I was prepared to love Shadows of Swanford Abbey, and am beyond disappointed that I didn't. Like many books of its kind, Swanford Abbey had some great "bone structure." I loved the idea of the abbey as a character in itself, and the idea of a mystery based on the death of a writer and the writing life.
Rebecca and Frederick were set up to be great characters as well. I wouldn't say they had romantic chemistry, but I sensed it was coming. While I was waiting, I did enjoy the friendship between them, particularly the flashback scenes. I also enjoyed some of the slightly more romantic or heroic scenes, like when Frederick tells off Ambrose Oliver for showing up at Rebecca's door drunk in the middle of the night.
Finally, I enjoyed what I saw of Rebecca and John's sibling relationship, and the depth that could've come from it. I appreciated the fact that although Rebecca was treated as John's caregiver, John did not read as helpless or "perfect in disability," so to speak. Within their sibling relationship, John and Rebecca are completely human and relatable. John is infuriatingly selfish at times, but anyone who's experienced any level of depression can relate to some of his actions. And Rebecca is a good representation of a sibling who loves her brother, but actually expects more from him (rather than wallowing in the self-pity of, "I love him, but he makes life horrible.") With Rebecca, it's more, "I love John, so I'm going to help him where I can and otherwise try to get us to a place of mutual healing."
Unfortunately, all these good points get buried in a lot of problems. The first and biggest is an excruciatingly slow pace. The mystery doesn't even begin until 200 pages in, which is a bit more than halfway through and way too late. Up to then, we mostly get narrative summary--explanations of who people are, relationships to each other, a couple of flashbacks, and so on.
Julie continues falling into telling over showing. Here, it's so egregious that you'll find phrasing like, "Rebecca wanted to see X," right next to, "And then she saw Y," or something to that effect. She also falls into this during the "solving" of the mystery, in that we get every single word of Frederick's inquest, but not a lot of movement or plot or character development.
As undeveloped as these characters are, there are also a *lot* of them. Few if any are developed beyond the label "hotel employee" or "hotel guest." I wouldn't have minded if there had been a few minor characters; after all, Swanford Abbey does read like your classic Agatha Christie, "closed circle" type of murder mystery. But the problem is, none of these characters move beyond names and labels. And speaking of names, every name seems similar. There are a bunch of F and H names, both for characters and places, that are difficult to keep up with.
All this said, this is still Julie Klassen. She can still write great books, and this one had the potential to be one of them. But it just didn't hit the right notes for me. I'll keep my eye on her and say better luck next time.
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Agatha Christie meets Jane Austen in this atmospheric Regency tale brimming with mystery
Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2022
(Review originally written on December 17, 2021)The last few years have seen the reemergence of classic murder-mystery storytelling in our house, with films such as Kenneth Branagh’s Murder on the Orient Express and and Rian Johnson’s Knives Out (which was such a hit, three more Knives Out movies are in the works). I've also enjoyed "Being Jane Austen" mysteries by author Stephanie Barron. For this viewer/reader, there is just something about the extended narrative of the introduction of many characters, any of whom could ultimately be guilty of a crime, and/or withholding secrets. Having little “clues” placed along the way as the mystery unfolds is always fun, especially if you return to the story a second time. Unexpected plot twists are a must (so– expected?), and having an element of romance is always a nice touch. In the case of Shadows of Swanford Abbey, author Julie Klassen has hit all the right points. Almost all the characters in this semi-gothic tale seem to be hiding something, the element of intrigue is palpable, and the plot frequently unpredictable. As is consistently the case with Klassen novels, the prose is well-written and the romance savory, yet tasteful.I found the characters to be especially well-drawn, and villain or not, they were very enjoyable. As I usually do, characters achieve “Hollywood casting” in my head as I read. I have a terrible time remembering names, but I never forget faces, so assigning “actors” to the individuals in the stories that I read helps me to keep everyone organized. I imagined a younger Felicity Jones as Rebecca Lane, and Stuart Martin as Sir Frederick. His flirtatious, youthful brother is personified by Callum Woodhouse. The troubled brother of Rebecca reminds me of Adam Nagaitis, who also played a troubled brother in Walk Invisible: The Brontë Sisters. The reclusive author Ambrose Oliver would be deftly handled by Tom Hardy, if he put on a few pounds.In addition to Klassen’s usual captivating writing, I was also impressed at her knowledge of several elements that are foreign to most. Based on the real-life Lacock Abbey, Swanford Abbey’s description in the novel was full of detail, showing the author’s thorough knowledge of the historic site. (For more detail, check out her YouTube video on the location – it’s really interesting!) Readers will also be treated to in-depth descriptions of activities of the 19th century period in which the characters lived, such as dressing habits, lawn bowling strategy, unique foods and other cultural references. Klassen has not only woven an intriguing, romantic tale, she has adeptly taken her readers back in time through details rife with historical accuracy.As 2022 dawns, if you are looking for an excellent read to enjoy on dark wintery nights by the fire, I heartily recommend Shadows of Swanford Abbey. While it does have its moments of foreboding, it is thoroughly family-friendly, appropriate for all ages. The story of Rebecca's unrequited love is delectable, and readers can expect some interesting twists that will leave them satisfied at the story’s conclusion. Shadows is an excellent addition to the library of works that Julie Klassen is building, and can be enjoyed by Agatha Christie and Jane Austen fans alike.
Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2022
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Top reviews from other countries
Carol Gilbert
this is a good book to settle in and read
Reviewed in Canada on December 23, 2021MARILYN
Intrigue and romance beautifully written!
Reviewed in Canada on March 31, 2022
