Swallowfields

by Beverley Carter

Inheriting an old house from an aunt she barely knew seems like the stroke of luck that Hannah badly needs. But Swallowfields has a dark history and Hannah is soon to discover disturbing family secrets that have remained hidden for years and now seem destined to tear her world apart. Swallowfields is a story of tragedy, loss, loyalty and lies and of how one man’s evil has percolated through the generations, to leave an indelible stain on the present.

240 pages, Paperback

First published November 7, 2013

About the author

Beverley Carter was born in Hertford, England. After a few years working as a secretary and office manager, she retrained to work in health and safety. The insights into human behaviour she gained, particularly whilst investigating accidents, have proved invaluable for creating believable characters, gripping plots and complicated motives.

A believer in lifelong learning, Beverley enrolled herself on an English Literature degree with the Open University in 2012, graduating in 2016 with First Class Honours.

The Eden Reid series of mysteries takes place mostly in East Anglia, in south-east England. Eden travels between the bustling city of Cambridge and mysterious Mistling, a small village on the windswept east coast where there is never a shortage of unsettling events.

Reviews

[Kath Middleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young woman, Hannah, inherits a house from her aunt and moves in with her two daughters. We learn about her aunt, her mother, her step father, but mostly about the family who lived in that house earlier. Her uncle was a strange man with a murky past. There was a tragedy in the house – we find out about that as the tension mounts. Through a complex network of deceit and lies, we find out how one person covering up to protect another can create a web of intrigue which throws a veil of obscurity over a child’s life. It’s wonderful to be there as lifting that veil unfolds a new future for Hannah.

This is longer than Beverley Carter’s earlier novellas and therefore has the possibility for delving deeper into the characters’ lives. There were still areas I would have liked more detail on – I’m just a nosy person! The author has a lovely accessible writing style and always uses it to tell a great story. This is a really good mystery tale and I enjoyed reading it very much!