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Susanna and the Spy #1
Susanna and the Spy
What if the man you loved was a smuggler--or a spy?
Jobless and nearly destitute, Susanna Ward intends only to find work as a governess. She certainly has no intention of contacting her family, who cast off her father and scorned her mother years ago. But a chance encounter with a figure from her past suggests that her estranged grandfather was murdered, and that his death was connected to a local ring of smugglers, led by a mysterious figure who calls himself Captain Clark.
When Captain Clark himself appears at her door, wounded and in need of her help, Susanna must decide where her true loyalties lie. And she must also discover the truth of her grandfather's death. Otherwise the man she is rapidly falling in love with may be hanged for treason and murder.
Jobless and nearly destitute, Susanna Ward intends only to find work as a governess. She certainly has no intention of contacting her family, who cast off her father and scorned her mother years ago. But a chance encounter with a figure from her past suggests that her estranged grandfather was murdered, and that his death was connected to a local ring of smugglers, led by a mysterious figure who calls himself Captain Clark.
When Captain Clark himself appears at her door, wounded and in need of her help, Susanna must decide where her true loyalties lie. And she must also discover the truth of her grandfather's death. Otherwise the man she is rapidly falling in love with may be hanged for treason and murder.
276 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
62 people are currently reading
720 people want to read
About the author
Anna Elliott
82 books426 followersAnna Elliott is an author of historical fiction and fantasy. She enjoys stories about strong women, and loves exploring the multitude of ways women can find their unique strengths. She was delighted to lend a hand with the Sherlock & Lucy series, and thrilled to continue a new spin-off series featuring Becky and Flynn. Her first series, the Twilight of Avalon trilogy, is a retelling of the Trystan & Isolde legend. She wrote her second series, The Pride & Prejudice Chronicles , chiefly to satisfy her own curiosity about what might have happened to Elizabeth Bennet, Mr. Darcy, and all the other wonderful cast of characters after the official end of Jane Austen’s classic work.
WEBSITE: http://sherlockandlucy.com
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/sherlockand...
FACEBOOK READER GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/77782...
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Anna lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and five children.
WEBSITE: http://sherlockandlucy.com
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/sherlockand...
FACEBOOK READER GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/77782...
AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Anna-El...
Anna lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and five children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
June 22, 2020
It was very tempting to rate this five stars just because I enjoyed it so much. Anna Elliot's book Susanna and the Spy, the first in a two book series, is a stand-alone Regency mystery with some romance. Susanna is on her way to look for employment as a governess, when she is startled by a bleeding man bursting in her room at an inn. Susanna decides to help him hide from his pursuers. Between encountering the mysterious man, and visiting her previously unknown father's relatives, she's embroiled in an adventure.
What I liked:
*Susanna goes with her instincts, and she is rewarded for doing so. Not every decision she makes is correct, but her instincts are pretty good.
*I liked the characters. There were a good number of them, but they were each individualized enough that I never felt confused about who everyone was.
What I didn't like:
*Although, it honestly wasn't a strong dislike, I felt that it was pretty easy to identify the villain and the mysterious Captain Clark. I didn't mind. Perhaps on this level, it's a good young adult book. I can't think of anything in it that would prevent me from recommending this books as a young adult book, actually, and it reminds me of some books I read at that age.
*Susanna and the spy seem to have a romantic interest in each other with very little basis.
*Characters could have been drawn a bit deeper. (Not a strong dislike, really.)
*There were a couple of small details I would have liked wrapped up.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who would enjoy a clean, cozy Regency mystery with a touch of romance.
What I liked:
*Susanna goes with her instincts, and she is rewarded for doing so. Not every decision she makes is correct, but her instincts are pretty good.
*I liked the characters. There were a good number of them, but they were each individualized enough that I never felt confused about who everyone was.
What I didn't like:
*Although, it honestly wasn't a strong dislike, I felt that it was pretty easy to identify the villain and the mysterious Captain Clark. I didn't mind. Perhaps on this level, it's a good young adult book. I can't think of anything in it that would prevent me from recommending this books as a young adult book, actually, and it reminds me of some books I read at that age.
*Susanna and the spy seem to have a romantic interest in each other with very little basis.
*Characters could have been drawn a bit deeper. (Not a strong dislike, really.)
*There were a couple of small details I would have liked wrapped up.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who would enjoy a clean, cozy Regency mystery with a touch of romance.
March 17, 2015
Susanna and the Spy by Anna Elliott is a cozy mystery with just a dash of historical romance. While traveling, in search of a post as a governess, Susanna meets a man employed by her late, estranged grandfather. The man suggested that Susanna's grandfather's death may have been the result of foul play. Susanna had only met her grandfather once, so she struggled with the responsibility of whether or not to visit her family and see if what the old man said could be true.
Before she makes up her mind about seeing her family, a man burst into her room and ask her to help hide him. She covers for him and helps him with a wounded shoulder. Meanwhile, Susanna decided she must visit her family and perhaps stay for a few weeks. She is accepted warmly by most, but coldly by others. Susanna wants to believe the best in all, but knows that each one of her relatives had a movtive for seeing her grandfather dead. Eventually, Susanna learns of a smuggling ring and the involvment of the young man she helped. Susanna again, wants to believe in the young man's cause, and finds herself coming to his rescue repeatedly. There are moments of doubt, but Susanna puts herself in grave danger to help her friend, and to find the person responsible for her grandfather's death.
