![]() Book name: A Place of Secrets Author: Rachel Hore Genre: Mystery Goodreads: Link Storygraph: Link “It is my belief, Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin than does the smiling and beautiful countryside.” Reading A place of Secrets, this quote by Sherlock Holmes was what came to my mind as the protagonist of the novel; Jude who works at a London auction house, finds herself in the beautiful countryside in Norfolk where she unexpectedly finds herself uncovering the story of an 18th century astronomer and his mysterious adopted daughter all of which is centered around a mysterious tower. The story reads primarily as a mystery novel where Jude has to find clues to solve the mystery of the past. But it also mixes elements from other genre's such as historical fiction, horror and even a bit of Fantasy which somewhat reminded me of Jesse Burton's the miniaturist. The latter is particular interesting and is a clever tool the author seems to have used in order to keep the reader invested in the story where even though it is an investigation of past events, it seems to have serious implications for Jude and the rest of the cast of characters digging into this in the present. The book is a bit slow paced and takes time to get started, and initially I had a very different expectation of what the book was about. But once Jude started to uncover details about the past I found it very engrossing where at times you feel you are reading a different book altogether. The book is also quite interesting for some of the little insights which provides a window into the world of various topics such as the unexpectedly cut throat world of high stake Antiquarian book dealings market, the creative process for a nature writer and just a bit too much about the behaviours of Moths! As a mystery novel I felt there was a just a bit too many neat coincidences and connections to the cast of characters while some of the characters which the author spent alot of time introducing played only a minor role in the stories developments. While this may partly have been deliberate and left as red herrings in order to keep the reader guessing about the mystery. Recommendation Overall found it an enjoyable book and if your anticipating a lazy Sunday read and want a peaceful and soothing book to curl up to and read, this might be a good choice for that! Quotes Those who study the stars come to know of how small and insignificant we are, like ants or beetles on the face of lonely rocks spinning eternally in infinite space. How the hand of fate might strike us in our futile insect purposes without warning or pity. - Anthony Wickham the 18th Century Astronomer She had hardly been beyond it, never seen Norwich and its fine Norman cathedral, never visited Yarmouth to see the herring boats come in, never seen the vast North Sea crash on the shingle. But she had surveyed some of the greatest secrets of the universe, had studied the infinite skies above all, seen other planets, seen stars winking at her from who knew how many millions of miles and millions of years away. She was young in years but old in knowledge and wisdom. She was a girl who’d lost her beginnings and might soon know her end. - Esther; Anthony Wickham's adopted daughter at the heart of the mystery Mark had gone, passed into the care of the Keeper of the Stars, but the stars were still there. And now, now there was Euan close beside her, waiting. -Jude seeks answers in the stars and deals with her personal struggles
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AuthorAvid reader of Historical fiction, High fantasy novels, Comics & Graphic Novels. Passionate about teaching & the future of education in general. Categories
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December 2023
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