About the Book ~
Agatha Christie meets Jane Austen in this atmospheric Regency tale brimming with mystery, intrigue, and romance.
When Miss Rebecca Lane returns to her home village after a few years away, her brother begs for a favor: go to nearby Swanford Abbey and deliver his manuscript to an author staying there who could help him get published. Feeling responsible for her brother's desperate state, she reluctantly agrees.
The medieval monastery turned grand hotel is rumored to be haunted. Once there, Rebecca begins noticing strange things, including a figure in a hooded black gown gliding silently through the abbey's cloisters. For all its renovations and veneer of luxury, the ancient foundations seem to echo with whispers of the past--including her own. For there she encounters Sir Frederick--magistrate, widower, and former neighbor--who long ago broke her heart.
When the famous author is found murdered in the abbey, Sir Frederick begins questioning staff and guests and quickly discovers that several people held grudges against the man, including Miss Lane and her brother. Haunted by a painful betrayal in his past, Sir Frederick searches for answers but is torn between his growing feelings for Rebecca and his pursuit of the truth. For Miss Lane is clearly hiding something...
For more information about Julie Klassen and her books, check out her website here!
My Thoughts ~
Shadows of Swanford Abbey by Julie Klassen is like a game of Clue set in Regency England with lots of fun literary references to boot!
Set against the backdrop of an old abbey renovated into a ritzy hotel that is rumored to be haunted, Shadows of Swanford Abbey opens with lots of hints that allude to the mystery to come! While this immediately pulled me into the story, the pacing does slow down as the author sets up the possible suspects for the first half of the novel. However, I did enjoy the sheer number of suspects and possible motives, and it was a good nod to Agatha Christie's mysteries. In fact, I loved all the inspiration that the author pulled from beloved classics, especially the ones from Jane Austen's stories! Additionally, as someone who has had personal and professional ties to individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, I loved a certain doctor and the representation he brought to the story.
Frederick had some guilt and unforgiveness towards his deceased wife while Rebecca navigated tremendous family guilt and pressure to provide. It was interesting to see the different ways that these struggles and their shared faith impacted their reactions to and navigation surrounding the puzzling murder. While Frederick and Rebecca didn't end up being soulmate characters for me, Shadows of Swanford Abbey was still a fun whodunit with a happy ending!
Three Stars ~ Shadows of Swanford Abbey by Julie Klassen was an intriguing mystery set in Regency England! Shadows of Swanford Abbey is a standalone, but the author has other books in her backlist for readers to enjoy.
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