.99, pb, 328pp, 9781939113207 She’s Gone Santa Fe is based on a true murder that drew in the 1920s anthropological world. Anthropology student Henrietta Schmerler is disappointed at not receiving a field research position in New Mexico with her beloved professor Ruth Benedict. Undeterred, she reimagines herself as “Ree” and sets off for the Southwest on her own, hoping to catch Benedict’s attention. Ree takes whatever job she can, first at the 52 | Reviews |

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THE WHEREWITHAL

E D I TORS’ CH OICE

Philip Schultz, Norton, 2014, $25.95, hb, 192pp, 9780393240948 1968 finds Henryk Stanislaw Wyrzykowski hiding out as a clerk in the basement of a San Francisco welfare office. Secure in his clandestine sanctuary, Henryk spends his days filing paperwork and translating his mother’s diaries while dodging Uncle Sam and the horrors of service in Vietnam. What unfolds is an increasingly disordered and bizarrely attractive illustration of personal delirium and the human condition. The parallel story lines – the mental deterioration Henryk suffers in his solitary existence and that recognized in his mother’s memories of the Jedwabne pogrom – struck me in a way that is difficult to describe. The delusions these characters construct within the confines of their minds are powerful and somewhat disturbing, but they take on an almost hallucinogenic quality, offered as they are in Schultz’s disordered and haunting prose. A deliciously dark commentary, The Wherewithal is an extraordinary allegory that deftly elucidates the nature of evil, the impact of war, the power of the human mind and the unsettling idea that we are each our own devil and we make this world our hell. Erin Davies lesbian San Gabriel Dude Ranch and then with the enigmatic Hosteen Klah, a transgender Navajo medicine man. This choice to work with the controversial Klah has ramifications, which dog her even when she follows a mysterious and handsome stranger to a reservation trading post.

BELLAGRAND

Despite being rich in history, Ree’s story never fully came alive for me. More engaging is the supporting cast, including Klah and the shy Benedict, both real historical figures. Although Ree is also based on the real Henrietta Schmerler, a determined anthropology student, she did not feel

E D I TORS’ CH OICE

Paullina Simons, William Morrow, 2014, $15.99, pb, 576pp, 9780062103239 Paullina Simons has returned in fine form! The love story of Alexander’s parents is continued from Children of Liberty and also serves as the prequel to the stunning The Bronze Horseman, which is set during the Siege of Leningrad. Gina and Harry have married but have also discovered they desire very different things from life: Gina, a family and a home. Harry, the freedom to crusade for his cherished beliefs at the expense of all else. The endurance of their passion and commitment despite this deep chasm eventually leads to tragic and irreversible consequences for them both, and the innocent child Alexander (whose journey continues in The Bronze Horseman) will pay the ultimate price. Gina and Harry’s journey spans four decades and two continents, beginning in the troubled industrial immigrant town of Lawrence, Massachusetts, in 1911; climaxing in tropical South Florida, where the dream of perfection is found and lost in a mansion called Bellagrand; and moving to the stifling blueblood society of Boston and a dangerous new life in a foreign land. Bellagrand is an epic journey, a suitable prequel to the monumental love story of Alexander and his Tatiana. Simons wraps up all the plot threads cleanly, but not before wringing your heart and dragging you through an emotional roller coaster ride. Bellagrand is a poignant and mature exploration of marriage and commitment, of sacrifice and consequences; a dark tale with piercing rays of golden light. Andrea Connell 20th Century

as layered a character. Her almost blind focus on winning both Benedict’s love and the respect of the anthropological community made it difficult to see her grow. She seeks acceptance, not understanding. There is a romance, but the novel is ultimately about Ree and her journey. It’s a worthy journey, to achieve success in a professional field in the 1920s. I only wish she’d traveled further. Jessica Brockmole

younger siblings, and their love, loyalty (and antics) in return, are reminiscent of the March sisters. Valentine’s novel has glamour in spades, evocative of the Jazz Age’s fashions and dance crazes and the dark side of prohibition. As a retelling of the “Twelve Dancing Princesses,” it works surprisingly well as a historical novel absent of magic cloaks and gemstone-encrusted boughs. Lauren Miller

THE DEATH OF LUCY KYTE Nicola Upson, Bourbon Street, 2014, $15.99, pb, 368pp, 9780062195456 / Faber & Faber, 2013, £12.99, pb, 368pp, 9780571287727 Upson’s 5th addition to her excellent Josephine Tey series has a deeper, more descriptive tone than earlier books and an unconventional mystery. In the opening scene, Josephine discovers she’s inherited the Suffolk cottage that belonged to her mother’s best friend, Hester Larkspur. The will’s odd details cue this is not a straightforward gift, but the burden grows heavy, taking on the sins of a famous local murder and questions about Hester’s final days. Upson explores Josephine’s guilt about her mother and father and the problematic but emotionally essential relationship with her lover, Marta. This is a character-rich novel, appealing to followers of this series rather than new readers. The gradual plot sustains, but it takes backseat to the atmospherics and moving exploration of love and friendship. The author’s note explains that Upson grew up in Suffolk and daily saw the home of the famous murdered girl. That explains the precision and sensory wealth of Upson’s portrayal of the countryside, cottage, village and its people. Occasionally a place acts as a character in a novel; Upson has accomplished that with her powerful evocation of rural Suffolk. Judith Starkston

THE RED BIRD ALL-INDIAN TRAVELING BAND Frances Washburn, Univ. of Arizona Press, 2014, $16.95, pb, 184pp, 9780816530823 The summer of 1969 on the Pine Ridge Reservation is the setting for this rollicking chronicle of young waitress, band singer and lost soul Sissy Roberts. Surrounded by a loving family and friends in various degrees of dysfunction, Sissy lingers at a crossroads of her life. Complications arise when Buffalo Ames is found dead after a gig. An FBI agent decides Sissy will be led his path to solving the mysterious death. It’s a good choice. Sissy is a young women whose non-judgmental “gift or curse” listening ear puts her at the heart of life on the rez. She’s also stuck, yearning for a wider world and more education but not sure how to get there. Love-lorn bandmates, a troubled friend facing her pregnancy, and a wayward baseball are all interesting companions. The setting and clipped wry style of The Red Bird All-Indian Traveling Band are a delight, but the novel’s greatest strength is Sissy, a character full of self-knowledge and wisdom even as she struggles with the twin mysteries of Buffalo’s death and her own self-discovery. The music she sings is a great soundtrack to an affecting tale. Eileen Charbonneau

THE GIRLS AT THE KINGFISHER CLUB Genevieve Valentine, Atria, 2014, $24.00/ C$27.99, hb, 272pp, 9781476739083 In a not-so-quiet townhouse, somewhere in Manhattan, there are twelve Hamilton sisters, shut away from the world by an embarrassed father. The eldest, Jo, is a surrogate mother figure, de facto leader (earning her the moniker “The General”), and dance instructor. It is the Roaring Twenties, and the girls know every popular dance from the Foxtrot to the Charleston. Having discovered a way to disappear unseen in the twilight hours, the sisters visit a string of speakeasies, dancing and flirting, and finally settling on the Kingfisher Club as home. When a police raid thrusts Jo into the path of an old flame, the gossiping talk about the Hamilton sisters reaches their father’s ears. Desperate to be rid of them, he forms a plan to marry them all off. It’s up to Jo to circumvent their father’s plans, but at what cost to her heart? There is a lot of territory to cover with twelve girls and their love lives over a period of eight years, and we get Jo’s impression of each sister in staccato moments within a much-longer narrative. The third-person narrator elects to follow the girls, not their father, which lends him a shadowy personality and creates unanswered questions about his business ethics. This contrasts well with Jo, whose fiercely protective nature toward her 20th Century — Multi-period

