The Good Servant by Fern Britton

 

This is the second book I've read by Fern Britton. I was mightily impressed by my first encounter with her writing, which made me determined to read more, if not all, of her books. So I pounced on this when it landed in my lap!

In this book, Britton has taken the bones of a true event and put meat and fat on them to provide a moving, thoroughly enjoyable and just a little bit sad story.

It's a delightful blend of royal fact and Britton's fiction. This fusion results in a delightful, very readable account. It's one that makes you wonder about Marion Crawford, the main character: a dedicated governess to the princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, a loyal daughter to a dominant mother and an unwitting, devoted puppet to a devious, lying suitor, who tricked her into breaching the utmost confidence for the sake of money and which resulted in her eighteen years of dedication ending very badly.

Britton is a brilliant writer. She captures every aspect of a character and makes them real. She draws you in right at the beginning of her story and keeps you hooked till the very end.

See Also:

 

The Newcomer

Claire Whitcombe Westerns, Books 1-3 by DV Berkom

 

Historical fiction isn't my most-selected genre, I have to be honest. Not that I haven't enjoyed those I've read, however; I just seem to bypass the category. Now, I'm a big, big fan of DV Berkom. Her Kate Jones and Leine Basso series have been my favourite reads over the years, so I really had no hesitation in reading these three shorts, introducing a new kick-arse female, Claire Whitcombe. The only difference is, this lass is throwing her weight around in the late nineteenth century in the wild west. So, no NVGs, no GPS, no state-of-the-art weapons, no hi-tech correspondence or intel. Just her, her guns and her wits…and let's not forget we're talking pre the Emily Pankhursts of the world. Claire is in a man's world and she is awesome. In every sense of the word. 

Book One (Retribution) plucks her out of a heart-breaking tragedy that moulds her future. Book Two (Gunslinger) follows her as she takes her first job as 'bodyguard' to a well-known actress. And Book Three (Legend) takes her to a place she never thought she'd find after her heart-break. 

As readable, thrilling, compelling as all her other novels, Berkom transports you to Wyatt Earp and Jessie James country. But not in a John Wayne-clichéd way. There's been meticulous research and attention to detail. 

Thoroughly enjoyable and if there are any full-length novels on the way, I'll be all over them.

See Also:

Absolution

A Killing Truth

A One Way Ticket to Dead

Bad Spirits

Bad Traffick

Cargo

Cruising for Death

Dakota Burn

Dark Return

Kate Jones Thriller Series Vol 1

Serial Date

Shadow of the Jaguar

The Body Market

The Last Deception

Vigilante Dead

Yucatán Dead

The Sealwoman's Gift by Sally Magnusson

I'm not really a fan of historical novels, and the older the history, the greater my disinterest. But a good friend recommended this, one whose recommendations I trust implicitly, and having grown up with Mastermind hosted by Icelandic Magnus Magnusson, I was intrigued to explore the talents of his author daughter.

I wasn't disappointed. She took an event from seventeenth-century Icelandic history, a time of piracy and slavery, to form the building blocks of her novel and with incredible imagination created an amazing story featuring Asta and her family: her pastor husband and four children. It's a story which takes us from the bleak and harsh Icelandic geography to the hot, sultry Algerian climate and embraces the stark contrast of culture, religion and language between the two.

The weaving of history and fiction is executed with impressive skill. This is Magnusson's debut novel. It's evocative, compelling and meticulously researched.

Captivating though this is, impelling you to turn those pages, it's worth slowing down your reading pace to really savour the Icelandic sagas, the richness of the writing, the sensuality, the understanding and passion therein, the drama, the heartbreak and adventure. And then there's Asta: loyal, devoted, stubborn, determined and brave.

A charming and wonderful tale.

Espionage London by John Day

Told from both a British and German perspective, this was an interesting approach to a second-world-war spy thriller. Set in 1943, a quartet of young spies, led by Karl Strom, is sent by Hitler to set up devastating system that would, he thinks, ensure a positive outcome for Germany.

There is a lot of intrigue, twists and turns, and action. The characterisation is mostly good…a couple of characters are a tad unbelievable…the action scenes are compelling, and the wartime scene-setting is competent.

Day must have done a good deal of scientific and engineering research to make the device the spies are to plant so very credible, an element that contributes to a mostly engaging thriller.

What didn’t work for me was that the spies took on assumed names—obviously. Whilst the plot characters required them to be known by these names, I think the narrator should have referred to them by their ‘real’ names. It was a tad confusing. Secondly, the romantic element didn’t quite convince me. It seems one night between the sheets was enough to declare never-ending love for two couples, at least.

