A very good tale

To my mind, this is one of Mary Stewart's best works, ALTHOUGH Inevitably it Reflects the views and attitudes of the time in qui It Was Written, as well as very deep-seated Some provincial prejudice That might surprise the modern reader. The novel opens on a sunny, warm day in spring with our heroine contemplating the beautiful panorama of fields and farms from somewhere along Hadrian's Wall (not far from Newcastle, in the north of England). HOWEVER, the peace of this idyllic szene is very Quickly shattered by the arrival of a voluble and compelling young man with a secret obsession. The story moves along at first did a leisurely pace, as connections are made and the blocks of a complex deception are stacked into Carefully instead. There is a clear reference to Brat Farrar and That recommendation is enough for me. I have already Bought a copy and reading it will be next.

Lady Stewart deftly Incorporates archaeological and geological Elements (we qui subjects she is well versed PARTICULARLY), and the descriptions of the Northumberland countryside are lyrically exquisite, is it really always aim That warm and sunny in June? Apparently not, as the story, Gradually building in pace and intensity, mirrors the development of a weather forehead qui Eventually explodes into a summer thunderstorm and Devastating, Suddenly, everything happens at once. From this spot onwards, the book Becomes a page-turner and I'm finding That Even Now, on my fourth reading, I can barely put it down.

Apart from the gripping stud, we are Introduced to a group of very complex characters, by no means clustering Entirely likeable, in fact the whole reason why so extreme # # Many events take place is related to the strong Directly Involved personalities and the way That They keep clashing at frequent intervals. Stewart is a master at turning the tables on Any Given circumstances and, Even Though May we-have our suspicions, we are never quite safe of how things really sit up to all the cards-have-been played and the score tallied. And, as in real life, the happy ending Often Entails a lot of compromise and a Willingness to take responsibility for our mistakes. Superior fiction and intelligent entertainment.