LOVE & TREASURE Ayelet Waldman, Knopf, 2014, $26.95, hb, 368pp, 9780385533546 / Two Roads, 2014, £18.99, hb, 448pp, 9781444763096 At the end of WWII, American soldier Jack Wiseman, a Jew, is assigned to look after a trainload of “items” shipped from Hungary on its way to the now-defunct Third Reich: gold watches, furs, jewelry, china, crystal, artwork, Shabbat candlesticks, kaddish cups, and silver Torah poles. Casual “borrowing” of the items by Army bigwigs to furnish their temporary houses in occupied territory sets up a conflict involving Jack’s position with the Army and his growing sense of Jewish solidarity. He falls in love, witnesses the struggles of the Jewish DPs in Europe, and gets involved in the emigration movement to Zionist Israel, which is fighting the British for control of Palestine. Waldman’s complex saga starts out in 2013, moves back into the postwar years, then heads back to the present with Jack’s granddaughter Natalie, on a mission to resolve his unfinished business from the war, and ends up with an “after-story” from 1913 which adds some missing information. The subject itself is fascinating, as are the glimpses of Zionist fervor and its ambivalent relationship to the Holocaust and its victims. The main plot line – finding the presumably long-dead owner of a unique piece of jewelry – is pretty much a mulligan that sets the story in motion. Waldman tells a good story, but there’s occasionally too much

exposition from the characters which is borderline tedious and breaks the fourth wall. Although Jack and his friends in 1945 are likable and interesting characters, the modern-day characters are rather two-dimensional and predictable. Love & Treasure is an interesting read, but it really seems like two books that don’t fit well together: a serious novel about outrageous acts of thievery and the search for identity, and a romantic love story wrapped inside a suspense caper. Mary F. Burns

multi-period

THE LINCOLN MYTH Steve Berry, Ballantine, 2014, $27.00, hb, 427pp, 9780345526571 A rogue group of Mormons led by a U.S. Senator plan to dismember the United States – if they can find a collection of James Madison’s notes supporting the contention that the Constitution allows for secession. On the eve of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln had allegedly given these notes to Brigham Young for safekeeping in the far West, where the rebels could not find them. The plan of this modern group is to have Utah lead the charge for secession by presenting these notes to the world, after which a number of other states would follow suit, bringing an end to the Unites States as we know it. To help institute this plan, Utah Senator Rowan enlists the services of a militant subgroup called the “Danites,” led by a deranged Spaniard who believes Joseph Smith talks to him. Retired Department of Treasury agent Cotton Malone is recruited to help foil the plot. The action careens from Denmark to Austria to D.C. to Iowa to Utah, interspersed with interludes from Lincoln’s era and even one from 1787. There are some attribution problems, which forced me to pencil in names of speakers in order to keep them straight, and, as in most thrillers, there are some leaps of logic that require the reader to “forgive” the author – and read fast enough so that it doesn’t matter. But overall it is an enjoyable novel. Readers will learn much about Lincoln, Mormons, the Constitution and secession that they did not previously know – and which is pertinent in today’s polarized world. This is more of an intellectual thriller than a killer thriller; it was the concept and the interesting historical asides about Lincoln, states’ rights, and the Mormons that kept me reading. Recommended. Barry Webb EMBER ISLAND Kimberly Freeman, Touchstone, 2014, $16/ C$18.99, pb, 448pp, 9781476743509 Nina Jones, the current-day protagonist of Ember Island, is a bestselling author with a shameful secret and a broken heart. She’s trying to write her fourth book in her fine second home, where her great-grandmother grew up in the 1880s on an island off the coast of Australia. Storm damage to the house reveals snatches of her grandmother’s early papers, raising more questions than answers. In the meantime, or rather in the more-than-acentury-ago-time, Tilly, the book’s second heroine, has married the darkly handsome Jasper and HNR Issue 68, May 2014 | Reviews | 53

moved to his remote home in the Channel Islands, where she suffers his cruelty. Those are the bare beginnings of the plot of this two-era Australian romance. The story has so many complications that when I tried to explain it to my husband he gently told me that he would need to get back to work before long… Tilly’s strength comes through vividly; she’s strong despite being shackled by society’s prejudices and strictures. Nina, the modern-day protagonist, is ironically crippled by those same old mindsets and insecurities, countered only by a sensible friend. Nina is over-the-top whiny and insecure for my tastes, but, in the end, the author reveals why she is so fearful. The 1880s story is the satisfying heart of the book. Tilly is in an impossible situation imposed on her by her era and made worse by her own emotion-driven choices. A heroine with plenty of page-turning fight and flight instincts, she proves her mettle time after time. I finished Ember Island at 2 a.m., going to bed with my head filled with action and 1880s Australian sugar cane fields. Recommended. Kristen Hannum A PARIS APARTMENT Michelle Gable, Thomas Dunne, 2014, $25.99, hb, 384pp, 9781250048738 Furniture specialist April Vogt is glad to be called to Paris to appraise the contents of a longshuttered apartment, at the very least because it’s an escape from both her troubled marriage and her complicated family situation. But the apartment proves to be more intriguing than merely an escape. Closed up since the beginning of WWII, it is full of priceless pieces of furniture and works of art, including an arresting portrait of by one of the masters of the 19th century. April discovers a set of diaries, written by the woman in the portrait, Marthe de Florian, a renowned courtesan who rubbed elbows with all of the luminaries of Belle Époque Paris. Unlike her fellow appraisers, she sees the diaries as more than just provenance to add value to the forthcoming auction. As the Paris of the past comes alive through Marthe’s diaries, April is drawn in. The apartment is less a repository of furniture and more the repository of a life. Dual time period novels are tricky; one of the stories is often more compelling than the other. In A Paris Apartment, Marthe threatens to steal the show, with an engaging voice and antics worthy of the tabloids. But, though April’s story is made of quieter moments (and one gorgeous Frenchman), it carries the reader along. She looks to Marthe’s passion and confidence to shore up her own. Two very different characters, yet both carry the novel with their own strengths. Gable was inspired by the real find of Marthe de Florian’s apartment in 2010, full of treasures untouched for seventy years. A charming read about a fascinating history and the woman behind it. Jessica Brockmole THE HOUSE OF BATHORY Linda Lafferty, Lake Union Publishing, 2014, $14.95 pb, 461pp, 9781477808641 House of Bathory is a thrilling read that takes readers back and forth from the early 17th 54 | Reviews |

HNR Issue 68, May 2014

century Cachtice Castle to modern Colorado. The House of Bathory itself references the infamous Erszebet Bathory, an enigma of sorts and the source of numerous legends of her dissolute life much in tune with her ancestor, Vlad Tempes, better known as Vlad the Impaler, whom Bathory revered and admired. The bulk of the novel that takes place in the 1600s relates to Erszebet’s life at Cachtice Castle and details her infatuation with her appearance. It is this infatuation that leads her to witchcraft and ultimately to the torture and murder of young women, believing that bathing in the blood of virgins would maintain the youthful appearance of her face. Erszebet is also a bit of a sexually charged deviant as well, perhaps rewarding those who assist her in her bloody work. The modern-day protagonist is a Jungian psychiatrist, Betsy Path, drawn to Slovakia in pursuit of her mother, who has been kidnapped, by none other than a deranged descendant of Erszebet Bathory. Betsy begins as a very simple character whose life is mostly given to her work as she works through the death of her father, who was also a Jungian psychiatrist and her mentor, as well as the strained relationship with her mother since his death. I enjoyed truly enjoyed Lafferty’s flawless weaving of the narrative from the 1600s to the modern and back again. Despite the numerous settings, motivations, as well as a mysterious kidnapping, I was continually in tune with the story. The characters from the main to the minor are memorable and wonderfully unique. House of Bathory is a truly remarkable work of historical fiction, which thoroughly captivated me from the first page to the last. Shannon Gallagher THE CAIRO CODEX Linda Lambert, West Hills Press, 2013, $15.95, pb, 314pp, 9781933512341 This novel is two stories in one, with the main narrative set during the last days of Mubarak’s Egypt. Justine Jenner, a visiting American educator, inadvertently discovers an ancient codex which just happens to be the personal diary of Mary, the mother of Jesus. While working with linguists to decipher the writings, she becomes embroiled in plots by the Muslim Brotherhood and the Coptic Christians to destroy the codex and the knowledge it contains because of its threat to Islamic and Christian fundamentalist beliefs about the nature of Jesus and Mary. Interspersed are portions of Mary’s story, beginning with the reasons for her and her family to have left Judea for Egypt, certain events during their stay there, and the reasons for their being forced out of Egypt by the Romans. This in turn harmonizes with Justine’s being forced out of Egypt in the end due to her involvement with the codex. The author shows a surprisingly in-depth, and even prescient, knowledge of modern Egypt and the conflicts between the Muslim Brotherhood and other segments of society. Perhaps due to her love of the place, having been stationed there herself, most of the first half of the book read like a travelogue. The plot doesn’t really kick in until halfway through the book. The main problem I had, though, were the plethora of historical/ linguistic anachronisms in the “Mary” segments

