Review: Shadows of Swanford Abbey by Julie Klassen

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Agatha Christie meets Jane Austen in this atmospheric Regency tale brimming with mystery, intrigue, and romance.

When Miss Rebecca Lane returns to her home village after a few years away, her brother begs for a favor: go to nearby Swanford Abbey and deliver his manuscript to an author staying there who could help him get published. Feeling responsible for her brother's desperate state, she reluctantly agrees.

The medieval monastery turned grand hotel is rumored to be haunted. Once there, Rebecca begins noticing strange things, including a figure in a hooded black gown gliding silently through the abbey's cloisters. For all its renovations and veneer of luxury, the ancient foundations seem to echo with whispers of the past--including her own. For there she encounters Sir Frederick--magistrate, widower, and former neighbor--who long ago broke her heart.

When the famous author is found murdered in the abbey, Sir Frederick begins questioning staff and guests and quickly discovers that several people held grudges against the man, including Miss Lane and her brother. Haunted by a painful betrayal in his past, Sir Frederick searches for answers but is torn between his growing feelings for Rebecca and his pursuit of the truth. For Miss Lane is clearly hiding something. . . .

My Review

There is such a variety of things to appreciate about this book! The Gothic vibes of the setting with a murder mystery in a rumored haunted abbey, refurbished as a Regency hotel. The historic details of law jurisdiction, criminal investigation, book publishing, neighborhood improvement, and more brought the era to life and highlighted the differences and similarities to how those processes work now. I enjoyed the cast of unique characters that influence Rebecca and those close to her. The somewhat slower pace gives the reader a good opportunity to get to know the characters as the threads of the plot begin to weave together. I felt that the romance could have used more chemistry, but I enjoyed the sweet romance between Rebecca and the man she crushed on in her childhood. The solving of the mystery had tones of the Lady Darby Mystery series by Anna Lee Huber, and it was intriguing to see some science come into play as well as motivation. An entertaining mystery!

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.