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The Almanack
The philosophy of time, destiny and the stars pervade this intricate historical mystery in which a young woman determines to avenge her mother's death. 1752, Midsummer. Following a desperate summons from her mother, Tabitha Hart departs London for her home village of Netherlea - only to discover that her mother has drowned. Determined to discover the truth about the Widow Hart's death, Tabitha consults her almanack and uncovers a series of cryptic notes describing her mother's terror of someone she names only as 'D'. Teaming up with young writer Nat Starling, Tabitha begins a race against time to unmask 'D' before more deaths follow. But as the summer draws to a close and the snow sets in, cutting off Netherlea from the outside world, Tabitha and Nat are forced to face the darkest hours of their lives. With the year predicted to meet a 'violent, bloody end'' will Tabitha survive long enough to bring her mother's killer to justice?
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 31, 2019
13 people are currently reading
324 people want to read
About the author
Martine Bailey
6 books134 followersMartine is a writer and keen reader who enjoys crime, mysteries and the gothic. After writing four acclaimed historical novels she has created a chilling new crime series comprising Sharp Scratch and Isolation Ward, both set in northern England in the 1980s.
After studying English Literature while playing in bands on the Manchester music scene she worked as a hospital personnel officer and qualified in psychometric testing. Over her career she assessed staff for Ashworth top security psychiatric hospital and completed an MSc on the ‘Psychic Prisons’ that can trap medical staff in negative behaviours.
Martine’s debut, An Appetite for Violets, takes sharp-witted cook Biddy Leigh on a murderous trip to Italy. Fay Weldon described its mix of crime, gastronomy and history, as a new genre, the ‘culinary gothic’. It was a Booklist top ten crime fiction debut of the year. The Penny Heart (A Taste for Nightshade in the US) is a Sunday Times Best Summer Read that draws on cooking, trickery and revenge. The stars, riddles and murder align in The Almanack, a historical mystery featuring fifty authentic riddles. In its sequel, The Prophet, destiny and murder weave an intricate web around Tabitha’s new life.
Martine’s influences include Ruth Rendell, Sarah Waters and the gothic tradition. She is married with one son and lives in Chester, UK.
Follow Martine at:
http://www.martinebailey.com
https://twitter.com/MartineBailey
https://www.facebook.com/MartineBaile...
After studying English Literature while playing in bands on the Manchester music scene she worked as a hospital personnel officer and qualified in psychometric testing. Over her career she assessed staff for Ashworth top security psychiatric hospital and completed an MSc on the ‘Psychic Prisons’ that can trap medical staff in negative behaviours.
Martine’s debut, An Appetite for Violets, takes sharp-witted cook Biddy Leigh on a murderous trip to Italy. Fay Weldon described its mix of crime, gastronomy and history, as a new genre, the ‘culinary gothic’. It was a Booklist top ten crime fiction debut of the year. The Penny Heart (A Taste for Nightshade in the US) is a Sunday Times Best Summer Read that draws on cooking, trickery and revenge. The stars, riddles and murder align in The Almanack, a historical mystery featuring fifty authentic riddles. In its sequel, The Prophet, destiny and murder weave an intricate web around Tabitha’s new life.
Martine’s influences include Ruth Rendell, Sarah Waters and the gothic tradition. She is married with one son and lives in Chester, UK.
Follow Martine at:
http://www.martinebailey.com
https://twitter.com/MartineBailey
https://www.facebook.com/MartineBaile...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
October 2, 2019
In the year 1752, at a London inn, a gentleman sent a bottle of claret to the table of 19 year old Tabitha Hart. "You are seeking business tonight, lady?" "Tabitha remembered her own sorry plans to strip the fellow of his purse and abandon him at first light. If only she had woken first... The villain has taken every farthing I own and my box and clothes besides..." She is forced to forego a carriage and must walk home to Netherlea.
"Netherlea was a village of countrified clods, gossips and whisperers...In London she had kept her past tucked away...now, with a sense of dread...she took the soiled memories out once more." Entirely penniless, dressed in her underclothes, she arrived at her squat, wattle-and-daub cottage. Her mother, Widow Hart, had written to Tabitha requesting that she make haste and return home. Tabitha is devastated upon discovering that she is too late, her mother has died. Although the cause of death was deemed the drowning of a woman whose "...mind was disordered...went wandering at night...", Tabitha was convinced otherwise. Her mother's head wound suggested foul play. She was bound and determined to seek justice for her mother...but how?
A thorough search of the cottage unearthed Widow Hart's Almanack replete with cryptic notes documenting her daily ruminations. Tabitha found a tiny cross crafted from rowan twigs, "a protection against evil". "The rowan cross confirmed the truth her mother had been terrified...[Tabitha] uncovered a newly inked [writing]".
"A Riddle for Mistress Hart"
I see you as you watch and spy,
Consumed with curiosity;
A maggot feeding on the dead,
And feasting on calamity.
Don't think you'll end my sovereign power-
'Tis you whom worms will soon devour.
Signed "D"
Who is the mysterious "D"? The plot thickens as another Netherlea resident falls victim. The Almanack predicts a "violent, bloody end" to 1752. Will more deaths follow? By trying to unmask "D", was Tabitha's life now in jeopardy?
"The Almanack" by Martine Bailey was a multi-layered who-dun-it which takes place during the year of 1752, at a time when England adopted the Gregorian calendar, a year with eleven less days. The populace was arguably "off-balance" as a consequence of this loss of time. The eighteenth century was the "golden age of enigmatography". Author Bailey effectively used riddles to "give an insight" into the Georgian era, a time when word puzzles were often printed in almanacs and magazines. Many well fleshed- out characters are introduced in this novel...a writer, doctor and rent collector, to name a few. This period piece masterfully evoked the narrow mindedness and small village mentality of 18th Century England. A well researched, captivating read.
Thank you Black Thorn Books and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "The Almanack".
"Netherlea was a village of countrified clods, gossips and whisperers...In London she had kept her past tucked away...now, with a sense of dread...she took the soiled memories out once more." Entirely penniless, dressed in her underclothes, she arrived at her squat, wattle-and-daub cottage. Her mother, Widow Hart, had written to Tabitha requesting that she make haste and return home. Tabitha is devastated upon discovering that she is too late, her mother has died. Although the cause of death was deemed the drowning of a woman whose "...mind was disordered...went wandering at night...", Tabitha was convinced otherwise. Her mother's head wound suggested foul play. She was bound and determined to seek justice for her mother...but how?
A thorough search of the cottage unearthed Widow Hart's Almanack replete with cryptic notes documenting her daily ruminations. Tabitha found a tiny cross crafted from rowan twigs, "a protection against evil". "The rowan cross confirmed the truth her mother had been terrified...[Tabitha] uncovered a newly inked [writing]".
"A Riddle for Mistress Hart"
I see you as you watch and spy,
Consumed with curiosity;
A maggot feeding on the dead,
And feasting on calamity.
Don't think you'll end my sovereign power-
'Tis you whom worms will soon devour.
Signed "D"
Who is the mysterious "D"? The plot thickens as another Netherlea resident falls victim. The Almanack predicts a "violent, bloody end" to 1752. Will more deaths follow? By trying to unmask "D", was Tabitha's life now in jeopardy?
"The Almanack" by Martine Bailey was a multi-layered who-dun-it which takes place during the year of 1752, at a time when England adopted the Gregorian calendar, a year with eleven less days. The populace was arguably "off-balance" as a consequence of this loss of time. The eighteenth century was the "golden age of enigmatography". Author Bailey effectively used riddles to "give an insight" into the Georgian era, a time when word puzzles were often printed in almanacs and magazines. Many well fleshed- out characters are introduced in this novel...a writer, doctor and rent collector, to name a few. This period piece masterfully evoked the narrow mindedness and small village mentality of 18th Century England. A well researched, captivating read.
