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Through a Darkening Glass
A mesmerizing World War II mystery about a Londoner who flees the city to write a novel and finds a truth stranger than fiction.
England, 1940. Literature student Ruth Gladstone evacuates Cambridge University for Martynsborough, a tiny English village with a shadowy history. For Ruth, retreating to a forgotten corner of the country is more than a safety maneuver; it’s an opportunity to end an undesirable engagement and begin writing her first novel.
But upon her arrival, Ruth learns of a ghostly wraith haunting the villagers after decades of silence. Although Ruth is enthralled by the legend, the locals are less charmed by the wraith’s return. They blame the evacuees—and among them, Ruth—for stirring up restless spirits.
Undeterred, Ruth joins forces with Malcolm, an injured soldier, to unravel the mystery of the wraith. As Ruth and Malcolm draw closer to the truth, they’ll unearth long-buried secrets that could threaten them both…even as they craft a forbidden love story of their own.
England, 1940. Literature student Ruth Gladstone evacuates Cambridge University for Martynsborough, a tiny English village with a shadowy history. For Ruth, retreating to a forgotten corner of the country is more than a safety maneuver; it’s an opportunity to end an undesirable engagement and begin writing her first novel.
But upon her arrival, Ruth learns of a ghostly wraith haunting the villagers after decades of silence. Although Ruth is enthralled by the legend, the locals are less charmed by the wraith’s return. They blame the evacuees—and among them, Ruth—for stirring up restless spirits.
Undeterred, Ruth joins forces with Malcolm, an injured soldier, to unravel the mystery of the wraith. As Ruth and Malcolm draw closer to the truth, they’ll unearth long-buried secrets that could threaten them both…even as they craft a forbidden love story of their own.
325 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2023
3126 people are currently reading
7920 people want to read
About the author
R.S. Maxwell
1 book39 followersHaving earned an arts degree from York University many moons ago, R. S. Maxwell continues to read and study voraciously across multiple subjects that include cookery, gardening, English literature, music, art, and art history. Maxwell, who resides in Toronto, is working on several new novels, while some languish on submission.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 411 reviews
May 11, 2025
In a Nutshell: Expected horror. Got a mildly paranormal plot with huge chunks of family drama and romance.
Story Synopsis:
Where the book worked for me:
✔ The book starts off with a bang. The prologue set in 1910 builds up a creepy atmosphere.
✔ The *initial* mentions of the wraith are creepy enough. They are written in a way that caused me to sit straight and turn pages as quick as possible.
✔ Ruth had a speech disorder called rhotacism. First time I have heard/read about it. It was interesting to see how this was used to carve Ruth’s persona.
✔ The plight of the children displaced during WWII comes out fairly well.
✔ The lifestyle of the country dwellers was interesting to read.
Where the book could have worked better for me:
❌ I picked this up as a Gothic Horror Mystery set around WWII. It ended up neither Gothic nor Horror. There is a mansion named Wolstenholme Park, which supposedly has mysterious elements. The place is hardly used in the plot. So the gothic elements are sorely underused. After a few chapters, I realised that the wraith is more like a minor backdrop to the main plot, which is more focussed on Ruth and Malcolm, and the people in their life. There went the scope of a captivating Horror novel. Also, the book isn’t a WWII mystery in just a mild sense in that it is set in the same time period.
❌ The atmosphere lasts only in bits and pieces. Most of the book doesn’t match up to the scary potential promised by the prologue.
❌ Mixed feelings about the ending. The wraith’s arc comes to a satisfactory close. The other “big revelation” was smack out of nowhere. While it added surprise/shock value, it didn’t fit in with the overall plot at all.
❌ There’s a whole load of infodumping at the end, as usually happens in cozy mysteries. It was so boring!
❌ It’s slow.
As I write this review, I realise I have nothing much to say about the impact created by the book. I read, I finished, I forgot. Neither the characters nor the plot left a lasting impression. The book began wonderfully but as it progressed forwards, my interest slid downwards.
Definitely not a must-read. More like, read if you must.
2 stars.
My thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the DRC of “Through a Darkening Glass”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Facebook | Twitter
Story Synopsis:
England, 1940. Ruth Gladstone, a literature student at Cambridge University, is forced to evacuate along with her grandma Edith to a little village named Martynsborough, where they would be staying with Edith’s estranged sister Vera. Ruth expected her country life to be slow and boring; what she didn’t know as that she would be expected to contribute to the daily chores. Furthermore, she soon learns about a ghostly wraith who is once again haunting the villagers at night. While the villagers know to leave the wraith alone, Ruth is enthralled by its presence and wants to know more about it. Along with Malcolm, a neighbour and soldier whose war ended early because of his injuries, Ruth sets about digging the truth behind the wraith’s reappearance after three decades.
The story is written in a third person limited perspective.
Where the book worked for me:
✔ The book starts off with a bang. The prologue set in 1910 builds up a creepy atmosphere.
✔ The *initial* mentions of the wraith are creepy enough. They are written in a way that caused me to sit straight and turn pages as quick as possible.