There are some serious editing issues, but nothing that can’t, hopefully, be fixed by a good editor.

John le Carré has no competition here, I’ll be honest, but it’s a decent espionage thriller that keeps you turning the pages right to the end.

Complicit by Gillian E. Hamer

This was a compelling story that kept my nose firmly between the pages…I did actually guess ‘whodunnit’ before the revelation, but it didn’t mar my enjoyment at all, although I felt ten chapters dedicated to a war some two millennia earlier were rather boring and unnecessary. The relevance of the war to the plot could have been woven into the story in other ways.

Descendants of the Druids involved in that war hold secrets that one person wants to know…badly. So badly, in fact, that serial killings become the urgent focus of three detectives. A killer is at large who will stop at nothing to unearth these very closely guarded secrets.

It was a surprise to me to discover that this book is actually the third in a series, so I was particularly impressed how well it stood alone. The characters and plot are well developed (perhaps just a tad muddled towards the end). I also had to suspend disbelief…Druids might have had ‘seers’ in their midst in 60 AD…but in the twenty-first century? I don’t think so.

For all that, it was a gripping book and deserves a five-star rating, but sadly, the editing wasn’t up to scratch. Grammatical errors, some odd phrases verging on Malapropisms and a bunch of punctuation faux pas (too much reliance on software editing) means I have to knock a star off.

Notwithstanding, I like this author and will certainly hunt out more of her books.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The blurb describes this novel as being ‘a small story’. It is…but it’s a small story over a big number of pages! Five hundred and sixty-two of them, in fact. It did require a bit of a commitment from me, but it was worth every single moment.

It’s told in quite a unique way and narrated by Death. As the book is set in Nazi Germany, Death was pretty busy. The story focuses on Liesel, a nine-year-old, fostered by a family living in Himmel Street. And she steals books.

It’s a beautiful story evoking a multitude of emotions amidst the tragedy that was Nazi Germany that saw the deaths of six million Jews and many, many others. By contrast you have a touching relationship between Liesel and her foster parents…her foster ‘papa’ in particular. Then there's the awkward, but tender friendship between Liesel and her peer, Rudy. This is a story like no other, crafted in an original style.

Ultimately, I rather enjoyed the fact that it was a long book. How many times have you reluctantly reached the end of a book with that mixture of joy to have finished a good story but sad to have to leave the world of the characters you love therein? It was rather comforting to know that for many pages, I wouldn’t be leaving the very endearing Liesel and the wonderful voice of Death.

Read it. Just read it.

One Hospital Nightmare by A. P. Kasch

This novella is a little bit bland, despite the hint that the ‘nightmare’ of the title indicates some suspense, perhaps, and/or horror. 

After visiting his friend, Jared, in hospital, Nick finds himself in the same hospital after careless driving causes him to crash his car. His stay is far from boring: the nurses put a new spin on ‘attentiveness’, time seems to move agonisingly slowly, if at all, and how on earth is he in the middle of a Comanche Indian battle that happened a hundred and seventy years earlier? The lines between reality and nightmare become rather blurred for Nick. He needs to find a logical explanation. Was it the medication having some sort of weird side effects?

The characters are rather one-dimensional, the dialogue a bit stilted and the historical fiction seems a little too detached from the story—almost incongruous.

It is neatly concluded, but it just left me thinking, ‘oh, okay’ rather than, ‘wow, that was a good story’.

If you like a marriage between modern-day hospital mystery and historical fiction, you may like this. It’s certainly an easy, short read, so you don’t have to invest too much time in it. For me, it just lacked a little 'oomph'.

The Reach of the Banyan Tree by Mark W. Sasse

Mark Sasse never disappoints. He writes with heart and soul and sucks you right into his characters' world…wherever and whenever it is. 

This story starts out to all intents and purposes as what you think is going to be a simple love story between Chip, the son of a wealthy corporate type, who has turned his back on involvement in his father’s business, and Thuy, a beautiful young Vietnamese woman. But ‘simple’ is the last word that can be used to describe the journey of love when Chip is involved in a dreadful accident, which lands him in prison. What follows is heartache, the devastating impact of cultural differences and of past wars, and a struggle to overcome the constraints of obligations that tie a family together.