Thank you Black Thorn Books and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "The Almanack".
October 29, 2019
Unfortunately this sounded much more intriguing than it was. I liked the format with the riddles although I didn't have the patience to solve all 50 of them. There wasn't a person in the book that I really liked or could sympathise with.
April 14, 2021
A slow burn and then the heat turns up!
The philosophy of time, destiny and the stars pervade this intricate historical mystery in which a young woman determines to avenge her mother’s death. 1752, Midsummer. Britain is changing from the Julian to the Georgian Calendar. Eleven days were cut from the calendar. A sense of confusion is abroad. Following a desperate summons from her mother, Tabitha Hart departs London for her home village of Netherlea – only to discover that her mother has drowned. Determined to discover the truth about the Widow Hart’s death, Tabitha consults her mother's almanack and uncovers a series of cryptic notes describing her mother’s terror of someone she names only as ‘D’. Teaming up with young writer Nat Starling, Tabitha begins a race against time to unmask ‘D’ before more deaths follow. But as the summer draws to a close and the snow sets in, cutting off Netherlea from the outside world, Tabitha and Nat are forced to face the darkest hours of their lives. With the year predicted by the Almanack to meet a ‘violent, bloody end’’ will Tabitha survive long enough to bring her mother’s killer to justice?
Both Tabitha and Nat have a chequered past, which explains much as the story goes on, including some stunning revelations.
This story crept up on me, and with its fascinating look into social behaviours of the times guided, as they were by perceived truths. Half way through I was well and truly caught. I was wondering whether to make this a four star novel because of the slow start but upon reflection I realized that this method is an important tool that draw the reader in.
I found myself feverishly reading the Almanck heading for each chapter, wondering if I could guess at what might follow, or rather how things might follow. Of course, only after reading the chapter would I know what the Almanack referred to, if at all. The mystery element flowed thick and fast. It was like looking at the stars to give you answers, without interpretation. What could be seen as a generality becomes more and more pointed and deadly.
The use of the Almanack as a constant to the action sets this Georgian historical mystery apart from others of its ilk. Well played!
A Severn ARC via NetGalley
The philosophy of time, destiny and the stars pervade this intricate historical mystery in which a young woman determines to avenge her mother’s death. 1752, Midsummer. Britain is changing from the Julian to the Georgian Calendar. Eleven days were cut from the calendar. A sense of confusion is abroad. Following a desperate summons from her mother, Tabitha Hart departs London for her home village of Netherlea – only to discover that her mother has drowned. Determined to discover the truth about the Widow Hart’s death, Tabitha consults her mother's almanack and uncovers a series of cryptic notes describing her mother’s terror of someone she names only as ‘D’. Teaming up with young writer Nat Starling, Tabitha begins a race against time to unmask ‘D’ before more deaths follow. But as the summer draws to a close and the snow sets in, cutting off Netherlea from the outside world, Tabitha and Nat are forced to face the darkest hours of their lives. With the year predicted by the Almanack to meet a ‘violent, bloody end’’ will Tabitha survive long enough to bring her mother’s killer to justice?
Both Tabitha and Nat have a chequered past, which explains much as the story goes on, including some stunning revelations.
This story crept up on me, and with its fascinating look into social behaviours of the times guided, as they were by perceived truths. Half way through I was well and truly caught. I was wondering whether to make this a four star novel because of the slow start but upon reflection I realized that this method is an important tool that draw the reader in.
I found myself feverishly reading the Almanck heading for each chapter, wondering if I could guess at what might follow, or rather how things might follow. Of course, only after reading the chapter would I know what the Almanack referred to, if at all. The mystery element flowed thick and fast. It was like looking at the stars to give you answers, without interpretation. What could be seen as a generality becomes more and more pointed and deadly.
The use of the Almanack as a constant to the action sets this Georgian historical mystery apart from others of its ilk. Well played!
A Severn ARC via NetGalley
January 26, 2019
The Almanack is a luscious and vibrant journey into the past via the predictions and riddles of an almanack.
One of the first things I notice when I sink blissfully into a Martine Bailey book, is how quickly she transports me to another era and how evident it is that she has deeply researched everything to do with the era she is writing about. Which, in this case, is the mid 1700s.
The whole book is cleverly constructed around an Almanack of the very year in which the book is set and is so authentically woven I can only surmise that the Author had such a real document in her hands at the time of writing.
An Almanack is a printed yearbook containing dates and events for the coming year, more detailed than a calendar or a diary it would contain notable festival dates, sunrise and sunset times, tide tables and other information invaluable, especially to country folk, farmers and the like. Some are still printed every year to this very day, for example Whitakers Almanack. As relevant now as ever, in those dark days before mobile phones, the internet and tv and radio, how else could one keep track of dates, events and timings? The Almanack in question must have been treasured by those lucky enough to get hold of one, as it sought also to entertain and amuse, by predicting weather and featuring some really clever riddles.
Our heroine Tabitha Hart seems at first appearances to be no better than she should be, a flibbertigibbet, a prostitute, who wakens to find the punter she spent the night with has absconded with her belongings, her money, even her outdoor garments! But never mind she in turn fleeced him and has in her possession a very distinctive and unique pocket watch in the shape of a grinning skull.
This doesn’t really help much now though as she continues her journey back from London to her rural home in the small village of Netherlea to visit her Mother, who has sent an urgent appeal for her to come home quickly. The money she had in hand was owed to her Mother and the clothes she has lost were her veneer of respectability. She arrives in her home village of Netherlea, bedraggled, penniless and dishevelled, indecently clad in little more than a petticoat. To her horror and regret she finds she is too late, her Mother is dead!
Tabitha suspects foul play and vows to discover who was watching her Mother and who was behind many cryptic messages pointing to the identity of whoever may have murdered her but she gets embroiled in all manner of intrigue. She aligns herself with budding writer and man of mystery Nat Starling. But as deaths continue, many with suspicion surrounding them she gets ever deeper embroiled in danger and crime.
I don’t want to give away too much of this absolutely delightful, original and unique historical thriller which ticks every single box to be a firm favourite for me. Great historical detail, wonderful richly painted characters, tons of mystery and intrigue, masses of twists and a narrator who you know is hiding something and whom you aren’t sure whether to despise or love (clue - I ended up loving Tabitha)
A rich, beguiling tapestry of 18th century suspicion and mistrust, overlaid with a touch of romance and a few murders and you have the perfect novel to while away any rainy weekend.
Overlaid with tons of cunning riddles, each chapter begins with one and you don’t get the answers until the end of the book, I predict The Almanack will delight and enrapture many a reader.
One of the first things I notice when I sink blissfully into a Martine Bailey book, is how quickly she transports me to another era and how evident it is that she has deeply researched everything to do with the era she is writing about. Which, in this case, is the mid 1700s.
The whole book is cleverly constructed around an Almanack of the very year in which the book is set and is so authentically woven I can only surmise that the Author had such a real document in her hands at the time of writing.
An Almanack is a printed yearbook containing dates and events for the coming year, more detailed than a calendar or a diary it would contain notable festival dates, sunrise and sunset times, tide tables and other information invaluable, especially to country folk, farmers and the like. Some are still printed every year to this very day, for example Whitakers Almanack. As relevant now as ever, in those dark days before mobile phones, the internet and tv and radio, how else could one keep track of dates, events and timings? The Almanack in question must have been treasured by those lucky enough to get hold of one, as it sought also to entertain and amuse, by predicting weather and featuring some really clever riddles.