✔ Ruth had a speech disorder called rhotacism. First time I have heard/read about it. It was interesting to see how this was used to carve Ruth’s persona.
✔ The plight of the children displaced during WWII comes out fairly well.
✔ The lifestyle of the country dwellers was interesting to read.
Where the book could have worked better for me:
❌ I picked this up as a Gothic Horror Mystery set around WWII. It ended up neither Gothic nor Horror. There is a mansion named Wolstenholme Park, which supposedly has mysterious elements. The place is hardly used in the plot. So the gothic elements are sorely underused. After a few chapters, I realised that the wraith is more like a minor backdrop to the main plot, which is more focussed on Ruth and Malcolm, and the people in their life. There went the scope of a captivating Horror novel. Also, the book isn’t a WWII mystery in just a mild sense in that it is set in the same time period.
❌ The atmosphere lasts only in bits and pieces. Most of the book doesn’t match up to the scary potential promised by the prologue.
❌ Mixed feelings about the ending. The wraith’s arc comes to a satisfactory close. The other “big revelation” was smack out of nowhere. While it added surprise/shock value, it didn’t fit in with the overall plot at all.
❌ There’s a whole load of infodumping at the end, as usually happens in cozy mysteries. It was so boring!
❌ It’s slow.
As I write this review, I realise I have nothing much to say about the impact created by the book. I read, I finished, I forgot. Neither the characters nor the plot left a lasting impression. The book began wonderfully but as it progressed forwards, my interest slid downwards.
Definitely not a must-read. More like, read if you must.
2 stars.
My thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the DRC of “Through a Darkening Glass”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Facebook | Twitter
April 5, 2024
It's like R.S. Maxwell knows me and tried to get all of my favourite things into one story: mystery, history, ghost story, World War II, London, a writer, a small English village, restless spirits... be still my heart.
This was a realistic portrayal of life in a small village during the war, including rationing, blackouts, and the arrival of evacuees from the cities, as well as the closed nature of such a community and its distrust of outsiders. I do wish the mystery and ghost story components were stronger - I didn't feel the eeriness, tension, or suspense I'd like to from a mystery or ghost story. I also kept waiting for something riveting, but it never came - the stakes were never very high, and the minor things that popped up were resolved quickly with little fuss and no real repercussions. As such, I would categorize this more as a safe, quiet cozy mystery, with elements of historical fiction, mystery, and ghost story.
This was a realistic portrayal of life in a small village during the war, including rationing, blackouts, and the arrival of evacuees from the cities, as well as the closed nature of such a community and its distrust of outsiders. I do wish the mystery and ghost story components were stronger - I didn't feel the eeriness, tension, or suspense I'd like to from a mystery or ghost story. I also kept waiting for something riveting, but it never came - the stakes were never very high, and the minor things that popped up were resolved quickly with little fuss and no real repercussions. As such, I would categorize this more as a safe, quiet cozy mystery, with elements of historical fiction, mystery, and ghost story.
November 29, 2022
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
A slow-burn mystery that reads like a novel of the time, Through a Darkening Glass is an absolute delight for those of us who enjoy authentic-feeling period pieces with little to no drama but which is compelling nonetheless.
There are two things to note about this novel: 1) it takes a bit to get going (I was just coasting through it until about 50% and then I got hooked on it) and 2) it is a period piece instead of a historical fiction. As such, it reads not like the narrator is describing a time in the past, but feels like it was written back then. This is my preferred kind of historical fiction, so I was right on board.
I liked the characters. The main character-Ruth-is likeable and also feels like a woman of the time. She’s modest but not a prude, smart, stands up for herself and takes action. She questioned some things about her society but it didn’t feel anachronistic. And the things she questioned she related to the past - like how back in the late 1800s male and female friends would walk arm-in-arm versus how that was seen as scandalous in the 40s. She felt a product of the time rather than feeling a modern sentiment hiding in 1940s clothes.
Malcolm isn’t the most exciting of brooding male leads I will say, as he’s no Mr. Rochester, but we have Maude, the tall, lesbian-coded, pants-wearing geology professor who is full of snark and life, to balance him out.
When it comes to the romance angle, it’s very much not as thrilling as the blurb makes it sound. In fact, while it’s not subtle, it’s not exactly passionate. The characters react to their feelings in logical, pragmatic ways that, while that might be realistic, it doesn’t make for much of a bodice ripper or give you a huge payoff at the end emotionally. I wouldn’t call it a Romance, though there is a romantic angle that is prevalent. As much as I like an “I-will-die-without-you” or an “I loved you most ardently” scene, I liked their relationship - they seemed well-suited and what was keeping them apart made sense. The book is a mystery at the forefront, though, with their relationship tying in but not taking over. Honestly, I think this book would make a fantastic movie.
Speaking of the mystery, it’s a fun novel with several little twists that tie into one another. There is one twist I saw coming a mile away (which, if you know anything about LGBTQ+ relationships in the eras before gay rights, you’ll likely also pick up on it too), but it was still satisfactory, and the other turns were fun. Nothing made me sit up and say “oh my god, what!” but there were some red herrings to keep from guessing the story’s outcome.