This novel has all the elements of a good " Who Done It" and also has adventure and intrigue with just a little romance. All loose ends are tied up at the end, but there is another installment of this series- London Calling. This is a clean read and could be enjoyed by all. Overall 4 stars
Before she makes up her mind about seeing her family, a man burst into her room and ask her to help hide him. She covers for him and helps him with a wounded shoulder. Meanwhile, Susanna decided she must visit her family and perhaps stay for a few weeks. She is accepted warmly by most, but coldly by others. Susanna wants to believe the best in all, but knows that each one of her relatives had a movtive for seeing her grandfather dead. Eventually, Susanna learns of a smuggling ring and the involvment of the young man she helped. Susanna again, wants to believe in the young man's cause, and finds herself coming to his rescue repeatedly. There are moments of doubt, but Susanna puts herself in grave danger to help her friend, and to find the person responsible for her grandfather's death.
This novel has all the elements of a good " Who Done It" and also has adventure and intrigue with just a little romance. All loose ends are tied up at the end, but there is another installment of this series- London Calling. This is a clean read and could be enjoyed by all. Overall 4 stars
March 18, 2014
This book is free on Kindle
Susanna Ward has since her fathers death three years ago been earning her living as a governess.Her father was cut off from his family after marrying Susannas mother an italian peasant girl who his father considered unworthy.
While on the journey to London to seek out a new position she is recognized by an old man ,a gardener who she met briefly during a unpleasant visit to her grandfathers home as a child and learns that her grandfather is dead and the old man hinting at it being "it was them up at the hall who did it"
Susanna decides to stay at the local inn overnight before deciding if she should or should not contact her estranged relatives when suddenly a man rushes inside her room and asks her to hide him.
Before she knows it she have him locked inside her wardrobe and a second later militiamen rush inside and ask if she has seen a dangerous criminal but after denying she has seen any such kind of person they leave.
After letting the manout of the wardrobe and treating his wound the man thanks her and ask that she forget ever seeing him before he slips out into the night.
The next day Susannas uncle invite her to come and stay at the house and as she gets to know them she tries to figure out wich one of them could be the killer. Furthermore she also learn thathe man she helped hide is an infamous smuggler called Captain Clarke who has been evading the authorities sucessfully for quite a while.
Looks like Susanna has tumbled into quite the adventure...
This is a bit of a difficult review for me to write since I will have to admit despite me liking "Susanna and the spy" it had problems beginning with Susannas motive for investigating her grandfathers murder wich is rather weak.and the mystery isnt very complicated I started to suspect who the murderer was about halfway in.
Nor will you have a hard time figuring out what Captain Clarke is really up to
So I did like it but even I have to agree that it was a bit thin on the ground and for it being labeled as a regency romance there isnt much romancey things going on in this book until the ending. And our heroine engages in behavior wich would have been frowned upon in a young gentlewoman of the regency era.
But the thing is with with all the adventures the heroine has it was not until I had finished reading it that I had time to stop and think about the flaws it had.
So it might not be a book wich will end up as one of your favorites but if you want a quick and mindless escape from reality for a moment there are worse books to pick up than this and Susanna is a very likeable main character.
Susanna Ward has since her fathers death three years ago been earning her living as a governess.Her father was cut off from his family after marrying Susannas mother an italian peasant girl who his father considered unworthy.
While on the journey to London to seek out a new position she is recognized by an old man ,a gardener who she met briefly during a unpleasant visit to her grandfathers home as a child and learns that her grandfather is dead and the old man hinting at it being "it was them up at the hall who did it"
Susanna decides to stay at the local inn overnight before deciding if she should or should not contact her estranged relatives when suddenly a man rushes inside her room and asks her to hide him.
Before she knows it she have him locked inside her wardrobe and a second later militiamen rush inside and ask if she has seen a dangerous criminal but after denying she has seen any such kind of person they leave.
After letting the manout of the wardrobe and treating his wound the man thanks her and ask that she forget ever seeing him before he slips out into the night.
The next day Susannas uncle invite her to come and stay at the house and as she gets to know them she tries to figure out wich one of them could be the killer. Furthermore she also learn thathe man she helped hide is an infamous smuggler called Captain Clarke who has been evading the authorities sucessfully for quite a while.
Looks like Susanna has tumbled into quite the adventure...
This is a bit of a difficult review for me to write since I will have to admit despite me liking "Susanna and the spy" it had problems beginning with Susannas motive for investigating her grandfathers murder wich is rather weak.and the mystery isnt very complicated I started to suspect who the murderer was about halfway in.
Nor will you have a hard time figuring out what Captain Clarke is really up to
So I did like it but even I have to agree that it was a bit thin on the ground and for it being labeled as a regency romance there isnt much romancey things going on in this book until the ending. And our heroine engages in behavior wich would have been frowned upon in a young gentlewoman of the regency era.
But the thing is with with all the adventures the heroine has it was not until I had finished reading it that I had time to stop and think about the flaws it had.
So it might not be a book wich will end up as one of your favorites but if you want a quick and mindless escape from reality for a moment there are worse books to pick up than this and Susanna is a very likeable main character.