(i.e., personal and place names that could never have been used by people of that era). However, if one can overlook those issues, portions of the book are enjoyable, particularly in the last 150 pages or so. Barry Webb A FALL OF MARIGOLDS Susan Meissner, NAL, 2014, $15.00, pb, 400pp, 9780451419910 Clara Wood and Taryn Michaels are both survivors, the former of the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Fire and the latter of the September 2001 World Trade Center terrorist attack. Clara believes that the man she was falling in love with would not have died were it not for her, and Taryn believes her husband would not have been on the “wrong” floor of one of the Towers if not for her text and phone message from earlier on that infamous morning. Each carries a heavy burden of mind-numbing grief that holds them back from fully stepping into the future. In the interim, Clara Wood settles on Ellis Island, serving as a nurse to newly arrived immigrants who are ill, most of them with the viciously corrosive disease of scarlet fever. Taryn continues her work with textile colors and fabrics and yet needs to solve a mystery. The history of both women is tied to a vividly gorgeous scarf that connects them and may eventually heal more than words can express. The novel’s plot may seem simple but soon becomes quite complex, assisted by male characters whose gentle personalities belie the fierceness of their grief and love. Susan Meissner is talented in the way she depicts the horror of Clara and Taryn’s memories without leaving readers overwhelmed. She writes gently yet firmly about their transformations from “wounded warriors” to women who will eventually experience the zest of life once again, accompanied by a deep compassion for others who have suffered rejection, grief, and the paralysis of having lived through such devastating circumstances. This is a highly recommended, sensitive, beautiful and awesome novel from a very skilled writer! Viviane Crystal NO COUNTRY Kalyan Ray, Simon & Schuster, 2014, $27.00/ C$29.99, hb, 544pp, 9781451635997 Brendan and Padraig, friends since childhood, know little of the world beyond their small village on the coast of Western Ireland. Brendan is content to live in the peaceful shadow of Ben Bulben, but Padraig yearns for justice for his country. Following the siren song of national hero Daniel O’Connell, Padraig leaves behind his family and his betrothed to join the rally for Irish independence in Dublin. But once in Dublin, he quarrels with a Protestant lordling who has enlisted with the East India Company, and finds that a moment’s rashness can change the course of a life. At home in County Sligo, Brendan is left to care for his friend’s infant daughter. As the months drag on and Padraig never returns, Brendan must make the decision whether to stay in Ireland – where the Great Hunger threatens to destroy the cobbled family he has created – or set off for America and the unknown, traveling so far that Padraig may never find his way home to them again. Multi-period

GOODNIGHT JUNE

E D I TORS’ C H OI C E

Sarah Jio, Plume, 2014, $16.00/C$18.00, pb, 320pp, 9780142180211 June Andersen is a career-driven New York banker teetering on the edge. After an alarming health episode, doctors warn her to change her ways, but she only takes an enforced break when she receives a letter from a law firm in her hometown of Seattle informing her that her great-aunt Ruby has died and that she has inherited her bookstore. At first, the pragmatic June intends to sell the store, but events conspire to change her mind. She is attracted to Gavin, who owns the adjoining restaurant, and an encounter with her estranged sister, Amy, forces June to confront unresolved issues from the past. While sorting through Ruby’s stock, June comes across letters exchanged in the 1940s between Ruby and her best friend, children’s author Margaret Wise Brown. June’s defensive shell crumbles as the letters reveal secrets about Ruby’s life and snippets of wisdom about the value of sisters. There is also a mystery to solve when the store is broken into. Although there is historical fiction in its invented letters, this is for the most part a contemporary novel about self-discovery and why bookstores still matter in our modern world. It is written from the heart with great affection for the woman who was the catalyst for many a child’s love of reading and is a fine tribute to “Brownie,” whose work will no doubt find a resurgence if this novel has the success it deserves. This is a must for all those adults who adored Goodnight Moon when they were children, and those parents, grandparents and others who are introducing its simple charm and wonder to the next generation. Sarah Jio’s delightful and uplifting novel is guaranteed to melt even the toughest cynic and deserves a top rating of five stars (plus the moon). Marina Maxwell When I first picked up No Country, the grandiose language of the book jacket convinced me that the plot would be oversold – but ultimately this epic tome proved to be as far-ranging as the cover promised. This tale reaches from Dublin to Calcutta to New York, melding periods and settings that are seldom seen together between two covers. While the various narrators remain somewhat stereotypical in their characterizations, the broader sense of place, culture, and family is engrossing and genuine. The cadence of the language rings true to its era, and the rich descriptions coax the reader into loving each setting as Home. Be prepared to dive in deep, and drink it in. Ann Pedtke THE MIDNIGHT ROSE Lucinda Riley, Atria, 2014, $14.99, pb, 496pp, 9781476703572 / Pan, 2014, £7.99, pb, 688pp, 9781447218432 The Midnight Rose spans across four generations and two continents to tell the story of Anahita Chaval, royal companion to an Indian princess during the early 20th century; and Rebecca Bradley, an up-and-coming movie star filming the role of a lifetime in modern-day England. Riley has published several novels, and The Midnight Rose is her strongest yet. The novel opens with Anahita’s story. She is an old woman and reflecting on her life, which has been one of extremes. Her only regret is never discovering the whereabouts of her long-lost son, who supposedly died at a young age. On her deathbed she charges her young and brash great-grandson Ari Malik to Multi-period — Timeslip

discover the truth. Anahita’s life is recounted throughout the novel, and it is a remarkable one. Her position as royal companion takes her from the sultry climes of Jaipur to the frosty winters of England. There she finds racial prejudice, classism, and an unexpected love at the great estate of Astbury Park. When Ari finally takes up his quest, it brings him into Rebecca’s orbit. She is filming a period drama at the now crumbling Astbury Park, and her role brings her dangerously close to the past. When Ari comes seeking the truth about his greatgrandmother’s stay on the estate, he and Rebecca will discover the dark and long-buried secrets of the Astbury family. This novel will appeal to many readers, as it contains mystery, suspense, historical detail, and romance. The plot does take a surprising, slightly difficult-to-digest turn towards the end, but all in all it is an enjoyable read. Recommended. Caroline Wilson THE COLLECTOR OF DYING BREATHS M. J. Rose, Atria, 2014, $25.00, hb, 384pp, 9781451621532 Set in late 16th-century and present-day France, The Collector of Dying Breaths continues the tale of mythologist Jac L’Etoile, whose beloved brother, Robbie, lying desperately ill in the hospital, implores her to complete the secret work he has begun with a mysterious woman named Melinoe Cypros. At first Jac resists Robbie’s plea since that would mean embracing her ability to access pastlife memories, which she desperately does not

want to do. Soon enough, however, in a story told alongside that of René le Florentine, the Italian perfumer to Queen Catherine de’ Medici in 1500s France, Jac and her ex-lover, Griffin North, find themselves drawn into a centuries-old quest to unlock the secret to immortality. René le Florentine is desperate to reanimate his dead lover, Isabeau, one of Queen Catherine’s “flying squadron” of female spies, who are as smart as they are beautiful. Present-day Melinoe Cypros is a wealthy art collector determined to hold her precious collection by her side, now and in her next life. But how? By discovering the secret of reanimating the dying breaths they have collected in jars – to do that, they must create the alchemical solution, or elixir, for which there is an as yet unfinished formula. Reincarnation, poison, magic, astrology and deft descriptions of the whys and wherefores of the fascinating world of fragrances waft their way through this tale of greed, love lost and regained, and the passionate search for immortality in a lush story sure to please the many readers who have awaited this latest entry in the popular Jac L’Etoile series. Alana White

timeslip

THE SECRET KISS OF DARKNESS Christina Courtenay, Choc Lit, 2014, £7.99, pb, 300pp, 9781781890677 I found the illustration on the front of the book very intriguing, and once opened, the cover is lifted on a world of pure escapism. The novel is set in two time frames, the present day and 18thcentury Cornwall. Each is written very cleverly and seamlessly so that the two merge into one story. A great sense of time and place are created for both the settings. All the characters are believable and well-drawn and stand alone as individual personalities. I was especially drawn to Kayla. Kayla, in the present time receives an inheritance. She uses this to purchase a life-size portrait at an auction. Jago is the subject in the portrait, an innkeeper and smuggler who lived during the 18thcentury in Cornwall. The fantasy starts when the portrait starts talking to Kayla and reveals a mystery for her to investigate. Christina Courtenay tells a great story with writing that is easy to read and sits in each time frame snugly; it skips along at a great pace and keeps the reader entertained. The chapters are not too long; the dialogue is concise and descriptions extremely vivid. She adds broken engagements, fortune-telling, stately homes, handsome men and plenty of twists and turns to make it a compelling and engrossing read. It is romance, history and fantasy combined: well recommended. Barbara Goldie VEIL OF TIME Claire R. McDougall, Gallery, 2014, $16.00/ C$18.99, pb, 416pp, 9781476748870 This time-travel story is set in both present day and 8th-century western Scotland. Maggie Livingstone Griggs moves from Glasgow to a HNR Issue 68, May 2014 | Reviews | 55

