Genre: Historical, Regency, Paranormal, Mystery
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Jay
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About The Book
In the spring of 1817, Christian Maxwell is recovering at home in Wiltshire from a spate of illness following his adventures at Haverford House earlier in the year. Sam Gillespie, Christian’s constant companion in life and paranormal investigations, suggests a road trip to aid Christian’s recovery. They plan to visit friends and places from their previous adventures until reaching a house party at Chepstow on the Welsh borders.
During the journey, the bond between the couple seems stronger than ever. Once they reach their destination, exuberant Sam throws himself into socialising, while retiring Christian feels increasingly isolated despite being surrounded by conviviality.
Might this be an indication that they are ultimately unsuited? Or will unexpected peril prove that the link between Christian and Sam is unbreakable?
The Review
Christian and Sam are an interesting couple, first met in The Monk’s Lair. It’s not altogether necessary to have read that before reading this book, but it does add to the knowledge and general atmosphere, especially when Tintern Abbey is revisited.
Christian has the ability to sense things like the past through touching objects like stones. When he obliges some fellow guests at a party by touching jewellery etc. he sets off an exciting and dangerous series of events.
The period details are well researched, as is the itinerary Christian and Sam follow with various famous and not so famous places lovingly described. For such a brief story, these descriptions occasionally make the reader feel embarked on a travelogue rather than a story, however pleasing, but the eventual gripping solution to the mystery of local robberies is worth the effort of reading on.
This is a novella rather than a full novel, as was the previous book. I am sure we will be hearing more about Christian and Sam, and I look forward to reading sequels.
4 stars.
The Reviewer
I’ve been doing book reviews on my website, crossposted or linked to various social media, for a few years. I read a number of genres but I really enjoy all kinds of speculative fiction so thought I’d like to share my views with you. I love sci fi and other speculative fiction because of the way it can, at its best, make us see ourselves in a new light. Quite apart from the exciting stories, of course! I used to be an English teacher, and I’m a writer (fantasy) so I can be quite critical about style etc. but I hope I can also appreciate properly some books that don’t appeal to me personally but might be simply perfect for others. I have, obviously, read widely, and continue to do so.
