The Book of Hours

by T. Davis Bunn, Davis Bunn

Castle Priory is a crumbling Oxfordshire mansion, one Brian Blackstone's wife considered a place of extraordinary enchantment. But for Brian there is no enchantment, only the burden of trying to honor Sarah's dying wish that he hold onto the property.

With the local doctor, Cecilia Keeble, Brian begins to explore the mysteries of the old estate. In the process he discovers a medieval secret which offers a key to renew his spirit and heal his broken heart. The power of prayer reaches through the centuries in a surprising and mysterious way…

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Mystery, Christian, Romance, Historical Fiction, Contemporary

324 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Also writes under the names Thomas Locke and Davis Bunn.

Reviews

[Shannon Stults · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. It was a gift from the mother of one of my Sunday School kids I teach. She told me that if I liked The Shack then I would certainly like this one. Interestingly, these two books are very different. The biggest difference is that I didn't cry when I read The Book of Hours. This book was very funny while still being inspirational and powerful. It makes you question your way of life, what you're actually willing to do in your Christian walk, which I believe any decent Christian-fiction should do! It's entertaining and has made a strong impact and I will definitely be recommeding it to others.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best novels I've read in some time. It is a story about hope, healing, and the juxtaposition of light and dark forces in the life of a mythical English village. Well-written and compelling (I couldn't set it down), it's a spiritual and emotional quest for wholeness and finding one's way. Many books which place God in the lives of the characters are evangelical or even funny in their ineptness (the little heaps of clothing and eyeglasses in the Left Behind series as the "saved" are "raptured" upwards is an example). Not here: in a non-preachy way, God's role in the story is made evident and meaningful. The characters find redemption (or not) and are vividly drawn: the reader is immersed. A meaningful and engrossing book! I was sorry when I came to "The End." Highly recommend!

[Tammy G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good mystery. Not gory, unthinkable yuckiness! But a good mystery with suspense that works the mind. Davis Bunn is a favorite author of mine and I've read quite a few of his books but, by far, Book of Hours, is one of my most favorite reads. A mysterious letter is sent to widower and he goes in search of secrets on an ancient estate. The estate aptly named Castle Keep is in need of someone to save it from destruction. Brian in his search teams up with the local doctor, Cecilia Lyons. Brian unearths secrets in the crumbling mansion and finds his own life in jeopardy. But it's his own journey that proves to be the most difficult as he discovers secrets and treasure. I also loved finding out about "The Book of Hours." This is a great read and as always can be found at Amazon for a reasonable price. This may become one of your favorite books to keep! Love this oldies but goodies!
About the Author:

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Quickie Review

A quick, decent read; nothing more.

[Virginia Henderson]

DNF at chapter 3

Another book from my library book haul (https://youtu.be/nkRezwEYpEo?si=r-hRO...) I had a hard time gaining interest and it felt too wordy for me. It still sounds interesting though. I'm not giving a rating because I read so little of it. May or may nor come back to this someday.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an amazingly compiled piece following the adventures of a certain Brian Blackwell as he returns to his inheritance of a relative's home and discovers mysteries hidden for hundreds of years in an attempt to rescue the home before it can be auctioned off to cover his back taxes. After losing his wife two years prior and traveling the world in the time since, Brian finds it difficult to fall back into a normal routine and build relationships with those he meets. Guided by letters from his wife's aunt, his relationship with God flourishes and he finds within himself the capacity to love again.
The Book of Hours is filled with dramatic twists, characters with whom the reader can fall in love, and a plot line that remains unrivaled by any other Christian adventure novel I have read. While some aspects of the conclusion were rather predictable, there were others that were utterly shocking, and the path that led Brian there was filled with entertaining discoveries and suspenseful encounters. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a good mysterious adventure. This wonderfully crafted work of art lacks nothing; it contains adventure, mystery, history, romance, faith, and any number of other components that make it the best book I've read in a long time.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting story of intrigue with a deeper underlying message. I enjoyed reading it, but I wish it went a little farther. A couple of my questions went unanswered. The book did cause me to think about what true devotion to God looks like, and also the importance of prayer.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very satisfactory read. Good plot, good characters. A bit of faith and redemption and mystery. Enough depth in the plot to keep you turning pages to see what happens next. I am currently reading another by this author and will read more for sure.

