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Tempelcode
Een geheim. Twee levens. De toekomst van het Christendom.
Architectuurhistorica Annie Kendall is in Londen om een aantal verloren gewaande voorwerpen uit de tempel van Salomon op te sporen. Volgens haar opdrachtgever, een rijke Joodse zakenman, zijn de voorwerpen in de 16e eeuw in Londen ontdekt door iemand die alleen bekend staat onder de naam de Jood van Holborn.
In 1553 is koning Henry de VIIIe begonnen met zijn vervolging van katholieken en alle Joden worden verbannen. In deze roerige tijden raakt de monnik Dom Justin betrokken bij de machinaties van Thomas Cromwell, naast de koning de machtigste man in het rijk en op zoek naar de tempelschatten die door de Tempeliers uit Jeruzalem zouden zijn meegenomen.
Als Annie steeds dieper verstrikt raakt in de intriges van haar opdrachtgever, ontdekt ze dat er meer schuilt achter haar schijnbaar onschuldige opdracht en al snel moet ze vrezen voor haar leven. Terwijl ze zich tot het uiterste drijft om het mysterie van de Jood van Holborn op te lossen, raakt haar lot steeds meer verstrengeld met dat van Dom Justin 500 jaar eerder en krijgt ze hulp uit onverwachte hoek….
Architectuurhistorica Annie Kendall is in Londen om een aantal verloren gewaande voorwerpen uit de tempel van Salomon op te sporen. Volgens haar opdrachtgever, een rijke Joodse zakenman, zijn de voorwerpen in de 16e eeuw in Londen ontdekt door iemand die alleen bekend staat onder de naam de Jood van Holborn.
In 1553 is koning Henry de VIIIe begonnen met zijn vervolging van katholieken en alle Joden worden verbannen. In deze roerige tijden raakt de monnik Dom Justin betrokken bij de machinaties van Thomas Cromwell, naast de koning de machtigste man in het rijk en op zoek naar de tempelschatten die door de Tempeliers uit Jeruzalem zouden zijn meegenomen.
Als Annie steeds dieper verstrikt raakt in de intriges van haar opdrachtgever, ontdekt ze dat er meer schuilt achter haar schijnbaar onschuldige opdracht en al snel moet ze vrezen voor haar leven. Terwijl ze zich tot het uiterste drijft om het mysterie van de Jood van Holborn op te lossen, raakt haar lot steeds meer verstrengeld met dat van Dom Justin 500 jaar eerder en krijgt ze hulp uit onverwachte hoek….
450 pages, Paperback
First published April 4, 2013
49 people are currently reading
2842 people want to read
About the author
Beverly Swerling
23 books250 followersI’m told that a number of critics who have said kind things about my books, have been less kind about the very brief bio on my book jackets. First, don’t blame Simon & Schuster; it’s my fault. Publishers use the data supplied by the author for this kind of thing, and I didn’t supply much. I guess because it seems that almost everything needs a long explanation. Which is probably me being egotistical. What do you care, right? You buy my books to be entertained (and very grateful I am), you don’t give two hoots about me.
But there are those picky critics…
Here then is a somewhat less abbreviated version.
I grew up in the Boston suburb of Revere, and while I won’t tell you when, I will say that it was very different from what it is today. The beach was, as it still is, one of the natural wonders of the state of Massachusetts, but the front was NOT lined with condo high-rises. It was a boardwalk with stands selling fried clams (Massachusetts has the world’s best fried clams – made from the Ipswich soft shells, they remain what I’d choose for my last meal on this earth) and French fries and soft ice cream that we called frozen custard. Plus there were all kinds of gambling games of the sort found at any fairground – pitch ‘til you win, folks! – and a Ferris wheel and a roller coaster and a tunnel of love.
Another feature of Revere back then was that it was almost entirely either Jewish or Italian (my own family is a mixture of both) and because the town had a dog track – Wonderland - and a horse track – Suffolk Downs – there was a lot of what is politely called off-track betting. Which wasn’t legal then, and for all I know still is not. Nonetheless, any number of family members rented rooms to bookies – the chief requirement being that these gentlemen of the turf had to be able to see one or the other of the tote boards with binoculars, (a world without cell phones, remember) and know how much they were liable to pay out, which in turn affected what odds they could offer on the next race.
I went from that upstanding childhood to a small Catholic girls college in the Midwest, then a job in New York as a file clerk to support my writing – all non-fiction at first – until I was able to earn my way as a free lance journalist.
For a time after that I lived in Europe.
Where I got married for a brief and unpleasant period, then came home and wrote more non-fiction. And got married again.
And went back to Europe.
And started writing fiction, and – hallelujah! – selling it.
And came back to New York with my by now long time husband, and began writing City of Dreams…
Which just about catches you up. Except for the bits I’ve left out.
And, oh yes, one other important part of my life and my work: On that so brief bio on the S&S book jacket it mentions that I’m a consultant. Many people have asked me what kind.
Happens that my husband – who has his own website at www.agentresearch.com – runs the world’s number one consultancy for authors looking for new (or sometimes a first) agents. It’s called Agent Research and Evaluation, Inc. and I do some work for some of his clients. I also occasionally mentor new writers – and some who are not so new. What they all have in common is a passion for what they’re writing, so working with them gives me great joy, and most have found it helpful. (Admittedly not all. I set the bar high.) Some of what I have to share about the hows and the whys of this wonderful but very tough business of writing can be found at The Business of Writing page. At other parts of the site you’ll find more about my books, including excerpts from some not yet published work, such as City of Glory, which continues the story of the Turners and the Devreys of City of Dreams. City of Glory will be out in January. We’ve also put up an excerpt from the next book in that series, still little more than a gleam in my eye.
But there are those picky critics…
Here then is a somewhat less abbreviated version.
I grew up in the Boston suburb of Revere, and while I won’t tell you when, I will say that it was very different from what it is today. The beach was, as it still is, one of the natural wonders of the state of Massachusetts, but the front was NOT lined with condo high-rises. It was a boardwalk with stands selling fried clams (Massachusetts has the world’s best fried clams – made from the Ipswich soft shells, they remain what I’d choose for my last meal on this earth) and French fries and soft ice cream that we called frozen custard. Plus there were all kinds of gambling games of the sort found at any fairground – pitch ‘til you win, folks! – and a Ferris wheel and a roller coaster and a tunnel of love.
Another feature of Revere back then was that it was almost entirely either Jewish or Italian (my own family is a mixture of both) and because the town had a dog track – Wonderland - and a horse track – Suffolk Downs – there was a lot of what is politely called off-track betting. Which wasn’t legal then, and for all I know still is not. Nonetheless, any number of family members rented rooms to bookies – the chief requirement being that these gentlemen of the turf had to be able to see one or the other of the tote boards with binoculars, (a world without cell phones, remember) and know how much they were liable to pay out, which in turn affected what odds they could offer on the next race.
I went from that upstanding childhood to a small Catholic girls college in the Midwest, then a job in New York as a file clerk to support my writing – all non-fiction at first – until I was able to earn my way as a free lance journalist.
For a time after that I lived in Europe.
Where I got married for a brief and unpleasant period, then came home and wrote more non-fiction. And got married again.
And went back to Europe.
And started writing fiction, and – hallelujah! – selling it.
And came back to New York with my by now long time husband, and began writing City of Dreams…
Which just about catches you up. Except for the bits I’ve left out.
And, oh yes, one other important part of my life and my work: On that so brief bio on the S&S book jacket it mentions that I’m a consultant. Many people have asked me what kind.
Happens that my husband – who has his own website at www.agentresearch.com – runs the world’s number one consultancy for authors looking for new (or sometimes a first) agents. It’s called Agent Research and Evaluation, Inc. and I do some work for some of his clients. I also occasionally mentor new writers – and some who are not so new. What they all have in common is a passion for what they’re writing, so working with them gives me great joy, and most have found it helpful. (Admittedly not all. I set the bar high.) Some of what I have to share about the hows and the whys of this wonderful but very tough business of writing can be found at The Business of Writing page. At other parts of the site you’ll find more about my books, including excerpts from some not yet published work, such as City of Glory, which continues the story of the Turners and the Devreys of City of Dreams. City of Glory will be out in January. We’ve also put up an excerpt from the next book in that series, still little more than a gleam in my eye.
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April 15, 2013
When the Shalom Foundation, run by billionaire American Jew Philip Weinraub, approaches Dr Annie Kendall with a proposition she can't refuse, little does she realise just what the three-month research project she's signed up for will entail. The proposition is quite simple: go to London and research the so-called Jew of Holborn, a Jew who lived in hiding during the Cromwell years (1535 in particular), who found a treasury of ancient Jewish artefacts and later distributed them to synagogues across Europe. Her task is to corroborate this theory and even locate the source of the treasure, "but simply proving that such things found their way to England will be a remarkable coup," as Weinraub puts it.
To smooth the way, Annie, an architectural historian, is allowed to use a flat, No.8 Bristol House on Southampton Row, paid for by Weinraub whose secretary is the niece of the owner, Mrs Bea Walton. The flat is much bigger than Annie has need for, and comes with a couple of interesting features: a huge black-and-white mural depicting miniature scenes of London that covers one wall in the room she'll use as her bedroom; and the ghost of a Carthusian monk from the same period she's here to research: the Tudor period.
Several things give Annie the sense that the monk is here to help, not harm her. As a recovering alcoholic who lost custody of her son when he was just three years old, she has the unique perspective of someone who believes in AA; as she thinks of it, AA and the process of dealing with her addiction has left her hollowed out and open to manifestations - as well as the kind of revelations that many would deem strange or plain crazy.
Then she meets well-known British television personality and investigative journalist, Geoffrey Harris, and is shocked to find that he is the spitting image of her Carthusian ghost, minus the tonsure. Confiding in Geoff leads to a close friendship and growing intimacy between the two, but it also puts Annie in contact with people Geoff knows whose experience and knowledge sheds further light on the mysteries that she begins to uncover. It's quickly apparent that the task the Shalom Foundation set her on is little more than a smokescreen, though there is something they - or rather, Weinraub - is keen to have her find. But what is really going on here? What is Weinraub's interest in the mural in her bedroom, what is the monk trying to tell her, and what is the Speckled Egg?
Figuring all of these mysteries out will lead Annie on a fascinating path into Jewish mysticism, ancient Catholic politics, code-breaking and the complicated underground tunnels that lie beneath London. Danger is closing in on her, and the closer she gets to the truth, the more desperate her enemies become.
Having absolutely loved Swerling's novel, City of Dreams: A Novel of Nieuw Amsterdam and Early Manhattan , which I read over ten years ago, I was very eager to read her latest book, Bristol House. I knew what the basic plot was about, having read the publisher's summary, but I still wasn't sure what kind of book this was going to be, nor where it was going to take me. It turned out to be a pleasant surprise, not what I was expecting and yet so much more. Reading this finely-crafted novel was hugely enjoyable, for many reasons, and had the added bonus of making me think pretty much every chapter: "Ah, the plot thickens."