July 24, 2022
"Everyone in the Rutherford Household was so very ordinary—so completely what they seemed. Could it really be possible that one of them was a murderer?"
Pleasant, if formulaic period romance/mystery. Awkward blend of Jane Austen and Agatha Christie. Readers interested in a Jane Austen mystery might try Northhanger Abbey.
Verisimilitude errors. “Time for those he works for in London to send word as to his veracity. I should think I have a few weeks, at least, the state of the roads and the mail being what it is.” Kent abuts London; verification could be had overnight. “I’ve been an agent of the Crown since war first broke out with France.” England and France had been at war for centuries.
Fails to convey the period. Errors in details kick the reader out of the spell of the story. One character sustains several bullet wounds but keeps soldiering on.
"Her mission, it appeared, was to call on some of the poorer members of the village and do what she could to scold and bully them into prosperity."
Pleasant, if formulaic period romance/mystery. Awkward blend of Jane Austen and Agatha Christie. Readers interested in a Jane Austen mystery might try Northhanger Abbey.
Verisimilitude errors. “Time for those he works for in London to send word as to his veracity. I should think I have a few weeks, at least, the state of the roads and the mail being what it is.” Kent abuts London; verification could be had overnight. “I’ve been an agent of the Crown since war first broke out with France.” England and France had been at war for centuries.
Fails to convey the period. Errors in details kick the reader out of the spell of the story. One character sustains several bullet wounds but keeps soldiering on.
"Her mission, it appeared, was to call on some of the poorer members of the village and do what she could to scold and bully them into prosperity."
November 30, 2019
Between 2.5 and 3*. The plot is rather silly (and threadworn) but I still had a lot of fun reading it.
June 10, 2022
Excellent
What fun!! It's been so long since I read this I only vaguely remembered the plot line, but it was nagging at my mind to revisit recently, so here we are! Susanna and James and their story was such fun. I love that adventure and so forth was set in that time period, wrapped up with spies and intrigue. Excellent fun! And clean!
What fun!! It's been so long since I read this I only vaguely remembered the plot line, but it was nagging at my mind to revisit recently, so here we are! Susanna and James and their story was such fun. I love that adventure and so forth was set in that time period, wrapped up with spies and intrigue. Excellent fun! And clean!
November 14, 2013
This story is a good, clean, fun romp. There are a few historical inaccuracies such as Susanna staying at an inn all by herself, riding a horse astride with no mention of hiking up her skirts indecently, etc. However, if you can suspend your disbelief and lose yourself in the story, you will enjoy it. I got sucked into the mystery and couldn't put it down even though halfway through I figured out who the villain was. Susanna should have known because the villain tipped his/her hand. The ending is wrapped up a bit too quickly and neatly. It's very unlikely as well. Spoiler: highlight to read A true aristocratic villain would either commit suicide first or be declared mad, not taken away to be hanged. I love Susanna. She's very modern so she's not a simpering miss. She's forthright, adventurous, daring, brave and reckless. Some of her actions are really stupid but she has a high level of self-confidence. I also loved the hero. I can't say too much without spoiling the story, though I am sure clever readers will figure it out. There's good chemistry between the pair, even though it's quiet. This is a romance a la Georgette Heyer's mystery/traditional Regency books so don't expect lots of passion or moonlight kisses. The ending leaves room for a sequel, which I can't wait to read. The author doesn't attempt to mimic Jane Austen or Georgette Heyer, or even use period correct language, so this book is excellent for beginners and YA readers. I would recommend it to historical mystery fans ages 12+. There's nothing at all that would be uncomfortable for younger readers, just a bit of violence.
February 13, 2013
2 stars (kinda..)
The best I can say is that it was a quick and easy read. Otherwise it doesn't really have much sense. I really doubt any "sane" woman in [state the period, I can't]* would involve herself in this story for the silliest reasons. The plot lacks a believable start and it doesn't improve. There's no real investigating, nor much deep characterization. I admit it's a novella, but I read better. Her own Dawn of Avalon is way better.
(There's not much romance either...)
*ok, that was a bit too sarcastic. :-)They do talk about Napoleon...
The best I can say is that it was a quick and easy read. Otherwise it doesn't really have much sense. I really doubt any "sane" woman in [state the period, I can't]* would involve herself in this story for the silliest reasons. The plot lacks a believable start and it doesn't improve. There's no real investigating, nor much deep characterization. I admit it's a novella, but I read better. Her own Dawn of Avalon is way better.
(There's not much romance either...)
*ok, that was a bit too sarcastic. :-)They do talk about Napoleon...
March 17, 2013
It was a clean mystery/romance which is always nice. However...the main character did a lot of things by "instinct." Like taking off in the night to go look for smugglers. Besides being bored and slightly stupid, there wasn't really a true motivation. I found myself imagining more realistic scenarios to bring the characters together as I was reading. It was a good effort, just not very well done.
September 26, 2014
This book was a free nook book. I give it four stars based on the amount of fun i had reading it. If you like the story of Zorro or enjoy the game, Clue, i think you would enjoy this simple, carefree, read! Sometimes simplicity is refreshing. I hope you enjoy it too.
March 18, 2022
More adventure and mystery than romance and I loved it like that. There aren't many scenes of Susanna and Captain Clark/James together but the times they were together they had a lot of chemistry. It helps they are both very good characters.. Susanna is specially a doer and not dumb, she is always to the rescue. Even when she was suspicious of Captain Clark/James she couldn't bear to imagine him in danger.
