8.12.15

BOOK REVIEW: House of Shadows by Nicola Cornick

London 1662:
There was something the White Queen needed to tell him. She fought for the strength to speak.
'The crystal mirror is a danger. It must be destroyed.' He replied instantly 'It will.'
Ashdown House, Oxfordshire, present day:
Ben Ansell is researching his family tree when he disappears. As his sister Holly begins a desperate search, she finds herself inexplicably drawn to an ornate antique mirror and the diary of Lavinia, a 19th Century courtesan who was living at Ashdown House when it was burned down over 200 years ago.
Intrigued and determined to find out more about the tragedy at Ashdown, Holly's only hope is that uncovering the truth about the past will lead her to Ben. 

Publisher:Mira
Pages: 476

This book was so intriguing, I really enjoyed it. This is the first book I've read by Nicola Cornick but House of Shadows really reminded me of Kate Morton's books which I am a big fan of.
Nicola Cornick goes back and forth in time between 1662, 1801 and 2014. Each story is just as interesting and I was very impressed by the way Nicola Cornick tied them together.
Holly is having to delve into the past as her beloved brother Ben has gone missing, he was doing family research at the time and the only  clue he has left behind is adiary from a 19th Century Courtesan in which he has written several names. He had also been in touch with somebody about a rare, antique mirror. Holly knows she is going to have to dig deep in order to find out what has happened to her brother.
The fact that Nicola Cornick is a historian shines through, her attention to detail is impeccable and then add to this the fantastic story she has woven around the historical facts.
I did like the character of Holly and you very much feel like you are alongside her on the search for clues to lead her to Ben.
House of Shadows is an excellent  book; if you are a fan of historical fiction and books with plenty of intrigue then do not miss this one.

Many thanks to Midas PR for sending me a copy of this book to review.

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