Our heroine Tabitha Hart seems at first appearances to be no better than she should be, a flibbertigibbet, a prostitute, who wakens to find the punter she spent the night with has absconded with her belongings, her money, even her outdoor garments! But never mind she in turn fleeced him and has in her possession a very distinctive and unique pocket watch in the shape of a grinning skull.
This doesn’t really help much now though as she continues her journey back from London to her rural home in the small village of Netherlea to visit her Mother, who has sent an urgent appeal for her to come home quickly. The money she had in hand was owed to her Mother and the clothes she has lost were her veneer of respectability. She arrives in her home village of Netherlea, bedraggled, penniless and dishevelled, indecently clad in little more than a petticoat. To her horror and regret she finds she is too late, her Mother is dead!
Tabitha suspects foul play and vows to discover who was watching her Mother and who was behind many cryptic messages pointing to the identity of whoever may have murdered her but she gets embroiled in all manner of intrigue. She aligns herself with budding writer and man of mystery Nat Starling. But as deaths continue, many with suspicion surrounding them she gets ever deeper embroiled in danger and crime.
I don’t want to give away too much of this absolutely delightful, original and unique historical thriller which ticks every single box to be a firm favourite for me. Great historical detail, wonderful richly painted characters, tons of mystery and intrigue, masses of twists and a narrator who you know is hiding something and whom you aren’t sure whether to despise or love (clue - I ended up loving Tabitha)
A rich, beguiling tapestry of 18th century suspicion and mistrust, overlaid with a touch of romance and a few murders and you have the perfect novel to while away any rainy weekend.
Overlaid with tons of cunning riddles, each chapter begins with one and you don’t get the answers until the end of the book, I predict The Almanack will delight and enrapture many a reader.
March 6, 2020
This book got me through a tough week working away from home. I couldn't wait to get back to my hotel room and find out what happened next. I loved how each chapter started with a riddle (of which I was rubbish at solving - the answers are at the back). I also really enjoyed the little bit about the introduction of the Gregorian calendar introduced in the same year the book is set, 1752, something I know very little about. Always fun to learn something new.
There are many layers to the book as Tabitha tries to track down the mysterious killer known only as 'D' and whether she can trust her new beau Nat Starling. I liked the characters. Each served their own purpose and were greatly written. I found it so easy to imagine the time period and settings of the book. I really enjoyed this and would am so glad I've found a new historical crime fiction author.
There are many layers to the book as Tabitha tries to track down the mysterious killer known only as 'D' and whether she can trust her new beau Nat Starling. I liked the characters. Each served their own purpose and were greatly written. I found it so easy to imagine the time period and settings of the book. I really enjoyed this and would am so glad I've found a new historical crime fiction author.
October 12, 2019
The Almanack fits into my good-but-not-great category. Did I enjoy reading it? Yes. Will I want to reread it? No. Will I recommend it to friends? That depends on their tastes—but if they enjoy historical mysteries, I probably will. It provides a fun bit of reading.
The Almanack has two lines of narrative: a serial killer is haunting a small village; a woman whose mother was one of the killer's victims and a handsome, enigmatic newcomer to town fall in love with one another. I found the mystery more engaging than the romance. One particularly fun aspect of the book was that each chapter opens opens with a riddle that echoes in some way the events that chapter narrates.
I received a free electronic ARC of this book via NetGalley for review purposes. The opinions are my own.
The Almanack has two lines of narrative: a serial killer is haunting a small village; a woman whose mother was one of the killer's victims and a handsome, enigmatic newcomer to town fall in love with one another. I found the mystery more engaging than the romance. One particularly fun aspect of the book was that each chapter opens opens with a riddle that echoes in some way the events that chapter narrates.
I received a free electronic ARC of this book via NetGalley for review purposes. The opinions are my own.
November 9, 2019
"Superstition. Murder. Vengeance."
Set in the fictional town of Netherlea in 1752, this extremely well-written historical novel will entertain and engage. The author has done meticulous research that brings the story to life with the lovely, descriptive prose and is centered around the pages of an almanack so marks each chapter with the date, the sun and moon activity and a prognostication for the day. In addition, a truly unique feature is the riddle at the beginning of each new chapter. I blame those riddles for slowing my usual reading pace as I labored tremendously to try to guess the answer and solve each before I allowed myself to get back into the narrative!
Tabitha Hart, former prostitute in London, returns to Netherlea at the behest of her mother. Along the way, she's robbed of her money and possessions and so enters the village with nothing but her sullied reputation only to find that her mother has died. Tabitha's mother had been the village searcher -- recording and tending all manner of village life from births to deaths, and Tabitha is entreated to take on that role so that she can stay in the cottage where her mother lived with the child, Bess. Tabitha does not believe that her mother's death was a natural one and as she assumes her new duties, she is determined to find out the truth. It seems there is evil at work in Netherlea and Tabitha joins forces with an aspiring writer, newcomer Nathaniel Starling, to root out the tormentor who signs his threatening notes as "D" or De Angelo. NO SPOILERS.
A mystery in a village shrouded by superstitious beliefs and folklore where power is wielded without charity and death is a common visitor. The people that reside and work in Netherlea have hard lives and rely on the benevolence of the squire and landlord, Sir John De Vallory and his family. Why are so many afflicted and who is behind the sudden demise of certain townspeople?
This is a true delight for anyone who enjoys delving into historical fiction and I found it totally absorbing. Thank you to NetGalley and Black Thorn for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.
Set in the fictional town of Netherlea in 1752, this extremely well-written historical novel will entertain and engage. The author has done meticulous research that brings the story to life with the lovely, descriptive prose and is centered around the pages of an almanack so marks each chapter with the date, the sun and moon activity and a prognostication for the day. In addition, a truly unique feature is the riddle at the beginning of each new chapter. I blame those riddles for slowing my usual reading pace as I labored tremendously to try to guess the answer and solve each before I allowed myself to get back into the narrative!
Tabitha Hart, former prostitute in London, returns to Netherlea at the behest of her mother. Along the way, she's robbed of her money and possessions and so enters the village with nothing but her sullied reputation only to find that her mother has died. Tabitha's mother had been the village searcher -- recording and tending all manner of village life from births to deaths, and Tabitha is entreated to take on that role so that she can stay in the cottage where her mother lived with the child, Bess. Tabitha does not believe that her mother's death was a natural one and as she assumes her new duties, she is determined to find out the truth. It seems there is evil at work in Netherlea and Tabitha joins forces with an aspiring writer, newcomer Nathaniel Starling, to root out the tormentor who signs his threatening notes as "D" or De Angelo. NO SPOILERS.
A mystery in a village shrouded by superstitious beliefs and folklore where power is wielded without charity and death is a common visitor. The people that reside and work in Netherlea have hard lives and rely on the benevolence of the squire and landlord, Sir John De Vallory and his family. Why are so many afflicted and who is behind the sudden demise of certain townspeople?
This is a true delight for anyone who enjoys delving into historical fiction and I found it totally absorbing. Thank you to NetGalley and Black Thorn for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.
October 6, 2019
The Almanack, by Martine Bailey is a mystery, amateur sleuth delight that is an all around good read. (https://kbbookreviews867789450.wordpr...)
The Almanack, by Martine Bailey follows the main character, Tabitha Hart, and the secondary main character, Nat Starling. Tabitha, having left her small village to have a scandalous life in London, is called back home to Netherlea by her mother via a letter in which she appears to be worried about something. Concerned, Tabitha rushes back home, with some misfortune on the way, only to arrive too late as her mother had died before her arrival.
After finding out about her mother, Tabitha soon realises that there was more to her death than meets the eye as she finds a threatening note from, and references in her mothers almanac to, a mysterious person named 'D'. After this convinces Tabitha that there are more sinister motives at play she begins to try and unravel the truth, but as more murders occur and the threat grows closer to her, it seems this will not be as easy as she first thought.