Susanna infiltrating into her family's mansion and life was just like an Agatha Christie book 😊
Susanna infiltrating into her family's mansion and life was just like an Agatha Christie book 😊
September 9, 2022
Adventure sure and true
I loved this book. I could not figure who the ultimate villain was until the heroine did! The action scenes were convincing and the characters became a concern to me. I was really transported into another world!! And I am so glad there are no aunt Caroline's in my life!
I loved this book. I could not figure who the ultimate villain was until the heroine did! The action scenes were convincing and the characters became a concern to me. I was really transported into another world!! And I am so glad there are no aunt Caroline's in my life!
April 21, 2021
Great read
If you smugglers, spies, Ladies out on their luck, family torn apart by mistrust and pride and a few murders set around Napoleon wars. Her Jane Austin diaries were good. This is another great light read. Looking forward to book 2
If you smugglers, spies, Ladies out on their luck, family torn apart by mistrust and pride and a few murders set around Napoleon wars. Her Jane Austin diaries were good. This is another great light read. Looking forward to book 2
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October 2, 2021Oct 1st is a re read
I read this LOADS of times back in the day!!
Still cute and exciting and great how careless Susana is lol and all the fun different characters and them being angry with each other 🙄😂
I read this LOADS of times back in the day!!
Still cute and exciting and great how careless Susana is lol and all the fun different characters and them being angry with each other 🙄😂
August 14, 2019
Very much enjoyed this!
This was such a fun story! The mystery kept me guessing until it was revealed. I can’t wait to read the next book.
This was such a fun story! The mystery kept me guessing until it was revealed. I can’t wait to read the next book.
August 25, 2020
Excellent
Very well written, fast paced with a good plot, wonderfully portrayed characters although it was rather easy to guess the villain it could not have been anyone else.
Very well written, fast paced with a good plot, wonderfully portrayed characters although it was rather easy to guess the villain it could not have been anyone else.
April 4, 2012
I thoroughly enjoyed the innocence and mystery of this book. Susanna's father married a woman not approved by his dour father, so her father was cut out of the will. Susanna's mother died early, and the one trip to her grandfather's house with her father resulted in rage for both her father and grandfather. Susanna only remembers being treated harshly and called "riff-raff" by her grandfather.
So when her father died, Susanna quickly learned that the reason they moved so much was to stay ahead of creditors - creditors that she can no longer ignore. So she sells all she has and out of necessity hires herself out to be a governess. Problem is, she's young and pretty, and many women don't want such a pretty governess around.
When the book opens, Susanna is on a carriage voyage to London through Kent. She's just left her last position because the elder step-son of the family tried to take advantage of her. Susanna is afraid she won't find employment as a governess, and she's down to her last few pounds. When she encounters an older gardener from her grandfather's estate and learns the old man died only a month ago, Susanna wonders about the gardener's words that "them up in the Hall - they killed him", meaning that her grandfather was murdered. The gardener also tells her that "there's a wrong to be put right", and he intimates that Susanna should visit the Hall. Since they stop at an inn near the Hall, Susanna decides to do just that.
But that evening, she's surprised by a man who comes rushing into her room, obviously wounded, begging for shelter. She hides him in the wardrobe and only has time to climb back into bed when soldiers burst into her room. They tell her they're looking for a dangerous smuggler and murderer. Susanna is so shocked and frightened, she doesn't say much, and the soldiers and their commander, Colonel Price, leave her room. Of course the stranger is handsome, but he's hurt... and possibly a murderer. Susanna doesn't quite know what to do, so she confronts the stranger who claims that he's not a smuggler nor a murderer. So she helps the stranger with his wounds and sends him on his way.
The next day, Susanna learns from the maid at the inn that the notorious man in her room is called Captain Clark, master of disguise and certainly a smuggler. She also learns that the old gardener was murdered - a knife in his back. Why was the gardener killed? Did he know too much about her grandfather's death? Was her grandfather murdered? Did Captain Clark have anything to do with the gardener's death?
Since she'd already decided to meet her relative, Susanna sends a message to the Hall that morning. And soon a carriage shows up with her cousin, Julia Lovecraft, who is to escort Susanna to the Hall. Julia tells her about her family: Uncle Charles, a bachelor and the heir to the Hall and lands; aunt Ruth who lives with her family in Derbyshire and is a dear; Julia's mother Sophia, widowed when her army husband died of yellow-fever in India and they were left penniless; and her uncle Henry, a clergyman and vicar of the local parish.
When Susanna learns that her grandfather took a fall down the main stairs that caused his death, she begins to look at the family for suspects... and finds that everyone had a motive and the opportunity to do the deed. And for some reason, she feels protective of Captain Clark and ventures out in the dead of night to warn him. Col. Price is staying at the Hall, and several mysterious messages come to Price to tell him where Clark will be and how to apprehend him. Susanna and Clark realize that someone in the Hall is responsible... but who? And when Susanna's new shawl is tied into a noose in her bedroom, she knows that the someone responsible for all of this is warning her.
