Beneath a Burning Sky

by Jenny Ashcroft

***THE EBOOK BESTSELLER***'Exotic and mysterious - I was gripped' Dinah Jefferies'Beautifully described . . . A moving love story' Tracy Rees'Emotional, evocative and enthralling.' Kate FurnivallBeneath a Burning Sky is a beautiful and gripping story of love, betrayal and mystery, set against the heat and intrigue of colonial Alexandria. Perfect for fans of Victoria Hislop , Lucinda Riley and Kate Furnivall .**********************The shores of Alexandria, 1891Olivia Sheldon has travelled across the world to marry a man she does not love. Reluctant to leave England but coerced into the marriage, Olivia's reward is being reunited with her estranged sister, Clara. Her punishment is falling impossibly and illicitly in love with the enigmatic Captain Edward Bertram.Then one scorching day Clara is abducted from Alexandria's busiest street. Desperate to find her sister - and the truth about her disappearance - Olivia becomes embroiled in Egypt's shadowy underworld, risking both her life and future with Edward. Because, determined as Olivia is to find Clara, there are others who will stop at nothing to conceal what's become of her . . .Praise for Jenny 'Evocative, absorbing, fascinating . . . A rich and satisfying read' Gill Paul'A summer must-read' Red'Completely entrancing . . . Perfect escapism, beautifully written.' Emma Rous'It's impossible to put this book down.' Kate Riordan'Brilliant; everything romantic historical fiction should be' Nicola Cornick'The writing is beautiful and the setting absolutely glorious . . . lovely, lush and poignant' Nikola Scott'Absolutely brilliant' Kerry Fisher'First-class writing, brilliant characters, fascinating locations and gripping plots' Tracy Buchanan'Exquisitely written . . . unputdownable and unforgettable' Iona Grey'A wonderful novel, full of mystery that kept me gripped until the end' Rachel Burton

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Egypt, Mystery, Africa, Historical Romance

458 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 29, 2016

About the author

I am an author of both historical fiction under the name of Jenny Ashcroft, and high concept novels under the pseudonym Jennifer Ross. Having spent many years living, working and exploring in Australia and Asia, I now split my time between Australia and the UK. I have a degree from Oxford University in history, and have always been fascinated by the past—in particular the way that extraordinary events can transform the lives of normal people. My newest novel, Every Lifetime After, will publish in January 2026.

Reviews

[Always Pouting · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olivia's grandmother and her now husband Alistair conspired together to manipulate Olivia into marrying Alistair. Alistair's had originally coveted Olivia's sister, Clara, who ended up marrying his business partner. Though living with Alistair's daily abuse is draining, Olivia relishes being reunited with her sister Clara, whom she hasn't seen since they were children. Clara who is also living in Egypt sees Olivia often and tries to remind her of their childhood in Egypt, before their parents had died. Meanwhile Captain Edward has come to stay at Olivia's house as Alistair's guest and he and Olivia soon find themselves growing closer. Things only grow more complicated when Clara is abducted while out with Olivia and no one can seem to locate her.

I know I've said this before but I'm not the most familiar with history so like if things are historically inaccurate I'm probably not going to notice unless its something glaring like a woolly mammoth running around Victorian times though I mean maybe thats the plot of the book in which case whatever. I didn't think anything stuck out as such in the book historically. I liked the characters and I especially sympathized with Olivia whose life seemed totally unnecessarily hard. The romance between her and Edward was built up to which was nice because even though they were attracted to one another instantly things like trust should come with time, they don't just appear.

The mystery itself was interesting as well, and again I didn't see the ending coming, I might just be oblivious and that's why when I read this books I always end up going what the heck but yeah. I thought the whole underlying tension between the Egyptians and the British was portrayed really well as well, and worked really well as a theme in the book. All in all a solid book with romance, mystery, and politics mixed in together.

[Christina ~ Brunette Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back to Alexandria as a married woman after many years, Olivia encounters again the beloved sister she left behind as a little girl, and while the renewed relationship with Clara represents a glimmer of light in a desolating new life, the cruelty of the abusive husband who was imposed on her right before sailing from England is destroying any hope she might have harboured for a better future. Then the chance at happiness unexpectedly comes along with Captain Edward Bertram, but the clandestine feelings they develop seem to be destined to remain only an unattainable dream. And when Clara goes missing, the veil of duplicity enveloping Olivia’s household, as well as all the interactions among her husband’s circles, starts to break, revealing far more terrible truths that she could have first imagined.