This is a powerful story that examines a romance stretched to the absolute maximum by tragedy, culture and history; it’s ably and movingly penned by Sasse and is set in a historically troubled country. It yo-yos between 1945 and the present, but the transitions are seamless; the dramatic backdrop of an exotic and breathtakingly beautiful country reflects the deep and varied emotions experienced by all the characters.

It’s an excellent story, beautifully written, quite possibly his best book yet. Highly recommended.

See also:

Beauty Rising

If Love is a Crime: A Christmas Story

The Recluse Story Teller

The Best of Our Spies by Alex Gerlis

This is a gripping, WW2, espionage thriller that really captivates. It’s one that starts at a pretty brisk pace and doesn’t once slow down. It gathers momentum and climaxes at breakneck speed. 

It’s an intricate tale of intrigue, bluff and double bluff. It’s a tale of love, deception, courage, tragedy, horror and loss. 

Nathalie Mercier, a young nurse, is sent to France by British Intelligence to work with the French Resistance shortly before D-Day. She leaves behind a new husband, Owen, also working closely with the Royal Navy Intelligence, who wonders if they will ever see each other again. But the seemingly naïve, industrious and dedicated Owen has been underestimated by his superiors, and he discovers a web of deceit and lies from people he trusted and loved. He has to find his wife, at all costs. 

Gerlis is master storyteller. The characters are well defined and totally credible, and you care deeply about those you are intended to. The facts of the Second World War period have been meticulously researched, and the horrors of that dreadful time woven into the story with skill, to produce an atmospheric and riveting novel.

Whilst I would dearly love to accredit a five-star rating to this book, Gerlis' editing is as unremarkable as his skill as a storyteller is irrefutable. There are countless errors (words missing, spelling, punctuation and some bad grammatical errors), but it’s a testament to the quality of the story and writing (for the most part) that I can still attribute a healthy four stars. The book appears to be well accepted, so I fear future professional editing may well be bypassed. I’ll just hope.

This was an unexpected reading pleasure. Historical novels, though not excluded from my reading, are less favoured, but this certainly grabbed my attention, and I had no option but to neglect my daily chores and use matchsticks to prop my eyes open in the small hours of the morning. The end had to be reached as quickly as possible! Highly recommended.

The Blood upon the Rose by Tim Vicary

I thoroughly enjoyed this historic-fiction novel by Tim Vicary, my first experience of this author. Set in a politically divided Ireland in the early nineteen hundreds and backdropped by the First World War, it stages politics, class and romance, and demonstrates how the three just don’t mix.

Catherine is a single-minded, obstinate, and determined young girl, the daughter of a wealthy colonel. Sean is  a fanatical young man, dedicated to the IRA and its elusive leader, Michael Collins. Their attraction to each other is fated: they are separated by class, and Catherine has to balance her tenuous loyalty to her father with her love for Sean, who is being sought by the police for murder and hopefully to lead them to Michael Collins. Exasperated and under pressure to find both men, the British government is brought in, and Catherine’s colonel father enlists the stern and lonely Andrew Butler, a hero of the war, to find and assassinate Michael Collins. But the path to the success of this is hampered: how is that their fugitive is always one step ahead of his pursuer? 

This was a compelling story. One occasionally forgot the era in which the story was set: there was a modernness about some of the characters that perhaps was a little incongruous, but actually, this was what I really liked. The author didn’t overpower and bog it down with excessive historic detail. In fact, his words were carefully chosen throughout to keep you focussed and glued to the plot. There was no redundancy of words, nor lack thereof. The book was tense, very well conceived, and gripping and kept you on edge to the end. I loved the contrast provided by Catherine and Sean, both committed to their own ambitions, separated by their backgrounds, but bound by their passion.

I very much liked this author’s style and his story-telling ability and will certainly look forward to reading more by him. I thoroughly recommend this.

Wheezer and the Painted Frog by Kitty Sutton

When a dog is the hero of a story, what on earth is not to like?!

What an excellent tale from Kitty Sutton. One of fact and fiction, married perfectly to create a story set around the appalling eviction of the Cherokee to new territories, in the nineteenth century.

Vital supplies from government are not reaching these destitute people. Though many—old and young—are dying from the hardship, the death of a little boy is incomprehensible to his older sister, Sasa, who is confused by his dying words. And so, she has a puzzle to solve. Alone—but determined—companionship, protection, and help, arrive in the form of a four-legged assistant: Wheezer, no less. A very smart Jack Russell terrier, who has fled his beloved master in terror when an explosion frightens his whiskers off. When his owner finally catches up with him, Sasa finds another unexpected ally in solving her puzzle and the mystery surrounding a carved painted frog, and together they uncover betrayal, greed, and the reasons why their lifeline is being cut off from them. 

The title—and indeed the cover—belies the content of this book. I confess I was expecting a children’s story. How wrong was I! There was murder, crime, fraud, mystery, deception, a teensy weensy bit of romance, and adventures aplenty for one very smart little dog. The story is fictional, yes, but the historic Cherokee ‘Trail of Tears’ is not, nor is the intelligence and lovability of Jack Russells. The factual perimeters envelop a compelling story with wonderfully conceived and portrayed characters (how about Mary Walkingstick? Fabulous!). Kitty’s research has left no stone unturned and has created a vivid and detailed setting for this easy-to-read and enjoyable novel.

Barbara's War by Fenella J Miller

Set just before the Second World War took a firm hold, this is a coming-of-age novel about Barbara Sinclair. It is a well-composed story; it seems to meander along quite gently, but every now and then pathos, darkness, and drama taps you on the shoulder and gives you quite a jump. 

Barbara is half-sister to two younger brothers; she is desperately unhappy at home and finds solace and comfort in her unquestioning mare, Silver, and her long-time friend, John. Her acceptance of his offer of marriage just before he goes off to train for combat is typical of her caring and loving nature; she couldn’t possibly send the young man off to war unhappy. The dramatic events of one particular evening lead her to seek out her dead father’s relatives with whom, after a tentative start, she settles. It is also where she meets Alex, who throws her emotions into a whirl, and Simon, who isn’t quite what he seems. 

Barbara is very definitely the driver of this story and her development from a gentle, dominated, but well-liked young girl in her late teens, to a more mature, assertive, and attractive one is solid and well conceived. Fenella is adept at evoking the apprehension of the wartime atrocities to come, of portraying the emotions of a somewhat dysfunctional family and at climaxing the story with an unexpected turn of events. Her characters leap out of the page: I could see them all, from Barbara’s young innocent and impressionable brothers, her starchy grandmother, her cold and unfeeling stepfather and the young, brave and eager John, ready and willing to fight for his country, to the jaunty young Alex, and Simon’s somewhat shady father. A good author doesn’t make her reader struggle to image her characters and Fenella does this expertly. 

A very enjoyable, captivating novel of the period; I hope Barbara will take us on her journey to womanhood soon. 

Harvest - Book 2 of The Crossing by Faith Mortimer

This is the sequel to The Seeds of Time—Part 1 of The Crossing in which Richard Barker made a disastrous and tragic attempt to cross the Atlantic.  In the aftermath of the incident in which he lost his wife, Richard learns that his father’s (Billy) wartime bible is in the possession of a young American woman’s (Sorrel) grandfather and their subsequent contact triggers a period of revelation and new relationships.  Richard learns about a very significant part of his rather reticent father’s life in the latter part of the war years—harsh, life-changing years—spent in POW camps.

Harvest continues with Richard’s story and his progress after his loss and the development of his understanding and growing knowledge about his father’s life.  He is helped by two women:  Miranda, an old flame formerly married to his cousin and the younger, vibrant Sorrel, who traced the bible back to Richard via Miranda.  Billy’s old sea chest provides even more clues to his post-war years: his recuperation and his life with his new bride and daughter.  In the meantime, Richard finds himself drawn to two women, poles apart.  How can he choose between the woman he was once passionately in love with, but who rejected him for money and stability, or the much younger, exciting, and passionate American?

This is a perfect sequel to The Seeds of Time.  Past and present is still neatly interwoven but perfectly balanced—the focus is on Richard and his future and happiness, but there’s enough of Billy’s poignant story (more prominent in Seeds) to tie up any loose ends.  Faith is the perfect storyteller—her scene-setting is immaculate, her characters varied and complementary.  And whilst you are concentrating on Richard and egging him on to choose the right woman, Faith throws the reader another little surprise towards the very satisfying ending of the book.

This is an excellent conclusion to the two-parter and one I know all of Faith’s fans will enjoy.

Back from Chaos by Yvonne Hertzberger

Not my favourite genre, but not one I dismiss entirely.

What did we have in this book? Romance, war, spies, traitors, an epidemic, rape, politics, prediction, troubled souls, tragedy, patience and understanding, and greed. What’s not to like? 