I also liked how the novel skipped the melodrama. I was fully expecting a certain character to lose it and cause huge issues for the characters, but this didn't happen - it was settled off the page in a way that was actually refreshing.
The setting is fun too, in that it’s a WWII-era novel where the war doesn’t really come into it after the initial pages. It shows what life was like for people in the countryside, not the cities. The town seemed quaint and I liked the two roaming, escaped sheep that pop up here and there.
I also really enjoyed the brief, tantalizing look we get at the reason for the butterfly or moth on the cover of the novel. That scene felt like it fell right out of a Gothic mystery and I loved it. It was like a creepy butterfly conservatory.
At the end of the book, the author included some explanations for some very minor inaccuracies which I thought was quite interesting.
The book starts off a bit slow, and then by the end I really really enjoyed it. I highly recommend it if you like slow-burn, slightly creepy mysteries, moths, and the English countryside.
A slow-burn mystery that reads like a novel of the time, Through a Darkening Glass is an absolute delight for those of us who enjoy authentic-feeling period pieces with little to no drama but which is compelling nonetheless.
There are two things to note about this novel: 1) it takes a bit to get going (I was just coasting through it until about 50% and then I got hooked on it) and 2) it is a period piece instead of a historical fiction. As such, it reads not like the narrator is describing a time in the past, but feels like it was written back then. This is my preferred kind of historical fiction, so I was right on board.
I liked the characters. The main character-Ruth-is likeable and also feels like a woman of the time. She’s modest but not a prude, smart, stands up for herself and takes action. She questioned some things about her society but it didn’t feel anachronistic. And the things she questioned she related to the past - like how back in the late 1800s male and female friends would walk arm-in-arm versus how that was seen as scandalous in the 40s. She felt a product of the time rather than feeling a modern sentiment hiding in 1940s clothes.
Malcolm isn’t the most exciting of brooding male leads I will say, as he’s no Mr. Rochester, but we have Maude, the tall, lesbian-coded, pants-wearing geology professor who is full of snark and life, to balance him out.
When it comes to the romance angle, it’s very much not as thrilling as the blurb makes it sound. In fact, while it’s not subtle, it’s not exactly passionate. The characters react to their feelings in logical, pragmatic ways that, while that might be realistic, it doesn’t make for much of a bodice ripper or give you a huge payoff at the end emotionally. I wouldn’t call it a Romance, though there is a romantic angle that is prevalent. As much as I like an “I-will-die-without-you” or an “I loved you most ardently” scene, I liked their relationship - they seemed well-suited and what was keeping them apart made sense. The book is a mystery at the forefront, though, with their relationship tying in but not taking over. Honestly, I think this book would make a fantastic movie.
Speaking of the mystery, it’s a fun novel with several little twists that tie into one another. There is one twist I saw coming a mile away (which, if you know anything about LGBTQ+ relationships in the eras before gay rights, you’ll likely also pick up on it too), but it was still satisfactory, and the other turns were fun. Nothing made me sit up and say “oh my god, what!” but there were some red herrings to keep from guessing the story’s outcome.
I also liked how the novel skipped the melodrama. I was fully expecting a certain character to lose it and cause huge issues for the characters, but this didn't happen - it was settled off the page in a way that was actually refreshing.
The setting is fun too, in that it’s a WWII-era novel where the war doesn’t really come into it after the initial pages. It shows what life was like for people in the countryside, not the cities. The town seemed quaint and I liked the two roaming, escaped sheep that pop up here and there.
I also really enjoyed the brief, tantalizing look we get at the reason for the butterfly or moth on the cover of the novel. That scene felt like it fell right out of a Gothic mystery and I loved it. It was like a creepy butterfly conservatory.
At the end of the book, the author included some explanations for some very minor inaccuracies which I thought was quite interesting.
The book starts off a bit slow, and then by the end I really really enjoyed it. I highly recommend it if you like slow-burn, slightly creepy mysteries, moths, and the English countryside.
December 1, 2022
A very unexceptional book. I was hoping for better but it wasn’t that creepy or interesting.
December 18, 2022
Received this book free from Amazon as my December first reads choice. I regret every moment that led me to it.
Full of excessive exposition that in no way read organically and an ending that sped to its conclusion in three pages after unending build-up, I do not recommend this in any way. The conversations were stilted, the ending was incomplete, and it’s gothic in only the barest sense of the term.
Full of excessive exposition that in no way read organically and an ending that sped to its conclusion in three pages after unending build-up, I do not recommend this in any way. The conversations were stilted, the ending was incomplete, and it’s gothic in only the barest sense of the term.
