In the latest from the bestselling author of Season of Storms and Mariana, Charley Van Hoek takes up a position as curator of a historic home, where she hears an 18th century ghost story with a mystery she vows to solve. The tale moves back and forth from Charlotte in the present to 1759, during which a young French Canadian lieutenant in the Seven Years War is captured and billeted with a wealthy Long Island family, whose daughter catches his eye.
No one can weave past and present timelines quite so well as Ms. Kearsley, whose characters often mirror each other across the centuries ... Charley’s modern-day storyline lacks the emotional nuances of the historical plot, but readers can easily imagine themselves in the role of the ghost, gently nudging Charley towards the truth.
From the issue of slavery in American history, represented by the character of Violet, to the vibrant world Charley lives in which includes people of varying ethnicities and sexual orientation, the author paints her little corner of the world as inclusively as possible ... Fans of historical books and dual timeline novels will thoroughly enjoy Bellewether. While the pacing here is slow and occasionally pedantic, the author’s smooth, lyrical prose and amazing ability to recreate life in another time and place make the moments spent within the pages a pleasure. I am happy to recommend this to fans of the author and to encourage anyone interested in a good tale to pick it up.
Such is Kearsley’s storytelling skill that even the appearance of several deus ex machinas, who tie up all the missing pieces at the end, does not diminish the novel’s impact. Readers of women’s fiction, historical fiction, and romance will find much to love here, especially those fond of Kate Morton’s old houses, and book groups will enjoy discussing a less explored piece of American history.