Marja survives the retaliative overthrow of Catania by Bargia. Gaelen is the surviving heir to the rule of Bargia and convinces Marja that marriage to him would be for the good of all. Reluctant and dubious of the merits, she nevertheless agrees. The possible controversy and disapproval of the union necessitates close scrutiny by Gaelen’s faithful counsellors and protection of Marja by his own right-hand man, Klast. But Gaelen has a ruthless traitor in his midst and aided by the loyal Klast and his committed seer, Liethis, Gaelen must out him and punish him accordingly without delay. 

This is my first outing with Yvonne and won’t be the last. She has a very clear, expressive, thoughtful, and insightful style. I loved it. I was fascinated by Klast – he was my favourite character. He was multi-layered, an enigma, and Yvonne gave him strength of character, tenderness, decency, and loyalty. Marja and Gaelen were a well-matched young couple – both suffered personal losses, both were focussed, determined and commanded respect. Gaelen’s traitor was perfectly calculating, smug, avaricious, and ruthless. 

A well-constituted cast of characters, a good mix of action and romance, and well written. Yvonne has certainly caused chaos in my preferential order of genres.

The Seeds of Time - Book 1 of The Crossing by Faith Mortimer

Isn’t it comforting to pick up a book by a favourite author and have confidence that you are going to enjoy their book? Faith is one such author. My confidence is always justified.

This was a departure from her other books I’ve read, which feature her glamorous amateur sleuth, Diana Rivers. This was quite, quite different and represents the diversity of talent Faith has. 

The book is set partly in the present around a keen yachtsman and his wife, who fulfil a long-held desire to cross the Atlantic. This doesn’t end too well. While Richard contemplates the events of the unfortunate crossing in the following months, two women stumble into his life and reawaken memories of his own father, Billy, and his life during WW2 and with whom Richard shares a love of the sea. We then go back and follow Billy during the latter war years, who, after leaving the pretty little love of his life in the English countryside, finds himself in the relentlessly harsh, cruel, and despicable conditions of POW camps, making desperate and determined efforts to survive. 

This is a story of romance, bravery, determination, survival, heartbreak and joy, all poignantly and convincingly conveyed. Richard’s compelling desire to discover the horror of his reticent father’s experiences bring with it regrets and touching recollections of his relationship with him. All perfectly blended, well balanced and served up with Faith’s usual clarity. There is a clue in the title—Book 1 indicates there’s a Book 2—and there’s a gentle little teaser to tempt you on. 

I always seem to end my reviews on Faith’s books identically, but I have to say it once more. Another excellent book; well done again, Faith.

River in the Sea by Tina Boscha

This story is set in the Netherlands at the very end of the second World War.

The main character is a young teenage girl, Leen, who runs over and kills a German soldier’s dog.  Young and immature, she believes it triggers a chain of bad luck for her and her family.   A subsequent tragedy in her family leads to a delicate situation that marks her transition from adolescent to mature teenager - not so much the situation per se, but the circumstances and their relevance in the bitter times in which they lived.

I’ve read very few books set in this era, and I was very impressed by how the author conveyed those tough times;  the need that led people to do things against their better judgement, the senseless loss of lives – young lives  – the harshness of having to survive on basic necessities we take so much for granted in modern times.  The desperation and weariness of war is well delivered.  I thought the story was well written and I liked the use of (old) Dutch words and sentences (untranslated).  It wasn’t hard to get the gist and added authenticity.

Leen was well portrayed as a 15-year-old teetering between adolescence and maturity. Boscha brought a poignancy to her mixed, confused emotions;  I would, however, have liked a little more character development – I would have liked a little more of Minne, Leen’s best friend who tested her loyalty, I would have liked to know more of Jakob, the handsome young boy who had feelings for Leen, more than Leen did for him.  I would have liked a little more of Issac, Leen’s brother, a young boy challenged by a tragic and unfortunate incident.

I liked Tina Boscha’s style, but I did find this novel just a little boring.

Sonja's Place by Susanne O'Leary

If you want a warm, cosy and feel-good inner glow, then this sequel to A Woman's Place is just the thing.

This picks up the story of Sonja from the previous book through 20s/30s/40s America and we witness her life's loves, ups and downs, hopes and achievements.

As with A Woman's Place, the author has taken her information from her great aunt's letters and diaries, keeping as true to them as possible.

Susanne's style is comfortable, and expressive and it's almost a compulsion to follow Sonja's life – you laugh with her, you cry with her and most of all you feel the utmost pride for the way she shaped her life with dignity, with acceptance and with thoughtfulness.

Considerably shorter than A Woman's Place, this did not compromise the quality or pleasure of the book one little bit;  it is captivating and complete and Susanne's style is easy-going, but assured.