(It would do Bristol House an extreme disservice to compare or liken it to Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code, and yet - not being a reader of these kinds of mysteries, typically, but I have read that one (a REALLY long time ago) - it was the book that came to mind when the story began to delve into ancient religious politics and conflicts, religious secrets and artefacts and a conspiracy that ties it all together. But that's really the only thing the two have in common, and aside from that loose connection they're very dissimilar. If anything, this is the novel for people who didn't like Brown's, as much as it is for people who did: it's still a mystery, a suspense story, loaded with historical and religious exploration and discovery. The things that annoyed so many people about The Da Vinci Code are absent from this, while it retains all the excitement and adds some new elements to the structure.)
I do enjoy a book containing mystery and suspense that takes me down a path unknown. Combining the story of Dom Justin, the Carthusian monk, and Giacomo the Lombard, otherwise known as the Jew of Holborn, from 1535 with a present-day mystery and religious conspiracy sounds a little bizarre when I put it like that, but actually it gives the story a depth and uniqueness that would otherwise be absent. Both Dom Justin and Giacomo tell their stories from "the Waiting Place", purgatory - Dom Justin in particular understands that he needs to atone for his sins by helping "the woman", Annie. I'm a little unsure over whether Giacomo did anything to help Annie or not, but his perspective on Justin's tale really fleshes it out. The parts of the story set in 1535 instantly transport you to Tudor England (and, later, Europe); in fact it was at times jarring, first to be whipped away from Annie's story, then to be torn away from Justin's.
This near-constant tug-of-war between the two narratives is not a negative; it actually makes the story both stronger and more insistent, or imperative - the sense of urgency is greater for having Justin's insight. Besides which, 1535 sounds like a scary time to live, with Cromwell breathing down your neck and Henry VIII beginning to round up and burn anyone who disagreed with his decision to make himself the head of the Church of England - thus breaking ties with the Catholic church. The historical portions of the story are vividly rendered, right down to the food and the underwear and the pestilence. With Annie uncovering clues about the period in the present, the two layers of narrative work together to present a sense of true danger and uncertainty, in both periods.
I confess I wasn't able to really grasp all the revelations, not because they weren't well explained (from different angles, too), but because I just don't have any prior knowledge of things like Kabbalah numerology etc. and I still don't really understand the part about the A's - I do and I don't. I need to be able to see it I think. And have some understanding of Hebrew. And French. Honestly the depth and breadth of Swerling's knowledge and research is astounding.
At first I was a bit wary of Annie having this horrible past: her parents die in a car accident when she's quite young; then her aunt packs her twin brother Aaron (who she calls Ari) off to another aunt and he ends up committing suicide; she becomes an alcoholic, gets married while still a uni student and has a baby, Ari, who was removed from her home when he was three because of neglect and unhygenic living conditions. It was just piling up on Annie's head and seemed like way too much, except that the more you get to know her, the more it all just ... works. Certainly it's all inter-connected and the important point, the part relevant to the mystery narrative, is how AA has helped reshape her. I really don't know much about AA, clearly; I got a new and very insightful look into the inner lives of (recovering) alcoholics and the kind of tensile strength they needs must possess.
As a mystery story, Annie's character isn't the focus of the book, but it does come through in the narrative, both distinct and subtle. Swerling uses small details and a keen eye for flaws to depict Annie. In contrast, Geoff Harris was a little too perfect and convenient: he's attractive, he's wealthy, he's extremely well-connected and has loads of sources and contacts and inside people, plus he was already sniffing around Weinraub because of something else. And yes, all of those reasons (except his appearance) were why he sought out Annie after their initial introduction, and the idea of, if you like, 'fated coincidence' is a running theme throughout the book. I wasn't too bothered because I liked Geoff a lot, and he seemed so, well, normal to me - a man removed from the stereotypes upheld by popular media, especially TV commercials. He was quite finely balanced, as a human being, and definitely the kind of man you'd want someone like Annie, who's been through so much already, to be with.
Of course, one of the other major characters in the book is Bristol House itself, and I do love a book where a building becomes a character in its own right. It's a bit of an eery place, though I'm sure that's just the ghost - and the mural; going by the description, it sounds pretty overwhelming and even a bit oppressive. Amazing no one had painted over it already (it dates from early-ish 20th century). The way No.8 Bristol House plays into the mystery side of the narrative, going beyond a haunted back room to becoming integral to deciphering what's going on, is deftly handled. Again, it's Annie's state of mind that enables her to arrive at many of her intuitive conclusions, though for the reader, it's her conversations with some very interesting Rabbis that help it sound reasonable (though I don't have any trouble going along with magical realism wherever it pops up, in fact I love it and without that element I wouldn't have enjoyed this half as much as I did).
I did get the impression that Swerling was writing with an American audience in mind, as the characters conveniently translated British English (expressions and vocab) for Annie. It was smoothly incorporated but while once or twice would have seemed natural enough, that both Annie and Geoff were doing it every time seemed one convenience too many. And seriously, is there anyone who doesn't know what porridge or a mobile is, in the English-speaking world? Surely American readers know those at least! That kind of thing will probably stick out to non-North American readers, but at the very least Swerling's dialogue is quite natural and effortless, and such things as this became light teasing that was quite fun.
This is quite a complex story, and fascinating to read if you're interested in history - both religious and European - and ideas surrounding time and the supernatural. The ending is both climactic and, yes, a little cheesy, but I was so caught up in it that I couldn't have cared less. (And there are a few details in it that sent some serious chills going down my back!) I learnt a lot from reading this, which I don't often get to say. Full of atmosphere, believable characters and a genuine-feeling romance that nicely balances out the darker aspects, Beverly Swerling has achieved that thing that high school teachers the world over try to capture: a book that is both entertaining and educational.
My thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book.
To smooth the way, Annie, an architectural historian, is allowed to use a flat, No.8 Bristol House on Southampton Row, paid for by Weinraub whose secretary is the niece of the owner, Mrs Bea Walton. The flat is much bigger than Annie has need for, and comes with a couple of interesting features: a huge black-and-white mural depicting miniature scenes of London that covers one wall in the room she'll use as her bedroom; and the ghost of a Carthusian monk from the same period she's here to research: the Tudor period.
Several things give Annie the sense that the monk is here to help, not harm her. As a recovering alcoholic who lost custody of her son when he was just three years old, she has the unique perspective of someone who believes in AA; as she thinks of it, AA and the process of dealing with her addiction has left her hollowed out and open to manifestations - as well as the kind of revelations that many would deem strange or plain crazy.
Then she meets well-known British television personality and investigative journalist, Geoffrey Harris, and is shocked to find that he is the spitting image of her Carthusian ghost, minus the tonsure. Confiding in Geoff leads to a close friendship and growing intimacy between the two, but it also puts Annie in contact with people Geoff knows whose experience and knowledge sheds further light on the mysteries that she begins to uncover. It's quickly apparent that the task the Shalom Foundation set her on is little more than a smokescreen, though there is something they - or rather, Weinraub - is keen to have her find. But what is really going on here? What is Weinraub's interest in the mural in her bedroom, what is the monk trying to tell her, and what is the Speckled Egg?
Figuring all of these mysteries out will lead Annie on a fascinating path into Jewish mysticism, ancient Catholic politics, code-breaking and the complicated underground tunnels that lie beneath London. Danger is closing in on her, and the closer she gets to the truth, the more desperate her enemies become.
Having absolutely loved Swerling's novel, City of Dreams: A Novel of Nieuw Amsterdam and Early Manhattan , which I read over ten years ago, I was very eager to read her latest book, Bristol House. I knew what the basic plot was about, having read the publisher's summary, but I still wasn't sure what kind of book this was going to be, nor where it was going to take me. It turned out to be a pleasant surprise, not what I was expecting and yet so much more. Reading this finely-crafted novel was hugely enjoyable, for many reasons, and had the added bonus of making me think pretty much every chapter: "Ah, the plot thickens."
(It would do Bristol House an extreme disservice to compare or liken it to Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code, and yet - not being a reader of these kinds of mysteries, typically, but I have read that one (a REALLY long time ago) - it was the book that came to mind when the story began to delve into ancient religious politics and conflicts, religious secrets and artefacts and a conspiracy that ties it all together. But that's really the only thing the two have in common, and aside from that loose connection they're very dissimilar. If anything, this is the novel for people who didn't like Brown's, as much as it is for people who did: it's still a mystery, a suspense story, loaded with historical and religious exploration and discovery. The things that annoyed so many people about The Da Vinci Code are absent from this, while it retains all the excitement and adds some new elements to the structure.)
I do enjoy a book containing mystery and suspense that takes me down a path unknown. Combining the story of Dom Justin, the Carthusian monk, and Giacomo the Lombard, otherwise known as the Jew of Holborn, from 1535 with a present-day mystery and religious conspiracy sounds a little bizarre when I put it like that, but actually it gives the story a depth and uniqueness that would otherwise be absent. Both Dom Justin and Giacomo tell their stories from "the Waiting Place", purgatory - Dom Justin in particular understands that he needs to atone for his sins by helping "the woman", Annie. I'm a little unsure over whether Giacomo did anything to help Annie or not, but his perspective on Justin's tale really fleshes it out. The parts of the story set in 1535 instantly transport you to Tudor England (and, later, Europe); in fact it was at times jarring, first to be whipped away from Annie's story, then to be torn away from Justin's.
This near-constant tug-of-war between the two narratives is not a negative; it actually makes the story both stronger and more insistent, or imperative - the sense of urgency is greater for having Justin's insight. Besides which, 1535 sounds like a scary time to live, with Cromwell breathing down your neck and Henry VIII beginning to round up and burn anyone who disagreed with his decision to make himself the head of the Church of England - thus breaking ties with the Catholic church. The historical portions of the story are vividly rendered, right down to the food and the underwear and the pestilence. With Annie uncovering clues about the period in the present, the two layers of narrative work together to present a sense of true danger and uncertainty, in both periods.
I confess I wasn't able to really grasp all the revelations, not because they weren't well explained (from different angles, too), but because I just don't have any prior knowledge of things like Kabbalah numerology etc. and I still don't really understand the part about the A's - I do and I don't. I need to be able to see it I think. And have some understanding of Hebrew. And French. Honestly the depth and breadth of Swerling's knowledge and research is astounding.
At first I was a bit wary of Annie having this horrible past: her parents die in a car accident when she's quite young; then her aunt packs her twin brother Aaron (who she calls Ari) off to another aunt and he ends up committing suicide; she becomes an alcoholic, gets married while still a uni student and has a baby, Ari, who was removed from her home when he was three because of neglect and unhygenic living conditions. It was just piling up on Annie's head and seemed like way too much, except that the more you get to know her, the more it all just ... works. Certainly it's all inter-connected and the important point, the part relevant to the mystery narrative, is how AA has helped reshape her. I really don't know much about AA, clearly; I got a new and very insightful look into the inner lives of (recovering) alcoholics and the kind of tensile strength they needs must possess.
