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...
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. . .
-Publisher.
News of her brother's worrisome behavior spurs Miss Rebecca Lane to return home to her village. Upon her arrival, he begs her to go to nearby Swanford Abbey, a medieval monastery turned grand hotel rumored to be haunted. Feeling responsible for her brother's desperate state, she reluctantly agrees to stay at the abbey until she can deliver his manuscript to a fellow guest who might help him get published--an author who once betrayed them.
Soon, Rebecca starts seeing strange things, including a figure in a hooded black gown gliding silently through the abbey's cloisters at night. 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--baronet, magistrate, and former neighbor--who long ago broke her heart. Now a handsome widower of thirty-five, he is trying to overcome a past betrayal of his own.
When the famous author is found dead, Sir Frederick makes inquiries and quickly discovers that several people held grudges against the author, including Miss Lane and her brother. As Sir Frederick searches for answers, he is torn between his growing feelings for Rebecca and his pursuit of the truth. For Miss Lane is clearly hiding something... .
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...
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. . .
-Publisher.
News of her brother's worrisome behavior spurs Miss Rebecca Lane to return home to her village. Upon her arrival, he begs her to go to nearby Swanford Abbey, a medieval monastery turned grand hotel rumored to be haunted. Feeling responsible for her brother's desperate state, she reluctantly agrees to stay at the abbey until she can deliver his manuscript to a fellow guest who might help him get published--an author who once betrayed them.
Soon, Rebecca starts seeing strange things, including a figure in a hooded black gown gliding silently through the abbey's cloisters at night. 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--baronet, magistrate, and former neighbor--who long ago broke her heart. Now a handsome widower of thirty-five, he is trying to overcome a past betrayal of his own.
When the famous author is found dead, Sir Frederick makes inquiries and quickly discovers that several people held grudges against the author, including Miss Lane and her brother. As Sir Frederick searches for answers, he is torn between his growing feelings for Rebecca and his pursuit of the truth. For Miss Lane is clearly hiding something... .
Who doesn't love a bit of mystery with their romance? I love the way Klassen writes, she lures you in right from the start. Already there is some mystery surrounding the old Abby, now hotel, with it being believed to be haunted. Of course, sensible Rebecca, vicar's daughter, does not believe in ghosts, but who is the strange apparition she keeps seeing and why are they dressed like a nun when nuns haven't been seen in the area for 100 years! \\nAfter her parents died Rebecca and her brother, John, are allowed to stay at a lodge on the property of the baron, no longer able to stay in the accommodations afforded the preacher. Rebecca is plagued by guilt for an accident that she failed to prevent concerning her brother, and he is able to use this to bribe her into a situation where she could be suspected of murder. \\nRead this enthralling novel as the tale unfolds to reveal more at the end of each chapter! I simply couldn't put it down!
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Anonymous
I recommend this product
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
3 years ago
lovely!
This book is the perfect blend of Jane Austen, and Agatha Christie. An ancient abbey with secret passages and gloomy ruins, a possible ghost, a delightful array of characters that are certainly hiding mysterious secrets, an intrepid heroine, and a very Darcy-esque hero - altogether the perfect combination for a enjoyable afternoon of reading!
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Anonymous
I recommend this product
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
3 years ago
Mystery, Suspense & Romance
This was my second Julie Klassen book, and I must admit I enjoyed this one more than the previous one I read. I love historical fiction that includes an element of mystery. I found this book enjoyable mostly because there was a real mystery (murder) and there were a lot of enjoyable, likeable and clear characters. There were also several loose threads and intertwining elements which made for a less than straight forward 'whodunnit'. Overall a captivating book which kept me interested to the end. \\nI would say from a faith point of view, there was not a lot of depth to the story, but there were christian elements woven throughout, in terms of characters praying to God, acknowledgment of sin and wrong doing and forgiving others.
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Anonymous
I recommend this product
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
3 years ago
Very enjoyable
I am a fan of Julie Klassen books and this one did not disappoint. The story was interesting and had quite a few twists and turns as well as romance and mystery that kept me not wanting to put it down. It had an encouraging message about forgiveness woven through. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
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Anonymous
I recommend this product
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
4 years ago
Shadows of Swanford Abbey
A nice historical mystery/romance. I found it a little too cute, using lines from other known works, but others might find that charming. I did like that there were several suspects and not just one obvious path.