cottage near the rocky crag of Dunadd, where the ancient Dál Riata kings were crowned. She is fleeing from the death of a child and a subsequent divorce; she is estranged from her son. Maggie is epileptic; sadly, her daughter died from the same disorder. While working on her dissertation about witch-burning, Maggie awaits the lobectomy that will cure her of her intractable seizures – the same convulsions that killed her little girl. Following the seizures, Maggie enters into deep, protracted dream states that take her into 8thcentury Dunadd. Here she meets and befriends the ban-druidhe, a wise-woman who is powerful and respected. Maggie falls in love with Fergus, the brother of the king. His young daughter, Illa, could be the identical twin of Maggie’s dead child, Ellie. Maggie needs to make a heart-wrenching decision as the scheduled lobectomy looms near. Should she stay in the 8th century with Fergus and Illa, or undergo the surgery, closing the door to the past and allowing her to return to her surviving son, Graeme? Readers will wonder up until the end what choice Maggie will make, and the bittersweet resolution is strangely satisfying. Fans of early medieval Scotland, time travel novels, romance, and possibly medical dramas will like this haunting, debut novel by the Scottish-born McDougall. Elizabeth Knowles

alternate history

DOMINION C.J. Sansom, Mulholland, 2014, $28.00, hb, 640pp, 9780316254915 / Pan, 2013, £8.99, pb, 717pp, 9780330511032 With Dominion, acclaimed novelist C.J. Sansom has added yet another field of novel writing to his already impressive repertoire. Having established himself as a historical novelist with his Tudor series starring hunchback lawyer Matthew Shardlake and venturing into the historical thriller arena with his WWII-based Winter in Madrid, Dominion becomes Sansom’s first entry into the world of alternative history. World War II is a decade past. England has surrendered with the fall of France. Churchill is gone. The Queen is more puppet than monarch. Boy Scouts are afraid of a forced merger with the League of Fascist Youth. Nothing is as it was. Except. The British Resistance has never bowed to the Nazis. Civil servant and Resistance operative David Fitzgerald is called to action, ordered to Birmingham to free British scientist Frank Muncaster from a mental hospital to keep secrets safe from the Nazis. Of course, the Nazis intend otherwise. Although Sansom knows a nice turn of phrase when he see it, as other reviewers have noted, what moves me more about Dominion is the author’s attention to detail in his creation of an alternate world, of a fascist-controlled England. No element is too small to be overlooked. And he paints Fitzgerald’s mission, the story of the Resistance, within the context of a much larger canvas. In the end, the reader is left to marvel at Fitzgerald’s heroism and Muncaster’s tenacity while 56 | Reviews |

HNR Issue 68, May 2014

appreciating a conclusion that is as unexpected as it is inevitable. Highly recommended. Tony Hays

historical fantasy

BABAYAGA Tony Barlow, Corvus, 2014, £12.99, pb, 333pp, 9781782393337 / Farrar Straus & Giroux, 2013, $27.00, hb, 400pp, 9780374107871 Babayaga is in some sense an historical novel, in that it is set in Paris in the late 1950s at the height of the Cold War, most of the American characters are CIA agents (some of them unwittingly) and one of the plot strands concerns a secret laboratory funded by the American military to conduct sinister biological experiments (some of them not so fictional, as we now know). But it is also a police thriller, with inspector Vidot leading a murder hunt, and it is also a fantasy novel, with a coven of Russian witches which has set itself up in Paris after the Bolshevik revolution to continue with its various forms of black and white magic. The genres collide when the head witch turns Vidot into a flea, although this does not deter him from his undercover investigations, and the main American character falls in love with the beautiful witch, Zoya, which is the occasion for some strenuous sex scenes. After a tumult of chases across Paris, fights and explosions the Americans drive the witches out of Paris and the head witch is killed, releasing Vidot from his enchantment, but not before Zoya has destroyed the secret lab. It is all nonsense: hilarious and often witty nonsense, the antidote to all historical novels, especially conspiracy novels, that take themselves too seriously. Great fun. Edward James THE MIDNIGHT WITCH Paula Brackston, St. Martin’s, 2014, $25.99, hb, 352pp, 9781259006080 In this paranormal-historical, Lady Lilith Montgomery is the only daughter of a duke in a setting that stretches from the opulence of Edwardian England to the austere days after World War I. Her father has died in the first pages (for reasons that might have been more sinister but are never made so), leaving her younger, opiumaddicted brother, Freddie, heir to the dukedom and Lilith herself Head Witch of the Lazarus Coven of necromancers. A poor and non-witch artist falls in love with her in her mourning black in the cemetery, she eventually with him. And in a thread diffused to the point of passive non-threat, a band of “sorcerers” struggle to take a dead-raising Elixir from the Coven. Brackston is a New York Times bestselling author for earlier titles including witches from different time periods, but this book doesn’t seem as successful. Edwardian mores are presented with little attempt to add emotionally or tension-wise to the plot, as if cut-and-pasted in from online searches. Fitting the paranormal elements into the history seemed even less apt. World War I seems but a footnote to the story, even though risen dead prophesied the slaughter of many close to the

Coven. Although warned, the Coven does nothing similar to the witchcraft attempts to save Britain during the Second World War, and the Elixir seems slapped on as an afterthought. Ann Chamberlin NETHERWORLD Lisa Morton, JournalStone, 2014, $18.95, pb, 282pp, 9781940161082 This is the first in an anticipated series about Lady Diana Furnaval, who comes to believe in the supernatural after her fiancé, William, reveals that he is guardian of an ancient gateway between our world and the Netherworld. When he is mysteriously killed, Diana takes over his work, eventually learning there are more gateways through which demons seek to invade. This takes her on a globe-trotting quest to close them and seek answers about William’s death. I have to give this book a mixed review. I started out really enjoying it and found it to be a fun adventure that reminded me of The Mummy. However, after a while the demons Diana faced became more comical than threatening, and the plot started feeling repetitive. Toward the end, the book seemed to not know what it wanted to be, going from historical/gothic to gory horror to romance in space of a few pages. Diana’s actions on the last page seemed particularly forced, and the ending didn’t leave me wanting more. However, Morton has a great ability to evoke a place and time – from soot-stained London and the opium dens of China to the wilds of California – and create interesting characters. Mina stole my heart, and Diana had me rooting for her. Even YiKin, who is a little flat, managed to charm me, but the repeated bigotry against him got old quickly. It may have been the mindset of the Victorian period, but there was so much that it felt preachy rather than naturally occurring. My copy wasn’t an ARC, but I counted eight typos, mostly toward the end of the book, which interrupted the reading experience. Netherworld isn’t a waste of time, but I’m on the fence as to whether to continue with the series. Nicole Evelina

children & young adult

MENDING HORSES M. P. Barker, Holiday House, 2014, $17.95, hb, 320pp, 9780823429486 Mending Horses, the sequel to M. P. Barker’s 2008 release A Difficult Boy, reunites readers with Daniel Linnehan, an Irish teenager transplanted across the sea to New England. Finally freed from indentured service, Daniel attempts to make his way in the world with nothing but his indenture papers and his beloved horse Ivy. However, he soon finds himself making unlikely alliances among the performers in a travelling circus, where he puts his equestrian skills to use training a team of skittish prancing ponies. My experience with this book was undermined by having skipped its predecessor – definitely try to read A Difficult Boy before diving into this sequel! Plot-wise, there is a lot going on, and despite the Timeslip — Children & YA

THE BEATLES

E D I TORS’ C H OI C E

Mick Manning and Brita Granström, Frances Lincoln, 2014, £12.99/$18.99, hb, 48pp, 9781847804518 This is the story of the Beatles’ decade of fame, 1960 to 1970, but it is much more than that. It’s also the story of an era, and Brita Granström’s illustrations complement Mick Manning’s text perfectly. The picture of Paul’s 1950s bedroom, for example, looks austere and chilly, with its old-fashioned electric barred fire; you can tell that there’s no central heating. And I loved the drawing of the seedy Hamburg nightclub the boys played in, which reminded me of the German Expressionist painter, Georg Grosz. As well as telling the story of the Fab Four’s rise to fame and fortune, there are also vignettes illuminating the period: Mary Quant fashions, for example; or explaining what an LP record was and how you played it. But we see more important things, too, from Martin Luther King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech, to anti-Vietnam War demonstrations. The Beatles looks at the very different talents of John, Paul, George and Ringo. George’s interest in Ravi Shankar’s sitar playing introduced Indian music to the group, for example. The group was not afraid to tackle the concerns of the time: Paul’s song “Eleanor Rigby” explores human loneliness, and “Back in the USSR” takes a satirical view of Soviet Russia. At the end, there is a double timeline of the decade. The top line charts what was happening in the world: Kennedy’s assassination, the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S.A., the rise of the Swinging Sixties in Britain, Neil Armstrong walking on the moon and so on. Underneath is a timeline of the Beatles’ career showing how their various songs were influenced by what was going on at the time. This book is a triumph; the melding of text and illustrations cannot be faulted. It makes a superb introduction to a study of the 1960s. Elizabeth Hawksley fact that the book was written for readers ages 8 to 14, I felt that my unfamiliarity with Daniel’s history made Mending Horses difficult to get into. That being said, I truly appreciated Barker’s attention to detail and vested interest in historical accuracy. Billy’s story in particular struck a chord with me and added a nice balance to a heavily masculine narrative. Erin Davies RAVENS OF SOLEMANO, or The Order of the Mysterious Men in Black Eden Unger Bowditch, Bancroft, 2013, $22.95, hb, 465pp, 9781610881043 This second steampunk novel in the Young Inventors Guild trilogy takes place in 1903 and in many locations such as London, New York, and Italy. Once again, five very smart young inventors must solve a mystery involving their disappearing parents, mysterious men in black, and their everlurking nemesis, Komar Romak. With their loving schoolteacher, Miss Brett, Wallace, Noah, Jasper, Lucy and Faye work together to figure out the origins of the mysterious men in black and their secretive motivations. Filled with adventure, travel, and intrigue, this is a cute mystery ideal for ten- to twelve- year-olds. Disappearing acts, exploding trains, and exciting Children & YA

