Sophia Rose Reviews-Shadows of Swanford Abbey by Julie Klassen

Today I welcome Sophia Rose back to the blog to review Shadows of Swanford Abbey by Julie Klassen a historical romantic suspense.
Enjoy!

Shadows of Swanford Abbey by Julie Klassen

Historical Romantic Suspense

Publisher:  Bethany House

Published:  12.7.21

ASIN:  B08XLNHC26

Pages: 441

Rating: 4.5

Format: eARC

Source:  Net Galley

Sellers:  Amazon

ADD TO: GoodReads

GoodReads Blurb:

News of her brother's worrisome behavior spurs Miss Rebecca Lane to return home to her village. Upon her arrival, he begs her to go to nearby Swanford Abbey, a medieval monastery turned grand hotel rumored to be haunted. Feeling responsible for her brother's desperate state, she reluctantly agrees to stay at the abbey until she can deliver his manuscript to a fellow guest who might help him get published--an author who once betrayed them.

Soon, Rebecca starts seeing strange things, including a figure in a hooded black gown gliding silently through the abbey's cloisters at night. 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--baronet, magistrate, and former neighbor--who long ago broke her heart. Now a handsome widower of thirty-five, he is trying to overcome a past betrayal of his own.

When the famous author is found dead, Sir Frederick makes inquiries and quickly discovers that several people held grudges against the author, including Miss Lane and her brother. As Sir Frederick searches for answers, he is torn between his growing feelings for Rebecca and his pursuit of the truth. For Miss Lane is clearly hiding something. . . .

 

Sophia Rose's Review:

Gentle Regency-Era Gothic blending with Murder Mystery and Inspirational Romance was a winning recipe for reader delight.  Auto-buy author, Julie Klassen, introduces a tale that several literary greats would give the nod of familiarity to setting, backdrop, characters and plot.

 

A young woman, Rebecca Lane, has been a paid companion traveling abroad with her employer until a letter from home leaves her uneasy and needing to return.  Her volatile brother has never been the same since their parents’ deaths, the loss of their home, a long-standing battle with a famous author who stole his early work, and a severe fall as a child that affected his mind.  Now, he has a new manuscript and insists she take it for him to Swanford Abbey, a converted hotel, and deliver it to the same author he is still battling and hope the man has enough conscious left to present it on her brother’s behalf for publication. 

Rebecca gets the shivers about being anywhere near that haunted abbey since she was a child and doesn’t need a premonition to tell her this is not a good idea.  Naturally, things take a terrible turn for the worst when she bumps into the local man, Sir Frederick, for whom she had an unrequited crush and he is now recovering from the death of a wife after a marriage that was a mistake and that is followed by the murder of the author she was sent to approach.  Sir Frederick is the magistrate who must investigate and Rebecca and her brother are near the top of his suspect list even while he feels the attraction to the haunted and secretive Miss Lane.

 

Over the years, Julie Klassen’s books have ranged from sweet historical romance to a dabble into mild romantic suspense, but of late, I felt the stronger flavoring of suspense taking over.  It was no surprise that this one plunged deeply into a murder mystery with several suspects with opportunities, motives, and more.  There are twists and surprises as the mystery trails to the big reveal.  Meanwhile, there is still some delicious Gothic atmosphere and a tender chance at love.

 

The Regency era backdrop was spot on as was the description and feel of that shadowy abbey hotel.  There is a slow build of character development, murder plot, and romance with the romance more back burner to the end.  Like other books, Klassen teases out topics like the traumatic brain injury that went undiagnosed and treated back then, the tremendous guilt Rebecca takes on for her brother’s fall, and the weight of a failed marriage that Frederick carries.  The author offers a religious approach to these concerns though it is light and appropriate to the story.  There is much going on in this book without it ever feeling too busy.  I never did work out the solution to the murder and chose to just go along for the ride. 

 

I really hope Julie Klassen writes more murder mysteries as this one was a true pleasure.  I can recommend it to those who love historical mysteries and romantic suspenses set in historical eras.

 

Author Bio:

Julie Klassen loves all things Jane—Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. Three of her books, The Silent Governess, The Girl in the Gatehouse, and The Maid of Fairbourne Hall, have won the Christy Award for Historical Romance. She has also won the Midwest Book Award, the Minnesota Book Award, and Christian Retailing’s BEST Award, and been a finalist in the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Awards and ACFW’s Carol Awards. She blogs at http://www.inspiredbylifeandfiction.com.
Julie and her husband have two sons and live in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota.

Website:  https://julieklassen.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJulieKlassen/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Julie_Klassen

 

Sophia’s Bio:

Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.

Sophia’s Social Media Links:

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/sophia.rose.7587

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sophiarose1816

GoodReads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13418187.Sophia_Rose