[Haley Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was like a deep breath. a great story of moving past the past and embracing life. very descriptive and the mystery kept me up until 3am.

[Terry Sloan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet and the descriptions of the house were amazing.

[Laura The Book Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

I call books like this a one-time read. I did finish it and I did learn a bit of history by reading it, but it is not my kind of book.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

an old house, puzzles, and medieval England

[Sarafina]

TBRL**
Enjoying this one but it’s a slower paced novel and I’m in the mood for some excitement! I will pick this one up again later in the year!

[Bette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved!!

[Rochelle Saldaña · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was captivated and intrigued by this book! I could hardly put it down. Mystery, an interesting quest, and a hint of romance had me wanting more!

[ScriptLit-You Are What You Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

#BookReviewFriday
#2023readingchallenge
#13recoveringfromatragicloss

Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

# 13 Recovering from a Tragic Loss

Book: The Book of Hours
Author: T. Davis Bunn

This one gets three stars. My streak continues! The books I think will be ok are great and the books I think will be great are just ok 😂.

I found this book in my house, I didn’t know I owned it. It sounded good and I was in the mood for an atmospheric British read.

The book is about Brian, who lost his wife but because his wife’s only family also died he ends up with a crumbling English manor as an inheritance. Due to the fact that Brian waited two years to claim his inheritance, he arrives just in time to find out the house is being sold at auction because of back taxes.

What drew me to this book was the fact that Brian had to solve a series of clues in order to find a treasure, but this part was an extreme let down. I’m used to a book giving me clues and I can solve the mystery right along with the main character, but that isn’t what happened. We watched the characters solve the mystery based on things you’re never told as the reader.

The cast of characters were eccentric and distinctly British which I enjoyed, but in some instances they were over the top.

Cecilia, who becomes Brian’s love interest, is a caricature of a woman. Basically she is definitely a woman written by a man. She’s beautiful and smart, but prone to the most dramatic mood swings, moments of complete immaturity and questionable choices. Hard for me to believe a dedicated hard working doctor could be so, well, unsteady. She wasn’t believable and neither was their love story.

I have enjoyed quaint, slow to unravel mysteries, and thought this would be one of them, but it wasn’t. It was quaint enough with cute side characters but wasn’t the mystery I thought it would be.

The faith story intertwined was beautiful if a bit abrupt, but it’s what saved this book for me.

I don’t recommend this book, unless you are specifically looking to read a story about how a man recovers after losing his wife.

https://m.facebook.com/groups/scriptl...

[Anne Rightler · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Book of Hours by T. Davis Bunn is great! I loved it--it reminded me of another one of my favorite authors, Jan Karon and her Mitford Series. The characters are absolutely wonderful-- colorful locals (I loved Arthur and his no-nonsense take on the world attitude--'tallyho' and ' The tide of events and all that rot...Let's get to work.'), who act like locals do in small towns--they take an interest in each other's lives, especially when it comes to a saving the Castle Keep, the church bells and of course, a fledgling romance. I have read a several of Bunn's books and this earlier one (from 2000) kept me hooked all day, chuckling, and wondering how the Castle Keep would be saved. What an entertaining way to spend the day, buried in this story.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Impressive! Mr. Bunn created a mystery, healed several souls and revealed quite eloquently the power of prayer. My only criticism is the need for more depth in the characters. The villains were caricatures and the vicar, whom I really liked, needed more fleshing out. I know that the castle needed depth because it is actually a character in the book, but the people needed the author's time as well. Why the title is The Book of Hours is both historically and religiously intriguing. That alone is worth the read. In fact, I will read this one again.

[Chef Clove · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since this book was published, I have read and then re-read it twice. The setting is inviting (who doesn't love a centuries old English mansion?), each character's background and life choices have depth and draw on your empathy and, I found, caused me to evaluate the choices I have made to be where I am and the values that those choices express. There is a Christian element to this book which encourages forgiveness, mercy and trust as opposed to blame (of others or self) and regret.