After, Tabitha begins her search for 'D' she meets Nat, a man who knows her by her London reputation, who is hiding some secrets of his own. As Nat attempts to uncover his own truths, he also ends up tangled in the sinister happenings of Netherlea. Initially suspicious of Nat, but unable to deny their connection, the two end up working together in order to find and stop 'D' before the year ends in a bloody and violent way.
The question occurs. Who is 'D' and can they stop them before it is too late?
The Almanack was a very interesting book, starting with the structure. Each chapter starts off with a riddle (which you are free to try and work out, and the answers were at the end too!) and the Almanac predictions and the astrology of that day (i.e the prominence or movement of the planets.) If, like me, you love riddles then you will love this book and its structure. Not only are there riddles at the start off each chapter but the mysterious 'D' also uses riddles to tease the main characters, and predict the terrible events through the Almanac. I thoroughly enjoyed this little element of inclusion for the reader and felt it added to the story.
Furthermore, the narrative choice worked very well for this novel. Reading from both Tabitha and Nat's perspective creates more intrigue and suspense throughout the novel. This is because it allows us to get a look into their minds and so we could see when there was more to something that had happened- this also made me suspicious of Nat a few times while I was reading this! I was constantly conflicted between him being entirely innocent but also had the feeling he could be part of the sinister happenings as he had a lot of secrets himself. Furthermore, seeing things from Tabitha's perspective means you also begin to realise that there is more to her story as well, and it makes it harder for you to work out who 'D' is because you too are only accessing the information that Tabitha can. The structure and narrative of The Almanack worked incredibly well and kept me guessing all the way through the novel.
The plot of The Almanack was also fun and interesting. While it is a classic plot with an anonymous tormentor known only by an alias teases and tortures the main characters, the astrological elements, and the use of the Almanac, kept the story fresh and original. Moreover, the use of riddles that tied into the astrology and event of the chapter also created a unique dimension to the novel. The plot was filled with twists and turns that kept me guessing and the identity of 'D' completely shocked me, I was so mad that I did not guess this! But that was part of the fun and made the ending more interesting. Every twist in this novel was intricately created and made sense by the end and the novel ended in a nice, tied up way that, for this type of novel, made sense and was incredibly satisfying and sweet.
The characters that Martine Bailey created were well crafted and well developed. Now, full disclosure, I really did not like Tabitha much at the start of the novel as she came across as a trouble maker without the redeeming or slight adorable qualities. But, this did not make me dislike the novel, in fact I was kind of intrigue to see if she really was this troublesome character. As the novel went on I grew warmer to her and began to admire her headstrong and independent qualities. Tabitha is, by the end, a clever character who is wholly independent and determined, though still flawed thus, she was a character you could connect with more and more as the novel went on. Moreover, she appears to be much kinder and selfless than she originally appears while still maintaining her independence and fierce behaviour.
Nat. Now Nat is a character who messed with my emotions because I hated him, loved him, suspected him, and then wanted to defend him. I was so conflicted! So, Nat is an aspiring writer/poet. Now, I did not really enjoy the 'insta-love' connection between him and Tabitha but I did like watching their relationship develop. Despite the 'insta-love' they do not actually give into it immediately- which I really liked. Instead their relationship develops naturally before the romance becomes more prominent, this was fun to read about and was interesting as there were many twists and turns throughout their relationship. Nat was an interesting character who was also quite determined but also kind. He too is flawed, so is easier to connect with, and make stupid mistakes throughout the novel that keeps you guessing about this character but also makes you more intrigued about him and how he deals with these mistakes. Nat is contrasted with many other characters in the book, and it makes him more interesting and clearly different from most other characters.
The other characters such as the De Vallory's, Zusanna, Bess, Jennet, Joshua, the Doctor, Dilks, and Darius (etc...) were also well developed and fun to read about, with each being incredibly individual and different from each other.
The attitudes and themes explored throughout The Almanack were cleverly weaved throughout the story from social expectations, to gender, to human nature and ambition.
The Almanack, by Martine Bailey is the perfect murder mystery for people who love a historical setting, and the complex fun of working out who is behind the crimes. If you dislike gruesome and bloody murder mysteries then this is for you, though there are murders the book itself is not overly gruesome or graphic and focuses more on the mystery and the riddles.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and throughout it was an all around good read with the fun of a mystery!
*I received an eARC of The Almanack by Martine Bailey from #Netgalley and Black Thorn (publisher) @blackthornbks in exchange for an honest review*
The Almanack, by Martine Bailey follows the main character, Tabitha Hart, and the secondary main character, Nat Starling. Tabitha, having left her small village to have a scandalous life in London, is called back home to Netherlea by her mother via a letter in which she appears to be worried about something. Concerned, Tabitha rushes back home, with some misfortune on the way, only to arrive too late as her mother had died before her arrival.
After finding out about her mother, Tabitha soon realises that there was more to her death than meets the eye as she finds a threatening note from, and references in her mothers almanac to, a mysterious person named 'D'. After this convinces Tabitha that there are more sinister motives at play she begins to try and unravel the truth, but as more murders occur and the threat grows closer to her, it seems this will not be as easy as she first thought.
After, Tabitha begins her search for 'D' she meets Nat, a man who knows her by her London reputation, who is hiding some secrets of his own. As Nat attempts to uncover his own truths, he also ends up tangled in the sinister happenings of Netherlea. Initially suspicious of Nat, but unable to deny their connection, the two end up working together in order to find and stop 'D' before the year ends in a bloody and violent way.
The question occurs. Who is 'D' and can they stop them before it is too late?
The Almanack was a very interesting book, starting with the structure. Each chapter starts off with a riddle (which you are free to try and work out, and the answers were at the end too!) and the Almanac predictions and the astrology of that day (i.e the prominence or movement of the planets.) If, like me, you love riddles then you will love this book and its structure. Not only are there riddles at the start off each chapter but the mysterious 'D' also uses riddles to tease the main characters, and predict the terrible events through the Almanac. I thoroughly enjoyed this little element of inclusion for the reader and felt it added to the story.
Furthermore, the narrative choice worked very well for this novel. Reading from both Tabitha and Nat's perspective creates more intrigue and suspense throughout the novel. This is because it allows us to get a look into their minds and so we could see when there was more to something that had happened- this also made me suspicious of Nat a few times while I was reading this! I was constantly conflicted between him being entirely innocent but also had the feeling he could be part of the sinister happenings as he had a lot of secrets himself. Furthermore, seeing things from Tabitha's perspective means you also begin to realise that there is more to her story as well, and it makes it harder for you to work out who 'D' is because you too are only accessing the information that Tabitha can. The structure and narrative of The Almanack worked incredibly well and kept me guessing all the way through the novel.
The plot of The Almanack was also fun and interesting. While it is a classic plot with an anonymous tormentor known only by an alias teases and tortures the main characters, the astrological elements, and the use of the Almanac, kept the story fresh and original. Moreover, the use of riddles that tied into the astrology and event of the chapter also created a unique dimension to the novel. The plot was filled with twists and turns that kept me guessing and the identity of 'D' completely shocked me, I was so mad that I did not guess this! But that was part of the fun and made the ending more interesting. Every twist in this novel was intricately created and made sense by the end and the novel ended in a nice, tied up way that, for this type of novel, made sense and was incredibly satisfying and sweet.
The characters that Martine Bailey created were well crafted and well developed. Now, full disclosure, I really did not like Tabitha much at the start of the novel as she came across as a trouble maker without the redeeming or slight adorable qualities. But, this did not make me dislike the novel, in fact I was kind of intrigue to see if she really was this troublesome character. As the novel went on I grew warmer to her and began to admire her headstrong and independent qualities. Tabitha is, by the end, a clever character who is wholly independent and determined, though still flawed thus, she was a character you could connect with more and more as the novel went on. Moreover, she appears to be much kinder and selfless than she originally appears while still maintaining her independence and fierce behaviour.
Nat. Now Nat is a character who messed with my emotions because I hated him, loved him, suspected him, and then wanted to defend him. I was so conflicted! So, Nat is an aspiring writer/poet. Now, I did not really enjoy the 'insta-love' connection between him and Tabitha but I did like watching their relationship develop. Despite the 'insta-love' they do not actually give into it immediately- which I really liked. Instead their relationship develops naturally before the romance becomes more prominent, this was fun to read about and was interesting as there were many twists and turns throughout their relationship. Nat was an interesting character who was also quite determined but also kind. He too is flawed, so is easier to connect with, and make stupid mistakes throughout the novel that keeps you guessing about this character but also makes you more intrigued about him and how he deals with these mistakes. Nat is contrasted with many other characters in the book, and it makes him more interesting and clearly different from most other characters.
The other characters such as the De Vallory's, Zusanna, Bess, Jennet, Joshua, the Doctor, Dilks, and Darius (etc...) were also well developed and fun to read about, with each being incredibly individual and different from each other.
The attitudes and themes explored throughout The Almanack were cleverly weaved throughout the story from social expectations, to gender, to human nature and ambition.
The Almanack, by Martine Bailey is the perfect murder mystery for people who love a historical setting, and the complex fun of working out who is behind the crimes. If you dislike gruesome and bloody murder mysteries then this is for you, though there are murders the book itself is not overly gruesome or graphic and focuses more on the mystery and the riddles.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and throughout it was an all around good read with the fun of a mystery!
*I received an eARC of The Almanack by Martine Bailey from #Netgalley and Black Thorn (publisher) @blackthornbks in exchange for an honest review*
May 18, 2019
I have to admit that I have waited patiently for this book ever since I read Bailey's An Appetite for Violets and A Taste for Nightshade.
The Almanack is set in England in 1752. Tabitha Hart reluctantly returns from her failed but sophisticated life in London to the her home in Netherlea following a desperate plea from her mother for help. She is the victim of a conman on her journey north and arrives in Netherlea, penniless and in her shift, to find that her mother has drowned.
Once again the victim of gossip and speculation in the narrow world she has done everything she can to avoid, Tabitha sets about unraveling the ugly circumstances around her mother's death.
The plot kept me engrossed as all Bailey's plots do. But the greatest coup here is the writing: Netherlea is rich in characters beautifully revealed, and as always Bailey is spot-on with this time in history. I particularly enjoyed that the riddle at the beginning of each chapter hinted at what was to come, but never gave away more than it needed to. Tabitha is a redoubtable force of nature: selfish, witty, smart and extraordinarily resourceful.
The Almanack is set in England in 1752. Tabitha Hart reluctantly returns from her failed but sophisticated life in London to the her home in Netherlea following a desperate plea from her mother for help. She is the victim of a conman on her journey north and arrives in Netherlea, penniless and in her shift, to find that her mother has drowned.
Once again the victim of gossip and speculation in the narrow world she has done everything she can to avoid, Tabitha sets about unraveling the ugly circumstances around her mother's death.
The plot kept me engrossed as all Bailey's plots do. But the greatest coup here is the writing: Netherlea is rich in characters beautifully revealed, and as always Bailey is spot-on with this time in history. I particularly enjoyed that the riddle at the beginning of each chapter hinted at what was to come, but never gave away more than it needed to. Tabitha is a redoubtable force of nature: selfish, witty, smart and extraordinarily resourceful.
October 28, 2019
This story turned out to be so much more than what I had been expecting. The author knows how to twist her words so that you easily see the surrounding countryside, or feel the stones beneath the main character's feet. She is beset by squalor and filth, and doubts, but she is determined to discover who killed her mother.
The riddles that preceded each chapter were a mind-bendy treat, that I was unable to solve on my own. The characters became better people than I had originally given them credit for, many more multi-layered than they seemed.
This is a book that deserves a second and third reading, only reading a little slower the next time. Like tasting fine wine and savouring the taste of it.
Only with words.
The riddles that preceded each chapter were a mind-bendy treat, that I was unable to solve on my own. The characters became better people than I had originally given them credit for, many more multi-layered than they seemed.
This is a book that deserves a second and third reading, only reading a little slower the next time. Like tasting fine wine and savouring the taste of it.
Only with words.
September 22, 2019
Well, sure I like puzzles, riddles and historical mysteries. This sounded intriguing enough, but there was a sort of women’s fiction aspect to it. Nevertheless, I went for it…and came out thoroughly ambivalent. Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it. Riddle me this, riddle me that...why doesn't The Riddler ever get his own movie and The Joker does. Is it because riddles just don't deliver the same kind of punch as a good joke? This is a novel told in riddles, which is fun enough as far as gimmicks go. Each chapter starts off with an old timey riddle, the answer to which is usually featured within the following pages. The riddles were actually fun, I was able tom solve a good amount of them to my delight and if you can’t don’t worry, the answers are given at the end of the book. The plot was somewhat less entertaining or maybe it was the Regency romance like characters, but at any rate, a young woman named Tabitha returns to her native village of Netherlea after being away in Londontown earning money the old fashioned way. Is that a plain enough euphemism for prostitution? Anyway, upon her return, Tabitha finds that her mother died in mysterious circumstances and decides to investigate it. The villagers are unsurprisingly unforthcoming and unfriendly. But there’s a handsome newcomer Nathaniel Starling who’s more than willing to offer an entire variety of helping limbs. And obviously, there’s also an almanac, a very popular thing of the time, a book that combines practical information such as the times of sun rising and setting and downright bizarre ambiguous ominous predictions. One of those entries also precedes and plays out in each chapter. And so the mystery slowly unravels straight down to a nice plot twist to the delight of all mystery fans. The final riddle is solved and the final curtain of the happily ever after descends. All. So. Neat. So what didn’t quite work for me? Difficult to put into words…a certain lacey quality to the writing. It’s an inherently dark story, but there’s a certain light quaint aspect to the narration, like it has a level to maintain to appeal to its target audience, which I bet (and going by the GR reviews I’m right) are ladies who love their historical mysteries without too much grime and viscera. What one might (and should, to coin the phrase) refer to as a mother or mother in law book. Which is completely fine, not every book has to delve into the darkest nightmares of the mind…although you’d think ones about murders might. Anyway…the plot was fairly drawn out. The writing was perfectly fine for what it was. A very easy read, nothing challenging outside of the riddles. The historical setting was cleverly centered around the 1752 calendar change, although the confusion of disappeared days not really utilized to the maximum effect. There’s also a chance that Georgian era doesn’t quite fascinate the way Victorian era does, although the pop culture thing they had going on with the almanacs and riddles is certainly kinda fun. All in all, a decent, fairly entertaining read, but nothing memorable, notable or exceptional about it. And yet unquestionably very appealing to a certain readership. Thanks Netgalley.
January 18, 2019
The Almanack by Martine Bailey is a beguiling historical novel set in the Georgian era. With echoes of Daniel Defoe’s Moll Flanders - her Fortunes and Misfortunes - this entertaining mystery offers us fortunes of another kind, being the riddles and the prophecies once found in yearly almanacks. These books offered the reader guidance on the weather, advice on dates for planting crops, even giving prophecies based upon astrology.