Set in 1890s Egypt, Beneath a Burning Sky is a highly atmospheric novel about love and betrayal, a very carefully built Historical Fiction which is neither fully a mystery nor a romance, but with a gripping case of disappearance and a thwarted love story at its core nonetheless.
Capturing the mood, the colours and sounds of the fascinating setting through rich and vivid descriptions and a smooth prose, Jenny Ashcroft introduces us into a story fraught with tension and shadows. From letting the layered plot unravel against the backdrop of the ambivalent relationship between the European expatriate society and the locals to portraying each character with focus, the narration unfolds at a nice pace throughout the book and all the different threads deftly emerge and recede together with the alternating multiple point of views giving back a choral interpretation on the events, while the main storyline follows Olivia as she struggles to come to terms with her no way out situation.
She and Edward tiptoe around each other. They have flaws and fears, and they are well aware of the insurmountable scandal that may ensue would they surrender to their emotions, but the tragedy of her sister’s abduction propels a cascade of circumstances that will have them rethink choices as much as the people around them, from Clara’s fragility and hidden unhappiness to Olivia’s own husband, whose elusive and mercurial personality makes him an even more disquieting villain.

The only drawback I can point out, a smaller one, is that I thought the dialogues often had a too contemporary feel to them to convincingly ring as Victorian-sounding, but luckily not to the point to really detract anything major from my overall enjoyment of this evocative and engrossing novel, which strikes the right balance of angst, introspection and action, while the plot steadily builds pathos leading to the dramatic conclusion.

A new to me author, I was very positively impressed as a whole and will surely consider reading other books by Ms. Ashcroft.

[Pauline · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed Beneath a Burning Sky by Jenny Ashcroft. This was a romantic story with plenty of mystery and suspense, set in Egypt in the late 1800s.
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Dash fan · Rating 5 out of 5]

5☆ Enchanting, Captivating, Page turner, Full of Mystery and Charm!

A beautiful first debut novel for Jenny Ashcroft.

Beneath a Burning Sky is a beautifully written story about love, romance, mystery, passion, secrets, intrigue its a beautiful historical fiction.

Beneath a Burning Sky is set in Egypt.
Egypt is one of my bucket list places to visit. So much rich history and character.
Jenny did not let me down on the descriptive encounters of Egypt and is beautiful surroundings. I literally felt like I was in Egypt.

The characters were passionate and strong.
Olivia the main character was a very strong female lead. Watching her grow as a character was lovely to watch. She has been through so much heartache and abuse from her husband Alistair, she still manages to keep strong no matter how much he grinds her down.

So when Edward shows her some attention the sparks shine between them. He is everything her husband isnt. He's kind, caring, romantic. Watching the relationship between Olivia and Edward is special. He is her forbidden fruit. But also her hero!

Olivia and her sister Clara were separated from each other after the death of their parents. Their awful nasty grandmother kept them apart and made sure they never found each other. Until now!
So when Olivia finally finds Clara she is about to lose her again.
When her sister mysteriously disappears things just don't add up.
So she sets out to try and uncover what has happened.

Edward help Olivia to find Clara in what appears to be a race against time. Putting both girls in danger.

There is plenty of twists, turns, suspense, mystery, romance, secrets to keep you page turning till the early hours.

I enjoy reading historical fiction, but Jenny made the pages light up and transport the reader right into the heart of Egypt. It's a fast paced read and it certainly wasn't what I was expecting it was much better.

I'm looking forward to reading more from Jenny! I certainly think she is going to be an Author to watch out for!

I received this book from the Publisher in exchange for a honest and fair review via Netgalley.

[Jules · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I read this to the end and enjoyed parts of the story, it wasn’t really what I was expecting. I went into it thinking I was going to experience atmospheric historical fiction, but it felt more like a dramatic romance with love, lies and revenge.

Having been to Egypt twice many years ago, I was attracted to this book by its location. Unfortunately I didn’t feel this book brought Egypt to life with the intensity I’d hoped. It lacked the magic of exotic surroundings I was hoping for.