---------------
Susanna gets herself into some wild situations! In her effort to help Captain Clark, she ventures out, alone in the dead of night to warn him. She seems to always be coming to his rescue and often tending his wounds. But when she discovers his "other" identity, her trust starts to diminish. Is Clark behind the murders? Is he a good guy as he claims or a bad guy?
It's quite an innocent book - no steam, just a chaste kiss or two. And it has a nice HEA, as for once, Susanna is saved by the hero and not the other way around.
So when her father died, Susanna quickly learned that the reason they moved so much was to stay ahead of creditors - creditors that she can no longer ignore. So she sells all she has and out of necessity hires herself out to be a governess. Problem is, she's young and pretty, and many women don't want such a pretty governess around.
When the book opens, Susanna is on a carriage voyage to London through Kent. She's just left her last position because the elder step-son of the family tried to take advantage of her. Susanna is afraid she won't find employment as a governess, and she's down to her last few pounds. When she encounters an older gardener from her grandfather's estate and learns the old man died only a month ago, Susanna wonders about the gardener's words that "them up in the Hall - they killed him", meaning that her grandfather was murdered. The gardener also tells her that "there's a wrong to be put right", and he intimates that Susanna should visit the Hall. Since they stop at an inn near the Hall, Susanna decides to do just that.
But that evening, she's surprised by a man who comes rushing into her room, obviously wounded, begging for shelter. She hides him in the wardrobe and only has time to climb back into bed when soldiers burst into her room. They tell her they're looking for a dangerous smuggler and murderer. Susanna is so shocked and frightened, she doesn't say much, and the soldiers and their commander, Colonel Price, leave her room. Of course the stranger is handsome, but he's hurt... and possibly a murderer. Susanna doesn't quite know what to do, so she confronts the stranger who claims that he's not a smuggler nor a murderer. So she helps the stranger with his wounds and sends him on his way.
The next day, Susanna learns from the maid at the inn that the notorious man in her room is called Captain Clark, master of disguise and certainly a smuggler. She also learns that the old gardener was murdered - a knife in his back. Why was the gardener killed? Did he know too much about her grandfather's death? Was her grandfather murdered? Did Captain Clark have anything to do with the gardener's death?
Since she'd already decided to meet her relative, Susanna sends a message to the Hall that morning. And soon a carriage shows up with her cousin, Julia Lovecraft, who is to escort Susanna to the Hall. Julia tells her about her family: Uncle Charles, a bachelor and the heir to the Hall and lands; aunt Ruth who lives with her family in Derbyshire and is a dear; Julia's mother Sophia, widowed when her army husband died of yellow-fever in India and they were left penniless; and her uncle Henry, a clergyman and vicar of the local parish.
When Susanna learns that her grandfather took a fall down the main stairs that caused his death, she begins to look at the family for suspects... and finds that everyone had a motive and the opportunity to do the deed. And for some reason, she feels protective of Captain Clark and ventures out in the dead of night to warn him. Col. Price is staying at the Hall, and several mysterious messages come to Price to tell him where Clark will be and how to apprehend him. Susanna and Clark realize that someone in the Hall is responsible... but who? And when Susanna's new shawl is tied into a noose in her bedroom, she knows that the someone responsible for all of this is warning her.
---------------
Susanna gets herself into some wild situations! In her effort to help Captain Clark, she ventures out, alone in the dead of night to warn him. She seems to always be coming to his rescue and often tending his wounds. But when she discovers his "other" identity, her trust starts to diminish. Is Clark behind the murders? Is he a good guy as he claims or a bad guy?
It's quite an innocent book - no steam, just a chaste kiss or two. And it has a nice HEA, as for once, Susanna is saved by the hero and not the other way around.
June 11, 2013
Mystery/suspense is my very favorite genre of literature, and I'm not-so-secretly addicted to Regency romances. So I get so geekily delighted whenever I stumble on books that combine both these genres (or which at least purport to!) that I'm pretty uncritical: all I ask is that they're moderately entertaining and enjoyable. Sadly, this book failed to meet even that modest goal. I don't mean to sound excessively harsh, but I found the writing amateurish. Writing style is important in determining my overall opinion of a book, and while this wasn't the error-ridden nightmare that some low cost Kindle books are, it had an extremely clunky, simplistic feel.
That said, though, an amateurish writing style isn't anywhere close to the biggest problem with this book. There's some serious competition for that (dis)honor! The "heroine" is seriously among the biggest Mary Sues I've ever come across. She's ridiculously perfect in pretty much every way---and it doesn't make her admirable so much as just deeply unrelatable, unrealistic and deadly dull. At no point does she feel like a layered, relatable woman to me. The "hero" is similarly flat, a cardboard collection of various romance tropes rather than a vibrant human being. The plot suffers from some major inconsistencies and gaping holes---and this is coming from someone who's not too nitpicky about my mystery plots and generally all too willing to suspend disbelief. As someone else noted, the 'villain' is clearly telegraphed from very early on and the denouement is disappointing in the extreme. Did I mention that this suspense novel had pathetically little suspense?! ;)
I'm glad to see that others enjoyed this book, but I could barely even force myself to finish it. With so many wonderful books out there at relatively affordable prices, I can't in good faith recommend that fellow mystery/suspense OR romance fans waste their time or money on this one.
