TEST
In the first book of the Braceridge series, the victim died by spontaneously combusting. It’s a method that immediately piqued the reader’s interest, which was further held by a well-written plot. In this, the fourth in the series, the murder method isn’t nearly as intriguing and sadly, neither is the plot.
The time is 1766 and the place is the town of Bracebridge in Massachusetts colony. Charlotte Willett has learned to live with the death of her husband and has also become the go-to person when a townsperson has a problem. When a young man is murdered and her farm manager becomes a prime suspect, she teams up once again with her neighbor, Richard Longfellow. The murder victim is Alexander Godwin, a know-it-all, newly returned member of the community. He’d been spending a lot of time tending to the two reclusive women living on Boar Island. Since the island is reputed to be haunted, few others will venture there. Charlotte is convinced his death is connected to that strange place.
Though mysterious things are happening in Bracebridge, i.e. the murder, disappearing heirlooms, and the activity of Boar Island, they’re so few and far between that the reader begins to lose track of the plot points. Mysteries are supposed to grab you intellectually and/or emotionally. They should pull at you. This one never achieves that and I found my mind occasionally wandering.
While the mystery is a bit meandering and little happens to advance the possible romance of Charlotte and Richard, the author makes the pre-revolutionary New England setting into a supporting player. Tensions are beginning to rise between the colonies and England and the subplot that comes of these tensions was obviously well researched. It added depth to a setting that is not utilized enough.
Charlotte and Richard are the other strength of this novel. Both are fully realized characters that never seem cliché. Though the romance between them (and I’m hoping they are going to have one) is slow to build, their friendship is believable as is. Charlotte is intelligent and strong and, unlike the many anachronistic heroines of historical romance, she is a product of the time and setting. She doesn’t wear pants, have a name like Cymberly, or run off to be an actress. Likewise Richard fits the time and the place as a gentleman scholar who uses his wits more then his muscles.
Though the historical novels (primarily romance) published each year are legion, few are set in this time period. Readers who look for a little used setting will find it in this series. That being said, they’ll find a more intriguing mystery in the first of the series, A Wicked Way to Burn.
Grade: C
Book Type: Historical Mystery
Sensuality: N/A
Review Date: 03/07/01
Publication Date: 2001
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Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.