Back in January, I escaped the busyness of life and the dreary weather with Bellewether, the latest dual-narrative novel from, one of my favourite authors, Susanna Kearsley. Having previously read, and loved, six of her previous novels, I eagerly ripped through this anticipating a good dose of mystery, romance and history, and I wasn’t to be disappointed!
It all begins with a house: the Wilde House, which dates back to 1682, when Jacob Wilde came across from England and picked a spot above a small cove in Messaquamik Bay, Long Island to build his family a home. In the present day, it is a museum to Jacob’s famous descendent: the dashing, adventurer Benjamin Wilde, who captained the fair Bellewether. Sadly the house has been neglected over recent years, so the board decide to appoint a new curator: Charley Van Hoek, who has recently moved to the area after the sudden death of her brother to take care of her teenage niece.
I instantly liked Charley because she is a smart, practical and down-to-earth woman, with her head well and truly screwed on. Not the type for flights of fancy, and yet, one night, in the woods behind the house, Charley would swear she saw a ghostly, swinging lamp; which is linked to the legend of Benjamin Wilde’s sister, Lydia and her doomed romance with a French officer. As Charley starts to delve deeper into the history of the Wilde House, she discovers it holds many secrets and that Lydia’s legend may be based on some truth… but not quite the whole truth.
The second narrative of the novel follows Lydia Wilde in 1759, where the North American colonies are being torn apart by the continuing war between Britain and France. Whilst Lydia is already struggling to keep her fractured family together – following her mother’s death – she little needs the added trouble of two captured French officers, brought to them for their parole of honour. Neither does the French-Canadian lieutenant Jean-Philippe de Sabran have any desire to be there, but by the war’s end they’ll both learn love, honour, and duty can form tangled bonds that are not broken easily.
Again Kearsley has weaved together two immersive, believable narratives, with two strong, compelling heroines. All delivered in her comforting and familiar writing style, which I have come to love so much; like a favourite jumper. I must admit I wasn’t initially thrilled when I learnt that this was set in America – I do have a biased preference for her previous settings of the British Isles and Italy – however I was proven very wrong. This was a really interesting setting and time period, that Kearsley brought to life beautifully, which made for a refreshing change and taught me quite a bit too. Although it does all wrap up a little abruptly at the end.
All in all, I thought Bellewether was a wonderful escapist read, with a lovely blend of history, war, romance and mystery. It isn’t about to topple my old favourites The Rose Garden and Mariana, but it is a nice edition to Kearsley’s burgeoning canon of work. Great read.
Thank you to the publisher Sourcebooks Landmark for providing a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
Have you read this? Have you read any of Susanna Kearsley’s other novels?
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Jessica, how about adding this one to Books You Loved – looks like a goodie
I did share this in your March Books You Loved 🙂
Dual time lines seem all the rage! Cheers
They are, but Kearsley is the queen of them! 😀
One that I need to read! Where is all the time going to.
Lynn 😀
Lynn, if only I knew where the time was going?! When you have time, I hope you enjoy it. 😀
I love Susanna Kearsley’s books too, but haven’t read this one yet. The setting and time period do sound a bit different. I’m glad you enjoyed it and I’ll look forward to reading it myself eventually. 🙂
Thank you Helen and I hope you will enjoy this too! 🙂
Between you, Carmen and Helen I am bound to read this author someday.
Judy, I hope that someday is not too far off! 🙂
I didn’t like this one as much as I have her other novels; I still have two left to read them all. I thought there were so many opportunities to make the story better but she didn’t capitalize on them, like singling out Benjamin story or describing how life was during the French-Indian War. I loved the storyline set in the past but Charley’s not so much. You’re right that the novel tied up a little too nicely in the end; I would say, rather convenient too.
Carmen, I agree Kearsley didn’t capitalise on some of the opportunities in the past storyline, which actually meant I slightly preferred Charley’s storyline and that is very odd for me: I am usually always a bigger fan of the past! However – while I would agree this is not Kearsley’s best novel – I still found it a very enjoyable read overall.