I’m on a weekend binge of reading for reviews right now, so I turned to Sandie Herron for help. This is a review of a book, instead of an audiobook, so it’s not one of the “Have You Heard” pieces. Today, Sandie reviews a standalone by Charles Todd. I’m sure most of you have heard of Todd’s Ian Rutledge and Bess Crawford mysteries. Set in the same time period, this is The Murder Stone.
THE MURDER STONE
By
Charles Todd
Charles Todd
Bantam
Books (November 4, 2003)
Books (November 4, 2003)
Francis
Hatton died in 1916 while the Great War raged in Europe, and life changed
forever. The old man took ill after the
black-rimmed telegram arrived announcing the death of his last grandson. He died a short while later, once his
granddaughter had returned from her Red Cross duties in London. In another time he would have had his two
sons, their wives, and his six grandchildren and his many servants from River’s
End estate to mourn his passing. But in
this time he had been left one by one by all of them but the youngest,
Francesca, who is now his sole heir.
Hatton died in 1916 while the Great War raged in Europe, and life changed
forever. The old man took ill after the
black-rimmed telegram arrived announcing the death of his last grandson. He died a short while later, once his
granddaughter had returned from her Red Cross duties in London. In another time he would have had his two
sons, their wives, and his six grandchildren and his many servants from River’s
End estate to mourn his passing. But in
this time he had been left one by one by all of them but the youngest,
Francesca, who is now his sole heir.
Little
does Francesca realize that with the inheritance of River’s End comes a
peculiar request to move a white stone that she and her cousins in their many
games had called the Murder Stone. In
addition to River’s End in Devon, the Will mentions estates in Sussex and
Essex, of which she knew nothing. This
is only the beginning of the numerous secrets and rumors and whispering that
begin with Francis Hatton’s death. Along
with the Will was a sealed letter with no signature that simply stated “May you
and yours rot in hell then. It is no
more than you deserve.”
does Francesca realize that with the inheritance of River’s End comes a
peculiar request to move a white stone that she and her cousins in their many
games had called the Murder Stone. In
addition to River’s End in Devon, the Will mentions estates in Sussex and
Essex, of which she knew nothing. This
is only the beginning of the numerous secrets and rumors and whispering that
begin with Francis Hatton’s death. Along
with the Will was a sealed letter with no signature that simply stated “May you
and yours rot in hell then. It is no
more than you deserve.”
Bewildered
and grieving and very much alone, Francesca must see to the funeral and
burial. Before she can even do so,
Richard Leighton comes calling, insisting that Francis Hatton had killed his
mother and buried her; he wants her body to put to rest. Another man claims Francis Hatton stole his
estate in Essex in a card game and demands the prerogative to buy it back since
it rightfully belongs to his family who had held title for over 400 years. Yet another gruff man attends the funeral and
inspects the entire house uninvited searching for a box of ledgers for which he
claims to have paid an exorbitant price.
A young woman claiming to be Francesca’s nanny asks if Francis Hatton
had left her any money in his Will, yet neither Francesca nor her housekeeper
recognize her.
and grieving and very much alone, Francesca must see to the funeral and
burial. Before she can even do so,
Richard Leighton comes calling, insisting that Francis Hatton had killed his
mother and buried her; he wants her body to put to rest. Another man claims Francis Hatton stole his
estate in Essex in a card game and demands the prerogative to buy it back since
it rightfully belongs to his family who had held title for over 400 years. Yet another gruff man attends the funeral and
inspects the entire house uninvited searching for a box of ledgers for which he
claims to have paid an exorbitant price.
A young woman claiming to be Francesca’s nanny asks if Francis Hatton
had left her any money in his Will, yet neither Francesca nor her housekeeper
recognize her.
It
is shortly after the funeral that Francesca realizes, “If there was only
someone she could confide in – trust with her questions, with her doubts and
fears. But where to put that trust? That was the price of being the last of the
Hattons. She could rely only on her own
instincts, her own wisdom. Her own
courage.” This very sentence is what
carries the rest of this excellent novel as Francesca learns the secrets
Francis Hatton left behind.
is shortly after the funeral that Francesca realizes, “If there was only
someone she could confide in – trust with her questions, with her doubts and
fears. But where to put that trust? That was the price of being the last of the
Hattons. She could rely only on her own
instincts, her own wisdom. Her own
courage.” This very sentence is what
carries the rest of this excellent novel as Francesca learns the secrets
Francis Hatton left behind.
Charles
Todd’s writing has an aura about it that transported me back in time. The time period is the same as his excellent
Ian Rutledge series and deals with the similar theme of the effects of war on
men and women, but if it is possible, from an even closer viewpoint. Todd writes just as if he were an author in
1916 and represents the vastly different way of life with such expertise. The action is not the same as that of a
present day thriller; he deals more with the details of how people interact and
react and their relationships with each other.
Please don’t misunderstand, however, because there is very real suspense
and intrigue here. The nuances are finer
and more intricate. The impact of small
details carry through and drive the story.
Todd’s writing has an aura about it that transported me back in time. The time period is the same as his excellent
Ian Rutledge series and deals with the similar theme of the effects of war on
men and women, but if it is possible, from an even closer viewpoint. Todd writes just as if he were an author in
1916 and represents the vastly different way of life with such expertise. The action is not the same as that of a
present day thriller; he deals more with the details of how people interact and
react and their relationships with each other.
Please don’t misunderstand, however, because there is very real suspense
and intrigue here. The nuances are finer
and more intricate. The impact of small
details carry through and drive the story.
The
unveiling of the many secrets held by Francis Hatton and others was deliciously
enthralling. How interconnected they all
became in the end was fascinating to read.
It is Francesca Hatton, sole heir of Francis Hatton, who must decide
what do. I certainly enjoyed following
along on her journey.
unveiling of the many secrets held by Francis Hatton and others was deliciously
enthralling. How interconnected they all
became in the end was fascinating to read.
It is Francesca Hatton, sole heir of Francis Hatton, who must decide
what do. I certainly enjoyed following
along on her journey.
The Murder Stone by Charles Todd. Bantam, 2003. ISBN 978-0553803488 (hardcover), 368p.
I've had this book on my TBR for a really long time, but have not read it as yet. I think I got it at The Poisoned Pen when I was lucky enough to see Charles and Caroline Todd at an event. Nice review! Now I need to go find this book. LOL
I know! This one sounds intriguing, doesn't it, Kay? Sometimes, it's just nice to have a standalone.