September 25 – October 20, 2023 Virtual Book Tour
Description
The tangled relationships between Frankenstein author Mary Shelley, poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, and Mary’s stepsister Jane Clairmont form the backdrop for an intriguing historical mystery, set in London in 1814, that explores the complex dynamic between sisters and the birth of teenaged Mary’s creative genius.
London, 1814: Mary Godwin and her stepsister Jane Clairmont, both sixteen, possess quick minds bolstered by an unconventional upbringing, and have little regard for the rules that other young ladies follow. Mary, whose mother famously advocated for women’s rights, rejects the two paths that seem open to her—that of an assistant in her father’s bookshop, or an ordinary wife. Though quieter and more reserved than the boisterous Jane, Mary’s imagination is keen, and she longs for real-world adventures.
One evening, an opportunity arrives in the form of a dinner guest, Percy Bysshe Shelley. At twenty-one, Shelley is already a renowned poet and radical. Mary finds their visitor handsome and compelling, but it is later that evening, after the party has broken up, that events take a truly intriguing turn. When Mary comes downstairs in search of a book, she finds instead a man face down on the floor—with a knife in his back.
The dead man, it seems, was a former classmate of Shelley’s, and had lately become a personal and professional rival. What was he doing in the Godwins’ home? Mary, Jane, and Shelley are all drawn to learn the truth behind the tragedy, especially as each discovery seems to hint at a tangled web that includes many in Shelley’s closest circle. But as the attraction between Mary and the married poet intensifies, it sparks a rivalry between the sisters, even as it kindles the creative fire within.
My Thoughts
This book will appeal to so many different readers: fans of historical fiction, mystery fiction, classic literature, and “celebtrity” fiction. The author brings a young Mary Shelley to life through vivid description, well-paced dialog, and meticulous character development, all coming together in a captivating tale that I will be recommending everywhere this fall.
It’s refreshing to read an historical mystery where the women are unconventional but also realistic for their time and place. The initial meeting between Mary and Percy Bysshe Shelley is electric, and their involvement in a bonafide murder mystery enhances the tension between them, foreshadowing their eventual union. The added twist of Mary’s sister Jane and her role in the entire mystery is handled with sensitivity and acknowledgement that the girls are, after all, sisters.
I look forward to more in this series from Heather Redmond.
Book Details:
Genre: Historical mystery
Published by: Kensington
Publication Date: September 2023
Number of Pages: 320
ISBN: 9781496737991 (ISBN10: 1496737997)
Series: Mary Shelley Mystery, 1
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | Kensington
Book Short Links:
Amazon – https://amzn.to/3NQ1zyp
Barnes & Noble – https://bit.ly/3Da35GV
BookShop.org – https://bit.ly/3DcjwCj
Goodreads – https://bit.ly/3JZHq8a
Kensington – https://bit.ly/3PWKMN1
Author Bio:
Heather Redmond is an author of commercial fiction and also writes as Heather Hiestand. First published in mystery, she took a long detour through romance before returning. Though her last British ancestor departed London in the 1920s, she is a committed anglophile, Dickens devotee, and lover of all things nineteenth century.
She has lived in Illinois, California, and Texas, and now resides in a small town in Washington State with her husband and son. The author of many novels, novellas, and short stories, she has achieved best-seller status at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other retailers. Her 2018 Heather Redmond debut, A Tale of Two Murders, has received a coveted starred review from Kirkus Reviews.
Catch Up With Heather Redmond:
www.HeatherRedmond.com
Goodreads
BookBub – @heatherredmond1
Instagram – @hiestandheather
Twitter – @heatheraredmond
Heather Hiestand Redmond’s Reader Group on Facebook
It's All About the Book 
Thank you for the review!
LikeLike
Great review! I loved this book so much!
“It’s refreshing to read an historical mystery where the women are unconventional but also realistic for their time and place.” ~ YES. right?? I loved Mary and Jane and did feel like they were realistic.
Thanks so much for reviewing!
LikeLike