Also incorporated in this book are riddles from the era - which the reader can attempt to solve - while following the story of our raunchy young adventuress, when Tabitha Hart departs from London, returning to her village home - only to find her mother dead. From this point on she is determined to seek the murderer’s identity, while also following the clues left in her mother’s almanack.
Witty, wily, and great fun.
Also incorporated in this book are riddles from the era - which the reader can attempt to solve - while following the story of our raunchy young adventuress, when Tabitha Hart departs from London, returning to her village home - only to find her mother dead. From this point on she is determined to seek the murderer’s identity, while also following the clues left in her mother’s almanack.
Witty, wily, and great fun.
February 17, 2022
PHENOMENAL BOOK!! The best I have read in a long time! Not only did this book have a super storyline complete with twists, turns and surprises, every chapter started with an amazing riddle!!! Loved every minute! I read it in one sitting!! Thank you so very much for this incredible book Martine Bailey!!
March 16, 2021
A very engaging Georgian mystery, centred around murders and riddles. Martine Bailey has a real talent for detail that transports one into the 18th century.
January 28, 2019
Mystery, murder, and authentic riddles
The Almanack of the title plays a central part in the novel and is also seamlessly woven into the narrative: each chapter is prefaced by astronomical observations, predictions and authentic riddles for modern-day readers to puzzle over just as our forebears did. These aspects subtly foretell events in the chapters they preface and so enrich the story, which is compelling with a cast of colourful, relatable characters, and combine with Martine Bailey’s rich, authentic language and writing style to bring the eighteenth century to life.
The two main characters, earthy Tabitha Hart and enigmatic Nat Starling, are each in their own way flawed yet relatable, lovable and witty, and brought to life with lively dialogue. As they embark on trying to solve the mystery of Tabitha’s mother’s death, the thread of their stormy relationship, and their lives in the rural village of Netherlea and the historic city of Chester, populated by a vibrant cast of characters, is seamlessly woven with a tightly-plotted, gripping story of murder and intrigue.
The novel is set in 1751, the transitional year during which eleven days were “lost” due to alignment with the Gregorian calendar, and the unsettling effect of this change on a society rich in folklore and traditional customs, where people lived their lives closely bound to the turning of the seasons, sets a fitting mood for a novel of ever-deepening mystery.
The Almanack totally drew me into its spell-binding world and I was gripped from start to finish by the characters and their story, drawn in to think about the concepts of time and the workings of the universe, and intrigued by riddles (most of which I was pleased to solve with some thought, though answers are provided) that have exercised the minds of readers from the eighteenth century through to this day.
I loved both An Appetite for Violets and The Penny Heart, and found this one another brilliant read from Martine Bailey – highly recommended.
The Almanack of the title plays a central part in the novel and is also seamlessly woven into the narrative: each chapter is prefaced by astronomical observations, predictions and authentic riddles for modern-day readers to puzzle over just as our forebears did. These aspects subtly foretell events in the chapters they preface and so enrich the story, which is compelling with a cast of colourful, relatable characters, and combine with Martine Bailey’s rich, authentic language and writing style to bring the eighteenth century to life.
The two main characters, earthy Tabitha Hart and enigmatic Nat Starling, are each in their own way flawed yet relatable, lovable and witty, and brought to life with lively dialogue. As they embark on trying to solve the mystery of Tabitha’s mother’s death, the thread of their stormy relationship, and their lives in the rural village of Netherlea and the historic city of Chester, populated by a vibrant cast of characters, is seamlessly woven with a tightly-plotted, gripping story of murder and intrigue.
The novel is set in 1751, the transitional year during which eleven days were “lost” due to alignment with the Gregorian calendar, and the unsettling effect of this change on a society rich in folklore and traditional customs, where people lived their lives closely bound to the turning of the seasons, sets a fitting mood for a novel of ever-deepening mystery.
The Almanack totally drew me into its spell-binding world and I was gripped from start to finish by the characters and their story, drawn in to think about the concepts of time and the workings of the universe, and intrigued by riddles (most of which I was pleased to solve with some thought, though answers are provided) that have exercised the minds of readers from the eighteenth century through to this day.
I loved both An Appetite for Violets and The Penny Heart, and found this one another brilliant read from Martine Bailey – highly recommended.
November 29, 2019
Review to come.
October 28, 2024
it’s not my fault uni leaves me no time to read!!
October 20, 2019
I think the first thing to really say about this book concerns the writing style - every chapter starts with information that includes an almanac prediction of what will happen that day. There is also a riddle. Both these things set the tone for the whole book for me.... it's very atmospheric, gothic almost, where nothing is at it seems. It's set in England in the village of Netherlea in the mid 18th century and the historical setting is created well - times are hard, life is hard... so, what's it about??
We start with Tabitha Hart who has fallen victim to a robbery after her intention to take advantage of the man she spent the night with goes wrong. She's travelling back to Netherlea at the request of her mother but when she arrives her mother is dead, apparently drowned. Tabitha is immediately suspicious but the men of Netherlea are very hostile towards her and want her out of the village. Having no money and her own small child to care for, Tabitha is given permission to stay for a short while to earn her keep. What unfolds is a murder mystery - who is the mysterious D and will he kill again?
I enjoyed this book - but it falls into the 'liked' rather than 'loved' category. This author has clearly done a lot of research. I felt immersed in the world she created. But the story takes a lot of twists and turns - time in Netherlea and London and two stands develop - the mystery and a love story. I'm not sure whether the love story part diluted the impact of the mystery. I didn't really connect the with the story between Tabitha and her beau, I just didn't feel it.... I don't know whether this might have been because any sense of love and warmth didn't really fit with the otherwise dark and cold atmosphere that seemed to dominate throughout the rest of the book.
This is a good, interesting read. I think the information about almanacs might have been better at the start as opposed to the end.
I got an ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
We start with Tabitha Hart who has fallen victim to a robbery after her intention to take advantage of the man she spent the night with goes wrong. She's travelling back to Netherlea at the request of her mother but when she arrives her mother is dead, apparently drowned. Tabitha is immediately suspicious but the men of Netherlea are very hostile towards her and want her out of the village. Having no money and her own small child to care for, Tabitha is given permission to stay for a short while to earn her keep. What unfolds is a murder mystery - who is the mysterious D and will he kill again?
I enjoyed this book - but it falls into the 'liked' rather than 'loved' category. This author has clearly done a lot of research. I felt immersed in the world she created. But the story takes a lot of twists and turns - time in Netherlea and London and two stands develop - the mystery and a love story. I'm not sure whether the love story part diluted the impact of the mystery. I didn't really connect the with the story between Tabitha and her beau, I just didn't feel it.... I don't know whether this might have been because any sense of love and warmth didn't really fit with the otherwise dark and cold atmosphere that seemed to dominate throughout the rest of the book.
This is a good, interesting read. I think the information about almanacs might have been better at the start as opposed to the end.
I got an ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 6, 2019
Unique Murder Mystery
After enjoying this author’s previous books, An Appetite for Violets and The Penny Heart, I rushed to read an advance copy of The Almanack. Firstly, it’s a great looking book with a few gothic illustrations, an authentic riddle at the start of each chapter and dates and extracts just like a historical almanac. We’re soon into the story of Tabitha –a good-time girl stranded in her home village who finds herself arrived just too late to help her mother, who has allegedly drowned. Her mother’s almanack contains a number of cryptic clues and by taking on the role of Searcher of the dead in the village, Tabitha has access to the Cheshire estate, from manor house to the lowliest cottage.