That said, though, an amateurish writing style isn't anywhere close to the biggest problem with this book. There's some serious competition for that (dis)honor! The "heroine" is seriously among the biggest Mary Sues I've ever come across. She's ridiculously perfect in pretty much every way---and it doesn't make her admirable so much as just deeply unrelatable, unrealistic and deadly dull. At no point does she feel like a layered, relatable woman to me. The "hero" is similarly flat, a cardboard collection of various romance tropes rather than a vibrant human being. The plot suffers from some major inconsistencies and gaping holes---and this is coming from someone who's not too nitpicky about my mystery plots and generally all too willing to suspend disbelief. As someone else noted, the 'villain' is clearly telegraphed from very early on and the denouement is disappointing in the extreme. Did I mention that this suspense novel had pathetically little suspense?! ;)
I'm glad to see that others enjoyed this book, but I could barely even force myself to finish it. With so many wonderful books out there at relatively affordable prices, I can't in good faith recommend that fellow mystery/suspense OR romance fans waste their time or money on this one.
February 1, 2016
Review: Susanna and The Spy by Anna Elliott.
This is a good historical story and reminds me of a lot of the Jane Austen stories and writing style but not as strong. The story was full of suspense and the mystery kept me guessing until close to the end. The setting was in England and I found the characters well developed. The story was more based on the traits of the characters that held my interest and not the crimes committed. The ending I think was a little unfinished or maybe rushed to give the story a complete satisfied feeling.
The main character, Susanna, created as a strong-willed, courageous and intelligent person, was working as a governess and soon becomes destitute because her job has ended and her father passed away. At the inquest she learns her father squandered all his money away which left her with no inheritance. Susanna packs up what she owns and heads out to find another governess job.
On her way riding in a coach she meets a stranger who informs her of relatives she never met and a grandfather she only seen once when she was about ten years old who disinherited her father when he married her mother many years ago. He also told her that her grandfather just died in an accidental fall down a flight of stairs in his home and led her to feel suspicion about the incident. However, by coincident she would be traveling through the area which made her to decide to stop and stay in the village inn and learn what she could of her distant family members. While at the Inn she heard of a recent murder which turns out to be the stranger on the coach and her grandfather’s top manager of the estate…..
The story goes on to her meeting different creative family members and she got involved with a man called Captain Clark (alias), who was described as a spy, smuggler, and murderer. Susanna now is curious about all the issues going on and is determined to get to the bottom of all the questions in her mind that she wanted answered…
This is a good historical story and reminds me of a lot of the Jane Austen stories and writing style but not as strong. The story was full of suspense and the mystery kept me guessing until close to the end. The setting was in England and I found the characters well developed. The story was more based on the traits of the characters that held my interest and not the crimes committed. The ending I think was a little unfinished or maybe rushed to give the story a complete satisfied feeling.
The main character, Susanna, created as a strong-willed, courageous and intelligent person, was working as a governess and soon becomes destitute because her job has ended and her father passed away. At the inquest she learns her father squandered all his money away which left her with no inheritance. Susanna packs up what she owns and heads out to find another governess job.
On her way riding in a coach she meets a stranger who informs her of relatives she never met and a grandfather she only seen once when she was about ten years old who disinherited her father when he married her mother many years ago. He also told her that her grandfather just died in an accidental fall down a flight of stairs in his home and led her to feel suspicion about the incident. However, by coincident she would be traveling through the area which made her to decide to stop and stay in the village inn and learn what she could of her distant family members. While at the Inn she heard of a recent murder which turns out to be the stranger on the coach and her grandfather’s top manager of the estate…..
The story goes on to her meeting different creative family members and she got involved with a man called Captain Clark (alias), who was described as a spy, smuggler, and murderer. Susanna now is curious about all the issues going on and is determined to get to the bottom of all the questions in her mind that she wanted answered…
September 12, 2015
Read Nook version obtained for free from B&N.
Story line was okay but I was distracted several times by inconsistencies in the ages of the characters as described. The author did not seem to have set the ages of her characters properly, if at all.
It is made quite clear that Uncle Charles was the eldest and the heir to her grandfather. However, when we meet him, the author describes him "somewhere about forty years of age".
Susanna's father Matthew met his wife while on his grand tour, when he would have been between 18 and 20. Susanna, the main female character is 20. Even assuming the younger age, he would not have been younger than 19 when Susanna was born, meaning he would have been around 38 or 39 at this time had he lived.
Elliott describes cousin Julia as "perhaps a year or two older than Susanna" but a few pages later Julia says that she didn't remember Susanna's father as "he quarrelled with grandfather long before I was born." The reason for the quarrel being the marriage of Susanna's father to an Italian peasant girl. Therefore, Julia is probably between 17 and 19 rather than 21 or 22. When Julia's mother Sophia attempts insinuating that she was much younger than Julia when she married and a mother a year later and she was too young to marry, Julia points out that her grandfather said that Sophia was 21 when she married. This would make Julia between 39 and 41.
However, the most atrocious appears to be in relation to Uncle Henry whose wife Caroline is depicted as being around 50. While it is possible she was older, to be more than 5 years older seems unlikely, especially given the physical description of Uncle Henry.
Just carelessness on part of the author.
Story line was okay but I was distracted several times by inconsistencies in the ages of the characters as described. The author did not seem to have set the ages of her characters properly, if at all.
It is made quite clear that Uncle Charles was the eldest and the heir to her grandfather. However, when we meet him, the author describes him "somewhere about forty years of age".