As a mystery story, Annie's character isn't the focus of the book, but it does come through in the narrative, both distinct and subtle. Swerling uses small details and a keen eye for flaws to depict Annie. In contrast, Geoff Harris was a little too perfect and convenient: he's attractive, he's wealthy, he's extremely well-connected and has loads of sources and contacts and inside people, plus he was already sniffing around Weinraub because of something else. And yes, all of those reasons (except his appearance) were why he sought out Annie after their initial introduction, and the idea of, if you like, 'fated coincidence' is a running theme throughout the book. I wasn't too bothered because I liked Geoff a lot, and he seemed so, well, normal to me - a man removed from the stereotypes upheld by popular media, especially TV commercials. He was quite finely balanced, as a human being, and definitely the kind of man you'd want someone like Annie, who's been through so much already, to be with.
Of course, one of the other major characters in the book is Bristol House itself, and I do love a book where a building becomes a character in its own right. It's a bit of an eery place, though I'm sure that's just the ghost - and the mural; going by the description, it sounds pretty overwhelming and even a bit oppressive. Amazing no one had painted over it already (it dates from early-ish 20th century). The way No.8 Bristol House plays into the mystery side of the narrative, going beyond a haunted back room to becoming integral to deciphering what's going on, is deftly handled. Again, it's Annie's state of mind that enables her to arrive at many of her intuitive conclusions, though for the reader, it's her conversations with some very interesting Rabbis that help it sound reasonable (though I don't have any trouble going along with magical realism wherever it pops up, in fact I love it and without that element I wouldn't have enjoyed this half as much as I did).
I did get the impression that Swerling was writing with an American audience in mind, as the characters conveniently translated British English (expressions and vocab) for Annie. It was smoothly incorporated but while once or twice would have seemed natural enough, that both Annie and Geoff were doing it every time seemed one convenience too many. And seriously, is there anyone who doesn't know what porridge or a mobile is, in the English-speaking world? Surely American readers know those at least! That kind of thing will probably stick out to non-North American readers, but at the very least Swerling's dialogue is quite natural and effortless, and such things as this became light teasing that was quite fun.
This is quite a complex story, and fascinating to read if you're interested in history - both religious and European - and ideas surrounding time and the supernatural. The ending is both climactic and, yes, a little cheesy, but I was so caught up in it that I couldn't have cared less. (And there are a few details in it that sent some serious chills going down my back!) I learnt a lot from reading this, which I don't often get to say. Full of atmosphere, believable characters and a genuine-feeling romance that nicely balances out the darker aspects, Beverly Swerling has achieved that thing that high school teachers the world over try to capture: a book that is both entertaining and educational.
My thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book.
October 12, 2017
3.5 stars
Cleverly put together and fun to read.
Cleverly put together and fun to read.
July 9, 2013
On the surface this book was hitting all the things I like. You have a wandering academic in England tracking down some small piece of history, only to get involved with some shadow organization and a much larger conspiracy. So working through and against time can she piece together the clues and codes left by our historical heroes and save the day? And if that wasn’t enough it had a nice romance layered on top of the whole thing. What is not to love?
Well unfortunately at no point did this book ever take hold of me and compel me to keep reading. Instead I found I would go days in-between readings and couldn’t muster the excitement to dive back in. I wasn’t really interested in the characters and the plot was a little too overblown. Now overblown plots are to be expected in this sort of literature , but usually the author will make it seem a little more real in spite of it.
Then we had the unrealistic stacking of coincidences like she gets hired by a wealthy business man to track down his pet historical interest. Then just about the first person she meets (and future love interest) just happens to be a journalist with a major desire to prove said business man is out to destroy the world. And this was just a chance meeting. The book carries on like this with a lot of the double C’s (convenient coincidences); it is riddled with them.
At the end of the day the story had a good heart and you could see where it wanted to go. I would love to see how this author does after getting a few more thrillers under her belt so she could avoid all the clichés of the genre she fell for this time through. A good outline of a story but not terribly well executed.
Well unfortunately at no point did this book ever take hold of me and compel me to keep reading. Instead I found I would go days in-between readings and couldn’t muster the excitement to dive back in. I wasn’t really interested in the characters and the plot was a little too overblown. Now overblown plots are to be expected in this sort of literature , but usually the author will make it seem a little more real in spite of it.
Then we had the unrealistic stacking of coincidences like she gets hired by a wealthy business man to track down his pet historical interest. Then just about the first person she meets (and future love interest) just happens to be a journalist with a major desire to prove said business man is out to destroy the world. And this was just a chance meeting. The book carries on like this with a lot of the double C’s (convenient coincidences); it is riddled with them.
At the end of the day the story had a good heart and you could see where it wanted to go. I would love to see how this author does after getting a few more thrillers under her belt so she could avoid all the clichés of the genre she fell for this time through. A good outline of a story but not terribly well executed.
April 10, 2013
Annie Kendall is a historian. She specializes in the Renaissance England time period, specially the Tudor era. This is why when Annie receives the offer from the Shalom Foundation to come and research some ancient artifacts from the Hold Land she jumps at the opportunity. Annie will be staying at Bristol House, which is only a four minute walk from the British Museum. Unfortunately Annie is not alone in the house. Her guest is a monk. Who just happens to be dead. As if this is not enough for Annie to digest. She meets Geoff Harris. Geoff bares a very similar remembrance to the dead monk. What is their relation to each other?
Try as I might, I just could not fully commit to this book. I was originally excited to read this book. I thought the premise of it was intriguing and I like reading about the Tudor era. However, this book never really picked up speed for me. I tried to stick with it but eventually had to stop. I was sad as I wanted to like this book a lot. The only parts that I did find interesting were the ones that were about the past story involving the monk. Annie did not jump off the pages for me and neither did Geoff.
Try as I might, I just could not fully commit to this book. I was originally excited to read this book. I thought the premise of it was intriguing and I like reading about the Tudor era. However, this book never really picked up speed for me. I tried to stick with it but eventually had to stop. I was sad as I wanted to like this book a lot. The only parts that I did find interesting were the ones that were about the past story involving the monk. Annie did not jump off the pages for me and neither did Geoff.
July 23, 2013
The publisher's blurb for Beverly Swerling's new novel, Bristol House talked about the blending of historical fiction with a supernatural thriller in a "dual period narrative". For that reason alone, I would have read it. Then it mentioned that the historical part was set in Tudor England, a period of history that I am particularly fond of. At that point I was hooked.
Annie Kendall is a historical researcher who accepts a job to travel to London to verify the existence of a Jewish community in London during the reign of Henry VIII, a time when Jews were still forbidden to live in England. In particular, her wealthy patron is looking for information regarding a specific inhabitant of the community, know as the Jew of Holborn. It seems like perfect job to get her career back on track, but is it really?
Rather than one story, there were really four separate stories being told simultaneously in this book. Each one was interesting in it's own right, but the author also did a marvelous job of seamlessly weaving them together into one cohesive main story. Although I enjoyed the modern day story of Annie and Geoff Harris, it was the stories of the Jew of Holborn, Dom Justin, and Maggie Harris, Geoff's mother, that I enjoyed the most. It was definitely the historical bent of these stories that drew me to them. I found myself wanting to further research the possibility of a forbidden Jewish colony in Tudor England, and to further investigate the existence of the Kindertransports that Maggie was a product of. I am always excited when a historical story presents new material that I can further research. In contrast, the story of Annie and Geoff was a more contemporary romance sort of story, and, while well done, took second place in my mind.
The use of the historical characters to actually tell their own stories and present the historical perspective of the book was a brilliant move on the author's part. Giving the historical characters their own voice allowed me to connect with them in a more intimate way. This connection lent more realism to these stories, in my opinion. I really enjoyed hearing about the Tudor times from Dom Justin and The Jew of Holborn, much more than having someone else talk about them, and wish that more of Maggie's story was included in the book. Dom Justin, in particular, was an interesting character, although as a ghost, he was neither scary nor "haunting" as the publisher's blurb stated. In fact, this is the only place in the book that fell short in my opinion. I understood and enjoyed the author's use of the ghost as a story telling device, but I did not feel that the supernatural part of the story would have worked on it's own.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Since it was the first book that I have read by this author, I researched her other work and was excited to see that she has written a series of books about New York that begins in the Pilgrim times and follows it's development through the years. I will definitely be adding this series of books to my reading list. I hope she does as good of a job with them as she has with Bristol House. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery story with a historical backdrop. I am giving it 4 stars.
Annie Kendall is a historical researcher who accepts a job to travel to London to verify the existence of a Jewish community in London during the reign of Henry VIII, a time when Jews were still forbidden to live in England. In particular, her wealthy patron is looking for information regarding a specific inhabitant of the community, know as the Jew of Holborn. It seems like perfect job to get her career back on track, but is it really?
Rather than one story, there were really four separate stories being told simultaneously in this book. Each one was interesting in it's own right, but the author also did a marvelous job of seamlessly weaving them together into one cohesive main story. Although I enjoyed the modern day story of Annie and Geoff Harris, it was the stories of the Jew of Holborn, Dom Justin, and Maggie Harris, Geoff's mother, that I enjoyed the most. It was definitely the historical bent of these stories that drew me to them. I found myself wanting to further research the possibility of a forbidden Jewish colony in Tudor England, and to further investigate the existence of the Kindertransports that Maggie was a product of. I am always excited when a historical story presents new material that I can further research. In contrast, the story of Annie and Geoff was a more contemporary romance sort of story, and, while well done, took second place in my mind.
The use of the historical characters to actually tell their own stories and present the historical perspective of the book was a brilliant move on the author's part. Giving the historical characters their own voice allowed me to connect with them in a more intimate way. This connection lent more realism to these stories, in my opinion. I really enjoyed hearing about the Tudor times from Dom Justin and The Jew of Holborn, much more than having someone else talk about them, and wish that more of Maggie's story was included in the book. Dom Justin, in particular, was an interesting character, although as a ghost, he was neither scary nor "haunting" as the publisher's blurb stated. In fact, this is the only place in the book that fell short in my opinion. I understood and enjoyed the author's use of the ghost as a story telling device, but I did not feel that the supernatural part of the story would have worked on it's own.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Since it was the first book that I have read by this author, I researched her other work and was excited to see that she has written a series of books about New York that begins in the Pilgrim times and follows it's development through the years. I will definitely be adding this series of books to my reading list. I hope she does as good of a job with them as she has with Bristol House. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery story with a historical backdrop. I am giving it 4 stars.
February 17, 2015
I was expecting to really like this book, because it sounds like something that would be right up my alley. A dual-time period narrative featuring a mystery that goes back to Tudor London and a ghost? Sounds interesting! Unfortunately, I just found myself at turns frustrated and bored with the story. But I hate not finishing books once I've started them, so I kept reading.
The basic premise is that Annie Kendall is hired by the New York-based Shalom Foundation to travel to London and research a Jew who was living in the city in secret during the sixteenth century, with the goal of finding his religious artifacts that potentially still exist somewhere in Europe. During her time in London Annie will be staying at Bristol House, and as soon as she arrives in the flat she discovers that it contains both a detailed, mysterious mural on her bedroom wall and the ghost of a Carthusian monk. Soon afterwards she meets Geoff Harris, a television personality who happens to look exactly like the apparition. Annie and Geoff start working together to figure out what's going on in Bristol House and how it connects to the goals of the Shalom Foundation and the Jew of Holburn. The narratives of the monk and the Jew of Holburn are interspersed throughout, explaining in more detail what happened in the sixteenth century.