I loved it.

The Red Gate by Richard Sutton

I'm afraid I did have some editing issues with this book, but nothing can alter the fact that this was an excellently conceived story set in the early 1900s in the harsh Irish wilderness.

A young, honest, hardworking farmer's son, Finn, finds a little more than a fistful of mud when he slips and falls during inclement weather whilst tending his sheep – a curious little bead with strange markings.  An encounter with a prominent professor of archaeology during a dig in a nearby town triggers a chain of events which entails ruthless greed and ambition, deceit and murder.  This little bead, it seems, is the key to a much greater and significant ancestral history buried beneath the land owned by Finn and his father.  Unscrupulous characters seeking fame and fortune underestimate the intelligence and quick-wittedness of those they perceive as simple, illiterate farmers.  Greed has its price.

This book was for the most part well-written:  you could feel the hardship and simplicity of the farmers' lives, but the acceptance of their lot was almost endearing, no words of complaint ever left their lips; there was a smile-raising cosiness about the warmth of the family and their support of each other;  the growing relationship of Finn and the innkeeper's daughter who was teaching him to read was heart-warming;  the pompous professor's and his devious assistants' villainous intents were well crafted. Clearly, a tremendous amount of background research of Irish heritage was carried out and it was well integrated into the plot of this book.

The author has an engaging style, and very deftly brought to life the essence of Ireland – the rugged countryside was almost tangible, the use of Irish dialect was charming (though not always clear!) and I swear I could hear the strains of a merry little Irish jig in the background! The plot is original and compelling.

Although I can recommend this book, I do hope that it is put through a stringent editorial mill for the next reader(s).

Time Heals Everything by Linda Swain

This was a very touching story and beautifully written.

Set in the 1930s, it centres around three main characters:  Nick, who puts his new night-club over and above everything else.  He's a self-deprecating, toughened by life, once streetwise boy who falls in love with his lead act, Katherine, a beautiful – in mind and body – diminutive, golden-voiced singer.  Completing the main trio is Ashton, a French aristocrat with name, money, title, class and good-breeding who competes for the love and affection of Katherine.  Rugged Nick believes he cannot give Katherine what he believes she deserves – the life she could lead with the sophisticated French count, when all Katherine really wants is the love she knows he has for her, but refuses to admit to.  It is Nick's denial and refusal to succumb to his feelings that is the catalyst of the chain of events that leads to unexpected endings for all.

I liked the subtle way in which Linda alludes to the era.  There weren't blatant references, yet there was no doubt about the 30s backdrop.  Linda also skilfully endears you to Nick and Kat – for all of Nick's bravado and despite his harsh childhood, he is tender-hearted and Kat grows from a slightly unworldly young girl to a defiant and assertive woman.  There is nothing more that you want for these two than for them to be together. Linda's conception of the pompous Ashton is equally skilful – he is someone you want to hate, but ultimately, you find yourself liking him just a little bit, even harbouring the smallest amount of sympathy for him.

There are some harsh, adult scenes in this story, but they serve to embolden and develop the characters with the result that a novel which could verge on mushy or over-sentimental is neither.  Linda has very ably conceived a tale that is touching, compelling and poignant with an ending, though not the HEA you might be hoping for, brings just a tiny glimmer of a smile to your lips.

Adelaide's War by Vivien Kees

Short stories/novellas are difficult to get right, I think; their length means an author has to get the content well-balanced and there is only a short space of time to get the plot/character development to a satisfactory level.

Set in the late 1800s, Adelaide's War is a simple short story about a widow, Adelaide, whose husband died in the North and South war.  The circumstances of his death and his allegiance are brought into question after his demise, and to avoid the unpleasant lash back from townfolk, Adelaide retreats into isolation, living alone and frugally.  Her solitude is broken one cold, harsh, snow-stormy night, when she finds a man, Josiah, frozen and half-conscious at her front door.  She nurses him to good health.  He too has lost loved ones, it transpires;  they both feel, by this common link, that there is a bond between them, but she is resistant to anything resembling an advance by Josiah.  A subsequent near-death experience for Adelaide ultimately helps her decide what course her life should take.

Whilst Adelaide is an admirable, independent character and Josiah an honourable man, the story was lacklustre and the speed with which events unfold stretched my credibility too far – especially when no more than a kiss passes between the couple.  The plot and the characters needed a longer book to develop.

It only took me a short car journey to read this book, but I felt quite flat at the end of it.