Susanna's father Matthew met his wife while on his grand tour, when he would have been between 18 and 20. Susanna, the main female character is 20. Even assuming the younger age, he would not have been younger than 19 when Susanna was born, meaning he would have been around 38 or 39 at this time had he lived.
Elliott describes cousin Julia as "perhaps a year or two older than Susanna" but a few pages later Julia says that she didn't remember Susanna's father as "he quarrelled with grandfather long before I was born." The reason for the quarrel being the marriage of Susanna's father to an Italian peasant girl. Therefore, Julia is probably between 17 and 19 rather than 21 or 22. When Julia's mother Sophia attempts insinuating that she was much younger than Julia when she married and a mother a year later and she was too young to marry, Julia points out that her grandfather said that Sophia was 21 when she married. This would make Julia between 39 and 41.
However, the most atrocious appears to be in relation to Uncle Henry whose wife Caroline is depicted as being around 50. While it is possible she was older, to be more than 5 years older seems unlikely, especially given the physical description of Uncle Henry.
Just carelessness on part of the author.
February 12, 2016
Free book on Kindle! Of course I have to get it! Regency period romance with a little mystery thrown in there? Yes, please!
Young Susanna Ward lost her father months ago and also lost her job as a governess. She finds herself in the town of Broughton, home to Rutherford Hall, the home of her lately deceased and estranged grandfather. When she happens to meet a Mr. Franklin, garden of Rutherford Hall, her intrigue for her dead father's old home sparks.
While staying at a local inn and looking for employment as a governess, Susanna is taken aback when a young, rather dashing and handsome, man comes into her room, looking for a place to hide. She bids him a place to hide only to be caught up in a whirlwind of events that leaves her quite breathless!
This was such an easy read. However, I was a little skeptical about some of the mannerisms, especially since this takes place in the Regency era. My references are all Jane Austen and I had a hard time believing that some events could take place (i.e. Captain Clark and Susanna being alone quite often). The book was exciting and a quick read, too. Very enjoyable and light.
I'm very glad the way some of the secondary characters got their ending, although I suppose that was to be expected. I also did guess the culprit correctly in the end, which is really quite a shock because I never do, lol.
Young Susanna Ward lost her father months ago and also lost her job as a governess. She finds herself in the town of Broughton, home to Rutherford Hall, the home of her lately deceased and estranged grandfather. When she happens to meet a Mr. Franklin, garden of Rutherford Hall, her intrigue for her dead father's old home sparks.
While staying at a local inn and looking for employment as a governess, Susanna is taken aback when a young, rather dashing and handsome, man comes into her room, looking for a place to hide. She bids him a place to hide only to be caught up in a whirlwind of events that leaves her quite breathless!
This was such an easy read. However, I was a little skeptical about some of the mannerisms, especially since this takes place in the Regency era. My references are all Jane Austen and I had a hard time believing that some events could take place (i.e. Captain Clark and Susanna being alone quite often). The book was exciting and a quick read, too. Very enjoyable and light.
I'm very glad the way some of the secondary characters got their ending, although I suppose that was to be expected. I also did guess the culprit correctly in the end, which is really quite a shock because I never do, lol.
April 9, 2015
Susanna Ward’s grandfather cut her father off from his inheritance years ago because he disapproved of his marriage. When her father dies, she is forced to see work as a governess. Ok. This is not the newest plot in the world, but it’s a mystery and therein lies the different. Her grandfather meets with a mysterious death which a stranger indicates might have been the result of murder. She resolves to impose on her relatives residing in her grandfather’s estate and ask to stay with them, determined to learn if the stranger’s accusations are true. Before she is welcomed into the household, she stays overnight in the local inn during which time a wounded man, running for the authorities seeks refuge in her room. Could he be the famous Captain Clark rumored to be the leader of a local smuggling ring? This book is heavier on the mystery than the romance. I had a little trouble believing a young lady would keep getting up and having adventures in the middle of the night, but despite that it was a wholesome and fun fantasy read.
May 25, 2012
I liked the title, I thought it was great mystery story. What I read was "Amanda Quick" story. Don't get me wrong, I like Amanda Quick's stories. I don't say this in a bad way, but somehow it was like reading some of her books, like reading a copycat. I was expecting more mystery and more romance. There was lack of both. The mystery wasn't mystery enough, it was discovered in the title itself. And there wasn't even one kiss in whole story. So where is the romance?
What I liked was Susanna's character. Well described, young and independent woman, searching for the truth. I also liked the character of Captain Clark. Mysterious personality, smuggler, thief, actor, spy. Also, the narration was good. there were some interesting moments. But the story needs more depth. There were parts that were boring, full of uninteresting conversations. It was a quick read, a story very easy to read, but far away from Jane Austen.
What I liked was Susanna's character. Well described, young and independent woman, searching for the truth. I also liked the character of Captain Clark. Mysterious personality, smuggler, thief, actor, spy. Also, the narration was good. there were some interesting moments. But the story needs more depth. There were parts that were boring, full of uninteresting conversations. It was a quick read, a story very easy to read, but far away from Jane Austen.
