Bethany Swafford's Blog, page 5

The Unlikely Spy (Gareth and Gwen Mysteries #5)

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The Unlikely Spy

by Sarah Woodbury

Edition: kindle, 2014

Synopsis: August 1146. Prince Hywel has called all the bards of Wales to him for a music festival to mark the third anniversary of his rule over Ceredigion. He has invited all the lords of Wales too, including his father, his uncle, and his neighbor to the south, King Cadell. But with the highborn also come the low: thieves, spies, and other hangers-on. And when a murderer strikes as the festival starts, Gareth and Gwen are charged with discovering his identity–before the death of a peasant shakes the throne of a king.

Prince Hywel has called for a musical festival, inviting all the bards in the land, his father, his uncle, and King Cadell to come to Ceredigion. Just as the festival is about to begin, a body is found in a millpond. Gwen, Gareth, and Hywel’s brother Rhun stand ready to chase the clues down to find a murderer. What they find along with the man’s identity is a tangled web of treachery.

The past really comes into play in this book. It was interesting to follow Rhun for (I think) the first time in the series. As the oldest son of King Owain, he has many responsibilities on his shoulders and he has his own strengths to lend to solving the mystery. Gwen is not as free to chase clues as she once was with a toddler to be looked after. Gareth’s actions as Hywel’s man means he could be a target, and he chafes at the guards who stay by his side at times.

The mystery was a good, with a tangled plot to be unraveled. There were many names tossed around that it became a bit confusing to keep everyone straight. My biggest complaint is that it felt as though the story was left incomplete, with a bit of a cliffhanger.

Still, it is well paced and, of course, I adore Gareth and Gwen. I look forward ot seeing how the next book plays out.

Secret Letters

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Secret Letters

by Leah Scheier

Edition: hardcover, 2012

Synopsis: Inquisitive and observant, Dora dreams of escaping her aristocratic country life to solve mysteries alongside Sherlock Holmes. So when she learns that the legendary detective might be her biological father, Dora jumps on the opportunity to travel to London and enlist his help in solving the mystery of her cousin’s ransomed love letters. But Dora arrives in London to devastating news: Sherlock Holmes is dead. Her dreams dashed, Dora is left to rely on her wits-and the assistance of an attractive yet enigmatic young detective-to save her cousin’s reputation and help rescue a kidnapped heiress along the way.

Steeped in Victorian atmosphere and intrigue, this gripping novel heralds the arrival of a fresh new voice in young adult literature.

Dora Joyce has come to London with two purposes in mind: help her cousin escape a blackmailer’s grip and to meet the man who might be her father, Sherlock Holmes. Instead, she learns of his death. Though devastated, Dora is determined to still help her cousin, but the path to uncovering the truth is not so simple.

So. When I first read this when it is was first published, it made me angry. The idea of Sherlock Holmes having a secret affair with a family friend was no one that was easily reconciled with how I view the detective: that of a gentleman. And Dora herself annoyed me with her insistence that she could solve the case because she was observant.

I keep the book because the cover was so gosh darn amazing.

Rereading it after nine years has tempered my dislike. It is still not a favorite, but I can admire the story telling now. The mystery is plotted out well and slowly revealed in a satisfying way (though not Dora’s dismissal of an obvious clue that is suddenly important at the end). Peter Cartwright is a fun character and I would have loved more about him.

The bits about Dora that I would have found interesting are glossed over. When did she begin to train herself to notice things? How did she hone her skills to understand what the details meant? no one just sees details and immediately knows what they mean. She says she ‘studied’ detection, but how? That would have been interesting!

Instead, she comes across as a young, naïve teenager who is quickly in over her head.

Readers looking for a historical mystery for young adults might enjoy this one.

The Captain and Miss Winter

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The Captain and Miss Winter

by Sally Briton

Edition: kindle, 2019

Synopsis: A captain seeking to repair the past and the daughter of a fallen gentleman, searching for a treasure that will change their lives forever.

The end of the Napoleonic wars comes as a relief to Caspar Graysmark, but before he can settle into the comfortable life of an English lord he has a duty to the people of France. A treasure lies hidden in the heart of the forest, stolen gold that would save the lives of many who lost everything during the war. In his quest, Caspar stumbles across a hidden cottage in the woods, and a different sort of treasure altogether.

