Bellewether

Bellewether
by Susanna Kearsley
Sourcebooks Landmark, 2018, 434 pages, General Fiction

When Charley Van Hoek moves back to Long Island to be the curator of the Wilde House Museum, she immediately becomes fascinated with what happened to the inhabitants of the house during the French and Indian War. Specifically, Charley is interested in the story of Lydia Wilde and a French prisoner of war named Jean-Philippe de Sabran. Legend has it that the forbidden love between Jean-Philippe and Lydia ended tragically, but centuries later, the clues they left behind slowly unveil the true story.

Susanna Kearsley is a master at writing stories that deftly combine elements of historical fiction, mystery, romance, and a slight hint of something magical. Although this book takes a while to unfold, Kearsley’s skill in telling two different stories at once, and making the plot of each build and grow at the same rate, kept me hooked. I was equally interested in both stories, and hanging on Kearsley’s every word.

Fans of Susanna Kearsley will likely also enjoy books by Kate Morton. Both authors write captivating books about people in the present day researching mysteries of the past.

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