December 15, 2022
Contrived "politically correct" ending thrown at the reader. Another social "message" crammed down by author with an agenda. Terrible. The book was as first interesting as it developed the mystery of the wraith sightings and family secrets. Things were making sense as the mysteries were unraveled. However, the ending was terrible -- it was abrupt and quite contrived, forcing a social "message" that is so pervasive these days - it was jarring how forced it was, and didn't follow with the basic storyline. The ending jumped ahead in time, and explained several secrets in a disjunct way, rather than bringing together the loose ends and solving the main mystery in a global way. Does the author really need to so uncreative and feel the need to suddenly produce “politically correct” endings to the relationships? To solve the family mystery by having [SPOILER ALERT] 2 elderly women (“sisters”) to actually have been secret lesbian lovers over their lifetime? Really? And to throw in another such relationship that implies that another 2 women friends became lesbian lovers as well? And then jump ahead a few years with an epilogue that abruptly shows the "heroine" happily living together with a man and his wife as his lover? Cannot recommend this book. Could have been good. Just felt so phony and contrived with the ending. Disappointing, and a waste of my time to read.
September 22, 2022
Through A Darkening Glass is a mystery romance set in a remote English village during World War II. The story follows aspiring novelist, Ruth Gladstone, as she tries to uncover the secrets behind the Martynsborough wraith alongside injured war veteran, Malcolm, whom she develops feelings for. They soon discover there are more secrets that haunt the village than those of a ghost.
I enjoyed the setting R.S. Maxwell created and I think it worked well for the story. The village is very much tucked away from the full impact of war but country life is still disrupted by rationing, blackouts and the influx of evacuees. The intrusion of strangers is what many villagers believe has made the wraith return and their distrust of outsiders makes it harder for Ruth and Malcolm to get to the truth.
Although I liked the setting, unfortunately I never really felt it had a haunting atmosphere, which meant when the ghost sightings occurred they were lacking in impact. In addition, I found that the story overall didn’t have a real sense of tension or suspense. Part of the issue I believe is that the romance component took over and the mystery side of things became pushed aside rather than the two working together. I found that the story meandered at times and my enthusiasm waned, meaning I had to push myself to keep reading – this might be also because I am more keen on mystery than romance.
I must admit I found it hard to like Ruth as to me she came off as nosy, self-righteous and a bit of a know-it-all, even though in fact she was frequently wrong in her assumptions. Malcolm was more endearing and I felt for him as he battled with his feelings for Ruth and those for his wife, who was no longer the woman she was after suffering injury and trauma during an air raid. I also liked Maud, who was unapologetic in her mischievousness and brought an element of humour.
Ruth’s unwanted fiancé, Warren, to me felt entirely unnecessary. His actual presence in the story was fleeting and his impact minimal, in fact I believe if he was completely removed from the story it would make very little difference. If he had taken up residence in the village he could have been an added complication to both Ruth’s mystery solving and her growing romance with Malcolm. However, he was gone as soon as he arrived and I do not feel he served any purpose except as filler.
The story of the ‘sisters’, Vera and Edith (Ruth’s grandmother) also felt underdeveloped and to me, tacked on. There are some hints at a secret between them but we only discover the truth by accident and then discussion through the two characters. I might add here a jarring aspect of the novel in that for nearly half the book we see the story through only Ruth’s third person point of view then suddenly other characters’ views are brought in, mostly to reveal secrets.
Then we get to the revelation of Martynsborough’s mysteries, which in my opinion was disappointing overall. Firstly, Ruth and Malcolm don’t exactly uncover the truth but are told it by other members of the village. After all their work, researching and traipsing about, it feels underwhelming. I very much felt in the end that I was told rather than shown the truth. The romance element of the novel felt much more satisfying in how it was wrapped up and I think again this highlights how the romance pushed aside the mystery aspect.
Overall, I feel the title and the cover are misleading in that it emphasises the mystery when in fact it is the romance which plays a greater part in this story and is given more focus. Unfortunately, in the end I was left feeling that the mystery had been waylaid in order for the romance to develop. Those looking for a romance in a wartime setting would be more likely to enjoy this story. However, anyone looking for a mystery with a haunting atmosphere might be disappointed.
I enjoyed the setting R.S. Maxwell created and I think it worked well for the story. The village is very much tucked away from the full impact of war but country life is still disrupted by rationing, blackouts and the influx of evacuees. The intrusion of strangers is what many villagers believe has made the wraith return and their distrust of outsiders makes it harder for Ruth and Malcolm to get to the truth.
Although I liked the setting, unfortunately I never really felt it had a haunting atmosphere, which meant when the ghost sightings occurred they were lacking in impact. In addition, I found that the story overall didn’t have a real sense of tension or suspense. Part of the issue I believe is that the romance component took over and the mystery side of things became pushed aside rather than the two working together. I found that the story meandered at times and my enthusiasm waned, meaning I had to push myself to keep reading – this might be also because I am more keen on mystery than romance.
I must admit I found it hard to like Ruth as to me she came off as nosy, self-righteous and a bit of a know-it-all, even though in fact she was frequently wrong in her assumptions. Malcolm was more endearing and I felt for him as he battled with his feelings for Ruth and those for his wife, who was no longer the woman she was after suffering injury and trauma during an air raid. I also liked Maud, who was unapologetic in her mischievousness and brought an element of humour.
Ruth’s unwanted fiancé, Warren, to me felt entirely unnecessary. His actual presence in the story was fleeting and his impact minimal, in fact I believe if he was completely removed from the story it would make very little difference. If he had taken up residence in the village he could have been an added complication to both Ruth’s mystery solving and her growing romance with Malcolm. However, he was gone as soon as he arrived and I do not feel he served any purpose except as filler.
The story of the ‘sisters’, Vera and Edith (Ruth’s grandmother) also felt underdeveloped and to me, tacked on. There are some hints at a secret between them but we only discover the truth by accident and then discussion through the two characters. I might add here a jarring aspect of the novel in that for nearly half the book we see the story through only Ruth’s third person point of view then suddenly other characters’ views are brought in, mostly to reveal secrets.
Then we get to the revelation of Martynsborough’s mysteries, which in my opinion was disappointing overall. Firstly, Ruth and Malcolm don’t exactly uncover the truth but are told it by other members of the village. After all their work, researching and traipsing about, it feels underwhelming. I very much felt in the end that I was told rather than shown the truth. The romance element of the novel felt much more satisfying in how it was wrapped up and I think again this highlights how the romance pushed aside the mystery aspect.
Overall, I feel the title and the cover are misleading in that it emphasises the mystery when in fact it is the romance which plays a greater part in this story and is given more focus. Unfortunately, in the end I was left feeling that the mystery had been waylaid in order for the romance to develop. Those looking for a romance in a wartime setting would be more likely to enjoy this story. However, anyone looking for a mystery with a haunting atmosphere might be disappointed.
June 29, 2022
A very different WWII book. It’s not about espionage, the womens war, soldiers… it’s about the people who stayed home. Who were forced from their homes. Who evacuated their homes. Those for whom the world spun on while the war was happening. There’s some mystery, ghost stories, urban legend, and a wee bit of romance thrown in as well. I enjoyed it.
December 9, 2022
Truly awful!
Honestly, one of the worst books I have read in a very long time. I kept going more for the (unintended) comedy value of the terrible writing than any real interest in the outcome. The plot was nonsensical and the characters dull. The author seemed to lack a consistent style and voice and how ridiculous to put American words and expressions into the mouths and thoughts of English characters most of which are rarely, if ever, used in the UK today, let alone in the 1940s. My advice? Avoid.
Honestly, one of the worst books I have read in a very long time. I kept going more for the (unintended) comedy value of the terrible writing than any real interest in the outcome. The plot was nonsensical and the characters dull. The author seemed to lack a consistent style and voice and how ridiculous to put American words and expressions into the mouths and thoughts of English characters most of which are rarely, if ever, used in the UK today, let alone in the 1940s. My advice? Avoid.
December 6, 2022
This book has more twists than a corkscrew, generally speaking it is not the sort of book I would usually buy, but it looked interesting and had a couple of good reviews so I gave it a go.
I have not read anything by this author before so didn't know what to expect. The writing style is good, it makes you want to keep turning the page just to find out what is going to happen next. However, along with the twists there is a lot going on, like too many stories in one book and it seemed a bit "cramped" at times trying to get them all in and then tied up by the end. That is not to say I didn't enjoy it because I did. The characters were interesting.
The main character is Ruth, is slightly gung-ho and jolly hockey stick type of girl but as this book is set during WW2 then I suppose she is typical of some if the girls of that time. She is a Literature Student at Cambridge and from a well to do family. She is yearning to write the next best seller.
One night during an air raid an unexploded bomb lands by the tennis courts not far from her room in the college, Girton. All the girls from that side are move for safety reasons and are forced to bunk down with other students, Ruth is put up by Maud, quite an eccentric young woman, five years older than Ruth whose love is geology. From this forced encounter they do become good friends.
Ruth is also engaged to Warren who is away at war, he is a surgeon, she really doesn't know how she became engaged to him, it all seemed to be pre-arranged by their parents and she really does not want to marry him, in fact she doesn't even like him that much.
Her grandmother decides to move from London to a village called Martynsborough, to avoid the bombing there, it is a place she used to spend her holidays as a child and her sister lives there, Ruth decides that this may be a bit of an escape from Warren for a while and goes with her. They move in with her aunt Vera who has a small holding and a cottage with seemingly elastic sides as the story goes on more and more people move into it. There is also something iffy about the relationship between the sisters, and Ruth is determined to work out what it is.
The main male character is Malcolm, who has moved to the village to stay with his aunt after being discharged from the army after serving in Norway, he lost the sight in one eye and two fingers from his left hand during a battle there. He moved in with his beautiful, French wife who whist he was away fighting was involved in an accident when the roof of the home she shared with her parents fell in and killed her parents and left her with brain damage, she is mute, and doesn't seem to be able to understand all that is going on around her and is taken to wandering the byways if she can get out of the cottage.
This is just the tip of the iceberg for characters in this book, there is a retired general, a vicar who has taken in refugee boys, one Johnny ends up moving into the cottage with Ruth and her family, he is looking for his "brother" from whom he was separated at another billet. Maud also turns up and moves into the cottage (see elastic sides). Ellen who runs the local pub, Cora an old lady who knows a lot more that she lets on, and a reclusive and secretive old man who lives in the big manor house with a very strange man servant and a legendary glasshouse with weird and wonderful creatures.
You can see how easy it is to lose your way a bit throughout this book with so much going on and so many people to remember. Oh and don't forget the Wraith that is haunting the village, who Ruth decides to investigate and base her great novel on.
Last but not least there are the two wild sheep who escaped the Ministery of Agriculture, Castor and Pollux.
I have not read anything by this author before so didn't know what to expect. The writing style is good, it makes you want to keep turning the page just to find out what is going to happen next. However, along with the twists there is a lot going on, like too many stories in one book and it seemed a bit "cramped" at times trying to get them all in and then tied up by the end. That is not to say I didn't enjoy it because I did. The characters were interesting.
The main character is Ruth, is slightly gung-ho and jolly hockey stick type of girl but as this book is set during WW2 then I suppose she is typical of some if the girls of that time. She is a Literature Student at Cambridge and from a well to do family. She is yearning to write the next best seller.
One night during an air raid an unexploded bomb lands by the tennis courts not far from her room in the college, Girton. All the girls from that side are move for safety reasons and are forced to bunk down with other students, Ruth is put up by Maud, quite an eccentric young woman, five years older than Ruth whose love is geology. From this forced encounter they do become good friends.
Ruth is also engaged to Warren who is away at war, he is a surgeon, she really doesn't know how she became engaged to him, it all seemed to be pre-arranged by their parents and she really does not want to marry him, in fact she doesn't even like him that much.
Her grandmother decides to move from London to a village called Martynsborough, to avoid the bombing there, it is a place she used to spend her holidays as a child and her sister lives there, Ruth decides that this may be a bit of an escape from Warren for a while and goes with her. They move in with her aunt Vera who has a small holding and a cottage with seemingly elastic sides as the story goes on more and more people move into it. There is also something iffy about the relationship between the sisters, and Ruth is determined to work out what it is.
The main male character is Malcolm, who has moved to the village to stay with his aunt after being discharged from the army after serving in Norway, he lost the sight in one eye and two fingers from his left hand during a battle there. He moved in with his beautiful, French wife who whist he was away fighting was involved in an accident when the roof of the home she shared with her parents fell in and killed her parents and left her with brain damage, she is mute, and doesn't seem to be able to understand all that is going on around her and is taken to wandering the byways if she can get out of the cottage.
This is just the tip of the iceberg for characters in this book, there is a retired general, a vicar who has taken in refugee boys, one Johnny ends up moving into the cottage with Ruth and her family, he is looking for his "brother" from whom he was separated at another billet. Maud also turns up and moves into the cottage (see elastic sides). Ellen who runs the local pub, Cora an old lady who knows a lot more that she lets on, and a reclusive and secretive old man who lives in the big manor house with a very strange man servant and a legendary glasshouse with weird and wonderful creatures.
You can see how easy it is to lose your way a bit throughout this book with so much going on and so many people to remember. Oh and don't forget the Wraith that is haunting the village, who Ruth decides to investigate and base her great novel on.
Last but not least there are the two wild sheep who escaped the Ministery of Agriculture, Castor and Pollux.
December 20, 2022
A historical mystery where it was definitely entertaining keeping track of all the deceit, devious behavior and sneakiness by every single character in this gothic story.
December 7, 2022
I Could Barely Put it Down!
This British WWII book tells the story of the early days if the war when people were sent away from cities to get away from the bombing by the German air force. Ruth was a college student at Cambridge and leaves with her grandmother to live with a great aunt in a small town. While there she befriends many of the villagers, including her neighbor Malcolm and his brain damaged wife. Non verbal and seemingly unaware of her surroundings, she's a tragic figure. Ruth starts working for the war effort and works side by side with Malcolm. As his wife was injured by a bombing, so too was Malcolm while in the army. I'm just skimming the surface of the book right now. A lot happens in this sleepy village. There's friendships formed, a few romances happen with various people and the legend of the wraith that haunts the village gets investigated by Ruth and Malcolm. Family secrets are investigated as well. There's not a huge big finish at the end that I was expecting, but ended the only way it could to stay true to the feel of this story. I loved the whole book. I could even see it as a movie or series. 4.5 stars rounded up!
This British WWII book tells the story of the early days if the war when people were sent away from cities to get away from the bombing by the German air force. Ruth was a college student at Cambridge and leaves with her grandmother to live with a great aunt in a small town. While there she befriends many of the villagers, including her neighbor Malcolm and his brain damaged wife. Non verbal and seemingly unaware of her surroundings, she's a tragic figure. Ruth starts working for the war effort and works side by side with Malcolm. As his wife was injured by a bombing, so too was Malcolm while in the army. I'm just skimming the surface of the book right now. A lot happens in this sleepy village. There's friendships formed, a few romances happen with various people and the legend of the wraith that haunts the village gets investigated by Ruth and Malcolm. Family secrets are investigated as well. There's not a huge big finish at the end that I was expecting, but ended the only way it could to stay true to the feel of this story. I loved the whole book. I could even see it as a movie or series. 4.5 stars rounded up!
