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A review by kittyg
Harkworth Hall by L.S. Johnson
3.0
This was one of the better #SPFBO books I have in my batch this year and although this book is less fantastical than some of the others, there is a certain sense of wariness and dread that you get from reading it which added to the atmosphere.
This is the story of Caroline, a young lady who is just trying to keep her and her father afloat in their noble lifestyle with dwindling funds and hard times ahead. She is a dutiful daughter who cares a great deal for her father, and she only wants to help him, but secretly she wishes that help didn't have to come from a good marriage as she doesn't wish to be married at all.
The story is set in the countryside, where many old families have fallen on harsher times and the country of England is fighting to stay on top of their rivals the French. We soon meet a new young man who has come to the neighbourhood to try and broker a deal with the locals and invest in new trade. It seems that he is too good to be true, and Caroline is quickly suspicious when she is warned off of him, but she doesn't know quite how much trouble looms until a young girl goes missing and she has to hunt for her...
What I liked about this was the tone, it's dark and gloomy and bleak and I think you get a good sense of the drudgery of Caroline's life right from the start. I also think that there was a lot to like about Caroline because although up to this point she has obeyed all the rules and been there for her father she has a lot more to give and the events that play out means she has a chance to shine more. There is even a lesbian romance later in the book which was a wonderful and natural addition to the story.
Overall, I think this is one of those books where it starts off slow and builds the tension up to the end where the drama unfolds. I can certainly see this becoming a strong series, and my only real criticism is that it felt a little under-developed in places and some of the events were a little too convenient for my liking. 3.75*s from me, which is 7.5*s for #SPFBO purposes.
This is the story of Caroline, a young lady who is just trying to keep her and her father afloat in their noble lifestyle with dwindling funds and hard times ahead. She is a dutiful daughter who cares a great deal for her father, and she only wants to help him, but secretly she wishes that help didn't have to come from a good marriage as she doesn't wish to be married at all.
The story is set in the countryside, where many old families have fallen on harsher times and the country of England is fighting to stay on top of their rivals the French. We soon meet a new young man who has come to the neighbourhood to try and broker a deal with the locals and invest in new trade. It seems that he is too good to be true, and Caroline is quickly suspicious when she is warned off of him, but she doesn't know quite how much trouble looms until a young girl goes missing and she has to hunt for her...
What I liked about this was the tone, it's dark and gloomy and bleak and I think you get a good sense of the drudgery of Caroline's life right from the start. I also think that there was a lot to like about Caroline because although up to this point she has obeyed all the rules and been there for her father she has a lot more to give and the events that play out means she has a chance to shine more. There is even a lesbian romance later in the book which was a wonderful and natural addition to the story.
Overall, I think this is one of those books where it starts off slow and builds the tension up to the end where the drama unfolds. I can certainly see this becoming a strong series, and my only real criticism is that it felt a little under-developed in places and some of the events were a little too convenient for my liking. 3.75*s from me, which is 7.5*s for #SPFBO purposes.