Scarlett, living with her sister and grandmother, belongs nowhere. Her father’s mistakes led to their exile from England and their banishment into the forest. The cold winter months have taken their toll on Scarlett’s spirits and her grandmother’s health. The Englishman who arrives at Scarlett’s door, looking more like a bear than a captain of the British army, reminds her of all she lost to the war.

With winter drawing to a close, Caspar must find the missing gold, but his quest to right the wrongs of war has changed. Can Scarlett let him rescue her, too?

The Captain and Miss Winter is based on the story of Snow White and Rose Red, as recorded by the Brothers Grimm.

Caspar Graysmark has set himself on a mission to recover a lost treasure to return it to the war ravaged residents of the French countryside. Scarlett Winter has lived in exile for many years, now with only her younger sister and her grandmother. A blustery cold day in winter brings these two together and love begins to blossom.

This was somewhere between a novella and full fledged novel. It was an enjoyable read for a cold afternoon. Both of our main characters were interesting. While Caspar was in France, his older brother died and now Caspar is the new earl. He is unsure about how he will take on his new responsibilities, but he is determined to do one last task in France.

Scarlett’s father had sympathy for France and so took his family to France. He soon came to regret supporting Napoleon and the family loses everything. Scarlett and her sister Blanche make the best of their reduced circumstances. When Caspar comes into their life, they give him what help they can.

I can’t remember reading the fairy tale this is a retelling of, so I can’t say what is a nod to the original story or not. Still, it is well written and the plot progresses at a nice pace.

For readers looking for an easy, sweet Regency romance, I would recommend this one. 

Bones for Bread (Scarlet Plumiere #2)

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Bones for Bread

by L.L. Muir

Edition: kindle, 2013

Synopsis: The deadliest man in England has no choice…

Napoleon’s attempted escape from Elba necessitates The Earl of Ashmoore abandon his search for his kidnapped friend and return to Paris. His only hope? To trust in a dangerous but lovely creature he will summarily execute if she is, indeed, the enemy.

The mysterious Highland Reaper will not be thwarted…

From the back of a black stallion, Blair seeks redemption for her past sins. But the tall, dark Englishman stands between her and the people she is determined to save. And if she can’t slip his grasp, she might lose her very soul—or worse yet, her heart.

And so the game begins… 

Blair is on a quest to save her brother, but to do it, she needs the help of the three Englishmen who seek their friend. Though attraction flairs between herself and the Earl of Ashmoore, there is no time for romance as necessity draws her back home. The earl never forgets the fiery Scottish beauty but when he finds her, will they find love or will an enemy from the past destroy the chance for a happily ever after.

The first book of this series had me hooked from the start and I was excited to see how Ashmoore’s story would progress. Honestly, while this was enjoyable, I didn’t enjoy it as much as I would have expected. There were several times I just couldn’t put aside my own disbelief and kept thinking, “Really? Am I supposed to believe this?”

It begins two years before the start of Blood for Ink, and we stay there for about a quarter of the book. This made me feel like it ought to have been the first in the series. Only, then we hop ahead to the events after Blood for Ink, so it made the narrative a little disjointed. I’m not sure what I would have changed about the story but something just wasn’t right.

I didn’t love Blair as I did Livy, but she was fun. She kept to her beliefs and did what she thought she had to do. I didn’t much care for the romance between her and Ashmoore, since it didn’t seem to have any weight behind it.

Still, it was a nice way to spend an afternoon. I have book 3 on my kindle, and I hope I enjoy the rest of the series more than I did this one! 

Frontier Teachers

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Frontier Teachers

by Chriss Enss

Edition: paperback, 2008

Synopsis: Frontier Teachers tells the stories of a dozen courageous, intrepid women who faced down rooms full of children on the open prairies and in the mining towns of the Old West to bring them educational opportunities.

Six hundred some women went west to bring education to the wild west. Here are the stories of just twelve.

This little book sure does pack a punch. Some of the true life For some of these women, the story is in how they crossed the wild country to get to where they would teach. Mary Graves Clarke survived the Donner Party and taught to support herself when her husband was murdered. Other women set out with the intention of teaching when they arrived, such as Mary Gray McLench.

I had expected there to be more information on the difficulties of teaching itself, different ways the teachers would teach in the absence of books. Brief mentions are made, such as using gravestones to teach reading, and how books were shared. It would have been interesting to see a glimpse of the day-to-day life of the teachers, which was only provided in one example: Anna Weber.

Nonetheless, this was an interesting read, and it didn’t take long to read it. I would recommend it to readers interested in true stories.