I did like that there was a Hassan in the book, as I met a Hassan the first time I went to Egypt in 1996 and we have remained friends. We wrote letters to each other for years and are still occasionally in touch with each other through Facebook.

In my opinion, if you like drama and romance you’ll probably enjoy this more than if you’re choosing to read this because of your love of historical fiction or Egypt.

[Agi · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Beneath a Burning Sky" is Jenny Ashcroft's debut novel, and boy, what a great debut it was! Gently and beautifully written, full of mysteries, romances, love, hate and intrigue, with characters that you are rooting for, mixing historical fiction, romance and mystery. It is full of hidden passion and intrigues and it truly surprised me in a very positive way - I'll be honest, I haven't expected it to be so good.

The characters are better than good. You love them or you hate to love them, but even those that you hate, you can't stop thinking about them. There are many of them, to be honest, and I had some problems with recognizing and distinguishing them, especially the Egyptian protagonists. There was also the sub - plot of Nailah and her family and to be honest it was this tad difficult to understand what her role in the story was - that is, till almost the very end but it was a little too late then. However, this in a great way showed the difference between the British class and the local people. Olivia is a great leading character - she is, as it usually happens, much ahead of her times, she's independent and feisty but there is also a lot vulnerability in her character. She really grows throughout the story. She changes and develops and it was great to see how much determination there is in her and how brave she faces all the challenges - and there were plenty of them. Alistair - well, I hated him, but I think you were supposed to hate him. Edward is a total contrast to Alistair - romantic, lovely, and charming gentleman and I couldn't wait for more scenes with him. The forbidden romance was written in a very interesting way, and you can't help but fell for both of the characters - for the heroine because you just felt sorry her and for the hero because he's just so lovely and you keep everything crossed for them and hope for a happy ending - but will it come?

This story was full to the brims with events and happenings. The setting was unusual for me - I think I've never before read a book set in Egypt in 1890s, but it only made the reading more exciting and interesting for me. The mystery of Clara's missing, the who, and why, and when, and what happened was seamlessly flowing and was really intriguing. And of course the romance, or should I say, the love story - it was just brilliant. Yes, I had some troubles with getting into the book, it took me some time to get used to the writing style, the inner dialogues and the descriptions, and some of the characters were too clichéd and stereotyped, but then it just made click and I couldn't put the book down. Also, there were moments that I'd love a little bit deeper info, for example about Olivia's parents and is it only me or did you also miss the explanation why Millicent hated Olivia so much? But the author has so easily and effortlessly brought the atmosphere of those time, and the descriptions were so vivid, bringing everything to life. There were many twists in this story, and most of them were really unexpected, and I just wanted to turn the next page and see what's going to happen. The plot was complex but I've actually never felt confused - it was logical and everything had its place. The story slowly and steadily unpeels the many layers and uncovers various secrets and all the pieces of the puzzle come together in the end.

So altogether, "Beneath a Burning Sky" was historical fiction at its finest. This was a brilliant, addictive, fast - paced read with characters that really grows on you. The author has easily pulled me into her fictional world that will truly stay with me for a long time, and this is really a sign of a great book. I am already looking forward Jenny Ashcroft's next book and in the meantime I can only highly recommend this novel to you.

Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.

[Drew Irons · Rating 5 out of 5]

The missus said I should read this book. I judged it by its cover thinking it wasn't really my kind of thing. But, oh my, what a book! The writing is incredible and the pace is addictive but it's the characters that really pull you in. When was the last time you read a book and the characters stayed with you for weeks afterwards? Even the characters you're meant to hate, you still want to hit them long after they are out of your life. Olivia is a wonderful leading character, feisty and independent yet vulnerable. It's safe to say I fell in love a little. Read it, you'll love it and the next time you're asked how you are, don't be surprised if you just keep telling everyone you're' Top Drawer!

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

There was a lot of drama here and some might say melodrama but I couldn’t put it down.

[Kerry Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's so much packed into this book. The sensuous descriptions of Egypt and what it was like to live there as an expat in the 1890s. The brutality of a marriage - God, how I hated Alistair and wished curses upon him. The who/how/what of Clara's disappearance. And that love story. My, what a love story. Edward is possibly the most charming romantic hero I've come across in fiction. I kept wanting to cheer every time he came into the story. I loved Olivia - the gorgeous feistiness of a woman who should have been constrained by the era she was born in...but yet...I applauded her inner dialogue.
Absolutely brilliant. Whether or not historical fiction is your thing - this twisty-turny love story transcends era and genre. Highly recommended.