August 6, 2016
I got this as a free Kindle book. Susanna is an out of work governess in England during the Napoleonic war. She happens to travel near her father's family home - the family who wanted nothing to do with him after he married beneath him. She finds out that her grandfather has recently died under mysterious circumstances and decides to visit her relatives. Along the way she meets the mysterious Captain Clark, a local smuggler, and helps him escape.
The gardener who told her about her grandfather is also killed. Susanna must figure out who killed both of them. And if Captain Clark is to be trusted or not.
There is also a romance with Captain Clark (of course).
Susanna has way too much freedom to wander in and out of the house without being noticed. At one point she questions some of the servants about her grandfather - because they notice everything, but none of them notice her saddle a horse and ride off.
The gardener who told her about her grandfather is also killed. Susanna must figure out who killed both of them. And if Captain Clark is to be trusted or not.
There is also a romance with Captain Clark (of course).
Susanna has way too much freedom to wander in and out of the house without being noticed. At one point she questions some of the servants about her grandfather - because they notice everything, but none of them notice her saddle a horse and ride off.
August 7, 2012
Susanna and the Spy melds two of my favorite romance subgenres, the Gothic and the Traditional Regency. While the book has the Napoleonic War-setting and slow-burn sensuality of the Traditional Regency, it also features many of the conventions of the Gothic: woman in peril (in this case almost-governess, penniless Susanna), a family estate complete with unexplained deaths and a mixture of kind and not-so-kind family members, a dark, dangerous, very evocative hero and a mystery to tie it all together. It's Victoria Holt crossed with Elisabeth Fairchild, what with Ms. Elliot's fluid, lovely writing and the excellent story. You'll love getting to know Susanna, and fall in love with James, the book's hero, right along with her. I'd recommend Susanna and the Spy wholeheartedly!
June 7, 2013
I'm not sure that's the best cover I've seen, it felt a little too 1970's cheap print for me.
However, once inside it was a really nice, and I have to say surprising read.
Nice little bits of dialogue between the two main characters, with a good sprinkle of chemistry and hasten to the bedroom tension.
Susannah certainly was a game one, nothing seemed to put her off, or slow her down ..... brave, or stupid? .... you decide!
I actually found it a bit reminiscent of Georgette Heyer, with a bit of Julia Quinn's more modern style and humour woven through it.
The cover image notwithstanding, I loved this little gem of a read, and highly recommend it.
For me 5 stars, and add Anna Elliott on to my favourite author list.
However, once inside it was a really nice, and I have to say surprising read.
Nice little bits of dialogue between the two main characters, with a good sprinkle of chemistry and hasten to the bedroom tension.
Susannah certainly was a game one, nothing seemed to put her off, or slow her down ..... brave, or stupid? .... you decide!
I actually found it a bit reminiscent of Georgette Heyer, with a bit of Julia Quinn's more modern style and humour woven through it.
The cover image notwithstanding, I loved this little gem of a read, and highly recommend it.
For me 5 stars, and add Anna Elliott on to my favourite author list.
March 23, 2013
Once I started reading this novel I couldn't put it down. It held my attention throughout and I couldn't stop myself from turning the pages because I had to find out what happened next! I loved the characters and I found myself instantly on-board with Susanna, the female protagonist. The story was full of suspense and the mystery kept me guessing until close to the end.
This novel is for fans of regency romance, with language that is slightly more modern than those novels of Georgette Heyer (which makes sense considering the time period in which Heyer herself was living). Also, if you like a solidly stereotypical English mystery, complete with smugglers, then this is also for you!
This novel is for fans of regency romance, with language that is slightly more modern than those novels of Georgette Heyer (which makes sense considering the time period in which Heyer herself was living). Also, if you like a solidly stereotypical English mystery, complete with smugglers, then this is also for you!
April 6, 2013
Really pretty bad. However it had some saving graces in that the characters were likeable, and the author didn't fall into the terrible trap of dialogue in modern English (something that annoys me greatly - especially with Americanisms). It was a shame in that it felt a bit rushed - there was little character development, and the whole plot was weak and unconjugated at best. The heroine seemed to be hurrying around doing things that seemed very out of character for a sensible governess (or, frankly, anyone sensible for that matter). That being said, I did finish it unlike others that I've laid aside in disgust. If you want a mindless spy story, have a read. Otherwise I'd steer clear.
May 26, 2013
I don't know how to rank this since I don't read a lot of romance. It has a nice mystery, although since it's a fairly linear story, I knew the whodunit early on. It's farfetched in the extreme in a few places, but this isn't read for believability. It's the characters and the fun and the book comes through in those cases. It's light and clean and enjoyable. I usually ask for a bit more plausibility from a book, and I do think Elliot's writing and plotting is much more mature in her Urban Fantasy work (Demon Hunter with Baby). This is a comfort read--when you're looking for chocolate and tea and book with a happy ending, this book fits the bill.
January 12, 2012
A regency period mystery / romance. Susanna is between jobs - being young and attractive, governess posts are not easy to keep but not many alternatives are available. On her way to London to a job agency, she finds the route passes the estate owned by her estranged grandfather and hearing from another passenger that her grandfather is dead - "Them at the Hall- they killed him."
On impulse she gets off the stagecoach at the next inn so changes her life. Meeting Family, some friendly, others not also smugglers,especially their leader....
On impulse she gets off the stagecoach at the next inn so changes her life. Meeting Family, some friendly, others not also smugglers,especially their leader....
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