To leave a comment

To leave a comment, please click on the title of the post to leave or read all comments and replies. Thank you :)

Be sure to scroll down the page today

Be sure to scroll down the page

There are TWO posts today...Sorry about that :)

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Book Review: The Shadowy Horses by Susanna Kearsley

Publisher: Reissue by Sourcebooks
Genre: Fiction, mystery/suspense/supernatural
Paperback, 432 pages
Book Source: Sourcebooks
My Rating: 93/100

From Sourcebooks:

Verity Grey decides she needs some excitement in her life and leaves her stable job at the British Museum to join her former fling on an archaeological dig in Scotland. When Verity arrives, she finds out the dig is being led by Peter Quinnell, a widely discredited man who has dedicated his life to finding the final resting place of the mysterious lost Roman legion. To add to the madness, he’s chosen this new dig site based solely on the fact that a local boy named Robbie believes he saw a ghostly Roman soldier on the grounds. Verity is ready to pack her bags, but stays when she meets David Fortune, a friendly and attractive, but emotionally distant,Scottish archaeologist.

But mysterious things keep happening at the site…Could the boy be telling the truth? As she becomes entangled in a subtle web of treachery and danger, Verity begins to believe in the Roman sentinel haunting the site, and he’s there to do more than guard the bodies of his fallen comrades. He is trying to protect the people of the present day, and deliver them a warning…


First thoughts? 

An archaeological dig, a bit of mystery and a handsome Scotsman...What else could you ask for in a book?  This book has a little bit of everything which makes for a good read.  We have the mystery of how the dig came about and whether anything will be found; a supernatural element, which I thought was a nice touch to the story, and a wee bit of romance for the lassies out there.

All of the characters are interesting and likable  even the ones that made me a bit disappointed by their behavior.  It was explained int he end.  Our heroine Verity Grey, is very likable   She is just your average smart woman who is good people.  You could not help but like Verity.  She was not whiny  or silly; she acted like a normal person, which apparently I haven't come across too often lately. On the dig she meets David Fortune, the Scotsman.  Quiet, unassuming, gentle, the perfect gentleman a lass could fall in love with.  Family man too.

I could talk about all the characters, because I have something good to say about each and every one.  Kearsley described them all so perfectly so they were easy to picture while I was reading.  This book drew me from he start and I enjoyed it immensely.  Last thing, the supernatural element.  To me it was  totally believable, and not corny or ill placed at all.  The setting is Scotland, where there is already a belief in the supernatural.  The way this piece comes about in the story was well done.  Not what you typically see in today's more popular supernatural books.

Recommend? 

Absolutely! this was a fun enjoyable read, that sucked me on the first few pages.  Easy to lose yourself in, and nicely paced. Several of Kearsley's books have been published lately, and I will be sure to read them soon.

Would I change anything?

Nope!  Not one thing.  But I would enjoy reading about Verity and David again.

Thanks to Sourcebooks for my review copy.

 © Jenny Girl - 2012 "All Rights Reserved"

Comments (16)

Loading... Logging you in...
  • Logged in as
Wow. Awesome. A rave review.
1 reply · active 645 weeks ago
thanks darling :)
Totally loved this book, and its setting.. the 2013 book is supposed to feature the young clairvoyant.. looking forward to it! (I Hope it is set in Scotland!)
1 reply · active 645 weeks ago
Oh really? I liked him very much as well. I definitely want to read her other books as well. Thanks for the scoop!
I know the person you mean, the end was great in that aspect
1 reply · active 645 weeks ago
why yes it was :)
I'm glad you enjoyed it! I'm reading this one very soon too. I do love a Scotland setting.
1 reply · active 645 weeks ago
Thanks Naida. I would love to visit a small town like the one in this book. Hope you enjoy it also :)
This is right up there with my favourite Kearsley books! I can't wait to read the new book to find out more about Robbie!
1 reply · active 645 weeks ago
Robbie was awesome! I don't normally like kids in books, but he was a gem. i thought of you when I accepted this book, because I know you've read her other works.
I'm reading this book now - about 70% complete. I love it! I haven't been so absorbed in a book in a long time. I want to know how things wrap up, but at the same time I don't want it to end!

This is my first Kearsley book, and it definitely won't be the last. (PS - Found your blog through Blodeuedd!)
1 reply · active 645 weeks ago
I was absorbed too! It was completely light, just enough mystery and I loved all of the characters. So glad you're enjoying too. I'll be sure to check out your review when you're finished.
Kearsley released I think at least two other books, so I'm looking forward to those.
Ah Blodeuedd...she is a darling :)
An author I need to read!
1 reply · active 646 weeks ago
It was quite fun and easy reading :)
So glad to hear you loved this one! I've read all her books and this, I think, is my old favourite to go back to. Her latest, The Rose Garden, was a lot of fun as well, but they are all enjoyable. I think she is such a masterful writer!
Even though I have 3 Kearsley books on my bookshelf this is the first one read and I loved it. Who can resist a Scotland setting?? I can't wait to read more of her work and I'll be hanging out for her book next year. Robbie was a wee treasure for sure :)
Lovely review Jenny!

Post a new comment

Comments by