[Helen - Great Reads & Tea Leaves · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://greatreadsandtealeaves.blogspo...
"Beneath a Burning Sky" is Jenny Ashcroft's debut novel, and what a debut it was! Initially I was interested in this book because it takes place in Egypt and I love to learn about this ancient place - fact or fiction. This story was set mostly in Alexandria during the end of the 19th century, when Egypt was still under British rule. Not really knowing what to expect from a debut, I was transported to another place and time in this beautifully written tale.

Jenny Ashcroft has written a wonderful story, a fabulous historical romance in colonial Egypt, one that is full of intrigue and mystery, love and hate. There is an interwoven plot that will keep you guessing right to the very end. There are wonderful descriptions of Egypt at the turn of the century, but this book is really all about the characters and their relationships. This is most definitely the driving force - the life of an expat during the 1890s.

There are many characters and each have their contributions to make. From the disappearance of the main character’s sister - who did it? How? Why? Where? - to the brutality of a violent marriage (you will really despise Alistair). But at the heart of this tale is a love story and what a classic it is. Edward is the personification of the dashing hero and his relationship with Olivia will most certainly pull at your heartstrings.

‘I’m trying to keep you safe.’ His soft voice was baffled. ‘You cannot know the dangers of this land, the things people do.’

The flip story of Nailah, whilst a little difficult to follow at times, helps provide the voice of the Egyptians, demonstrating the contrast between the ruling British and the downtrodden Egyptians. However, this is such a well crafted mystery that at the end, when all the puzzle pieces start to come together, you will understand more and more her role and those of her family and friends.

Jenny Ashcroft is to be congratulated on how easily, and seemingly effortlessly, she brings to life the tense atmosphere of colonial rule. She evokes such a range of emotions through her characters that their stories will stay with you long after the final page is turned. It’s fast paced and addictive with characters that will grow on you - you will want to despise Alistair, slap Jeremy, swoon over Edward and rally behind Olivia - just to name a few.

Life wasn’t long enough to waste with unhappy decisions.

Am I gushing? Yes I am - it was absolutely brilliant. Whether or not historical fiction is your thing it doesn’t matter for this is so much more than that. The harsh brutality of life at times, the intriguing mystery and the quest for true love will sweep you away to a time and place long gone.

For lies were all she had to give. The truth, always terrifying, had never felt more impossible than now,


This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book reviews on www.snazybooks.com

Beneath a Burning Sky is set in British occupied Egypt towards the end of the 19th century, and this country is a place I’d love to visit. I was excited to read about Alexandria during such an interesting time politically. One thing I discovered as I read on, however, is that the book is definitely more of a love story mixed with a touch of mystery and drama, rather than all about the country at that time. Obviously you get a sense of time and place from Jenny Ashcroft’s lovely writing, but it is far more about the characters’ relationships and feelings, which is to be expected really – it is billed as a “heart-wrenching story of love and betrayal”.

The characters are interesting in their own ways – some are distinctly unlikable, some seem like horrible human beings, and some you actually care about which made me want to read on. I felt that the storyline with Nailah was a little less engaging, and I grew impatient with wanting to get back to Olivia and Clara’s world, though I enjoyed seeing a different perspective to the story and one that didn’t centre around rich, indulgent British people. Some of the people in this world of 'British rule' were really annoying, and this effectively painted a picture of how many locals must have seen the British expats.

The descriptions are vivid and interesting with some lovely imagery, though I felt some parts could have been cut down a little, finding my interest starting to wane at some points. I suppose I just hoped for a bit more about the place itself, as well as the character information – sometimes the story didn’t grab me as much as I wanted it to. It's still worth a read though, especially if you like your historical fiction with plenty of drama and an element of mystery.

* Many thanks to Sphere for providing a copy of this novel on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review.*

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written novel, full of adventure, mystery, romance and intrigue. I was swept up in this story, fittingly set in the sweltering and oppressive heat of late 19th century Egypt. I was rooting for the protagonist Olivia, and found this novel hard to put down. I'll be looking out for Jenny Ashcroft's next novel, it will be interesting to see what she comes up with next. Highly recommended if you like history, romance and mystery.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been immersed in this fabulous story of mystery, intrigue and romance. I can thoroughly recommend this book. I felt like I was there in 1891 Alexandria watching the story unfold. Excellent!

[Sonia189 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very interesting story for certain but the reading experience wasn't one I'll remember fondly.
I wouldn't say the writing itself is bad or weak, but the plot didn't convince me. I know part of the goal here was to keep the tension and to highlight the investigations the main characters do but I soon got quite frustrated with the way this was done. The characters often would be so close to have an answer and that took too many chapters to come, because, I assume, the idea was clearly to prolong the mystery, so when something was almost revealed... it wasn't. Nothing wrong with this idea in general but regarding these characters, it just got on my nerves.
I guess they just didn't truly come alive to me, many didn't seem very well fleshed and the fact that practically all of them were leading somehow miserable lives just depressed me too.
All in all, good enough but not as impressive to make me want to re-read one day.

[Linda Dobinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like historical fiction, you will like this. If you don't like historical fiction, try it it will change your mind. I was gripped from page one right the way until the end. It is well written and well researched. What an exotic location - I could feel the heat, smell the sweat.
The story has many strands and is fast paced. I kept waiting for it to fizzle out like so many thrillers do, but it didn't. My only quibble is the ending which I wish was a little different, but still - great story!
I totally recommend this book.

[Lena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Radnja razvucena, na momente bas dosadna.

[Ashley (BooksViaAshley) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher and the author for this opportunity!

I was initially interested in this book because it takes place in Egypt, and I'm a huge fan of all things Egypt! It takes place in Alexandria, during the end of the 19th century, when Egypt was still under British rule.

I had no expectations going in, and I was pleasantly surprised to find a beautiful, rich, historical mystery and love story. The writing is beautiful, giving lush, detailed descriptions of the beauty of Egypt. I felt transported to the setting.

The characters and their relationships are what drive this story forward (I did, for some reason, keep switching Olivia and Clara in my head. For me, for some reason, the name Clara seemed more suited for the main character! But that's just me). Olivia really grows as a character. After a lifetime of abuse and neglect, she finally starts to heal, only to be rocked by more tragedy. Her determination in the face of such great challenges is inspiring and you find yourself rooting for her from page one.

The romance between Edward and Olivia is heartbreaking. Yes, it's literally love at first sight, which usually I'm like, blergh. But it works here. And knowing that they can't be together because she's married to Alistair is tragic and agonizing, especially as Olivia really blossoms under Edward's attention, and he also grows by being with her. This tension also drives the story forward.

I really liked seeing the perspective from Nailah, a native Egyptian woman who gets caught up in the mess. We don't just see Egypt from a white, British perspective, but also through the eyes of the people who are from there. The contrast is stark and sharp. I also liked Nailah's character--She's a good woman who is trying to help those around her the best she can.

Alistair is evil but in a believable way. I would have liked to know a little more of his background to find out why he became so petty, jealous, and cruel, but it was sufficient to know he is sadistic and vengeful.

There are three or four storylines running side by side: the romance, the mystery, and a couple other side ones. After several twists and turns all the pieces finally come together in the end. I didn't see the ending coming, though that was more because the reader isn't given key information until the very end. I think some people could maybe have guessed it, but I didn't! The ending is realistic, even though I love happily ever afters, I also don't love when everything works out perfectly just because. This book finds a great balance between the two.

Over all, a lovely historical romance set against the backdrop of a mystery in beautiful Egypt.

[Rachel Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every once in a while a book comes along that is so good you wonder how you will ever read anything else again. You question the quality of your own books. You get shivers every time you think about it. You can't drag yourself out of that world. You are good for nothing until you finish it. This is one of those books.

Jenny Ashcroft writes exquisitely, evoking every possible emotion and transporting you to late Victorian Egypt. This is so much more than historical fiction though; there's mystery, adventure, harsh brutality and ultimately love - oh the things we do for love.

The characters will stay with you long after the last page - I wanted to kill Alistair, shake Jeremy, be best friends forever with Olivia. And then there's Edward. From the first moment he walked on to the page I was undone. Jenny, I think you've created the greatest Romantic hero of all time - it's certainly made me up my writing game!

This book broke me, in the best possible way. When I finished I was bereft. All I wanted to do was turn to page one and start again.

Five stars is not enough.

[Carole (in Canada) · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Rating: 3.5* rounded up to 4*

Traumatized by being torn from her older sister at the age of eight years old (after the death of their parents) by their bitter and controlling grandmother, Olivia is forced into a boarding school run by nuns. Before she comes of age, she is manipulated into marrying Alistair Sheldon, a wealthy cotton owner who is also cruel and controlling. He has his own agenda for marrying Olivia and it is not for the love of her. The only bright spot in the marriage is being reunited in Egypt with Clara. That is until Clara is abducted.

This debut novel strikes hard right from the beginning and you struggle, right along with the main character, Olivia, to determine what exactly is going on. You feel her frustration, her pain and her determination as she fights to find her sister, Clara, and as she fights to save herself from her marriage. An effort made more difficult after falling for the British army officer, Captain Edward Bertram.

"But they were weighted with something she'd never seen in Alistair's blue stare; warmth, compassion." (quote from the book)

There is a lot going on and connecting all the pieces doesn't come easy until near the end. At one point, I thought I knew what really caused the reason for Clara's abduction. But I was wide of the mark; it was much darker. There are several 'red snappers' but you know that all roads lead to one person in particular but you don't why or how.

The other 'character' in this novel is Egypt under the control of England in 1891. Corruption, undercurrents of rebellion and the disparity between the British colonials and the masses is evident. However, it is the climate that you really experience...the heat, the humidity, the sand.

This is not a light easy read. At times, I found it could have been pared down in places. It is gritty and realistic and kept my attention. I look forward to reading Ms. Ashcroft's next novel, 'Islands in the East'.

[Lisa M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the start of this book but ultimately felt the mystery was too long-winded and I confess to skimming towards the end. My least favourite of her 3 books but I'm pleased I read it, I did love her other 2 stories.

[Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

An evocative period mystery full of suspense, love, and superb historical detail. All the way through you’re rooting for Olivia, the main character. She’s experienced a terrible childhood and has just moved out to Egypt to be with her new husband - a sadistic and violent, embittered female-loathing individual who wanted to marry her sister!

Olivia is reunited with her long lost sister when she moves to Egypt and hopes to find some happiness at last, but then her sister mysteriously vanishes on a trip to the marketplace. The ensuing twists, turns, red snappers (!), entanglements, alliances, excuses, misplaced loyalties, blames and omissions will have you reeling. I’d say it’s pretty impossible to guess the eventually revealed antagonists early on. It’s intricate, atmospheric, well thought out and superbly written.

I started making notes as I usually do when it’s a book I‘m going to review, but I found this far too gripping and so totally absorbing that I put pen and paper away and just rode with it. It was such a smooth flowing, evocative and exciting read which really drew me in - I chose to read it twice, rather than interrupt this wonderful story. I haven’t felt that good since picking up my first Harry Potter (in a different way, of course, and I’m in my 50s, btw! - Just the feeling of easy, yet enticing 'comfort reading' I got from them both). Anyone who liked the Tea Planter’s Wife will love this.

The characters are brilliantly portrayed, you want to kill some, strangle some, knock sense into a lot and nurture others. Put your life on hold and sit down and read this – you’ll be doing yourself a big favour. This has stayed in my mind for 2 days before I could even start this review. I really hope this author will continue to produce books in this vein – foreign climes, colonial pompous asses and the decent folk trying to survive around their bumbling catastrophes!

[Mystica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olivia and Clara two sisters, separated at a very young age due to the death of their parents. One brought up by a grandmother determined to keep the two girls apart. It was a maneuvered coincidence that brought them together in colonial Egypt, both brought to this country of their birth by marriage. One marriage seemingly happy, the other brutal, painful and abusive of the most horrific.

The setting for the story was excellent. England again in colonizing mode trying to hold this disparate country together in the face of many odds. A hostile people who did not take easily to these foreign masters and people like Olivia's husband who were the lowest of the low, exploiting everyone and treating every person he met so badly that you wondered how he was not done away with before now.