I had a lot of problems with Bristol House. One of the main ones was the character of Annie herself. She's one-dimensional and not very likable; plus she's supposed to be a great scholar, but I had a hard time believing she's actually that smart. As soon as she meets Geoff, I started to like her less and less as she spends most of her time thinking about him, blushing, planning sexy times, and worrying that he doesn't like her even though he's made it very clear that he does and has even brought her to meet his mother. (In fairness, I too found it unbelievable that the supposedly very famous Geoff would immediately take such a strong romantic interest in boring Annie--especially considering he's supposed to be getting over the recent death of his wife). I think my problems with the character can be best summed up by Geoff's mother's statement to Annie that she's perfect for Geoff because he needs someone "he can enfold and protect" and who is "strong enough to need him" (but...wouldn't someone who's that strong not need him? I'm confused.) So basically, Annie is a damsel in distress. Wonderful.
The flashback stories featuring the monk Dom Justin and the Jew of Holburn aren't any better. I think maybe the reader is supposed to find these characters likable (?) but they really aren't. While there are some interesting historical details in these sections, they're completely overshadowed by the unpleasant characters. What bothered me most was how they treated Rebecca, the Jew's 15-year-old daughter. Her father beats her, chains her to a post, and brings her into town on a leash. When she becomes pregnant with Dom Justin's child, Justin immediately falls into a woman-shaming attitude of how she's a "Jezebel" who tempted him. (At one point he actually says "Rebecca was the temptress Eve to my weak Adam and hers was certainly a worse offense.") Just...ugh. And these are the characters we're supposed to be rooting for!
Finally, Swerling includes a lot of British terms but feels the need to immediately explain what they are for American readers (like me). At some points this made sense, but for the most part the constant interjections took me out of the story and made me feel like she thought I was stupid--like, really, you think I can't figure out that a mobile is a cell phone or what porridge is? Meanwhile, there are passages in other languages that she doesn't feel the need to translate. Sure, makes sense.
I could probably go on for quite a while longer, but I think I've made my point. Don't waste your time with this book; there are plenty of similar novels out there that are much better-written.
The basic premise is that Annie Kendall is hired by the New York-based Shalom Foundation to travel to London and research a Jew who was living in the city in secret during the sixteenth century, with the goal of finding his religious artifacts that potentially still exist somewhere in Europe. During her time in London Annie will be staying at Bristol House, and as soon as she arrives in the flat she discovers that it contains both a detailed, mysterious mural on her bedroom wall and the ghost of a Carthusian monk. Soon afterwards she meets Geoff Harris, a television personality who happens to look exactly like the apparition. Annie and Geoff start working together to figure out what's going on in Bristol House and how it connects to the goals of the Shalom Foundation and the Jew of Holburn. The narratives of the monk and the Jew of Holburn are interspersed throughout, explaining in more detail what happened in the sixteenth century.
I had a lot of problems with Bristol House. One of the main ones was the character of Annie herself. She's one-dimensional and not very likable; plus she's supposed to be a great scholar, but I had a hard time believing she's actually that smart. As soon as she meets Geoff, I started to like her less and less as she spends most of her time thinking about him, blushing, planning sexy times, and worrying that he doesn't like her even though he's made it very clear that he does and has even brought her to meet his mother. (In fairness, I too found it unbelievable that the supposedly very famous Geoff would immediately take such a strong romantic interest in boring Annie--especially considering he's supposed to be getting over the recent death of his wife). I think my problems with the character can be best summed up by Geoff's mother's statement to Annie that she's perfect for Geoff because he needs someone "he can enfold and protect" and who is "strong enough to need him" (but...wouldn't someone who's that strong not need him? I'm confused.) So basically, Annie is a damsel in distress. Wonderful.
The flashback stories featuring the monk Dom Justin and the Jew of Holburn aren't any better. I think maybe the reader is supposed to find these characters likable (?) but they really aren't. While there are some interesting historical details in these sections, they're completely overshadowed by the unpleasant characters. What bothered me most was how they treated Rebecca, the Jew's 15-year-old daughter. Her father beats her, chains her to a post, and brings her into town on a leash. When she becomes pregnant with Dom Justin's child, Justin immediately falls into a woman-shaming attitude of how she's a "Jezebel" who tempted him. (At one point he actually says "Rebecca was the temptress Eve to my weak Adam and hers was certainly a worse offense.") Just...ugh. And these are the characters we're supposed to be rooting for!
Finally, Swerling includes a lot of British terms but feels the need to immediately explain what they are for American readers (like me). At some points this made sense, but for the most part the constant interjections took me out of the story and made me feel like she thought I was stupid--like, really, you think I can't figure out that a mobile is a cell phone or what porridge is? Meanwhile, there are passages in other languages that she doesn't feel the need to translate. Sure, makes sense.
I could probably go on for quite a while longer, but I think I've made my point. Don't waste your time with this book; there are plenty of similar novels out there that are much better-written.
April 15, 2013
I love Beverly Swerling's earlier work. This book was boring all the way through, but I kept reading because I'm a huge fan of historical fiction and the "City of Dreams" books. It didn't feel like a natural progression for her work. It seemed as though she could have taken the historical part of this book and created something similar to what she has done before. Her best work has been in taking a wealth of highly interesting historical information and building strong, deep, and believable characters around the information. This one leaned toward what felt like merging of Diana Gabaldon (who I'm not a huge fan of) and Agatha Christie. I admit to speed reading through the last 1/4 of the book, because I just wasn't that interested in the details. The ending had some redeeming factors, but not enough for me to be glad I finished it.
April 5, 2013
Originally reviewed at Novel Escapes
I had no idea what to expect on starting Bristol House and was happily engrossed after a few chapters in a fascinating novel of historical intrigue. It tied into things I’ve been interested in for years- The Knights Templar, anything Tudor and religious history and as far as I could tell, the story was balanced on a great base of historical accuracies and accepted truths.
Swerling has interwoven a present and a past storyline to meet in a vortex of another plane- I think I was a bit lost for a while with the ghostly monk visiting Annie and wasn’t really sure what to make of his presence. It was eerie and creepy and though I have to say I’m not so much a believer in ghosts as such- this monk was definitely as real to me as he could be. His purpose is absolutely essential to the plot.
Annie herself was a bit dry - I didn’t get a very good feel for her and seeking acceptance as an academic because of her past as an alcoholic didn’t bring me much more warmth. She was just a bit one-dimensional but I accept that it was important for this to be her history so that she is the perfect person to do the research. I relied on Geoff and his mother Maggie to bring warmth to the book when it was lacking elsewhere. They were larger than life and quite a fascinating pair- as were the various rabbis involved.
Swerling has written a novel full of points of interest and I’m still trying to absorb all the information she managed to cram into it- saying that though, Bristol House was well written and fast paced and not at all slowed down by the details.
I had no idea what to expect on starting Bristol House and was happily engrossed after a few chapters in a fascinating novel of historical intrigue. It tied into things I’ve been interested in for years- The Knights Templar, anything Tudor and religious history and as far as I could tell, the story was balanced on a great base of historical accuracies and accepted truths.
Swerling has interwoven a present and a past storyline to meet in a vortex of another plane- I think I was a bit lost for a while with the ghostly monk visiting Annie and wasn’t really sure what to make of his presence. It was eerie and creepy and though I have to say I’m not so much a believer in ghosts as such- this monk was definitely as real to me as he could be. His purpose is absolutely essential to the plot.
Annie herself was a bit dry - I didn’t get a very good feel for her and seeking acceptance as an academic because of her past as an alcoholic didn’t bring me much more warmth. She was just a bit one-dimensional but I accept that it was important for this to be her history so that she is the perfect person to do the research. I relied on Geoff and his mother Maggie to bring warmth to the book when it was lacking elsewhere. They were larger than life and quite a fascinating pair- as were the various rabbis involved.
Swerling has written a novel full of points of interest and I’m still trying to absorb all the information she managed to cram into it- saying that though, Bristol House was well written and fast paced and not at all slowed down by the details.
March 17, 2013
4.0 out of 5 stars - a novel that inspired the researcher in me!
This is a complex and intriguing story that blends history and present day with a time-bending element that keeps the reader turning the pages late into the night -- with a computer handy to delve deeper, searching for details to seek further understanding.
Dr. Annie Kendall, a recovering alcoholic and architectural historian, is engaged by the Shalom Foundation and its charismatic leader, Philip Weinraub, to search for Judaica that was thought to be from the time of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and discovered by a man known only as the Jew of Holbern. Her mission will be difficult as in 1530s Tudor England, Henry VIII is on the throne and religious unrest had reached such a point that no Jew would be publicly identified as such.
Soon after she is settled in Bristol House, a beautiful apartment in the heart of Holborn, London, Annie opens the door to a back bedroom and sees a Carthusian monk. This vision, along with the strange black and white mural that covers the entire wall of her new bedroom, sets her on a different investigative path that spans centuries and uncovers a relationship between the past and present day events. While meeting with an archivist from the British Museum, Annie meets Geoffrey Harris who happens to be a dead ringer for the monk who had appeared in her back room! Geoff, a television journalist who focuses his exposes on politicians and other elected officials, is intrigued by the events that have transpired and joins Annie in her pursuit for answers to the mysteries.
The meticulous research by the author is evident and the history fascinating and absorbing. I can't remember the last time I learned so much while reading a novel! I highly recommend it.
Comp copy from the publisher.
This is a complex and intriguing story that blends history and present day with a time-bending element that keeps the reader turning the pages late into the night -- with a computer handy to delve deeper, searching for details to seek further understanding.
Dr. Annie Kendall, a recovering alcoholic and architectural historian, is engaged by the Shalom Foundation and its charismatic leader, Philip Weinraub, to search for Judaica that was thought to be from the time of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and discovered by a man known only as the Jew of Holbern. Her mission will be difficult as in 1530s Tudor England, Henry VIII is on the throne and religious unrest had reached such a point that no Jew would be publicly identified as such.
Soon after she is settled in Bristol House, a beautiful apartment in the heart of Holborn, London, Annie opens the door to a back bedroom and sees a Carthusian monk. This vision, along with the strange black and white mural that covers the entire wall of her new bedroom, sets her on a different investigative path that spans centuries and uncovers a relationship between the past and present day events. While meeting with an archivist from the British Museum, Annie meets Geoffrey Harris who happens to be a dead ringer for the monk who had appeared in her back room! Geoff, a television journalist who focuses his exposes on politicians and other elected officials, is intrigued by the events that have transpired and joins Annie in her pursuit for answers to the mysteries.
The meticulous research by the author is evident and the history fascinating and absorbing. I can't remember the last time I learned so much while reading a novel! I highly recommend it.
Comp copy from the publisher.