I couldn’t put this one down, as each chapter revealed more suspects and a series of hairpin twists! Yet at the same it is beautifully written and plunges you into the countryside from Harvest to Bonfire Night to snowy Yule, as the ‘old ways’ are celebrated in authentic style. It was especially interesting to me as it is set around Chester, with its old inns, river Dee, and castle. I also liked the theme of time itself, and the ‘annihilation of 11 days’ when the calendar changes, which is cleverly used throughout. I wasn’t half as sharp as Tabitha (and her romantic interest, mysterious writer, Nat Starling) in solving the 50 riddles in the book but all the answers are in the back. The Almanack is a uniquely entertaining murder mystery and a perfect excuse to curl up and enjoy on a wintery afternoon.
After enjoying this author’s previous books, An Appetite for Violets and The Penny Heart, I rushed to read an advance copy of The Almanack. Firstly, it’s a great looking book with a few gothic illustrations, an authentic riddle at the start of each chapter and dates and extracts just like a historical almanac. We’re soon into the story of Tabitha –a good-time girl stranded in her home village who finds herself arrived just too late to help her mother, who has allegedly drowned. Her mother’s almanack contains a number of cryptic clues and by taking on the role of Searcher of the dead in the village, Tabitha has access to the Cheshire estate, from manor house to the lowliest cottage.
I couldn’t put this one down, as each chapter revealed more suspects and a series of hairpin twists! Yet at the same it is beautifully written and plunges you into the countryside from Harvest to Bonfire Night to snowy Yule, as the ‘old ways’ are celebrated in authentic style. It was especially interesting to me as it is set around Chester, with its old inns, river Dee, and castle. I also liked the theme of time itself, and the ‘annihilation of 11 days’ when the calendar changes, which is cleverly used throughout. I wasn’t half as sharp as Tabitha (and her romantic interest, mysterious writer, Nat Starling) in solving the 50 riddles in the book but all the answers are in the back. The Almanack is a uniquely entertaining murder mystery and a perfect excuse to curl up and enjoy on a wintery afternoon.
March 27, 2019
I loved Martine Bailey’s first two novels and was eagerly awaiting her third. The Almanack more than lived up to my expectations. It’s an utterly beguiling historical crime novel about a rural community terrorised by a faceless serial killer known only as ‘M’. Reading this novel, you fall through space and time, relocating to a Georgian England that is so alive and vividly rendered, you can smell the air and feel the seasons turning. The writing is rich and beautiful, the plotting is tight and suspenseful, and the characters are brilliantly drawn. I particularly liked the protagonist, Tabitha Hart, who is complex and not afraid to speak her mind - and this was in an era when women were expected to be virtuous and subservient. There were some weighty themes woven in with the lightest of touches, such as the tension between folklore and Christianity; the passing of time; and destiny versus our ability to impact future outcomes through the choices we make. Vivid, sinister and enthralling with a stunning twist – The Almanack gripped me from the first page and did not let go.
August 9, 2019
From the moment Tabitha wakes at an inn on her journey to Netherlea, finding that she has been robbed by her companion for the night, left with nothing other than the underclothes she’s wearing and a purloined watch shaped as a silver skull, this wonderful book drew me into its vividly created world and refused to let me go until the very last page. It’s 1752, an era of social change but still largely ruled by superstition and the changing seasons – and a year rather more unsettled than many by the fact that eleven days are due to be “lost” by the synchronisation of the calendars.
And it’s the calendars of the time that provide the framework for the story, each chapter following the structure of the almanack by which people plan and live their lives, each chapter opening with a riddle to solve (you’ll be pleased to hear solutions are provided!), astronomical notes and an enigmatic prediction. And it works exceptionally well, the fairly short chapters taking the suspense filled story inexorably forward, the tension steadily building, the secrets revealed.
When I reviewed the author’s earlier books, I mentioned her exceptional ability to recreate the writing style of the time: it never makes the reading difficult or inaccessible, but gives her characters a distinctive and authentic “voice”, despite the fact that the book is written in the third person. Add to that the obvious depth of her research, her love for her subject, and the way the book appeals to the full range of your senses – well, it’s really quite a heady and intoxicating mix.
But it’s also quite a story, and incredibly well told. Tabitha might be an unlikely heroine, returning home from her life of debauchery in London, to find her mother dead, apparently drowned. You might not take to her at that first encounter – I know I didn’t – but by the book’s end I’d entirely taken her to my heart. While dealing with her bereavement and concealing her family secrets, she takes on her mother’s role as “searcher” (I found this simply fascinating…), laying out the dead and recording the cause in the Book of Mortalities. And she then begins to investigate her mother’s death – with the support of the besotted Nat Starling, another quite wonderful character – and it takes them into a world of threat and danger every bit as terrifying and gripping as that of a modern psychological thriller.
While you’ll grow to love both flawed characters at the book’s centre, there’s also a large cast of supporting characters for you to get your teeth into – every one perfectly drawn, every one three dimensional, the villains and the good, and those whose true character might lie somewhere between the two. There’s tension and mystery, darkness, a wider superstitious and celestial dimension, a romance, some lovely touches of humour – and it all moves at a perfect pace, making you read another chapter, then maybe just one more, until you decide to read to the end because you can’t bear to put it down.
I was totally enchanted by this book – a compulsive read that I think so many readers would enjoy, regardless of any preconceptions about historical fiction. Highly recommended to all – and a definite contender for my books of the year list.
And it’s the calendars of the time that provide the framework for the story, each chapter following the structure of the almanack by which people plan and live their lives, each chapter opening with a riddle to solve (you’ll be pleased to hear solutions are provided!), astronomical notes and an enigmatic prediction. And it works exceptionally well, the fairly short chapters taking the suspense filled story inexorably forward, the tension steadily building, the secrets revealed.
When I reviewed the author’s earlier books, I mentioned her exceptional ability to recreate the writing style of the time: it never makes the reading difficult or inaccessible, but gives her characters a distinctive and authentic “voice”, despite the fact that the book is written in the third person. Add to that the obvious depth of her research, her love for her subject, and the way the book appeals to the full range of your senses – well, it’s really quite a heady and intoxicating mix.
But it’s also quite a story, and incredibly well told. Tabitha might be an unlikely heroine, returning home from her life of debauchery in London, to find her mother dead, apparently drowned. You might not take to her at that first encounter – I know I didn’t – but by the book’s end I’d entirely taken her to my heart. While dealing with her bereavement and concealing her family secrets, she takes on her mother’s role as “searcher” (I found this simply fascinating…), laying out the dead and recording the cause in the Book of Mortalities. And she then begins to investigate her mother’s death – with the support of the besotted Nat Starling, another quite wonderful character – and it takes them into a world of threat and danger every bit as terrifying and gripping as that of a modern psychological thriller.
While you’ll grow to love both flawed characters at the book’s centre, there’s also a large cast of supporting characters for you to get your teeth into – every one perfectly drawn, every one three dimensional, the villains and the good, and those whose true character might lie somewhere between the two. There’s tension and mystery, darkness, a wider superstitious and celestial dimension, a romance, some lovely touches of humour – and it all moves at a perfect pace, making you read another chapter, then maybe just one more, until you decide to read to the end because you can’t bear to put it down.
I was totally enchanted by this book – a compulsive read that I think so many readers would enjoy, regardless of any preconceptions about historical fiction. Highly recommended to all – and a definite contender for my books of the year list.
September 27, 2020
27 SEP 2020 - a fun read! I had the most fun trying to figure out the riddles at the beginning of each chapter. Some I got correct; others, not even close. This book made me remember the fun of reading The Old Farmer's Almanac. Think I will pick one up for 2021 and see how the predictions play out.
August 12, 2022
Great mystery, and I loved trying to solve the riddles
April 29, 2023
Four stars for the story. The fifth star for uniqueness and the riddles at the beginning of every chapter. Clever book.