inventions will keep tweens entertained, but the dialogue might irritate the more advanced reader. The men in black have a bad habit of talking in riddles and short sentences that grates a bit on the impatient reader. Overall, this is an interesting tale with many surprises. The story ends with a lot of loose threads; it will be nice to finally figure out the mystery of Kumar Romak in Bowditch’s final installment. Rebecca Cochran In The Ravens of Solemano, five children embark on a journey with the mysterious men in black and they aren’t really sure why. The men in black are secretive and withhold information as to the location of their parents and why they disappeared. All the while, they are being chased by the infamous Komar Romak, their enemy from the first book in the series. Each character has unique attributes that contribute to the success of the group. For example, one character Lucy, who possesses a remarkable memory, provides incriminating evidence as to who the enemy is. Leaving many questions unanswered, the completion of the trilogy is imminent. Even while possessing surprising plot twists, this book would be more appropriate for a younger age group. Alice Cochran, age 15

TEMPLE BOYS Jamie Buxton, Egmont, 2014, £6.99, pb, 326pp, 9781405268004 AD 33. Flea is the runt of the Temple Boys gang who thieve for a living in Jerusalem, a city ruled with a heavy hand by the Romans. The Feast of the Passover is approaching, and people are streaming into the city for the celebration. The political situation is volatile, and Roman authority is alert for any disturbances. It is also an ideal opportunity for pick-pocketing. Flea picks up a rumour that a magician is coming with his followers. Rich pickings, he thinks. But he soon discovers that the ‘magician’, Yeshua, is not all he seems. On one level, the story follows events leading up to the first Easter; on another, it’s about growing up and learning to think for oneself. Jamie Buxton is interested in exploring how people can see what they want to see, and in the power of suggestibility. Flea befriends Jude, once Yeshua’s closest friend and loyal supporter, who now has doubts about what Yeshua is planning. Jude wants to save Yeshua from himself, as he sees it; Flea wants to save Jude. The heavy hand of the Results Man, the Roman in charge of security, is breathing down their necks; it’s a race against time. Jamie Buxton is good at getting across the tensions of a city under foreign domination. There is a chilling account of Flea fleeing through a no-go area which was once the scene of a Roman massacre of Jewish citizens, where now there is nothing but rats and bones. I found Temple Boys an interesting read, but I was concerned about the opportunities for confusion. Unless the reader is well acquainted with the Christian story, and familiar with 1stcentury Roman history and the complexities of Judæan contemporary politics, they could have problems following the plot. For thoughtful children of 12 plus. Elizabeth Hawksley DAUGHTERS OF TIME The History Girls, ed. Mary Hoffman, Templar, 2014, £7.99, pb, 348pp, 9781848771697 The History Girls are a group of children’s historical novelists who, under Mary Hoffman’s careful editorship, have joined to write this anthology of 13 short stories featuring real historical women whom they believe deserve to be celebrated. The women range from Boudica, queen of the Iceni, fighting the might of the Roman Empire in the 1st century AD; to the Greenham Common women, setting up a Peace Camp outside the American nuclear missile base in the UK in 1981 and enduring all that the outraged authorities could throw at them. The earlier stories, inevitably, mostly feature royal women. I particularly enjoyed Sue Purkiss’ take on Aethelflead, daughter of Alfred the Great, who married the king of Mercia in 886 and, after his death, became the formidable Lady of the Mercians in her own right. Aethelflead’s dangerous ride through her father’s war-torn territory to meet her future husband is both atmospheric and thrilling. Marie-Louise Jensen’s heroine is the 17thcentury playwright, Aphra Behn. I loved her account of the premiere of ‘The Rover’ with all the backstage dramas involving greasepaint, candles HNR Issue 68, May 2014 | Reviews | 57

and flamboyant actors. My favourite is probably Penny Dolan’s account of Anna, a young Swedish girl, who meets Mary Wollstonecraft in 1795. I love the way Mary’s intelligent and questioning mind comes across as she gently suggests that Anna could allow herself to want the freedoms that men automatically have as a right. You can sense Anna’s inner landscape expanding. Other women featured include Eleanor of Aquitaine by Adele Geras, Mary Seacole by Catherine Johnson, and Emily Davison by Celia Rees. Each story concludes with a page end saying why its author chose that particular woman, followed by a brief biography of the woman herself. Girls of 11 plus will find much to interest them in these largely unsung role models. Highly recommended. Elizabeth Hawksley SHAHNAMEH Elizabeth Laird, Frances Lincoln, 2014, £9.99, pb, 129pp, 9781847804976 The Shahnameh is a collection of traditional stories and myths from ancient Persia. As befits an heroic age, they are filled with heroes who undertake dangerous adventures; kings who must defend their kingdoms; spirited princesses; magical animals; and demons intent on destruction. Most of the stories are new to me, though I had met the heroes Sohrab and Rustum in Matthew Arnold’s eponymous narrative poem from 1853 about Sohrab’s search for his unknown father. In Elizabeth Laird’s elegant retelling of the Shahnameh, we have Rustum’s earlier adventures on his courageous horse, Rakhsh, where he fights dragons, a sorceress and the White Demon. There are other legends, too: the Persian story of the beginning of time; the wicked King Zahhak; the Champion, Sam, and his white-haired son, Zal, and other tales of travel and adventure. This beautifully-presented book has lively illustrations by Shirin Adl. Unfortunately, their spell was broken for me by several double-page spreads of fighting horses with their back legs bending the wrong way. The ancient Persian world of the Shahnameh was predicated on magnificent horsemanship; Sohrab and Rustum would have been appalled by such an elementary mistake. A quick look at George Stubbs magnificent 1762 equestrian portrait of Whistlejacket in the National Gallery would have put her right. For children of ten plus. Elizabeth Hawksley BUFFALO SOLDIER Tanya Landman, Walker Books, 2014, £7.99, pb, 360 pp, 9781406314595 Buffalo Soldier explores the nature of freedom in a searingly poignant story told from the perspective of Charlotte, a young African-American slave from the deep south of America at the end of the Civil War. After witnessing the rape and lynching of her adoptive mother, Charlotte is pitched all alone into a world of war and terror. Officially emancipated from slavery, she is still trapped by the colour of her skin but also by her gender. Now that even her value as a slave has been stripped from her, in desperation she dons a dead man’s clothes and joins the US Army, becoming ‘Charley’, a ‘buffalo soldier’. Her journey takes her from coast to coast cutting a 58 | Reviews |

