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The Widow's Vow by Rachel Brimble #Review #PublicationDay

  Today's historical fiction takes us to Victorian England and Bath. Published by Boldwood  today on December 16th, A Widow's Vow is the first in the Ladies of Carson Street saga series by Rachel Brimble.   From grieving widow... 1851. After her merchant husband saved her from a life of prostitution, Louisa Hill was briefly happy as a housewife in Bristol. But then a constable arrives at her door. Her husband has been found hanged in a Bath hotel room, a note and a key to a property in Bath the only things she has left of him. And now the debt collectors will come calling. To a new life as a madam. Forced to leave everything she knows behind, Louisa finds more painful betrayals waiting for her in the house in Bath. Left with no means of income, Louisa knows she has nothing to turn to but her old way of life. But this time, she'll do it on her own terms – by turning her home into a brothel for upper class gentleman. And she's determined to spare the girls she sa...
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The Lost Shrine by Nicola Ford #Hills&Barbrook book 2 #Review #Publication Day


 I am delighted to be featuring Nicola Ford's latest novel, The Lost Shrine, on Publication Day.

Clare Hills, archaeologist and sometime sleuth, is struggling to finance her recently established university research institute along with her long-time friend, Dr David Barbrook. When they are offered commercial work with a housing developer on a site in the Cotswolds, the pair are hardly in a position to refuse. There is just one slight catch: the previous site director, Beth Kinsella, was found hanged on-site, surrounded by mutilated wildlife. Despite misgivings, Clare leads a team to continue work on the dig, juggling lingering disquiet between local residents and the developers. When something unsettling is unearthed, will Clare uncover the truth before it is hidden for ever?

My Thoughts

When I reviewed the first in this series,The Hidden Bones, I wrote that I hoped to read more books featuring Clare Hills. Well I got my wish and thoroughly enjoyed The Lost Shrine. As archaeology meets crime fiction, this is a book which totally engages the reader and immerses you in a world which the author knows well. Consequently, it has an authenticity which rings true.

    I found all the characters to be believable and love the connection which is teased between David Barbrook and Claire Hills. In fact all the secondary characters stand out in their own right, with Jo and Margaret being my favourites. The mystery is slowly uncovered, in a painstaking way, mirroring the work on site. In all, it is an entertaining read, written with a fluent writing style and an easy manner. Roll on Book 3!

In short: More secrets are uncovered in the Cotswolds.
 
About the Author



Nicola Ford is the pen-name for archaeologist Dr Nick Snashall, National Trust Archaeologist for the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site. Through her day job and now her writing, she’s spent more time than most people thinking about the dead.
 

You can follow Nicola here: Website   |  Facebook   |  Twitter 
                                            |  Instagram

Book link:   Amazon UK

Thanks to Nicola Ford and Lesley Crooks of Allison & Busby for a copy of the book. There will be the opportunity to get the e-book for 99p from 29th May to 5th June.


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