The story reaches a climax with Clara's abduction and the entire facade of both sisters lives begins to slowly unravel as actions of their respective husbands play out on a new scenario which places both sisters in grave danger. The romantic element of Olivia finding love in her own house with a lodger brought by her own husband adds another element to this tense story.

The historical setting of the story added a lot to the story which was one of betrayal and love. Alexandria at the time was colorful enough but with villains, heroes and heroines also thrown into the mix, the story was intriguing.

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This must be one of the best novels that I have read in a long time. It was one of those novels that I had no desire to rush, as I was enjoying to much to do so. I never guessed from one page to the next, what would happen. So many twists! Even the ending didn't quite turn out how I expected it to. I will not write what the story is about for fear of spoiling for others, but I do highly recommend.

My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers. This is my honest review.

[Alicia Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

A most enjoyable, well written story - my internal editor hardly kicked in at all! :)

[Maree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous debut novel. It's not often I get lost inside a book but I did with this one.

[Hannah (Sakurahan or ForeverBooks18) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hi Readers,

I've just finished another great NetGalley arc called Beneath A Burning Sky by Jenny Ashcroft. It's now available to buy/download too!

NOTE: If you're sensitive to people disappearing this might not be the book for you!

Beneath The Burning Skies in a standalone novel that tells the stories of a few different characters, who live in Alexandria, Egypt. Two of these characters, Olivia and Clara are the main characters, I feel. The bulk of the story centres around what's going on with them. Both Olivia and Clara are English as are a few other characters too. All of the characters have a main part to play in the story, I feel which is nice.

4 Stars!

Spoilers below...

What most of this book is is a who done it? plot line, along with a few romantic parts too. Olivia and Clara go out to eat, in Alexandria one afternoon but Clara gets captured, and we assume killed. The beginning of the book tells of a capture of a character. We don't know who this is there, though.

The bits of the book that I enjoyed the most were the romantic parts. Olivia, who the story rotates around is abused by her husband. She realises she loves another character that she's known for a long time, Edward. This could potentially be classed as instant love but they've known each other for a long time. They just haven't realised their feelings before now. It takes most of the book for either one to say that they love the other one too. We just see it in the way they think of each other. The sex isn't graphically written about so anyone could potentially pick this up and enjoy it.

Other characters that have a big role are an Egyptian girl called Nailea, her uncle, aunt and mother, Olivia's and Clara's grandmother, who's horrible to both girls but particularly to Olivia as well as Clara's capturer as well. I'm not going to say just who the capturer is as that would totally give away the story but it was a surprise to me.

What did I like about Beneath A Burning Sky?
I loved the romance. I wish there had been more but alas, there wasn't.

I liked how there were good and evil characters and how we knew which was which throughout.

I liked the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Clara and how we didn't know what had happened to her right up until the end.

What didn't I like about Beneath A Burning Sky?
I didn't like the politics surrounding one of the storylines so much. I skimmed over some of those bits.

I didn't like how much the story focused on Nailea. I would have liked more focus given to Olivia's story as I felt like she was the main female character.

I don't like how this story is just a standalone. I feel that the story could continue following Olivia and her life.

Overall, I really enjoyed Beneath A Burning Sky. It was a good mystery novel. I'm giving it 4 Stars because it was a little slow at points but if you're a fan of romance/mystery/suspense/books set in different places, then pick this up!

Stand by for my next review, coming soon!

Check out the rest of my reviews! http://foreverbooks18.blogspot.co.uk/...

📖Belle📖

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical romance set in colonial Egypt in the 1890s, this novel is also full of intrigue and mystery with a complicated plot that keeps the reader guessing right until the end.
Olivia, a young 22 year old orphan, is married to the despicable Alistair. She lives in Alexandria near her elder sister Clara from whom she has been separated for many years by their spiteful Grandmother. Clara is married to Jeremy, Alistair's business partner and they have two young children.
Stuck in a loveless marriage Olivia's only consolation is her illicit romance with Captain Edward Bertram, a soldier who boards at their house. However they both know that there is no future in it as divorce at this time is inconceivable and would ruin both hers and Edward's lives.
Then, suddenly Clara disappears and Olivia and Edward are in a race against time to find her before something worse happens.
This is a story full of romance and hidden passions as well as evil and intrigue. It contains something that appeals to all tastes. Olivia is a feisty character who elicits a great deal of sympathy for her perdicament. Edward is a hero put in a very difficult situation although one hopes that in the end their story will have a happy ending.
The plot is quite complicated as their are many characters including a number of Egyptian protagonists who are called by various different names throughout the novel.
An enjoyable read set in an interesting period in history, the author evokes the stifling atmosphere of Alexandria very well. Perfect for fans of both historical fiction and mystery, this is an interesting take of colonial life under the British Empire. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about Beneath a Burning Sky by Jenny Ashcroft. I liked the historical setting – Alexandria at the end of the 19th century when Egypt was under British rule. It is a complex book but it is not so much historical fiction but more of a romantic story. Overall I enjoyed it but thought the book was melodramatic and I was hoping for more historical content.