November 30, 2019
A thoroughly enjoyable blend of mystery, true love and devilish villains! I really liked the author’s use of a contemporary object – the eponymous almanack – as a springboard for the story and themes of the book, in particular the way people experienced time. The book is set in 1752, when Britain introduced the Gregorian calendar – “losing” eleven days in the process. It was also fascinating to learn about the role of almanacks in popular culture. The book is really well written, and even offers the reader a chance to experience the joys of almanacks by including a number of riddles, prognostications and astronomical observations...a terrific read.
April 18, 2019
I loved this well written and well researched historical mystery, it was engaging and entertaining.
The mystery, the characters, and the setting were interesting and well developed.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Many thanks to Severn House and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
The mystery, the characters, and the setting were interesting and well developed.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Many thanks to Severn House and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
January 31, 2019
'The Almanack' by Martine Bailey is an astrological murder mystery story set in 18th century England. It followed the mysteries surrounding an almanack whose sinister predictions came true and the scandalous village life that found itself at the mercy of this strange prophetic stellarium.
I thought this book was a breath of fresh air. As an Astrologer myself, I loved how an almanack was the main character, which is an obscure part of history that hasn’t found its way into many fictional stories. The mystery was intriguing and every character was suspicious which kept me on the edge of my seat. The characters were flawed and relatable and the cosmic tidbits woven throughout the story satisfied my Astrology background. I loved how each chapter began with a riddle, an astrological observation, and a prognostication which foreshadowed the events in the chapter. It was as though I was reading an actual almanack!
I whizzed right through this stellar murder mystery and can’t wait to read more from Martine Bailey! My prognostication is that readers who love classic whodunnits and those who have an appreciation for the occult, will absolutely adore this story.
I thought this book was a breath of fresh air. As an Astrologer myself, I loved how an almanack was the main character, which is an obscure part of history that hasn’t found its way into many fictional stories. The mystery was intriguing and every character was suspicious which kept me on the edge of my seat. The characters were flawed and relatable and the cosmic tidbits woven throughout the story satisfied my Astrology background. I loved how each chapter began with a riddle, an astrological observation, and a prognostication which foreshadowed the events in the chapter. It was as though I was reading an actual almanack!
I whizzed right through this stellar murder mystery and can’t wait to read more from Martine Bailey! My prognostication is that readers who love classic whodunnits and those who have an appreciation for the occult, will absolutely adore this story.
November 7, 2019
This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own
Thanks to Black Thorn Books for a review copy.
The Almanack, is set in England during the 1750s. London is full vice and over indulgences. From the moment Tabitha wakes at an inn on her journey to Netherlea, finding that she has been robbed by her companion for the night, left with nothing other than the underclothes she’s wearing and a purloined watch shaped as a silver skull. Tabitha is summoned home by a cryptic message from her mother. Arriving in the sleepy village of Netherlea, Tabitha finds her mother has died and is determined to find out just how and why. Finding cryptic notes in her mother’s almanack, Tabitha is determined to discover the truth, but the superstitious villagers are wary of her. Only the enigmatic Nat Starling is prepared to join her, as she sets out to uncover her mother’s killer.
Bailey skillfully weaves romance, meticulous historical details and a who-done-it plot to bring forth this incredible storyline. The Almanack’s setting is richly described and you get a real sense of being there with the characters. The characters themselves are well fleshed out and and the plot keeps you engaged in this twisty novel to keep you guessing right to the end.
Bailey explores themes of time, mystery the novel takes place in the year the Gregorian calender is introduced in England. Days are lost but knowledge is gained, by reading Tabitha's mothers Almanack. Captivating riddles add an extra layer in historical, murder mystery
The author has created a beguiling well constructive historical fiction, a stunning atmospheric mystery set in the mid-18th-century England. Martine Bailey book, has perfected her writing to catapult the reader to another era. Her meticulous research is evident in her luscious wonderful descriptive details.
Rich and beguiling constructive historical fiction, a stunning atmospheric mystery set in the mid-18th-century England
Martine Bailey book, has perfected her writing to transport the reader to another era. Her meticulous research is evident in her luscious descriptive details.
#TheAlmanack #NetGalley
Thanks to Black Thorn Books for a review copy.
The Almanack, is set in England during the 1750s. London is full vice and over indulgences. From the moment Tabitha wakes at an inn on her journey to Netherlea, finding that she has been robbed by her companion for the night, left with nothing other than the underclothes she’s wearing and a purloined watch shaped as a silver skull. Tabitha is summoned home by a cryptic message from her mother. Arriving in the sleepy village of Netherlea, Tabitha finds her mother has died and is determined to find out just how and why. Finding cryptic notes in her mother’s almanack, Tabitha is determined to discover the truth, but the superstitious villagers are wary of her. Only the enigmatic Nat Starling is prepared to join her, as she sets out to uncover her mother’s killer.
Bailey skillfully weaves romance, meticulous historical details and a who-done-it plot to bring forth this incredible storyline. The Almanack’s setting is richly described and you get a real sense of being there with the characters. The characters themselves are well fleshed out and and the plot keeps you engaged in this twisty novel to keep you guessing right to the end.
Bailey explores themes of time, mystery the novel takes place in the year the Gregorian calender is introduced in England. Days are lost but knowledge is gained, by reading Tabitha's mothers Almanack. Captivating riddles add an extra layer in historical, murder mystery
The author has created a beguiling well constructive historical fiction, a stunning atmospheric mystery set in the mid-18th-century England. Martine Bailey book, has perfected her writing to catapult the reader to another era. Her meticulous research is evident in her luscious wonderful descriptive details.
Rich and beguiling constructive historical fiction, a stunning atmospheric mystery set in the mid-18th-century England
Martine Bailey book, has perfected her writing to transport the reader to another era. Her meticulous research is evident in her luscious descriptive details.
#TheAlmanack #NetGalley
March 29, 2020
So I just finished this book. I'm still trying to figure out if I liked it or not. lol.. 4.5 out of 5 stars. There's riddles before each chapter with the answer in each chapter. But I was into the story enough that I didn't do the riddles. Just read the answers at the back of the book. I guess I'll say it was interesting and a easy read.
February 6, 2019
I am a big fan of historical fiction, and I also love a good mystery, so this historical mystery recently caught my eye. I really enjoyed the intricate plotting and the way the suspense built. I had a hunch about who the killer was, but I was not certain until close to the big reveal. I liked how our protagonist, Tabitha Hart, was multi-dimensional and not innately likable. She is working as a prostitute when we first meet her, and she steals a valuable item from a "client." However, as we learn her story, we learn how she came to make some of her choices in life. Although still no goody-two-shoes, I liked her plucky attitude and boldness in her time - 1752 was not the best time period to be a woman.
As a librarian, I have a great love for books, so I really appreciated the value the townspeople placed on the "almanack" featured in the book. With so few books available to them, this one was their day-to-day bible for weather, astronomy and prognostications. Other reviewers mentioned the riddles from the almanack that began each chapter. They are tricky, and I will admit I solved very few of them.
Having not read any other books by this author, I was quite impressed with the quality of the writing. If you like history, mystery, romance, suspense or puzzles in your fiction, then this book will be a hit. I look forward to reading the author's other books.
Many thanks to NetGalley for providing access to this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
As a librarian, I have a great love for books, so I really appreciated the value the townspeople placed on the "almanack" featured in the book. With so few books available to them, this one was their day-to-day bible for weather, astronomy and prognostications. Other reviewers mentioned the riddles from the almanack that began each chapter. They are tricky, and I will admit I solved very few of them.
Having not read any other books by this author, I was quite impressed with the quality of the writing. If you like history, mystery, romance, suspense or puzzles in your fiction, then this book will be a hit. I look forward to reading the author's other books.
Many thanks to NetGalley for providing access to this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
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