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swathe through a unpleasant period of US history, during which we see Buffalo Bill initiating the sanitisation of the historical record. This is an extraordinarily powerful book, immaculately written in a sustained voice that never misses a beat. The analogies and observations that flesh out the narrative are superbly observed and always completely in character and period. We are literally observing the world according to Charley, and her take on it is skilfully developed throughout her journey. Landman doesn’t shy away from the sights, sounds and language that characterized slavery and its aftermath, but the further that Charley moves away from the former Confederate slave states, the more she adopts the different spoken styles indicating the prejudices of the soldiers around her, in a changed world order in which the Native Americans are at the bottom of the heap. Yet she is finally shown the meaning of true freedom by an Apache with whom she is able to discover a viable identity for herself as a woman. Important material is sensitively addressed, making this a must-read book for all over-twelves. Charlie Farrow THE CASE OF THE PISTOL-PACKING WIDOWS Caroline Lawrence, Orion, 2014, £9.99, hb, 305pp, 9781444001716 Nevada Territory, U.S.A., 1862. In this, the third P. K. Pinkerton mystery, our hero, age 12, is hired by a Chinese courtesan, Opal Blossom, to spy on her fiancé, Poker Face Jace, who she thinks may be playing her false. Jace is attending a conference in Carson City, where the future of Nevada Territory will be decided. But Jace is P.K.’s friend. How can he spy on him? But this is no simple ‘romance’ case. P.K. soon learns that Jace’s life is in danger; he has fallen for the beautiful Violette de Baskerville, known as the Black Widow. Violette specializes in marrying rich men – and, soon after, they die nastily. The 1860s were a violent period in the history of the Wild West. Carson City has all the hallmarks of a frontier town, with gun battles, gambling dens, and unscrupulous men on the make. The pace is fast and furious and the plot immensely complicated as it follows the twists and turns of contemporary frontier politics. Real-life characters, such as Sam Clemens (a.k.a. Mark Twain) and James. W. Nye, the first governor of Nevada Territory, play their parts, too. There is a splendid glossary at the back which explains everything from ‘Legislature’ and ‘Confederate’ to ‘blacksnaking’ and ‘short bit’. P.K. himself is a most engaging hero. He is ‘half-Indian, 100% Methodist’, as he puts it, and a misfit. He cannot read emotion and suffers from melancholic episodes. But he is quick-witted and adept at a variety of improbable disguises, which he’s going to need as, all too soon, a variety of people are after him. Soon. it’s not only Jace’s life that is in danger. Fortunately, P.K’s also observant, brave and tenacious. P.K. Pinkerton fans will be delighted to know that the book will be out in paperback in July. Elizabeth Hawksley CANYON OF DANGER Susan K. Marlow, Kregel, 2013, $7.99, pb, 151pp, 9780825442964

Sheriff Coulter has to escort a prisoner to Sacramento. He leaves his only son in charge of the family ranch for a few days, and twelve-yearold Jem Coulter couldn’t be prouder. But trouble begins when a wolf kills one of the Coulters’ calves. Jem lies in wait to kill the wolf, only to shoot a man instead! Although California’s Gold Rush is drawing to a close, plenty of unsavory characters are hanging around Goldtown – and when Jem rides into town for help, he encounters nothing but further setbacks in the form of horse thieves and the sheriff ’s unhelpful deputies. Can things get any worse? Canyon of Danger is the first book in Susan Marlow’s Goldtown Adventures series. Readers ages 8-12 will enjoy following Jem, his feisty little sister Ellie, and his cousin Nathan across California’s gold country, and they will pick up more than a little history along the way. Canyon of Danger is fast-paced enough to keep kids reading, and also takes the time to depict the beautiful Sierra Mountains. Perhaps Jem’s aunt allows her charges more freedom than most guardians would – but living on the edge of a mountain wilderness, kids had no choice but to be self-reliant. Anyone who wants to ride up a trail in search of adventure should give Susan K. Marlow’s Canyon of Danger a try. Jo Ann Butler BLOOD BROTHER – SWAN SISTER Eithne Massey, O’Brien Press, 2014, £6.99, pb, 197pp, 9781847175670 Clontarf, Ireland, Easter 1014. A battle looms which will decide Ireland’s future: either a Viking colony, or a country ruled by Irish kings owing alliance to the High King, Brian Boru. But first, Brian Boru and his allies must defeat the Norse King Sitric, who rules Dublin. Sitric has formidable allies, not only in the Irish kingdom of Leinster but also Norsemen from Orkney and the Isle of Man who love battle and, still more, the plunder which awaits the victors. Dara has come with his father to fight for Brian Boru; it will be his first battle, and he does not want to let his father down. Elva and her sister Arna live in Dublin with their father, Weland the Smith, and Elva’s mother. The looming battle frightens Elva, but she’s worried even more by her sister’s strange behaviour. Arna is becoming far too close to Queen Kormlada, Sitric’s mother, a fierce woman reputed to be a witch. Skari has travelled with his father from the Orkneys in the train of Jarl Sigurd, Sitric’s ally. Skari’s mother was Irish but she died soon after he was born. Dara, Elva and Skari don’t know it, but their histories are linked, and the coming battle will test them all to the uttermost. I really enjoyed this book. Like Rosemary Sutcliff, a writer I much admire, Eithne Massey has the ability to get across the emotional complexities of divided loyalties. And the fierce determination of the Norsemen to conquer Ireland, no matter what the cost, comes across vividly; as does the Iron Age half-Pagan, half-Christian way of life. Clontarf was a real battle, but tales of sorcery have sprung up around it. Eithne Massey weaves these into the story in a way which is completely believable. Highly recommended for imaginative Children & YA

children of 11 plus.

Elizabeth Hawksley

THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE Geraldine McCaughrean, Usborne, 2013, £9.99, hb, 291pp, 9781409522003 Comity Pinny’s mother dies of a snake bite in the remote Australian outback where her father runs the telegraph station in Kinkindele. It is the late 19th century, and Herbert Pinny’s grief locks him into a solitary existence where he focuses on his duty, leaving poor Comity to develop a strong bond of friendship with an Aboriginal yard boy, called Fred. A new normality is slowly established as they both seek to make sense of the world and events around them until another assistant, a cruel man, arrives at the station. Comity is soon swept along by more drama that builds throughout to the novel’s conclusion. I found that I was drawn into this book from the opening lines. The style of writing is accessible, inspiring, very visual and fascinating. The story combines the myths and beliefs of different cultures in a way that helps the protagonist and her friend deal with the reality of life and death. They explain and understand events with the wisdom that they have both learnt through ‘awake-dreaming’. This novel is not a cosy story. It deals with hard issues such as loss, grief, prejudice, hatred and abuse, to name but a few. However, it is optimistic in the way the central characters learn to cope and overcome as they discover the strength of friendship. I do not want to disclose any plot spoilers because the book should be read and enjoyed, trusting that a world, which is far removed in place and time from many of us, will be described throughout in a way that brings vivid, lingering images to mind. The end does not disappoint. I would recommend this book for competent readers of 10+. Valerie Loh SON OF FORTUNE Victoria McKernan, Knopf, 2013, $16.99, hb, 400pp, 9780375864568 In the 1860s, a lumberman from the great Pacific Northwest, Aiden Lynch, flees Seattle after causing the death of one man. Desperate to escape, Aiden accepts a challenge for fare on a ship traveling to Alaska, does battle with a shark, saves the life of a Swedish sailor, is brutally attacked and left without a penny to his name, and finally wins a unforeseen opportunity in a high-stakes card game. After being befriended by the wealthy Christopher Worthington, the two agree to pursue a business in shipping guano (bird poop) up and down the coast of California. The rest of this unusual novel changes Aidan forever as he experiences firsthand how wealth grows off the backs of Chinese slave laborers who are virtually imprisoned on an island and forced to accomplish backbreaking labor. An agreement with one strong-spirited Chinese worker will come to no good end and will haunt him later on when he falls in love with a beautiful and young Chinese woman back in San Francisco. This novel reminds readers of how much suffering and travesties of judgment make one grow up and mature much more quickly than one would Children & YA

normally do in more sheltered environments. The unfolding of this rapidly changing plot compels readers to flip the pages rapidly, wholly engaged in the twists and turns of this story with surprising fights, debates, warnings, and opportunities. The debacles of the Chinese immigrants, desperately poor people, and the unemployed provide the essence of action that forces Aiden Lynch to act for the good of those unfortunate people. Superb YA historical fiction! Viviane Crystal CITY OF FATE Nicola Pierce, O’Brien Press, 2014, £6.99, pb, 264pp, 9781847173379 The fight for Stalingrad, August 1942 to February 1943, was one of the defining battles of the Second World War for a number of reasons – most of them grim. It is the sort of bloody and brutal conflict that you would not expect to find in a children’s book. However, given that any discussion of World War II will likely turn to Stalingrad at some point, it is a very good idea to give children some idea of what was at stake, who fought, and what it may have been like to be there. City of Fate tells its story from the Soviet point of view but only sketches in the political backdrop. It focuses on the feelings and experiences of children who find themselves caught up in the battle. A teenage boy and girl take charge of an orphaned five-year old, who is clearly suffering from trauma, and a class of boys finds itself drafted to fight right onto the front line – in the famous ‘Pavlov’ house. For the children, as for the real-life participants at Stalingrad, “there is no turning back”. Nicola Pierce makes good use of the pressure cooker atmosphere of the city to bring the children, and the struggle they face, to life. The reader cares about what will happen to them. Their situations are not sugar-coated, but neither are they too distressing to read. It should encourage children aged 12-14 to find out more both about Stalingrad and about the wider Second World War. Ouida Taaffe PRISONER 88 Leah Pileggi, Charlesbridge, 2013, $16.95, hb, 144pp, 9781580895606 Leah Pileggi’s Prisoner 88 is a fictional account of the real-life imprisonment of ten-year-old Jake Oliver Evans in the Idaho Territorial Penitentiary in 1885. Abandoned by his father and confined behind bars, Jake is forced to grow up quickly compared to ten-year-olds today. However, prison isn’t all bad: Jake begins learning to read, gets a free meal every day (something he can’t “hardly believe”), and ultimately learns valuable life lessons from his interactions with fellow inmates and prison staff. I’ll admit that this piece caught me off-guard. Targeted to readers in the fifth grade, Prisoner 88 is not something I’d usually pick up. I was illprepared when it proved impossible to put down, despite the heavy subject matter. Simply written from the colloquial perspective of an endearing adolescent, this book is a poignantly honest and revealing rendering of America’s early prison system. Well-researched and detailed, Prisoner 88 is a pragmatic and engaging tale that will appeal to children and parents alike. Erin Davies

