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Shores of Darkness
A spectacular weaving of 18th-century fable, history and fiction! Martin Millet came home from the war in Flanders one summer day in 1706 to find his Aunt Effie murdered, his friend Daniel Defoe embroiled in espionage, and himself responsible for Bratchet, his aunt's female servant, whose life is also threatened. Instead of settling on a small estate, as he had hoped, Martin must embark on a seven-year odyssey which will lead him, Bratchet and a mysterious Highlander from London's stews back to the battlefields of Flanders, the court of the Sun King, the perils of piracy on the high seas and the horrors of Jamaica's sugar plantations. Yet did they but know it, the answer to Effie's death, Bratchet's safety and Defoe's commission lies closer to home - in the apartments of Queen Anne, dying with no Protestant heir in view...
470 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1996
5 people are currently reading
178 people want to read
About the author
Diana Norman
32 books147 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
British journalist Diana Norman also writes as Ariana Franklin.
Born Mary Diana Narracott, she grew up first in London and then in Devon, where her mother took her to escape the blitz. At the age of 15, she left school, but with journalism in her background (her father had been a Times correspondent)and her hardy intelligence, the lack of formal education proved no barrier and by 17 she was n London, working on a local newspaper in the East End.
Headhunted at 20 by the Daily Herald, Norman became the youngest reporter on Fleet Street, covering royal visits, donning camouflage to go on exercise with the Royal Marines, and missing her 21st birthday party because she was covering a murder on the south coast. When she protested about this to the news editor, she was told: "Many happy returns. Now get down to Southampton." Diana Norman became, at twenty years of age, the youngest reporter on what used to be Fleet Street.
She married the film critic Barry Norman in 1957, and they settled in Hertfordshire with their two daughters. She began writing fiction shortly after her second daughter was born. Her first book of fiction, Fitzempress's Law, was chosen by Frank Delaney of BBC Radio 4's Bookshelf as the best example of a historical novel of its year. She is now a freelance journalist, as well as a writer of biographies and historical novels.
She died at the age of 77 on January 27, 2011. She was best known for her historical crime series featuring the 12th-century medical examiner Adelia Aguilar, written under the pen name of Ariana Franklin. The first book in the series, Mistress of the Art of Death, was published to critical acclaim in 2007 and won the Ellis Peters Historical Dagger award in the UK, as well as prizes in the US and Sweden.
Norman is survived by her husband, their daughters, Samantha and Emma, and three grandsons. Mr. Norman wrote a wonderful tribute to his wife.
• Diana Norman, writer, born 25 August 1933; died 27 January 2011
British journalist Diana Norman also writes as Ariana Franklin.
Born Mary Diana Narracott, she grew up first in London and then in Devon, where her mother took her to escape the blitz. At the age of 15, she left school, but with journalism in her background (her father had been a Times correspondent)and her hardy intelligence, the lack of formal education proved no barrier and by 17 she was n London, working on a local newspaper in the East End.
Headhunted at 20 by the Daily Herald, Norman became the youngest reporter on Fleet Street, covering royal visits, donning camouflage to go on exercise with the Royal Marines, and missing her 21st birthday party because she was covering a murder on the south coast. When she protested about this to the news editor, she was told: "Many happy returns. Now get down to Southampton." Diana Norman became, at twenty years of age, the youngest reporter on what used to be Fleet Street.
She married the film critic Barry Norman in 1957, and they settled in Hertfordshire with their two daughters. She began writing fiction shortly after her second daughter was born. Her first book of fiction, Fitzempress's Law, was chosen by Frank Delaney of BBC Radio 4's Bookshelf as the best example of a historical novel of its year. She is now a freelance journalist, as well as a writer of biographies and historical novels.
She died at the age of 77 on January 27, 2011. She was best known for her historical crime series featuring the 12th-century medical examiner Adelia Aguilar, written under the pen name of Ariana Franklin. The first book in the series, Mistress of the Art of Death, was published to critical acclaim in 2007 and won the Ellis Peters Historical Dagger award in the UK, as well as prizes in the US and Sweden.
Norman is survived by her husband, their daughters, Samantha and Emma, and three grandsons. Mr. Norman wrote a wonderful tribute to his wife.
• Diana Norman, writer, born 25 August 1933; died 27 January 2011
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 4, 2020
This was an entertaining romp through the restoration period, from the courts of Louis XIV to the West Indes, and a cast of many, the main characters are well portrayed and I learned a lot of history! My only complaint is that it was poorly paced in places.
November 17, 2014
I so love this author - whether she is writing as Diana Norman or Ariana Franklin - I have resolved to read every one of her books. No small task, since none of her novels would qualify as a small, light, or quick read! These are epics - and so thoroughly enjoyable. "Shores of Darkness" takes place in the last years of the Stuart dynasty (this author does so well with historical mysteries, and is very attentive to detail!) and has some of the best, most wholly developed characters I have read anywhere. They are "royalty", slaves, soldiers and, yes, best of all, pirates. The love story evolves slowly and magnificently, and is so worth the wait; the action is nonstop, and the descriptive passages bring the far past to life completely. Such a fantastic read for long November nights!
May 18, 2011
Oh my! That was amazing! I'm walking around in a happy haze.
A total stealth book with a boring cover and title. But inside...riches galore! As I've said before, I'm enjoying the books she wrote as Diana Norman even more than the ones she wrote as Ariana Franklin.
This book is totally wonderful historic suspense. Has very strong female (and male) characters, tons of adventure, and, need I say...
I really wish someone would re-publish these books so that they are available again. Maybe they should put them under her other pseudonym to take advantage of the familarity of current fans? Give them more 'catchy' titles and cover art?
I had to get this book through inter-library loan, so you may have access to it that way. But I'd really like to own it. Here's hoping...
A total stealth book with a boring cover and title. But inside...riches galore! As I've said before, I'm enjoying the books she wrote as Diana Norman even more than the ones she wrote as Ariana Franklin.
This book is totally wonderful historic suspense. Has very strong female (and male) characters, tons of adventure, and, need I say...
I really wish someone would re-publish these books so that they are available again. Maybe they should put them under her other pseudonym to take advantage of the familarity of current fans? Give them more 'catchy' titles and cover art?
I had to get this book through inter-library loan, so you may have access to it that way. But I'd really like to own it. Here's hoping...
May 3, 2024
I just love this amazing author. She always takes me places I’d never imagine, there will always be an incredibly strong, fierce woman and lots of history lessons
August 29, 2016
Loved it! A chance purchase from a charity bookshelf, it fizzes with life and vitality. What a great adventure, and I loved the Bratchet. Will definitely look out more by the author. Sad to see she's no longer with us.
June 18, 2015
Another wild ride from Diana Norman with lots of flamboyant characters, historical detail and lessons to be learned over and over about all humans being humans. Very effective and skilful structure with different types of narration.
September 11, 2012
A stirring adventure set early in the 18th century involving a possible claimant to the English throne, murder, piracy, the horrors of slavery, and the machinations of a madwoman. Amazing. I feel privileged to have had the chance to read it.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews