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tasmanian_bibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
‘Let us go and prepare ourselves.’
In spring 1810, Reverend Tobias Campion, who has turned his back on a life of privilege, takes up his small Warwickshire parish of Moreton Priory. Alas, his first night in the village as the guest of his distant cousin, Lady Elham, is exciting for all of the wrong reasons. Tobias intervenes in the attempted rape of Lizzie Woodman, a housemaid in his cousin’s home. While this makes him a hero to some, it brings him the enmity of others.
Nothing is quite what it seems in at Moreton Priory. Tobias makes friends with Dr Edmund Hansard, uses his social conscience in relation to the lives of the labourers and poor of the village, and consequently offends some of his parishioners. At the same time, while he has deepening feelings of affection for Lizzie, he is aware that others are also attracted to her. Soon, though, a number of deaths and accidents occur and soon Reverend Campion and Dr Hansard join forces to try to uncover some answers.
It is not particularly fast-paced and some may find that the scene-setting takes too long. However, once the scene is set and the characters established, the novel is full of twists and turns and some insights into the social history of the times. It is the historical setting rather than the mystery that makes this novel most enjoyable. This is the first book in a series and I’ll be reading the next book ‘Shadow of the Past’ to see how what the future holds in store for Tobias Campion.
In spring 1810, Reverend Tobias Campion, who has turned his back on a life of privilege, takes up his small Warwickshire parish of Moreton Priory. Alas, his first night in the village as the guest of his distant cousin, Lady Elham, is exciting for all of the wrong reasons. Tobias intervenes in the attempted rape of Lizzie Woodman, a housemaid in his cousin’s home. While this makes him a hero to some, it brings him the enmity of others.
Nothing is quite what it seems in at Moreton Priory. Tobias makes friends with Dr Edmund Hansard, uses his social conscience in relation to the lives of the labourers and poor of the village, and consequently offends some of his parishioners. At the same time, while he has deepening feelings of affection for Lizzie, he is aware that others are also attracted to her. Soon, though, a number of deaths and accidents occur and soon Reverend Campion and Dr Hansard join forces to try to uncover some answers.
It is not particularly fast-paced and some may find that the scene-setting takes too long. However, once the scene is set and the characters established, the novel is full of twists and turns and some insights into the social history of the times. It is the historical setting rather than the mystery that makes this novel most enjoyable. This is the first book in a series and I’ll be reading the next book ‘Shadow of the Past’ to see how what the future holds in store for Tobias Campion.
jacquie62's review against another edition
2.0
The Keeper of Secrets
Judith Cutler
Description:
"Spring 1810. Young parson Tobias Campion is settling in at his new parish in Moreton St Jude. Although he loves the quiet village life, Tobias has a troubling sense that all is not quite as it seems.
The suspicious death of a poacher, the untimely demise of a local aristocrat and a mysterious attack on Tobias himself confirms his previous misgivings; malign influence is at work in the supposedly sleepy hamlet. And then someone close to his heart disappears."
Review:
Don't judge a book by its cover! I picked this book up free at my local library bookstore because of its mysterious cover and description.
I found this book slow and boring. The author's writing style seemed archaic and her phrasing choices made little sense to me. The book is set in the early 1800s but not written in the early 1800s - if that makes sense. I put the book down several times, thinking I might have a DNF on my shelf. I'm sorry but I can't recommend this book.
Judith Cutler
Description:
"Spring 1810. Young parson Tobias Campion is settling in at his new parish in Moreton St Jude. Although he loves the quiet village life, Tobias has a troubling sense that all is not quite as it seems.
The suspicious death of a poacher, the untimely demise of a local aristocrat and a mysterious attack on Tobias himself confirms his previous misgivings; malign influence is at work in the supposedly sleepy hamlet. And then someone close to his heart disappears."
Review:
Don't judge a book by its cover! I picked this book up free at my local library bookstore because of its mysterious cover and description.
I found this book slow and boring. The author's writing style seemed archaic and her phrasing choices made little sense to me. The book is set in the early 1800s but not written in the early 1800s - if that makes sense. I put the book down several times, thinking I might have a DNF on my shelf. I'm sorry but I can't recommend this book.
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