There is a large cast of characters and although the main character, Olivia is convincingly described, many of the other characters are rather flat stereotypes – Alistair the sadistic older husband, Millicent, the wicked grandmother, and Edward, the ‘good’ character, the handsome, romantic lover.

From the start of the novel there is a lot that is not explained and the action moves swiftly from location to location, switching between different sets of characters. Olivia, trapped in an appalling marriage, is reunited with her older sister Clara from whom she was separated at a very young age after the death of their parents. She has no memories of her parents or her early life in Egypt, but throughout the book has tantalising flashbacks. I would have liked to have discovered what had happened to her parents, but this was only hinted at. I also wondered why Millicent, the wicked grandmother, had hated Olivia’s mother so much. And I was not convinced about the plausibility of Olivia’s forced marriage to Alistair.

But this is not the main mystery – that concerns Clara, because shortly after Olivia arrives, Clara disappears. The police investigation is completely useless, mainly because the chief of police is corrupt. What follows is Olivia’s frantic search for Clara with multiple twists as various secrets and passions begin to surface.

An added complication is the story of Nailah, an Egyptian woman, and her family. This shows the contrast between the ruling British class and the local people and the conditions they experienced and I think Jenny Ashcroft’s portrayal is the best part of her book. But I floundered to understand Nailah’s role in the novel and it was only towards the end that that became clear.

It is easy reading, and I was keen to know what had happened to Clara and why she disappeared. But for me it was too long with too many episodes that I sometimes found confusing. However, other people enjoyed it more than I did -there are plenty of 5 and 4 star reviews both on Amazon and Goodreads.

With thanks to NetGalley and Sphere, the publisher for a review copy.

[Ruth This one · Rating 3 out of 5]

A random book I picked up along the way sometime and looked like a suitable lightish read. The cover to my copy is pretty insipid, but nowhere near as bad as the one shown on Good Reads - There's no way I would have picked that one up, with the Lady of Cast Down Eyes. So it just goes to show what they say about judging.

Beneath a Burning Sky is a mystery, set in occupied Empire Alexandria, with innocent, vapid, or harridan white women and evil, cowardly or dashing white men... You know the characters. Given the settings there is also a parallel cast of servants and locals, who are also fairly sketchily drawn.

The book raises issues of injustice, small and large, but I don't feel that its goal is to further the argument beyond "wasn't this terrible, it's a shame nothing could be done".

The book was gripping enough to keep me turning the pages so I'm giving it a 3 - I hadn't guessed some of the twists and turns, and although I did feel some were a little implausible, not every book has to be a literary prize contender.

[Amy Wood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in the late 1800s in Egypt, this story follows Olivia as she's reunited with her sister (Clara) after years forced apart, only for her to be abducted. In the meantime, Olivia falls in love with another man (Edward)...

I enjoyed the unravelling of the mystery behind Clara's disappearance, although the scenes of people trying to get information out of a former maid were painfully repetitive and slowed the pace considerably.

The romance with Edward was predictable and very rushed at the start of the book. Later in the book, the tension between them builds nicely, so I thought it was a shame it didn't happen like this from the beginning (it might have been more realistic that way).

Olivia was likeable and you feel overwhelmingly sorry for her; anything you could imagine going wrong for someone, Olivia experienced it. The odd bits of humour were therefore very welcome ("red snappers"). I personally could have done with a lot more of this.

Overall, this was an easy read and I did enjoy it. Being set in Egypt made it feel a bit different. But in all honesty I came away from the story feeling a bit drained.