[Debbie is on Storygraph · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I've read in months. Beautifully written, I fell in love with the characters and Castle Keep. Though it had its flaws in too-convenient plotting, they were easily overlooked as you kept reading to find the end of the mystery. Surprisingly, the frequent Christian undertones didn't bother me at all. Very well done and one that will stay with me for a long time to come.

[Lori Goroski · Rating 5 out of 5]

The timing was right for me to read this book. The letters that have clues for the treasure pointed to praying as leading us to the greater purpose in life. Brian is an interesting character grieving the death of his wife by traveling for two years. He inherited a very old mansion. Little did he know what was hidden there centuries ago. So much more than I expected when I started this book.

[Adam Shields · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summary: A widower inherits a British estate, but he may lose it before he is even unpacked. 

I am trying to read more fiction. This is a goal that I have almost every year. I really am conviced that fiction is important, but I have a tendancy to gravitate toward "important" books. I saw that the Book of Hours was on sale and I picked it up. I read his book The Maestro when I was in high school and I enjoyed it. It was a book about a musician who was a real artist and as he came to faith he saw he could incorporate his faith and art. I real a lot of Christian novels as a teen and I have read very few past my teen years because so few felt worthwhile.

As I read The Book of Hours I couldn't help but think about it as a novel version of a Hallmark movie. I enjoy a Hallmark movie very now and then, but I don't really confused it for great art. It is fluff and fluff every now and then if fine. As much as can enjoy some fluff here and there, I do think that Karen Swallow Prior's critique of Christians as overly attached to Victorian values, and mistake those Victorian values for Christian ones fits here. This is a sentimental novel that deserves the critique that Prior has for senatamental novels. But it also fits all of the standard Hallmark tropes. A widower from out of town inherits an estate. He is penniless and finds the estate is going to soon be sold for back taxes. He meets the town's young (single) doctor who immediately hates him for not caring about the property and allowing it to fall into disrepair. There is a greedy developer to provide some tension.

And while I don't think it really makes sense within the story, the widower's wife and her beloved aunt jointly wrote him clues before they both died that he has to find. If he does, he may find something valuable that he can sell to keep the property. That is if the sketchy gardener (who used to date the doctor) doesn't stop them first. Along the way the widower and the doctor help the local vicar in his fight to get the church bells reinstated in the town again so that the community can remember that God. The sentamental, nearly love at first sight, romance between the grieving widower who seems to have gotten over his late wife's cancer death very quickly after showing up doesn't have any real depth.

The story is fine. For the $2 price I paid, I am not disappointed, but I also have no real interest in picking up another book by the same author. There are a lot of good novels that have more depth to them than this one.

I posted this on my blog originally at https://bookwi.se/book-of-hours/

[Joleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a terrific book. I adored the characters, except for several who were meant to be the antagonists. And that they were! Whew!

In my estimation, this just worked for me. We have an American widower with very little money to even live on, appearing in England to see what he can do about an estate he was left, only to find the "death tax" was equivalent to over a million US dollars. Then he’s approached by a man saying the house and grounds are going up for auction because of unpaid taxes. On top of that, one of the tenants on the property is a doctor who treats him like he's unworthy of her time, but he's so sick he believes he's about to die.

Sounds sad, doesn’t it? Well, it’s not. How this turns around is a puzzle his late wife's aunt left for him to solve, which nearly everyone around him wants to help him solve.

The title is from a book written during the Middle Ages meant to be carried around by monks or religious leaders to read during times of prayer lead by bells that rang in the village. Each was different and decorated with drawings. The writings inside were prayers, songs, psalms or other writings meant to turn the readers focus on God.

In this story there were church bells some people of the town wanted to fix, and some people felt they were a nuisance and wanted them to never come back. It was a bit of a battle, but so well done.

It’s cute, faith-centered and fun. I couldn’t wait for each clue to show up. Or for those rascals to make things difficult.

Good book!