THE MADNESS Alison Rattle, Hot Key, 2014, £6.99, pb, 323pp, 9781471401039 Somerset, 1868. The sea-side town of Clevedon is famous for its sea-cures. Visitors flock there to use the bathing-machines and be ‘dipped’ in the sea. Fourteen-year-old Marnie works with her mother, who prides herself on her expert dipping. Marnie is beautiful but illegitimate, and was crippled by polio when she was five. She is treated as an outcast by the townsfolk. Their comments can be hurtful, and she avoids them by swimming as often as she can – the sea is her element – and fantasizing about her absent father who, she believes, will one day return for her. Then Lady de Clevedon arrives from London with her son, Noah, who is a few years older than Marnie. The big house is opened and Lady de Clevedon is dipped by Marnie’s mother. Marnie meets Noah and challenges him to swim with her. In return, Noah sneaks her inside his home shows her around. For the first time, Marnie feels valued and wanted. Noah’s different from the local boys – she is sure he loves her. But does Noah, the rich young gentleman from London, feel the same? We are in Thomas Hardy territory here as Marnie succumbs to an obsessive passion with little basis in reality. Her fantasies about her father and her future with Noah gradually obscure the realities of her humble life. Nothing must be allowed to threaten her future with Noah. I enjoyed the glimpse into 19th-century seacures with the bathing-machines and the dippers. However, I’m afraid I found it difficult to believe in Marnie. She’s extraordinarily naïve for a workingclass girl and completely self-absorbed as she ignores everyone else around her – even her dying mother. It’s an unattractive trait, and I found it hard to care as much about her as I wanted to. Elizabeth Hawksley THE EAGLE TRAIL Robert Rigby, Walker Books, 2013, £6.99, pb, 288pp, 9781406346664 In August 1940, a Jewish family from Paris attempts to escape from the Nazis. They take the dangerous Eagle Trail across the Pyrenees to Spain, but their Andorran guides murder them for the valuables they carry. The story moves to Antwerp, Belgium, and 16-year-old Paul Hansen witnesses his father being shot and killed by a German soldier outside his factory on the docks. Believing Paul knows something about his father’s involvement in the newly emerging Resistance movement, the Germans come after him. Paul is helped to escape by his father’s friend and fellow Resistance fighter, Jos Theys. The plan is to smuggle Paul to England, and so begins Paul’s journey to safety, by barge, Bugatti racing car and train. It is a journey fraught with danger, and Paul and the brave members of the Resistance who help him along the way come close to disaster on several occasions. Paul reaches the town of Lavelanet in southern France, where he meets his guides for the long trek along the Eagle Trail to Spain. But members of the local Resistance have a collaborator in their midst, and Paul and everyone he knows are in danger of being betrayed to the Nazis. The Eagle Trail is a gripping adventure with HNR Issue 68, May 2014 | Reviews | 59

well-drawn characters, and the short chapters move the story along at a fast pace. Historical details, such as the organisation of the Resistance and the Demarcation Line between the Free Zone and Occupied France, are well researched, and the author works them seamlessly into the story. It is a tale of remarkable courage and the stirrings of first love between Paul and Josette, the daughter of the leader of the Resistance in Lavelanet. This book would appeal to older teen readers who like action and adventure stories. A sequel will be published in 2015. Pat Walsh WHEN THE GUNS FALL SILENT James Riorden, Oxford, 2013, £6.99, pb, 153pp, 9780192735706 Jack Loveless, veteran and war hero, takes his grandson to visit the allied cemeteries in Northern France, 50 years after the end of the First World War. While there, Jack recalls how, as a 17-year-old soldier, he is sent to fight in the trenches. His very personal and moving story covers the early months of the war. It is told in a colloquial style, and some of the language is strong. The graphic details of death and the squalid conditions in the trenches are harrowing, and Riordan does not spare us the full horror of the soldiers’ often brutally short lives. The book does not tackle the wider sweep of the war or its politics but focuses on Jack and his friends, and packs a much greater punch because of it. The story ends with the extraordinary events which happened on Christmas Day 1914, when peace broke out on the battlefield. The British and German soldiers called a truce for a few wintery hours, to sing carols and play football in No Man’s Land. Jack and his comrades share a brief friendship with the German soldiers and gifts of cake, cigarettes, German sausage and chocolate are exchanged. The story is all the more extraordinary because it is true. Each chapter begins with an excerpt from a war poem. The poets add their sombre voices to Jack’s earthy, plain speech. His letters home to his sister Floss are scattered through the narrative and are carefully cheerful and full of wry observations. I would highly recommend this book to older readers. The graphic content and strong language make it unsuitable for younger children, which is a shame. This is a moving account of the reality of war and the terrible personal cost to a 17-year-old recruit. Pat Walsh A MAD, WICKED FOLLY Sharon Biggs Waller, Viking, 2014, $17.99/ C$19.99, pb, 9780670014682 Waller’s young adult historical romance novel takes us first to France in 1909, where 17-year-old Victoria Darling poses nude for her art class and invokes the wrath of her family as well as society. When she returns to London, her parents insist that she must restore her reputation in time for debutante activities, but Vicky’s priority is enrolling in the Royal College of Art. When her hopes for a scholarship to art school are dashed, Vicky agrees to marry Edmund, her parents’ choice to take over the family business, because she thinks he will support her passion for art. Accidental adventures with the Pankhurst family and their women’s 60 | Reviews |

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suffrage efforts throw Vicky (literally) on top of Will, a police constable with dreams of his own. For a romance novel with a love triangle, this book takes on a life outside of Vicky’s choice of husband. The plot involving women’s suffrage and Vicky’s art is vibrant and compelling, making the well-developed male characters seem secondary to the life of a young woman who only wants to make choices for herself. Readers will feel Vicky’s frustration over her lack of control, and relate to her horrors regarding boring but proper conversation topics among wealthy young ladies. Waller’s wonderfully descriptive writing makes readers feel a part of the setting and action, laughing and crying along with Vicky. Amy Watkin LIZZY BENNET’S DIARY Marcia Williams, Walker, 2013, £12.99, hb, 112pp, 9781406346947 Lizzy Bennet’s Diary is a charming, illustrated re-imagining of Pride and Prejudice in diary form. This is not a fan-lit sequel, nor is it a modern retelling. Marcia William’s pretty book is as a much a scrapbook as a diary, a device which provides an accessible but quite faithful outline of the original plot. Lizzy’s father has given her the diary to distract her from her sisters’ brainless chatter while avoiding distressing her mama’s nerves, and she records her thoughts, drawings, pasted-in letters and keepsakes. Too few books for older children are illustrated to this extent; flowers, bows and buttons are realistically digitally scrapbooked, and dancecards, notes and letters fold out. It is beautifully presented, yet my reservations are largely visual, due to indecision about who the book is for. The non-photographic illustration is in Williams’ characteristic style, and while some vignettes pay homage to Lizzy’s hand, others are cartoon strip representations of narrative in a modern authorial ‘voice’. The letters are in a handwritten font, but the body copy is not. Is it a facsimile of a diary or a children’s book about one? The style is accessible to a younger reader, but is that the right or only audience? I was ten when, with a dip pen, I made my own copies of Anne of Green Gables’ letters, but I had already read the book. So is there enough here for a ten year old to invest in, until they are old enough to appreciate Pride and Prejudice? Or would a teenager who has already read Austen think the illustrations childish and want more visual authenticity? But these are minor ponderings. This is a delightful gift book, and I’ve already forwarded my review copy to a friend’s ten-year-old daughter in Australia. Charlie Farrow

nonfiction

THE SECRET ROOMS: A True Story of a Haunted Castle, a Plotting Duchess, and a Family Secret Catherine Bailey, Penguin, 2013, $16.00, pb, 465pp, 9780143124733 / Penguin, 2013, £9.99, pb, 480pp, 9780141035673