March 4, 2013
Read advanced copy in anticipation of author visit. Well crafted story of a recovering alcoholic working toward re-establishing her credentials by taking on a research project that will lead to publishing professional articles. She stumbles into a historical mystery with 21st century implications. With the help of a new found relationship with a well connected English broadcaster and the specter of a 500 years dead monk, she uncovers a plot that could destroy the catholic church.
Not my usual fare, but much enjoyed. Presented in a well balanced manner, not too romantic, not too over the top supernaturally and not too much historical back-story. A well paced enjoyable read.
Not my usual fare, but much enjoyed. Presented in a well balanced manner, not too romantic, not too over the top supernaturally and not too much historical back-story. A well paced enjoyable read.
August 4, 2016
Not only did this book have secret tunnels, maps, ancient manuscripts and artefacts, it was set in both present day London, and the London of Tudor times, which made it completely irresistible to me.
It certainly didn't disappoint, as it turned out to be an interesting and intelligent mystery, peopled by some excellent characters, and full of fascinating and informative historical detail, a little romance....and ghosts....
It kept me interested untill the last page, and sent me on a search for more reading on the history involved....I would definatly recommend it.
It certainly didn't disappoint, as it turned out to be an interesting and intelligent mystery, peopled by some excellent characters, and full of fascinating and informative historical detail, a little romance....and ghosts....
It kept me interested untill the last page, and sent me on a search for more reading on the history involved....I would definatly recommend it.
July 20, 2013
I loved this novel. Just a wonderful historical suspense/ghost story with really well developed characters you care about and a story you haven't read 100 times. Well done!! Highly recommended!.
April 9, 2013
Annie Kendall’s academic historian career has been at a standstill for ten years when she’s offered the chance of a lifetime, or so she sees it. She is hired by Weinraub, the head of the Shalom Foundation, to travel to London and find secret treasures hidden by Giacomo the Lombard, also known as the Jew of Holbern. These treasures are connected to the ancient Second Temple of Jerusalem. But there’s a heaviness and threatening attitude from Weinraub that bothers Annie but not enough initially to stop her from taking the job. She’ll have free room and board and she has three months to complete what is really an impossible task. So it begins!
The first unsettling aspect of this job is that after her landlady leaves Annie begins hearing chanting and visually senses the presence of a monk in her temporary home. She has this uncanny ability to sit down immediately after seeing something and drawing it precisely as if it were a posing model. So imagine her shock when she meets a researcher and TV personality, Geoff Harris, who is writing a book about what he believes to be a looming disaster that will occur in Israel; Geoff looks exactly like the monk haunting her home. Their relationship forms slowly; Annie is a recovering alcoholic and so doesn’t expect anyone to believe her actual experience of her haunted dwelling. But Geoff is a fine judge of truthful or sham characters and comes to believe that Annie is conveying reality, including later scenes of hearing music, seeing things written on the misty bathroom mirror and much, much more.
Somehow Annie and Geoff, along with Geoff’s dying mother and another Rabbi, come to see that the Jew of Holbern’s hidden treasures are linked to the Catholic Church and a secret sect known as the True Obedience of Avignon, tracing back to the time of a terrible schism in the Church about who was the “real” Pope. Are these relics connected with Judaism or Christianity? What seems to be pointing to the Middle East leads them on a long journey of finding clues accompanied by the actual account told by the Jew of Holbern and the monk of Avignon who are connected in ways the reader could never imagine!
Bristol House… is a terrific mystery, thriller, fantasy and/or work of historical fiction. If you love a complicated puzzle or a great mystery, this is the book for you. The clues move along slowly but then the pace picks up and the reader has to pay careful attention to piece it all together as the tension grows and grows. If you love historical fiction, this is a book that suggests how fanaticism regarding history can become so delusional that it poses a dire threat to the present on a global scale. All in all, a fine novel that deserves much attention, rave reviews, and best seller status! This reader hated for the story to end – I want to know more about Annie and Geoff and what adventures their future holds! Congratulations Beverly Swerling!
The first unsettling aspect of this job is that after her landlady leaves Annie begins hearing chanting and visually senses the presence of a monk in her temporary home. She has this uncanny ability to sit down immediately after seeing something and drawing it precisely as if it were a posing model. So imagine her shock when she meets a researcher and TV personality, Geoff Harris, who is writing a book about what he believes to be a looming disaster that will occur in Israel; Geoff looks exactly like the monk haunting her home. Their relationship forms slowly; Annie is a recovering alcoholic and so doesn’t expect anyone to believe her actual experience of her haunted dwelling. But Geoff is a fine judge of truthful or sham characters and comes to believe that Annie is conveying reality, including later scenes of hearing music, seeing things written on the misty bathroom mirror and much, much more.
Somehow Annie and Geoff, along with Geoff’s dying mother and another Rabbi, come to see that the Jew of Holbern’s hidden treasures are linked to the Catholic Church and a secret sect known as the True Obedience of Avignon, tracing back to the time of a terrible schism in the Church about who was the “real” Pope. Are these relics connected with Judaism or Christianity? What seems to be pointing to the Middle East leads them on a long journey of finding clues accompanied by the actual account told by the Jew of Holbern and the monk of Avignon who are connected in ways the reader could never imagine!
Bristol House… is a terrific mystery, thriller, fantasy and/or work of historical fiction. If you love a complicated puzzle or a great mystery, this is the book for you. The clues move along slowly but then the pace picks up and the reader has to pay careful attention to piece it all together as the tension grows and grows. If you love historical fiction, this is a book that suggests how fanaticism regarding history can become so delusional that it poses a dire threat to the present on a global scale. All in all, a fine novel that deserves much attention, rave reviews, and best seller status! This reader hated for the story to end – I want to know more about Annie and Geoff and what adventures their future holds! Congratulations Beverly Swerling!
April 16, 2013
Annie Kendall has begun a three month research project in London to locate long missing artifacts for Shalom Foundation. Days into her research she meets Geoff Harris, an investigative reporter, and discovers the flat she is subletting is haunted by a ghost that appears to be trying to contact her to warn her about something. The story moves back and forth between Annie in the present and 1535 Tudor London where Dom Justin, Carthusian Monk, narrates an intertwining tale.
Within days Annie feels an attraction to Geoff and finds the feeling are mutual. The romance was handled well with just enough detail to keep the reader interested but not so much that it distracts from the plot or the action. Annie’s background was a little unbelievable but certainly possible. As a recovering alcoholic with serious issues, she managed to pull herself together quickly, but that served to make her a more likeable character and one I could root for.
I don’t know much about Tudor England or Carthusian Monks so I can’t comment on the historical accuracy, but the skillfully woven plot made for an interesting and compelling tale. There is a lot going on in the story and I wouldn’t say it’s an easy read, but once the characters were clear in my mind it flowed nicely and became more compelling as the suspense built.
I listened to the audio and found it moderately easy to follow the often complex plot; this is an audio that does require paying close attention. I usually prefer an ensemble cast when there are a lot of characters or shifts in time period as in this novel, and it worked well except for the actress performing the voice of Annie. Her dialog felt choppy at times and I found it difficult to get into the flow when she was speaking. When the second actress, the voice of the narrator, spoke, the rhythm returned. When we shifted to the past James Langton skillfully performed the voices of the Monk and the Jew of Holborn.
I had not listened to any of the narrators before so I wasn’t sure what to expect, but overall I can recommend the audio with the few reservations mentioned above. There is an audio sample available and I recommend giving it a listen to decide for yourself.
Historical fiction fans will enjoy this book with its nice mix of history, a light romance and a suspenseful ending.
Within days Annie feels an attraction to Geoff and finds the feeling are mutual. The romance was handled well with just enough detail to keep the reader interested but not so much that it distracts from the plot or the action. Annie’s background was a little unbelievable but certainly possible. As a recovering alcoholic with serious issues, she managed to pull herself together quickly, but that served to make her a more likeable character and one I could root for.
I don’t know much about Tudor England or Carthusian Monks so I can’t comment on the historical accuracy, but the skillfully woven plot made for an interesting and compelling tale. There is a lot going on in the story and I wouldn’t say it’s an easy read, but once the characters were clear in my mind it flowed nicely and became more compelling as the suspense built.
I listened to the audio and found it moderately easy to follow the often complex plot; this is an audio that does require paying close attention. I usually prefer an ensemble cast when there are a lot of characters or shifts in time period as in this novel, and it worked well except for the actress performing the voice of Annie. Her dialog felt choppy at times and I found it difficult to get into the flow when she was speaking. When the second actress, the voice of the narrator, spoke, the rhythm returned. When we shifted to the past James Langton skillfully performed the voices of the Monk and the Jew of Holborn.
I had not listened to any of the narrators before so I wasn’t sure what to expect, but overall I can recommend the audio with the few reservations mentioned above. There is an audio sample available and I recommend giving it a listen to decide for yourself.
Historical fiction fans will enjoy this book with its nice mix of history, a light romance and a suspenseful ending.
April 3, 2013
This is the first novel I've read by Beveryly Swerling and it caught my attention intially because it's described as having many of the qualities I like in my reading such as historical fiction, suspense, mystery, and ghosts. Dr. Annie Kendall is invited to London to research Judaica for the Shalom Foundation. She is definitely damaged goods with the fact that she's a recovering alcoholic, has lost custody of her only son, and is now seeing ghosts. She knows instantly that it isn't the hallucinations usually associated with drinking, so she draws a picture of the ghost.
While at dinner with a friend, Annie is introduced to Geoff Harris, a big shot BBC reporter who exposes politicians and all their dirty deeds. He inquires about Annie's quest to find evidence of Jews being in London during a time in history where they were killed for announcing so and Geoff is also concerned that maybe her new boss Philip Weinrub has ulterior motives the reasons why this research needs to be done. Geoff is also damaged goods in the sense that he's carrying around the guilt of his past the same as Annie. Eventually, these damaged goods get together in an actually natural manner.
Swerling is able to introduce the historical fiction by the ghosts of the pasts Dom Justin and the Jew of Holborn. I actually found their stories more interesting, and thrilling than the main one involving Annie since she isn't even afraid of the Carthusian monk's ghost, why would the reader be? Dom Justin and the Jew of Holcomb had real fears since the religious unrest during the time in Tudor England made life extremely difficult and unsafe for them. Swerling does an excellent job at transitionining between worlds and making both characters from each side of reality very strong. Her attention to detail is also top-notch. I felt as if I were standing in every room she was describing. Swerling definitely knows how to bring her words to life. I look forward to reading more by this author.
While at dinner with a friend, Annie is introduced to Geoff Harris, a big shot BBC reporter who exposes politicians and all their dirty deeds. He inquires about Annie's quest to find evidence of Jews being in London during a time in history where they were killed for announcing so and Geoff is also concerned that maybe her new boss Philip Weinrub has ulterior motives the reasons why this research needs to be done. Geoff is also damaged goods in the sense that he's carrying around the guilt of his past the same as Annie. Eventually, these damaged goods get together in an actually natural manner.
