A Noble Cunning by Patricia Bernstein
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- Published: 29 March 2023 29 March 2023
Based on the true story of Winifred Maxwell, Countess of Nithsdale, that Patricia Bernstein learned about on a visit to Traquair House in the Scottish borders, A Noble Cunning paints a picture of life in the years leading up to the 1715 Jacobite Rebellion and its aftermath. Bethan Glentaggart, Countess of Clarencefield, and her family are staunch supporters of the Stuarts, but are now living under the rule of George 1 where it is forbidden to worship as a Catholic.
The rebellion is not a success and her husband Gavin is imprisoned in the Tower of London sentenced to death. With no time to spare, and only her companion Lucy for protection, Bethan undertakes a perilous journey through an atrocious snowstorm to reach London and try to save her husband. King George shows no mercy, so Bethan and her allies have no choice but to take matters into their own hands. The plan is ingenious, but can they pull it off in time to save Gavin from certain death?
A Noble Cunning is full of intrigue and suspense, with well-drawn characters and a strong sense of place and time. Despite a slow start, and a lot of historical detail woven through the narrative, I was never tempted to give up as I found the story compelling and wanted this brave and resourceful woman to succeed. I was slightly disappointed at the abruptness of the ending as I would have liked to know what happened next. The historical notes at the end of the book are well worth reading for those keen to know more, and to find out which parts of the story were actually true. Thanks to NetGalley and History Through Fiction for a digital copy that I review as a member of Rosie’s Book Review Team #RBRT
Riding Out by Simon Parker
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- Published: 24 February 2023 24 February 2023
Riding Out is a wonderfully honest account of a journey undertaken by the author, from one end of the British Isles to the other, for the sake of his mental health. When his successful career as a travel journalist came to an abrupt halt when the first lockdown was announced in March 2020, Simon Parker was overwhelmed with anxiety. As soon as it was possible, he did the only thing that would alleviate his symptoms and took to the road. No stranger to long distance cycling trips, he heads for the northernmost point of the Shetland Islands, Muckle Flugga lighthouse, and begins his long journey towards Lands’ End.
Travel writing can sometimes be a bit dry, but not Riding Out as I found this very readable and got halfway through in one sitting. There was a vicarious pleasure in reading about this trip, allowing me to experience something I could never actually do. Along the way, I revisited lots of familiar places and saw others for the first time. I was in awe at what he put his body through, and the distances he managed to cover in a single day. It was heartwarming to read about the many people following his progress and offering hospitality to a stranger.
Over the course of his journey, he highlights the plight of small businesses and freelancers that were in real trouble financially when the country went into lockdown, as they slipped through the net and and did not qualify for any financial help. He paints a disturbing picture of the NC500 route around the north of Scotland. It has attracted thousands of tourists into an area that does not have the infrastructure to cope with the increased numbers. I am familiar with this beautiful part of the country, and I felt sad that people were behaving in this way.
At times, I felt he put himself under too much pressure to cover the extra miles, but it is amazing what the human body can cope with. Over the last few years, with the world in lockdown, I have found myself reading more travel writing. Riding Out is the book I have enjoyed the most, and I hope there will be another by Simon Parker in the not too distant future. I look forward to reading it.
Hunted by the Past by Jayne Evans
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- Published: 10 February 2023 10 February 2023
Having just read and enjoyed Mountain of Lies, and this being the only other book I could find by this author, I thought I’d give Hunted by the Past a try. Again it’s set in Canada where Lucy and her nephew Nathan are in grave danger. She finds it hard to believe that there is anything suspicious about her sister’s disappearance. Forced to go on the run, with detective Grady Harrison for protection, they try to workout why they are being targeted. The reason will make you recoil in horror that anyone could be so heartless and cruel.
The characters are well written and believable, especially six-year-old Nathan who is very bright and funny. Grady is still troubled by something that happened in his past which makes it difficult for him to trust his instincts and believe in himself. Lucy is very stubborn and thinks she knows better than everyone else. It’s very simple, in this situation she needs to listen to Grady or they may not survive.
This was a fascinating combination of thriller, road trip and romance. I really enjoyed it and would love to read more by this author.
The Winter Garden by Nicola Cornick
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- Published: 24 February 2023 24 February 2023
As a fan of Nicola Cornick’s writing, I was looking forward to reading The Winter Garden and I was not disappointed. This dual timeline story is set between the present day, and the years leading up to the Gunpowder Plot in 1605.
With her career as a classical violinist destroyed by illness, Lucy retreats to her aunt’s cottage to rest and work out her next move. There she meets Finn who is undertaking the excavation of the grounds in the hope of uncovering a Tudor-era garden. Initially she is not interested, but as strange unsettling dreams and visions cause her to doubt her sanity, she needs to know the truth about what happened in the past.
In the Tudor era, the story is told by Anne Catesby, whose son Robert who was one of the conspirators in the Gunpowder Plot, and provides a fascinating insight into life in England at this time. Elizabeth was on the throne, Catholics could not celebrate their religion openly, and this caused a lot of resentment. When the situation did not improve under James I, this culminated in the attempt on his life at the opening of Parliament.
I was equally invested in both timelines which is not always the case in historical fiction like this. It did not feel as if one story was more important than the other as the narrative flowed seamlessly and never felt forced. This is down to the quality of the writing. The atmospheric setting adds to the mystery, and the historical research is used with a light touch. The characters are well drawn, and the romance is fairly low key but believable. I really enjoyed reading about this historical period, and look forward to Nicola Cornick’s next book. Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.
The Demon Code by David Leadbeater
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- Published: 10 February 2023 10 February 2023
The Demon Code picks up the story where The Vatican Secret left off, with Joe Mason and his team once again trying to prevent the Amori from destroying the reputation of the Catholic church.
As they travel around the world, searching for clues that will lead them to The Creed, they constantly find themselves under attack. The Amori have people loyal to them embedded in all the law enforcement agencies, tentacles everywhere, just like in the Bond films, which makes it very hard to stay one step ahead.
The characters are well drawn and believable, with Joe, Roxy, Hassell, Quaid and Sally all bringing different skills that make the team function as an effective unit. We get to know them better in this second outing. I also enjoyed the clue-solving element of the story that involved them travelling here, there and everywhere (without ever seeming to get any sleep). I was not so keen on the religious theme and tended to skip over the detail. With this in mind, I am not sure I want to carry on with this series which is a shame as they are well written and I really like the characters. I may try one of David Leadbeater’s other series instead.
Although the author fills in the gaps, I recommend you read The Vatican Secret first as that would help you to better understand the story. Thanks to Avon Books and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.