[Carmi Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brian Blackstone has been running for two years following the death of his beloved wife Sarah. Now sick and broke he ends up at Castle Priory, the estate left to him when Sarah’s aunt Heather dies shortly after her. This is the last place Brian wants to be as there was no love lost between Heather and Brian. However Brian learns he may not be there long either because the estate is about to be foreclosed on and sold at auction. Then Heather’s first letter and puzzle are found. Brian and his new friends enter into a mad race to solve the puzzles and possibly save the estate. Along the way, Heather’s letters point Brian to God who provides peace and healing. The book includes a fair share of mystery, a bit of romance and of course several people with bad intentions. The story is fast paced and drew me in from the beginning. If there were more than five stars I would have given this book more.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a Christian cozy mystery and romance thrown in with a tad of history and British cultural history. It was a tad dramatic and a bit overwrought at times. Anglophiles will enjoy this read; I did learn about the historical significance of The Book of Hours.
Other readers claim the plot was a bit of a stretch; I agree. I wonder...would the riddles in real life be so solvable? Would relics in moldy settings survive the dank and damp?
LOL: I did find myself wondering how Brian would find a vocation, i.e. some occupation in the future. Through the course of the novel, he never seemed to ask that question, or seek God's guidance in serving toward some kind of love-thy-neighbor purpose (whether paid or unpaid)

SPOILER: I am not sure a young middle-aged man in average health and just sitting around would bode while his wife toils about doctoring her patient load!

[Martha H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

So sorry to rate this book poorly because it was descriptive and the characters were really well formed. Firstly, I did have a bit of a problem that the clues were completely unsolvable for the reader, who probably would have enjoyed being able to make their own guesses, but it was set up in a way that it could not engage the reader in what was a huge part of the book.
Secondly, I did not realize this was a Christian book. I found it on the Clean Books shelf. I felt it was entirely too preachy, going on sometimes for two solid pages at a time, and the general same theme over and over. It would have been just as good a book, maybe better, if it did not delve so far into religion, but again, this was my error choosing it in the first place.

[Bethany · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a pleasant enough read. The emotional journeys that Brian and Cecelia took were pretty interesting, and the collective group of friends felt renewing for Brian.

I did get a bit bored by the repetitive writing of each house-exploring chapter; they find a letter, they suddenly think of a spot in the house to look in, they crawl into a mysterious crawl space that is described but I can't visualize, they wander aimlessly for hours with flashlights, and then suddenly end the chapter with "come and see!" And then something is found that is kinda cool but not enough money, and this goes on and on. I can never visualize the house, and so the exploration itself was kind of slow to read about.

[Deb Brammer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wondered in the beginning if I'd like this one, but I ended up enjoying it quite a bit. It's a puzzle plot in which they are trying to save the family castle for the good of the community. It shows the need for community and a place to belong.

Early on there is little mention of spiritual things, but the last half contains more about the need for prayer and finding God. The plan of salvation is mentioned in a very vague way.

I enjoyed these characters who are mainly British and use the same British English we use in New Zealand. They make a fun community of people who love puzzles and enjoy their place in the community.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brian's wife has died. Two years of running has led him to English and the village of Knightsbridge to claim an inheritance he doesn't want. A crumbling property, tenants he doesn't know, and a painful kidney stone, don't help Brian's attitude any. But, when he discovers a letter, he is sent on a mission to solve the puzzle. He only has two weeks to raise the money to save the property.

Literally, twists and turns in this story, from hidden rooms, to hidden treasurers, to stairways up and down, this place has it all. And Brian's million dollar problem is solved.

A good story about how important history and friendship is.

[Cori Power · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm generally not a big fan of Christian fiction, but I really enjoyed this one! The importance of prayer was handled decently well for a novel, and the book inspired me to enter an hourly praise prompt into my calendar. The only reason I'm giving it 4 stars instead of 5 is the implausibility of such an ill man recovering so quickly despite continued injuries and lack of sleep coupled with a lot of emotional growth in characters in only a few days time.
Author - 1/2⭐️
Story - 1/2⭐️
Ending - 1⭐️
Offensiveness - 1⭐️
Recommend - 1⭐️