Swerling is able to introduce the historical fiction by the ghosts of the pasts Dom Justin and the Jew of Holborn. I actually found their stories more interesting, and thrilling than the main one involving Annie since she isn't even afraid of the Carthusian monk's ghost, why would the reader be? Dom Justin and the Jew of Holcomb had real fears since the religious unrest during the time in Tudor England made life extremely difficult and unsafe for them. Swerling does an excellent job at transitionining between worlds and making both characters from each side of reality very strong. Her attention to detail is also top-notch. I felt as if I were standing in every room she was describing. Swerling definitely knows how to bring her words to life. I look forward to reading more by this author.
April 16, 2013
WOW! Does this novel sound fantastic or what? I love the idea of mixing historical fiction with a bit of the supernatural - makes for quite an interesting and rather spooky read. Plus, Annie sounds like a woman on a mission. She wants her career and personal life (custody of her kid and alcoholism under control) on track and is working toward those goals, all the while having to deal with a ghost who will not leave her alone. Sounds creepy and a bit stalker-y. I've never read any Swerling before, but when I heard about this book, I just knew that I had to get my hands on a copy. I love anything and everything to do with London, especially since I lived in England for quite some time and always enjoyed visiting London-town on the weekends. Its a bustling and exciting city that is rich in history and tradition. So, to read about London in the sixteenth century, alongside twenty-first century London - well, that was quite a juxtaposition, but one that I truly enjoyed!
As for the writing - it was terrific! I couldn't put this book down! Each night I loved settling down for bed with this tome in hand, because I knew that each page would bring more mysteries to unravel and more dramas to endure. I found myself excited to find out what would happen next to Annie and Dom Justin. The romance, thrills, and history all blended in nicely to create this complex and layered story that was rich and vivid in tone, character, and entertainment. I would most definitely characterize Bristol House as an unforgettable read!
And, I would definitely recommend Bristol House to fans of historical fiction, fiction, stories set in London, and also fans of the supernatural. You will love this book!
As for the writing - it was terrific! I couldn't put this book down! Each night I loved settling down for bed with this tome in hand, because I knew that each page would bring more mysteries to unravel and more dramas to endure. I found myself excited to find out what would happen next to Annie and Dom Justin. The romance, thrills, and history all blended in nicely to create this complex and layered story that was rich and vivid in tone, character, and entertainment. I would most definitely characterize Bristol House as an unforgettable read!
And, I would definitely recommend Bristol House to fans of historical fiction, fiction, stories set in London, and also fans of the supernatural. You will love this book!
March 6, 2013
Bristol House is the first of Beverly Swerling's novels that I have read. I think I might be hooked. This book deals with both the past and the present and then ties them together in a seemingly effortless way.
Anyone who has studied religious history will clearly see how much reality is presented in this fictional tale. The author has done her research for this book and that made it a very enjoyable and ultimately unforgettable read.
I really liked the main character Annie. She was on point throughout the book and even though she found herself in a difficult to believe situation, she didn't waste chapters self-doubting and trying to ignore what was plainly in front of her. Okay, so she is aware that there is the apparition of a dead monk in her flat, but she keeps moving. That's my kind of heroine.
The romance in this work is evenly paced and believable and something that felt natural as the pages turned. I liked the male lead and thought the author did a good job of giving him traits and qualities that made him a good hero.
The dual time periods the author deals with make this a more interesting read than if all of the story had been told in only the present. I like the way she chose to shift between present and past and never felt lost or confused by the transitions.
In the end, this is a book that I would read a second time. I liked the overall story and didn't have any trouble staying up late to finish this. I would recommend it to other readers who enjoy their fiction to be of mixed genres.
This review is based on a digital ARC from the publisher.
Anyone who has studied religious history will clearly see how much reality is presented in this fictional tale. The author has done her research for this book and that made it a very enjoyable and ultimately unforgettable read.
I really liked the main character Annie. She was on point throughout the book and even though she found herself in a difficult to believe situation, she didn't waste chapters self-doubting and trying to ignore what was plainly in front of her. Okay, so she is aware that there is the apparition of a dead monk in her flat, but she keeps moving. That's my kind of heroine.
The romance in this work is evenly paced and believable and something that felt natural as the pages turned. I liked the male lead and thought the author did a good job of giving him traits and qualities that made him a good hero.
The dual time periods the author deals with make this a more interesting read than if all of the story had been told in only the present. I like the way she chose to shift between present and past and never felt lost or confused by the transitions.
In the end, this is a book that I would read a second time. I liked the overall story and didn't have any trouble staying up late to finish this. I would recommend it to other readers who enjoy their fiction to be of mixed genres.
This review is based on a digital ARC from the publisher.
February 4, 2016
Bristol House was a very interesting read. The author utilises information about the Jewish presence in 16th century English society effectively, tying it with events surrounding the religious and monastic houses at a time when Henry VIII is breaking away from Rome. The characters, especially the protagonist Annie Kendall, is quite a unique character whose back story is one I haven't really come across in these kinds of novels yet.
While I enjoyed the way that the story gradually unfolded, with each of the elements slowly clicking into place, it did feel as though the story was moving a little too leisurely–the danger felt too far away for the first half of the novel, making the urgency for Annie to finish her research and investigate further feel rather off (despite of the nature of academic research being a slow and accurate process).
Overall, Bristol House was an interesting and intelligent read with plenty of twists and turns and fascinating and well-rounded characters to go with the story. The pacing felt a little uneven at times but otherwise I’d recommend this novel for fans of Kate Mosse and Susanna Kearsley as well as for fans of historical fiction in the vein of Steve Berry.
My complete review of the novel was originally posted at eclectictales.com: http://www.eclectictales.com/blog/201...
While I enjoyed the way that the story gradually unfolded, with each of the elements slowly clicking into place, it did feel as though the story was moving a little too leisurely–the danger felt too far away for the first half of the novel, making the urgency for Annie to finish her research and investigate further feel rather off (despite of the nature of academic research being a slow and accurate process).
Overall, Bristol House was an interesting and intelligent read with plenty of twists and turns and fascinating and well-rounded characters to go with the story. The pacing felt a little uneven at times but otherwise I’d recommend this novel for fans of Kate Mosse and Susanna Kearsley as well as for fans of historical fiction in the vein of Steve Berry.
My complete review of the novel was originally posted at eclectictales.com: http://www.eclectictales.com/blog/201...
May 3, 2013
Beverly Swerling is one of my favorite authors. My Book club is still talking about her novel City of Dreams and we reviewed that book about nine years ago!
Bristol House is a departure from the City series in that it is a dual-time piece rather than pure historical fiction. Taking place in 1535 and modern day London you have two stories being told simultaneously and, of course, they merge.
Concentration is required when reading Bristol House, there are many historical details that Swerling puts into the mix! It is not a novel to be read in numerous short intervals rather you need several long afternoons or evenings to settle in, absorb and understand the complex situations Swerling has put into play. The Jewish mezuzah, an example shown below, is one of the keys uniting the historical and contemporary stories.
The frequency of coincidences in this novel is my only criticism-at times I wanted to say “Come on….that is too convenient.” Overall, it is a richly layered and interesting read.
Bristol House is a departure from the City series in that it is a dual-time piece rather than pure historical fiction. Taking place in 1535 and modern day London you have two stories being told simultaneously and, of course, they merge.
Concentration is required when reading Bristol House, there are many historical details that Swerling puts into the mix! It is not a novel to be read in numerous short intervals rather you need several long afternoons or evenings to settle in, absorb and understand the complex situations Swerling has put into play. The Jewish mezuzah, an example shown below, is one of the keys uniting the historical and contemporary stories.
The frequency of coincidences in this novel is my only criticism-at times I wanted to say “Come on….that is too convenient.” Overall, it is a richly layered and interesting read.
July 6, 2013
Read my full review: http://bit.ly/18DduYA
3.5/5 Stars
My opinion: This story is told from two different perspectives (Annie and Dom Justin) in two different periods of time. I loved that, but must admit that I did love Dom Justin's story and felt it was more engaging than Annie's story.
On that note, in reading the book's description, this type of book is right up my alley. I expected the book to grab me by the throat and not let go. It didn't. I found myself putting it down a lot because there were aspects to it that just dragged on. In my humble opinion, particularly in the modern part of the book, there were aspects that almost had a cliche feeling to them or was just downright predictable.
Source: Library
Would I recommend? : Yes, I would. The book was still a fun, intelligent ride.
3.5/5 Stars
My opinion: This story is told from two different perspectives (Annie and Dom Justin) in two different periods of time. I loved that, but must admit that I did love Dom Justin's story and felt it was more engaging than Annie's story.
On that note, in reading the book's description, this type of book is right up my alley. I expected the book to grab me by the throat and not let go. It didn't. I found myself putting it down a lot because there were aspects to it that just dragged on. In my humble opinion, particularly in the modern part of the book, there were aspects that almost had a cliche feeling to them or was just downright predictable.
Source: Library
Would I recommend? : Yes, I would. The book was still a fun, intelligent ride.
December 30, 2013
I really liked this book. I was fascinated by the story, because of the historical aspects and the religion thrown in. Mostly I really liked the grown-up nature of hte relationship between Geoff and Annie. There was no temporary dramatic break three quarters of the way through the book that made them realize their love for each other. Their relationship just grew, as, I think, relationships do.
This is definitely a book to which I will listen again.
This is definitely a book to which I will listen again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2012
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Beverly Swerling books!!!! I have read all but one of her books and plan to read that one and any future ones.
Beverly Swerling definitely does her research which is reflected in her books.
Beverly Swerling definitely does her research which is reflected in her books.
June 7, 2013
I didn’t know what to expect when I started reading this book. The blurb just sounded interesting. What I got was so much more than that.
Ms. Swerling does an excellent job of imparting information, religious and political, along with the paranormal, throughout this book. Especially for someone like me who isn’t familiar with the Jewish faith, historical or modern, and someone who doesn’t give two hoots about most things political. Of course, in the context of this story, the politics are definitely different from today and much more interesting. I like the touch of romance added to the mystery, both characters likeable and intriguing.
Annie Kendall has worked hard to turn her life around, after a decade or more of alcoholism, which caused her to lose her son. She’s four years sober, wants to desperately to reconnect with her son – to no avail so far – so when the opportunity to jump start her career lands in her lap, she tosses everything into the wind and heads to England. As an architectural historian, Annie has been tasked by the Shalom Foundation to research the fabled Jew of Holborn and perhaps even discover his cache of Jewish treasures that found homes by his secretive hand at synagogues across Europe at the height of the Cromwell years.
After settling into her rented home, thanks to Shalom’s founder, Phillip Weinraub, Annie meets Geoffrey Harris, a renowned investigative journalist, who agrees to help her in her search, especially when he hears of her otherworldly encounters in an unoccupied bedroom at No. 8 Bristol House. A Carthusian monk appears and seems to want to communicate with Annie rather than cause her harm – and he’s the exact replica of her new love interest, Geoff. Thus begins their journey at unraveling the mysterious clues that begin to take shape the deeper they get into the history behind Bristol House and a host of other discoveries from the Tudor period.