The Spymistress

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The Spymistress

by Jennifer Chiaverini

Edition: paperback, 2014

Synopsis: Born to slave-holding aristocracy in Richmond, Virginia, and educated by Northern Quakers, Elizabeth Van Lew was a paradox of her time. When her native state seceded in April 1861, Van Lew’s convictions compelled her to defy the new Confederate regime. Pledging her loyalty to the Lincoln White House, her courage would never waver, even as her wartime actions threatened not only her reputation, but also her life.
Van Lew’s skills in gathering military intelligence were unparalleled. She helped to construct the Richmond Underground and orchestrated escapes from the infamous Confederate Libby Prison under the guise of humanitarian aid. Her spy ring’s reach was vast, from clerks in the Confederate War and Navy Departments to the very home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis.
Although Van Lew was inducted posthumously into the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame, the astonishing scope of her achievements has never been widely known. In Chiaverini’s riveting tale of high-stakes espionage, a great heroine of the Civil War finally gets her due.

Though her parents were wealthy and owned slaves, Elizabeth Van Lew was educated by Quakers in the north. She loves her home state of Virginia, and is horrified when it leaves the Union to join the rebellious Confederate states. Elizabeth cannot sit and do nothing as war is waged around her. Using all of her courage, wealth, and intelligence, she gathers information that help turn the tide of the war.

I found this to be an excellent ficitonal telling of historical fact. I hadn’t heard of Elizabeth Van Lew before I picked up this book, but I was immediately fascinated by her life and actions during the war. Her neighbors look on her with suspicion, and she is watched constantly as she made no secret of her political beliefs before the start of the war.

Some reviews are critical about the narrative for being heavy on historical detail, and this is true at times. It did feel like it jumped from battle to battle very quickly, but I didn’t mind this so much. It built up the tension and showed how much Elizabeth had to adapt to the ever-changing world around her.

The one thing I didn’t like was how quickly the story just…ended. It builds up to the when the Union take Richmond and the Confederates burn as much of the city as they could. We then jump ahead ten years and Elizabeth mourning how no one seems to care about recovering from the war. I think it would have been nice to see a little bit of the aftermath.

I found it to be well-written and informative, while also being an enjoyable read. I would recommend this to readers looking for a fictional telling about a person from history.

Limelight (Penny Green #1)

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Limelight

by Emily Organ

Edition: Kindle, 2017

Synopsis: How did an actress die twice?

London, 1883. Actress Lizzie Dixie drowned in the River Thames, so how was she murdered five years later in Highgate Cemetery?

Intrepid Fleet Street reporter Penny Green was a friend of Lizzie’s and Scotland Yard needs her help. Does Penny unwittingly hold clues to Lizzie’s mysterious death? Penny must work with Inspector James Blakely to investigate the worlds of theatre, showmen and politicians in search of the truth.

But who is following her? And who is sending her threatening letters?

Penny is about to discover that Lizzie’s life was more complicated, and dangerous, than she could ever have imagined.

When an actress is found shot to death five years after she was believed drowned to death, it is a shock to London society. Penny Green, a news reporter, knew Lizzie Greenand agrees to help Detective Inspector Blakely to investigate in exchange for the exclusive story. She quickly learns the actress’ life than she knew and learning the truth, a danger she wasn’t expecting.

Having read this at least three times since I first was introduced to the series, I think it is safe to say I really enjoy it. It is a well written, atmospheric mystery with some interesting characters. Penny, through whom we follow the narrative, is a bold, independent woman, but not so much she doesn’t fit into the world and time. Her actions and thought process were believable.

Her colleagues at the newspaper added a bit of fun as well. I especially liked the addition of a typewriter being introduced and how divided the reporters are on how useful it will be. Detective Inspector Blakely was a charming, earned character that I really want to know more about.

This is a well-paced mystery that I would recommend to anyone looking to start a historical mystery series.

The Fallen Princess (A Gareth and Gwen Mystery #4)

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The Fallen Princess

by Sarah Woodbury

Edition: Kindle, 2014

Synopsis: Hallowmas 1144. With the harvest festival approaching, Gareth has returned from fighting in the south, hoping for a few months of peace with Gwen before the birth of their first child. But when an innocent foray to the beach turns up the murdered body of Prince Hywel’s long lost cousin, a woman thought to have run away with a Dane five years earlier, it is Gareth and Gwen who are charged with discovering her killer. The trail has long since gone cold, or so Gareth and Gwen think, until their investigation threatens to expose dangerous truths that everyone else from king to killer would prefer to keep buried.