July 10, 2024
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
As England enters WWII, a college girl evacuates to the countryside with her grandmother, to her great aunt's estate. She has to learn how to do country things, like hunting and gathering. She gets a useless government job, and hopes to write.
There's a ghost, weird sheep, and a possibly crazy French woman.
More readable with a lot less histrionics than some books in the genre.
As England enters WWII, a college girl evacuates to the countryside with her grandmother, to her great aunt's estate. She has to learn how to do country things, like hunting and gathering. She gets a useless government job, and hopes to write.
There's a ghost, weird sheep, and a possibly crazy French woman.
More readable with a lot less histrionics than some books in the genre.
December 31, 2022
Loved all the moving pieces of the story.
December 11, 2022
Well the title was interesting and the rave reviews were many but now wonder if the rave reviewers read the same book as I did. Ruth leaves London during the beginning of the bombings knowing that there will be more to come; she is also fleeing Warren who believes she is his fiancee and that they will be married soon which is not something Ruth wants but her mother has decided it will be so The small town she goes to seems to have many secrets including Malcom (when they first meet it is very obvious they "have the hots'for each other.) There is a lot of lost potential here and that is why I gave the ok rating. Ruth could have been a really dynamic character but so many times she comes across as wimpy (esp re Warren) and her conflicts with Malcom(in such a small town don't you think people notice the growing relationship?) And the ending......I kept reading it thinking I had missed something!
October 26, 2024
Good story. Was hoping for more. Don't know how to explain it.
April 14, 2023
WWII Britain on the Homefront is an intriguing setting for what seemed an atmospheric mystery involving a ghost, secrets, and forbidden love. I was glad for the chance to pick up this historical mystery by a new to me author and was prepared for a few chills and thrills.
The prologue introduces a curious and enticing scene from 1910 that was filled with a palpable ambience. Next, the historical setting jumps to 1940 Cambridge where young Ruth Gladstone is studying literature, consternated by a situation involving an unwanted fiancé, and just a tad bit worried about the war going on when an unexploded bomb in her dormitory courtyard forces her to sleep on the couch of a grad assistant who isn’t thrilled at first and then Ruth seizes this opportunity to traipse to a little known northern village where her gran’s planning to stay with Aunt Vera.
Ruth is prepared to work on her big novel while hiding from Warren her fiancé, ahem, that is ruralizing and visiting with the great aunt she never knew about. But the village is teaming with mysteries and interesting situations from the white ghostly wraith, to odd thefts, a missing evacuee boy, an unsettling estate, and the traumatized wife of her neighbor who may or may not be all that she seems. Then there’s the too comfortable friendship and something more with Malcolm an injured war vet.
Through a Darkening Glass had me thinking it was one thing when it started with that creepy opening scene, but then settled into something else altogether. I had to get adjusted to not just a different tone and pace, but a different genre. I will take some of the blame when it comes to expecting a ghost story as the focus when it was more a historical fiction with interesting suspense plot threads. It’s the life of a small village and its secrets bought to the surface by a curious young woman as the catalyst. So, it was slow going and I struggled with the heroine. Ruth needed to grow a backbone and have a straight up conversation with her unwanted fiancé and she tended to leap to conclusions and get snoopy with her curiosity into other’s business in the manner of a pushy tabloid journalist. After the half-way mark, things picked up as Ruth and Malcolm’s sleuthing did start to bring out the answers to little mysteries and there was a growing cast of colorful side characters led by the intrepid and incorrigible geologist, Maude.
Many times the writing style kept the reader at a distance from the parts of the story that could have been dramatic or emotionally engaging by having things told by someone second hand or in a letter. So, there was a lot of potential spikes in this plot that went from vastly intriguing to moderately good.
I did end up invested in the outcome for all the players and was glad for the way things ended for several of the characters. There is romance in an unconventional way for that time period, but I think I would lead other readers to see this as more historical fiction since the romance isn’t the main focus- just one of them. Though I have mixed feelings about it and some of that because of my pre-read expectations, I do recommend it to historical fiction fans who like a bit of suspense at the heart of things. And, is there a wraith? I’ll let you wonder about that.
My review posted at Books of My Heart on Apr 2nd
COYER Community Buddy Read with Kai
The prologue introduces a curious and enticing scene from 1910 that was filled with a palpable ambience. Next, the historical setting jumps to 1940 Cambridge where young Ruth Gladstone is studying literature, consternated by a situation involving an unwanted fiancé, and just a tad bit worried about the war going on when an unexploded bomb in her dormitory courtyard forces her to sleep on the couch of a grad assistant who isn’t thrilled at first and then Ruth seizes this opportunity to traipse to a little known northern village where her gran’s planning to stay with Aunt Vera.
Ruth is prepared to work on her big novel while hiding from Warren her fiancé, ahem, that is ruralizing and visiting with the great aunt she never knew about. But the village is teaming with mysteries and interesting situations from the white ghostly wraith, to odd thefts, a missing evacuee boy, an unsettling estate, and the traumatized wife of her neighbor who may or may not be all that she seems. Then there’s the too comfortable friendship and something more with Malcolm an injured war vet.