I like the way the story moves from Annie’s point of view to the monk’s and also the Jew of Holborn once we meet him. We learn what really happened in the year of our lord 1535 from those who lived it and then watch Annie and Geoff, and the expert contacts he introduces her to, figure out that history, along with the greedy power that propels Weinraub. I thoroughly enjoyed Maggie, Geoff’s mother, and her rabbi friend, both of whom were spies during WWII, breaking German codes and the like. They’re both eager to put their skills to work again, so we learn about Kaballah numerology and close attention must be paid when Annie inspects the mural in her bedroom for more clues, just to name a couple of the many and varied hints they find along the way, including a number from the past when time ripples to allow things to occur. I like that dichotomy of history and paranormal mingled together, makes for a much more interesting and entertaining read.
The romance between Annie and Geoffrey is interspersed throughout, two people meeting in unlikely circumstances and each taking the other for exactly who they are. Annie takes one day at a time, the AA way, and Geoff uses all the resources at his disposal to help her solve her mystery, in which he is fully involved. Since I review romance the majority of the time, it’s a nice touch here amid the intrigue and power.
Of course, this review just barely scratches the surface of all that happens in this book. It’s definitely a history lesson written smoothly and clearly for the lay person in us all when it comes to all the different aspects of the story. I definitely recommend it, if you find yourself in a slump or just don’t know what to read next or the premise just sounds fascinating. Keep an open mind, suspend your belief, and just start reading. Like me, you will be pleasantly surprised.
See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com
Ms. Swerling does an excellent job of imparting information, religious and political, along with the paranormal, throughout this book. Especially for someone like me who isn’t familiar with the Jewish faith, historical or modern, and someone who doesn’t give two hoots about most things political. Of course, in the context of this story, the politics are definitely different from today and much more interesting. I like the touch of romance added to the mystery, both characters likeable and intriguing.
Annie Kendall has worked hard to turn her life around, after a decade or more of alcoholism, which caused her to lose her son. She’s four years sober, wants to desperately to reconnect with her son – to no avail so far – so when the opportunity to jump start her career lands in her lap, she tosses everything into the wind and heads to England. As an architectural historian, Annie has been tasked by the Shalom Foundation to research the fabled Jew of Holborn and perhaps even discover his cache of Jewish treasures that found homes by his secretive hand at synagogues across Europe at the height of the Cromwell years.
After settling into her rented home, thanks to Shalom’s founder, Phillip Weinraub, Annie meets Geoffrey Harris, a renowned investigative journalist, who agrees to help her in her search, especially when he hears of her otherworldly encounters in an unoccupied bedroom at No. 8 Bristol House. A Carthusian monk appears and seems to want to communicate with Annie rather than cause her harm – and he’s the exact replica of her new love interest, Geoff. Thus begins their journey at unraveling the mysterious clues that begin to take shape the deeper they get into the history behind Bristol House and a host of other discoveries from the Tudor period.
I like the way the story moves from Annie’s point of view to the monk’s and also the Jew of Holborn once we meet him. We learn what really happened in the year of our lord 1535 from those who lived it and then watch Annie and Geoff, and the expert contacts he introduces her to, figure out that history, along with the greedy power that propels Weinraub. I thoroughly enjoyed Maggie, Geoff’s mother, and her rabbi friend, both of whom were spies during WWII, breaking German codes and the like. They’re both eager to put their skills to work again, so we learn about Kaballah numerology and close attention must be paid when Annie inspects the mural in her bedroom for more clues, just to name a couple of the many and varied hints they find along the way, including a number from the past when time ripples to allow things to occur. I like that dichotomy of history and paranormal mingled together, makes for a much more interesting and entertaining read.
The romance between Annie and Geoffrey is interspersed throughout, two people meeting in unlikely circumstances and each taking the other for exactly who they are. Annie takes one day at a time, the AA way, and Geoff uses all the resources at his disposal to help her solve her mystery, in which he is fully involved. Since I review romance the majority of the time, it’s a nice touch here amid the intrigue and power.
Of course, this review just barely scratches the surface of all that happens in this book. It’s definitely a history lesson written smoothly and clearly for the lay person in us all when it comes to all the different aspects of the story. I definitely recommend it, if you find yourself in a slump or just don’t know what to read next or the premise just sounds fascinating. Keep an open mind, suspend your belief, and just start reading. Like me, you will be pleasantly surprised.
See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com
November 16, 2016
BUCKLE UP, GUYS, THIS IS A WEIRD ONE.
I'm just going to state ahead of time that I'm going to spoil the plot, because you cannot properly appreciate how bananas this book is unless you know the ending. If you don't want to be spoiled and would rather discover the batshittery for yourself, don't read past the cut. Got it? Awesome.
Bristol House, by Beverly Swerling, bills itself as a supernatural thriller/historical fiction. It follows two narratives. The first is that of Annie Kendall, a modern-day architectural historian (! Cool!) in London trying to trace a Tudor-era fellow called the Jew of Holborn, as well as several pieces of ancient Judaica. Problem: she's seeing the ghost of a Carthusian monk. Problem two: she meets the monk's doppelganger, Geoffrey Harris, a semi-famous investigative reporter who's looking into the man who set her on her quest, Philip Weinraub. The second narrative follows the monk in question as he navigates Tudor England at the very beginning of Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries. We also get to meet Annie's Jew of Holborn and his daughter, Rebecca, who may be the only character in the entire book that I liked.
With me so far? Good, because this is where things go off the rails.
Apart from that nonsense, the characters are pretty cardboard. Rebecca actually has a personality, a life, and goals, but everyone else seemed like they were paper dolls being moved about at the whim of the plot. Which, have I mentioned, is batshit bananas. Furthermore, Annie is a recovering alcoholic and Geoff lost his wife to a car accident but those felt really... tacked on qualities? Like, they didn't affect the plot at all, they just sort of added random character pieces that didn't really matter in any way. Which annoyed me. And the plot was BANANAS. BANANAS.
This is a weird, weird book, guys. Read at your own risk.
I'm just going to state ahead of time that I'm going to spoil the plot, because you cannot properly appreciate how bananas this book is unless you know the ending. If you don't want to be spoiled and would rather discover the batshittery for yourself, don't read past the cut. Got it? Awesome.
Bristol House, by Beverly Swerling, bills itself as a supernatural thriller/historical fiction. It follows two narratives. The first is that of Annie Kendall, a modern-day architectural historian (! Cool!) in London trying to trace a Tudor-era fellow called the Jew of Holborn, as well as several pieces of ancient Judaica. Problem: she's seeing the ghost of a Carthusian monk. Problem two: she meets the monk's doppelganger, Geoffrey Harris, a semi-famous investigative reporter who's looking into the man who set her on her quest, Philip Weinraub. The second narrative follows the monk in question as he navigates Tudor England at the very beginning of Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries. We also get to meet Annie's Jew of Holborn and his daughter, Rebecca, who may be the only character in the entire book that I liked.
With me so far? Good, because this is where things go off the rails.
Apart from that nonsense, the characters are pretty cardboard. Rebecca actually has a personality, a life, and goals, but everyone else seemed like they were paper dolls being moved about at the whim of the plot. Which, have I mentioned, is batshit bananas. Furthermore, Annie is a recovering alcoholic and Geoff lost his wife to a car accident but those felt really... tacked on qualities? Like, they didn't affect the plot at all, they just sort of added random character pieces that didn't really matter in any way. Which annoyed me. And the plot was BANANAS. BANANAS.
This is a weird, weird book, guys. Read at your own risk.
September 30, 2016
Ah, this book. Bristol House and I never really meshed, sadly. Despite my best efforts to immerse myself in Annie Kendall's story, I never felt that committed to it. Truth be told, this book got set aside more than once while I was reading through it.
Now, I find it necessary to mention that I'm still dipping my toes into the waters of historical fiction. What most caught my eye about Bristol House, was that there was a paranormal bend to it. Stories that interlace the past and the present fascinate me. Add in the fact that this was set in England, and you had my attention. If only I had been able to fall in love with Annie as a character, I might have honestly enjoyed this more.
See, Annie is a bit of a prickly character. Although Swerling definitely lays out what Annie might not be quick to let others in, it never felt exactly right. When Geoff was set in her path, quite coincidentally I might add, that aspect of her personality became even more glaring. I admit, I was happy that there was no instalove here. However that didn't drown out the fact that Geoff was just too convenient of a character. There was little to no tension, and really little to no relationship growth. It made the two of them dull, in my opinion, and I wasn't interested in following along with them.
What I did enjoy most of all though, were the flashback scenes to the life of Annie's ghostly visitor. Dom Justin's life was full of intrigue, and danger. His chapters would catch me up in their vivid descriptions, and have me eager for more. I suppose that's most likely why Annie's chapters felt so much flatter. Dom Justin's life was just so much more interesting that anything Annie was involved in.
I don't know what else to say, really. It just all felt too convenient when it came to the mystery here. Clues that fell perfectly into place, and were somehow laid out expertly despite the fact that they were from an entire other time period. Geoff, with his much too perfect characterization falling right into Annie's path at the right time. Never mind the fact that the had all the hookups that Annie needed to accomplish her task. Even Annie's backstory, while I appreciated the fact that she wasn't a pushover, felt contrived.
Thus, the three star rating. I'm on the fence, and I know that this is more of a "It's not you, it's me." situation when it comes to this book. There is definitely a group of readers out there who will love this. Bristol House does do an excellent job of weaving together two time periods, and sharing a healthy dose of Jewish history with the reader. I just wanted much more than I was offered in this story.
Now, I find it necessary to mention that I'm still dipping my toes into the waters of historical fiction. What most caught my eye about Bristol House, was that there was a paranormal bend to it. Stories that interlace the past and the present fascinate me. Add in the fact that this was set in England, and you had my attention. If only I had been able to fall in love with Annie as a character, I might have honestly enjoyed this more.
See, Annie is a bit of a prickly character. Although Swerling definitely lays out what Annie might not be quick to let others in, it never felt exactly right. When Geoff was set in her path, quite coincidentally I might add, that aspect of her personality became even more glaring. I admit, I was happy that there was no instalove here. However that didn't drown out the fact that Geoff was just too convenient of a character. There was little to no tension, and really little to no relationship growth. It made the two of them dull, in my opinion, and I wasn't interested in following along with them.
What I did enjoy most of all though, were the flashback scenes to the life of Annie's ghostly visitor. Dom Justin's life was full of intrigue, and danger. His chapters would catch me up in their vivid descriptions, and have me eager for more. I suppose that's most likely why Annie's chapters felt so much flatter. Dom Justin's life was just so much more interesting that anything Annie was involved in.
I don't know what else to say, really. It just all felt too convenient when it came to the mystery here. Clues that fell perfectly into place, and were somehow laid out expertly despite the fact that they were from an entire other time period. Geoff, with his much too perfect characterization falling right into Annie's path at the right time. Never mind the fact that the had all the hookups that Annie needed to accomplish her task. Even Annie's backstory, while I appreciated the fact that she wasn't a pushover, felt contrived.