No secret is safe, and no man, whether lord or peasant, can escape the spirit of Hallowmas in The Fallen Princess, the fourth Gareth and Gwen medieval mystery.

When a dead body, long dried out, is found on the beach, Prince Hywel recognizes it as his long lost cousin who was supposed to have run off with a Dane. Gareth and Gwen will need all their skills to lead an investigation. When others are murdered, it becomes clear a murderer walks among them.

This was a delight to read. Again, the story is told alternating between Gareth and Gwen and Hywel. They each bring their own unique skills to the mystery, looking at things from different points of view. Gwen has to slow down because of her pregnancy but she doesn’t let this keep her from asking questions.

The plot moved at a good pace. The challenge of trying to solve a five-year crime when so much ahs change and few people still there to remember the details clearly.

It was a fine addition to the series and I’m looking forward to the next book.

Hermine: An Empress in Exile

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Hermine: An Empress in Exile

by Moniek Bloks

Edition: ARC, 2020

Synopsis: Hermine Reuss of Greiz is perhaps better known as the second wife of the Kaiser (Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany) whom she married shortly after the death of his first wife Auguste Viktoria and while he was in exile in the Netherlands. She was by then a widow herself with young children. She was known to be ambitious about wanting to return to power, and her husband insisted on her being called ‘Empress’. To achieve her goal, she turned to the most powerful man in Germany at the time, Adolf Hitler. Unfortunately, her dream was not realised as Hitler refused to restore the monarchy and with the death of Wilhelm in 1941, Hermine was forced to return to her first husband’s lands. She was arrested shortly after the end of the Second World War and would die under mysterious circumstances while under house arrest by the Red Army.

In 1922, Princess Hermine Ruess of Griez’s son sent birthday wishes to the exiled Kaiser, prompting the widowed man to invite the boy and his mother to Huis Doorn. Soon after the meeting, the 63-year-old Kaiser marries the 34-year-old widow and insists she be called ‘Empress’. But the world is changing and for an ambitious woman, exile can be a heavy burden.

My knowledge of European monarchs in history is not the strongest, so I had never realized the last German emperor had a second wife. It was even more of an astonishment when I learned of the age gap between them. I found it fascinating to read how Hermine had a childhood crush on the emperor before she married her first husband.

When the books outlined how they met and the emperor proposed, I didn’t think she was ambitious when she hesitated. I was offended on her behalf that her engagement present from the kaiser was a picture of his dead, first wife. Clearly, he was not ready for another marriage. But, as history shows through letters and her own actions, Hermine was eager for the emperor to be restored to the German throne, even currying favor with the rising Nazi power.

I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her when her world came crashing down. The kaiser dies, and she returns to her first husband’s lands. Then, she flees from the approaching army during World War II. Then, at the end of the war, she is held under house arrest and then dies under mysterious circumstances.

The history of Hermine is laid out in an easy-to-read way. The German names were a bit of a muddle to get through sometimes, and I couldn’t easily remember who was who. Still, it was a fascinating read.

I would recommend this to readers who enjoy reading about people from history.

The Case of the Peculiar Pink Fan (Enola Holmes #4)

The Case of the Peculiar Pink Fan

by Nancy Springer

Edition: hardcover, 2008

Synopsis: When Enola Holmes encounters her friend Lady Cecily hiding behind a pink fan, she finds it peculiar. Cecily is being held hostage in an abysmal orphanage, forced into a miserable marriage. Enola joins forces with the much older famous brother Sherlock who she has fought desperately to elude, and risks her own freedom to rescue her friend.

A chance encounter brings Enola back in contact with Lady Cecily. Enola is alarmed to learn that the young lady she has thought of as a friend -never mind they have only spoken once face to face- is about to be forced to marry. It will take all of Enola’s intelligence to free her friend and keep free of her brothers’ attempts to entrap her.

It was great fun to see Lady Cecily once again. It was even more fun to see Enola evade Mycroft with a well aimed kick to the shins. We get to see both girls use the language of the fans to communicate, which I found as fascinating as that of flowers. It was also nice to see the side of Victorian London that catered to the women who worked, such as the Lady’s Public Lavatory.

As ever, the book delves into the darker side of the streets of London. I enjoyed Enola and Sherlock’s interactions. It was nice to see them have a bonding moment once again and to see her help her brother.

This is probably my favorite middle-grade series.