Friday 24 April 2015

Shadow on the highway - Deborah Swift

May 1651. England has been in the midst of a civil war for nearly ten years. The country has been torn in two, and the King is getting ready to make his last stand against Cromwell’s New Model Army. 

Abigail Chaplin, a young mute girl, has lost her father to the parliamentarian cause. But with her family now in reduced circumstances, she is forced to work as a servant at a royalist household - the estate of Lady Katherine Fanshawe. 

Abi is soon caught up in a web of sinister secrets which surround the Fanshawe estate. The most curious of which is the disappearance of Lady Katherine late at night. 

Why are her husband’s clothes worn and muddy even though he hasn’t been home for weeks? How is she stealing out of the house late at night when her room is being guarded? And what is her involvement with the robberies being committed by the mysterious Shadow on the Highway? 

My thoughts:
I can't say I like this period in English history (it's great to read about though), but I kept thinking how I would NOT like to live then. Civil war. You are in, you are out. Death, despair, down with rich people! Ugh Cromwell, I do not like him. All that religious strife too.

Anyway. Abigail lost her hearing when young, and has a hard time finding a job. And of course there is the whole civil war going on too. She gets work at a nearby manor, where only 3 servants and a young noble woman live. Yes things are not good in England. Katherine, the young noblewoman was headstrong, a bit too headstrong, but I got that she wanted to be more free. They become friends, stuff is happening, there is a pinch of romance and mentions of highway robbery. I mean hey, more highway robbery please, I was promised it, but it was just mentioned and never really shown.

Conclusion:
It was short, interesting, and more seems to be coming. Of course I already wikied her so I know what will happen. 

cover
I need a whole head

Kindle Edition, 192 pages
Published July 15th 2014 by Endeavour Press
The Highway Trilogy #1
YA, Historical fiction
Own

27 comments:

  1. sounds interesting though, yeah, not my favorite time period.

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  2. A deaf heroin ? That's pretty rare !

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  3. As long as it's great to read about, it's all good. :) Sounds interesting.

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  4. I agree, I am always interested to read about this time period, but I would have never wanted to live it, The smells alone.

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    Replies
    1. The smells!!! ugh, I can't even go to the outhouse at the summercottage

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  5. Interesting.....
    gah. Not my favorite time period in England. Civil war stinks.

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  6. I thought the headless and partially headless covers had run their course, but I guess not! lol

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  7. I would never want to live in any other time really. So uptight - I would get in sooo much trouble! lol

    Karen @For What It's Worth

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    1. I am sure I would be burned like a witch or something cos I like cats

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  8. Love a book that makes you look the character up. I'm curious about this one.

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  9. This sounds interesting and I agree some of these periods fascinate me but i am not time traveling to live there.

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    1. Gods no, ugh, I need a toilet top begin with...indoors and smell free

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  10. I haven't read about this period so it's quite intriguing.

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  11. Yes, because of that era I want to see her entire head!

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  12. The lack of heads is really becoming an issue with these covers, lol :))) Sounds promising... But yes, thank God, we're alive now and not then. Can you imagine not being able to brush your teeth??? Yuk!

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    Replies
    1. I do want heads, These cut off covers are so lame.

      UGH. Ok so they had toothbrushes, but they did not have ours

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  13. I haven't read much about this period but I've heard good things about this author, I think I have one book by her? Maybe...

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