Thus, the three star rating. I'm on the fence, and I know that this is more of a "It's not you, it's me." situation when it comes to this book. There is definitely a group of readers out there who will love this. Bristol House does do an excellent job of weaving together two time periods, and sharing a healthy dose of Jewish history with the reader. I just wanted much more than I was offered in this story.
August 19, 2017
a most excellent 5 star read. my head is full of information, that's a good thing!
Oh my gosh this was an excellent book and the definition of a literary thriller although…
isn't it redundant to call a book "literary" aren't all books by their very words literary…:)
This is the first but, not the last book I will read from this wonderful author Beverly Swerling. On her website about this book it says “A 21st century woman and a 16th century monk, Their destinies on a collision course – linked by a code that has defied solution for five hundred years” …wonderfully said!
This story was told in Modern day and 1535 Tudor London . There are ghosts, murderers, Jews, Christians, priceless artifacts, underground tunnels, a deranged madman, an unbreakable code, a love story or two and a special “waiting place” all in this wonderfully detailed mystery and history lesson!
Architectural historian Annie Kendall has somewhat of a shady past and is trying to restart her career so she takes on an assignment by The Shalom foundation that will take her to London where she has been hired to find some pieces of Judaica that have been lost somewhere in time by someone known only as “The Jew of Holborn” …
The Foundation puts her up in Bristol House where she starts to see and hear strange things. It seems there is an ancient ghostly Carthusian monk trying to communicate with her who looks exactly like the very handsome man and investigative reporter Geoff Harris that she had just met the evening before.
As Annie and Geoff both become more engrossed in this supernatural mystery, they embark on a deadly whirlwind of an exploration to try to figure out just what it is the Monk is trying to warn her about.
Oh my gosh this was an excellent book and the definition of a literary thriller although…
isn't it redundant to call a book "literary" aren't all books by their very words literary…:)
This is the first but, not the last book I will read from this wonderful author Beverly Swerling. On her website about this book it says “A 21st century woman and a 16th century monk, Their destinies on a collision course – linked by a code that has defied solution for five hundred years” …wonderfully said!
This story was told in Modern day and 1535 Tudor London . There are ghosts, murderers, Jews, Christians, priceless artifacts, underground tunnels, a deranged madman, an unbreakable code, a love story or two and a special “waiting place” all in this wonderfully detailed mystery and history lesson!
Architectural historian Annie Kendall has somewhat of a shady past and is trying to restart her career so she takes on an assignment by The Shalom foundation that will take her to London where she has been hired to find some pieces of Judaica that have been lost somewhere in time by someone known only as “The Jew of Holborn” …
The Foundation puts her up in Bristol House where she starts to see and hear strange things. It seems there is an ancient ghostly Carthusian monk trying to communicate with her who looks exactly like the very handsome man and investigative reporter Geoff Harris that she had just met the evening before.
As Annie and Geoff both become more engrossed in this supernatural mystery, they embark on a deadly whirlwind of an exploration to try to figure out just what it is the Monk is trying to warn her about.
May 2, 2013
This book took me a little time to get into, but once I was about 1/3 of the way through the story quickly picked up pace.
Annie Kendall begins an exciting 3 month adventure in London doing research on a project involving an ancient Jew of Holborn from the 1500s during the rein of Henry the VIII. She is hoping this work will give her the break she needs to get back on her feet after being a recovering alcoholic and losing custody of her son. While in London, Annie rents the old Bristol House which has an interesting history of its own. Just after she begins her stay, she witnesses the ghost of an ancient monk receipting prayers in one of the back bedrooms. She quickly sketches the incident so that she can go back and remember it later.
The next day she learns of an ancient map which may help her in her research. While at lunch with her friend she meets a handsome, wealthy, and famous man, Geoff Harris. Annie is shocked to see that he's almost an exact look a like for the monk (minus the monk's odd historical haircut). Geoff has an agenda that includes uncovering some information about the man who sent Annie on the project she's researching - Weinraub. What is his involvement in the research and why is he so eager for Annie to uncover the secrets she is looking for? How is the historical house related to secrets of the past? What message is the ghost of a monk trying to send her? What is Weinraubs real motivation?
The journey unravels on an exciting adventure between past and present. The story is an engaging mix of mystery, adventure, history, religion, and thriller! The plot is complex and exciting.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from goodreads, but the opinions are my own.
Annie Kendall begins an exciting 3 month adventure in London doing research on a project involving an ancient Jew of Holborn from the 1500s during the rein of Henry the VIII. She is hoping this work will give her the break she needs to get back on her feet after being a recovering alcoholic and losing custody of her son. While in London, Annie rents the old Bristol House which has an interesting history of its own. Just after she begins her stay, she witnesses the ghost of an ancient monk receipting prayers in one of the back bedrooms. She quickly sketches the incident so that she can go back and remember it later.
The next day she learns of an ancient map which may help her in her research. While at lunch with her friend she meets a handsome, wealthy, and famous man, Geoff Harris. Annie is shocked to see that he's almost an exact look a like for the monk (minus the monk's odd historical haircut). Geoff has an agenda that includes uncovering some information about the man who sent Annie on the project she's researching - Weinraub. What is his involvement in the research and why is he so eager for Annie to uncover the secrets she is looking for? How is the historical house related to secrets of the past? What message is the ghost of a monk trying to send her? What is Weinraubs real motivation?
The journey unravels on an exciting adventure between past and present. The story is an engaging mix of mystery, adventure, history, religion, and thriller! The plot is complex and exciting.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from goodreads, but the opinions are my own.
June 12, 2013
Dr. Annie Kendall has come to London on a research project she hopes will reestablish her academic career. That career had been promising until alcoholism wrecked it and her personal life. Now sober for four years, Annie is given a chance to make a contribution to history. A Jewish billionaire named Weinraub has offered to support Annie's research into the Tudor era in England and establish the historical reality of a silversmith known as the Jew Of Holbern.
Annie rents a flat near the Holbern section of London and starts her research. She is disturbed when she senses a ghostly presence in the flat's back bedroom; a monk from the same Tudor period. Annie meets a reporter, Geoff Harris, who becomes involved in her quest. Geoff is not a fan of Weinraub, and suspects him of using his wealth and Annie's research to support an agenda that could destabilize the entire Middle East. Can Annie and Geoff uncover the mysteries associated with the Jew Of Holbern or will it be co opted by forces determined to use the knowledge for their own ends.
Beverly Swerling has written a historical mystery that will appeal to readers. As with her wonderful series about New York, there are a wealth of characters, all richly imagined. The research behind the many topics covered in the book is evident, and the mystery compelling enough to keep the reader turning pages. This book is recommended for readers of historical fiction, those interested in Jewish history, and those interested in groups such as the Templars.
Annie rents a flat near the Holbern section of London and starts her research. She is disturbed when she senses a ghostly presence in the flat's back bedroom; a monk from the same Tudor period. Annie meets a reporter, Geoff Harris, who becomes involved in her quest. Geoff is not a fan of Weinraub, and suspects him of using his wealth and Annie's research to support an agenda that could destabilize the entire Middle East. Can Annie and Geoff uncover the mysteries associated with the Jew Of Holbern or will it be co opted by forces determined to use the knowledge for their own ends.
Beverly Swerling has written a historical mystery that will appeal to readers. As with her wonderful series about New York, there are a wealth of characters, all richly imagined. The research behind the many topics covered in the book is evident, and the mystery compelling enough to keep the reader turning pages. This book is recommended for readers of historical fiction, those interested in Jewish history, and those interested in groups such as the Templars.
October 27, 2016
This book reminded me a bit of The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane; two scholars out of their element by staying in the homes of others, encountering ghosts, puzzles, and enemies where least expected. I really liked the historical fiction the author included. The settings were very interesting, especially the black and white mural in Annie's bedroom. I have been to London and could sometimes map out where the characters were based on the Underground, or tube, stops mentioned. The reason I gave this book only two stars is because
1. the plot was murky. I got lost a few times. I felt as though the history lessons were repeated so many times while new pieces to the mystery were added that sometimes it felt as though the author was coloring out of the lines, just lost control. There was way too much going on.
2. The love story. This is a frequent issue I have with supernatural mysteries; the unnecessary love interests. Geoff was too perfect.
3. The story being put in a pretty box with a colorful bow. Every person or event that Annie encountered or experienced was incredibly convenient. eg, Annie has a very difficult document. A guy she just met, who really likes her, happens to have a mother who can crack hard codes. And the ones his mother can't decode are broken by her friend.
3. The happy ending. I would've been cool with Geoff turning out to be the evil one. It would have given the story some oomph.
1. the plot was murky. I got lost a few times. I felt as though the history lessons were repeated so many times while new pieces to the mystery were added that sometimes it felt as though the author was coloring out of the lines, just lost control. There was way too much going on.
2. The love story. This is a frequent issue I have with supernatural mysteries; the unnecessary love interests. Geoff was too perfect.
3. The story being put in a pretty box with a colorful bow. Every person or event that Annie encountered or experienced was incredibly convenient. eg, Annie has a very difficult document. A guy she just met, who really likes her, happens to have a mother who can crack hard codes. And the ones his mother can't decode are broken by her friend.
3. The happy ending. I would've been cool with Geoff turning out to be the evil one. It would have given the story some oomph.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2013
Bristol House is a wonderful book of history, intrigue and redemption. Annie Kendall is scholar trying to recover her reputation and her dignity after years of alcohol abuse. Annie is trying to redeem herself to reclaim her life and her son. She is a very complex character who constantly struggles with guilt and her sense of mission to solve a mystery. I liked Annie quite a bit. She is flawed but thanks to her recovery she recognizes those flaws and accepts them as who she is. She is a fighter!
Tudor England was such a difficult place during the Henry VIII's reign. Jews and Catholics alike were to be shunned and killed. I found the plot of the True Obedience to be very interesting. I liked how it went back and forth in time. I enjoyed the different perspectives; past and present. At times, this book reminded of The Da Vinci Code but not completely. It is full of mystery and intrigue like The Da Vinci but Bristol House has its own twists and turns that will keep you totally engaged.
With Geoff Harris, Annie finds some romance where she wasn't expecting. Geoff is another good character. He has own demons that he must face. This romantic subplot reminded me of Rebecca. I liked their relationship and how it was resolved in the end. Not quite happily ever after, but close enough.
Bristol House is a very good book that will keep your mind racing to try to figure out the mystery of the Jew of Holburn.
Tudor England was such a difficult place during the Henry VIII's reign. Jews and Catholics alike were to be shunned and killed. I found the plot of the True Obedience to be very interesting. I liked how it went back and forth in time. I enjoyed the different perspectives; past and present. At times, this book reminded of The Da Vinci Code but not completely. It is full of mystery and intrigue like The Da Vinci but Bristol House has its own twists and turns that will keep you totally engaged.
With Geoff Harris, Annie finds some romance where she wasn't expecting. Geoff is another good character. He has own demons that he must face. This romantic subplot reminded me of Rebecca. I liked their relationship and how it was resolved in the end. Not quite happily ever after, but close enough.
Bristol House is a very good book that will keep your mind racing to try to figure out the mystery of the Jew of Holburn.
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