Catherine Bailey went to Belvoir Castle on the Rutland family estate to “research a book about this small corner of England in the years of the First World War.” Immediately struck by an air of secrecy shrouding the castle, she instead plunged into detective work to solve a mystery involving one of England’s richest families. Over the centuries, Belvoir had become a repository for the nation’s most important documents “stamped with the seals and signatures of every monarch since William the Conqueror.” John Henry Montagu Manners, the 9th Duke of Rutland, had been a dedicated steward of these documents so Bailey finds it particularly puzzling to find significant gaps in the family’s carefully catalogued personal documents; gaps no one can explain. The Secret Rooms reads like a novel with exciting twists and turns and carefully- doled-out clues. Characters come alive: John’s manipulative mother and domineering father; Charlie, the uncle who looked after John for much of his life; Diana, John’s sister, a renowned and high-spirited beauty; and John himself. The result is narrative non-fiction that grips a reader’s attention while at the same time providing a meticulously researched perspective on British high society and historical events from the 1880s to WWI. Mary Tod JAMES AND DOLLEY MADISON: America’s First Power Couple Bruce Chadwick, Prometheus, 2014, $24.95, hb, 430pp, 9781616148355 When historian Bruce Chadwick (Lincoln for President, 2010) turns an experienced eye on the fourth president and his wife, he reminds us they were Southerners and, in 1809, Washington was a hospitable southern city. When Madison, a fortyish congressman with a burgeoning career, arranges to meet an attractive young widow, he finds a wife – and a political asset. First as hostess for bachelor President Jefferson and then as wife of President Madison, Dolley puts her unique stamp on Washington society. Her personality and attire (feathers! turbans!) may be over-the-top but, unlike her staid husband, Dolley has charisma. Chadwick follows the course of a marriage rather than strict chronology, but without stretching the “power couple” analogy too far. Dolley’s role as the president’s wife (the term “First Lady” was not yet in use), was not emulated by her more retiring successors. Chadwick does not neglect the man who wrote the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. As President, Madison defeats the British army in 1812, but, just as she did in marriage, Dolley steals the limelight in this dual biography. James and Dolley Madison is a fascinating introduction to an era of widespread change, which is recommended for the general reader. Jeanne Greene SYLVIA,QUEEN OFTHE HEADHUNTERS: An Eccentric Englishwoman and Her Lost Kingdom Philip Eade, Picador, 2014, $30.00/C$34.50, hb,384pp, 9781250045898 This fascinating history of the waning years of Children & YA — Nonfiction

the “White Raj” of Sarawak, which lies just south of Brunei on the island of Borneo, reads at times like a transcript from reality TV. The English came to rule there when swashbuckling James Brooke assisted the Sultan of Brunei in quelling a rebellion of one of the island’s headhunting tribes in 1841 and was then gifted the kingdom. Three generations of the Brooke family ruled as Raj, and the focus here is on the last generation, Raj Vyner Brooke and his wife, the Ranee Sylvia. Eade writes in an appealing gossipy tone, often quoting directly from Sylvia and Vyner’s letters, and providing substantial documentation of the events and schemes that led to Sarawak’s becoming part of Malaysia in 1946. Sylvia Brooke was seen by many as a manipulator, indiscreet and disingenuous, which makes this an altogether fun read, with serious politics and history as subtext. This book exposes the seedier side of the Downton Abbey crowd, as the aristocracy crumbled and gender and race issues surfaced in the Edwardian and Great War eras; it provides a front-row seat to family dysfunction and imperial intrigue, and yes, the headhunters are included as well. Helene Williams THE BROKEN ROAD Patrick Leigh Fermor, New York Review Books Classics, 2014, $30/C$34.99, hb, 384pp, 9781590177549 / John Murray, 2014, £9.99, pb, 384pp, 9781848547544 Devotees of Patrick Leigh Fermor’s books about his 1933-34 walk from the Hook of Holland to Constantinople waited for decades for a concluding volume. At last, three years after Fermor’s death in June 2011, it’s here. Once again readers can delight in Fermor’s love of language (read it with a dictionary at hand; words like astrakhan, spondee, logothete, and plangency pop up with abandon). Again the palpable joy of being 19 years old, healthy, smart, attractive, and on the road burst from his pages. Readers can again share his unique travel mode: nights in caravansaries around gypsy campfires alternating with plush accommodations with the British Consul in Sofia. Here, once again, we see how exotic Central and Eastern Europe were in those years before World War II’s destruction and the communist aftermath. Fermor brings history, observation, landscape, and languages together like no other. His biographer, Artemis Cooper, and his friend, Colin Thubron (novelist and travel writer), edited this book after Fermor passed away. Like Fermor’s other smitten fans, I’m thankful. Recommended – although readers should begin with the first two books, A Time of Gifts and Between the Woods and the Water, about the journey. Kristen Hannum BLOOD ROYAL: A True Tale of Crime and Detection in Medieval Paris Eric Jager, Little Brown, 2014, $29.00/C$32.00, hb, 336pp, 9780316224512 1407, France. Charles VI periodically lapses into Nonfiction

madness, leaving his brother, Louis, Duc d’Orléans, as de facto king during Charles’s indispositions. Paris is rocked when Louis, spendthrift of monies squeezed from an over-taxed populace and tireless in his pursuit of other men’s wives, is viciously slaughtered in the street by unknown assassins. Provost Guillaume de Tignonville must discover those responsible for the crime. Suspects are plentiful: random robbers, foreign agents, jealous husbands, Louis’s powerful kin. As he investigates, Guillaume realizes that the pursuit of justice can come at great personal cost. Jager has produced another well-written, riveting true-crime history. The backdrop for the murder (political and personal rivalries, etc.) is skillfully evoked. Characterization of historical persons is an area where Jager shines: using the firsthand historical record rather than his own speculation, the result is manifestly engaging. The text is also supplemented by enlightening maps and illustrations, allowing readers to form an accurate mental picture of places and events. While the murderer is rather abruptly exposed and the ending never so neat (or fair) as in a novel, readers of crime fiction as well as nonfiction will find Jager’s work enthralling. Recommended. Bethany Latham EDWARDIAN FASHION Daniel Milford-Cottam, Shire, 2014, $12.95/ C$14.95, pb, 64pp, 9780767814047. Edwardian Fashion, a slim book that traverses the female and male fashions from roughly 19001915, provides a good deal of information despite its size. It is richly illustrated with both actual photographs and artists’ renderings, and we are able to gain a sense of women beginning to escape the confines of traditional dress and moving forward into less restrictive wear. As it focuses on upperclass fashion, we are shown the gorgeous details of the dresses and even given a glimpse into the parties that were thrown for women to select styles worn by models. Gentlemen are also discussed, with the differences given for suits explained and examples also illustrated. This book is a must-read for those who are writers of the era or are simply fascinated, as I am, by the gorgeous designs of the age. Tamela McCann

knowing tone to the text and a mixture of facts and authorial speculation blend together, at times very awkwardly. The occupation and liberation of Paris form the best chapters, but thereafter the stories are weaker, at times appearing tenuously linked to the hotel and with revelations about the Duke and Duchess of Windsor taking up perhaps more space than they merit. Overall, although the concept of a history of the Hotel Ritz is appealing and the several of the stories are engaging in their own right, as Mazzeo attempts to cover the Hotel’s long history – from the Belle Époque to the renovations of Mohammed Fayed – her material becomes thin and her characterization sketchy. Kate Braithwaite SHEILA Robert Wainwright, Allen & Unwin, 2014, £14.99, hb, 410pp, 9781743316825 Sheila was born Sheila Chisholm, daughter of a wealthy Australian rancher, and came to England in 1913 to become successively Lady Loughborough, Lady Milbanke and Princess Dimitri. For some years she was the mistress of Prince ‘Bertie’, later to become King George VI (had he been as wilful as his brother there might have been a double Abdication Crisis and no monarchy today). Wainwright’s biography records Sheila’s travels around Europe, America and Australia, her many social engagements and the numerous famous men who were her admirers and sometimes her lovers. In the 1920s she was widely reckoned to have been the most beautiful woman in London. The post-war years are covered more succinctly, and the last decade of her life gets only a few lines. This is mainly because the author relies heavily on an unpublished account Sheila wrote of her own life in her sixties and never updated. He discovered this only after writing the first draft – what a rewrite! An interesting insight into the lives of the gilded elite in the inter-war years. Edward James

THE HOTEL ON THE PLACE VENDOME Tilar J. Mazzeo, Harper, 2014, $26.99, hb, 320pp, 9780061791086 Since the Paris Ritz was first established in 1898, hundreds of world-famous writers, actors, princes and tycoons have stayed in its suites and dined in its restaurants. It also had a unique role in World War II as a major base for the occupying German army. The main substance of this nonfiction account takes place in those war years, and there are many stories of interest: of resistance fighters, plots to kill Hitler, of Coco Chanel and Ernest Hemingway, Martha Gellhorn and Marlene Dietrich, but at times it feels that the author is so keen to name-drop and gossip that the harsh reality of wartime Paris gets lost. There is a familiar, HNR Issue 68, May 2014 | Reviews | 61