Through a Darkening Glass had me thinking it was one thing when it started with that creepy opening scene, but then settled into something else altogether. I had to get adjusted to not just a different tone and pace, but a different genre. I will take some of the blame when it comes to expecting a ghost story as the focus when it was more a historical fiction with interesting suspense plot threads. It’s the life of a small village and its secrets bought to the surface by a curious young woman as the catalyst. So, it was slow going and I struggled with the heroine. Ruth needed to grow a backbone and have a straight up conversation with her unwanted fiancé and she tended to leap to conclusions and get snoopy with her curiosity into other’s business in the manner of a pushy tabloid journalist. After the half-way mark, things picked up as Ruth and Malcolm’s sleuthing did start to bring out the answers to little mysteries and there was a growing cast of colorful side characters led by the intrepid and incorrigible geologist, Maude.
Many times the writing style kept the reader at a distance from the parts of the story that could have been dramatic or emotionally engaging by having things told by someone second hand or in a letter. So, there was a lot of potential spikes in this plot that went from vastly intriguing to moderately good.
I did end up invested in the outcome for all the players and was glad for the way things ended for several of the characters. There is romance in an unconventional way for that time period, but I think I would lead other readers to see this as more historical fiction since the romance isn’t the main focus- just one of them. Though I have mixed feelings about it and some of that because of my pre-read expectations, I do recommend it to historical fiction fans who like a bit of suspense at the heart of things. And, is there a wraith? I’ll let you wonder about that.
My review posted at Books of My Heart on Apr 2nd
COYER Community Buddy Read with Kai
February 4, 2023
No idea why I read this, I thought it was something else entirely. Thought it was a mystery and I guess there is but I suppose it’s more a romance or something.
200 pages before anything begins, Character and world building maybe?
If it wasn’t audio I would probably never have finished it.
Technically haven’t- only 52% through.
I gave two stars because an author who completes anything, should be appreciated, after actually finishing- THIS BOOK SUCKS!!!!
All the character development and world building wasted for Tropes- could have been a hallmark/lifetime movie.
Author should have stopped before finishing it.
200 pages before anything begins, Character and world building maybe?
If it wasn’t audio I would probably never have finished it.
Technically haven’t- only 52% through.
I gave two stars because an author who completes anything, should be appreciated, after actually finishing- THIS BOOK SUCKS!!!!
All the character development and world building wasted for Tropes- could have been a hallmark/lifetime movie.
Author should have stopped before finishing it.
January 13, 2023
The blurb attracted me and was expecting a folk horror or a mix of romance and mystery. There's drama and some paranormal.
Not my cup of tea
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
Not my cup of tea
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
February 23, 2023
A real disappointment. Dull characters, slow moving and an abrupt ending.
January 20, 2023
Not the horror I expected... I wanted more horror and less paranormal... It was an okay read... it was 2.5.
December 9, 2022
It could have been so much better. Too many wraiths wandering about and not enough spookiness. Also,the 21st century approach to relationships was a bit much. It seems authors have to put a modern agenda into even historical books. I haven’t had a Amazon first reads yet that I truly enjoyed.
January 7, 2023
Received this book through Amazon as a monthly choice. I thought World War II, ghost, what could go wrong. Well, the depiction of the small village during WWII was unbelievable. I’ve never heard of a household eating so well during rationing (the protagonist actually gaining so many inches her dress conveniently split during a dance). Then the myriad of coincidences it took to wrap the story together. And then there’s the ghost - or “wraith”. I felt like I could have made a drinking game every time the author used the word wraith. And another thing, now I have never written a novel, and most likely never will, but I don’t think I’d go and sit by the river for awhile then get up and say “oh well, no ideas for a novel today”. I’m guessing this was the author’s first novel and hope that she will improve as time goes on.
December 9, 2022
I was provided with a digital ARC of this book thanks to the publishing house, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
*3.75*
This book is what I would describe as a mix between historical fiction and cozy mystery and it was just very emotional all in all. It was even better than I expected, I really think the characters were the main strenght in this book, it was just a "found family" bunch of people coming together, and I appreciated that a lot. There is even a dash of romance in this one, and it doesn't shy away from talking about important topics, in a context like that of WWII.
The setting aspect was really good, I appreciated the fictional small town the author created, it gave an even cozier vibe to the mystery. Speaking about that, the mystery aspect of it was good in my opinion. While it wasn't mind-blowing, it was still very rewarding in the end, and I have to say I didn't get what would happen.
The only part I didn't completely love was the ending, I felt it was kind of rushed, but it gave a nice closure, and all in all I would recommend this book if you like historical fiction books with gothic vibes, and a cozy mystery at their core.
*3.75*
This book is what I would describe as a mix between historical fiction and cozy mystery and it was just very emotional all in all. It was even better than I expected, I really think the characters were the main strenght in this book, it was just a "found family" bunch of people coming together, and I appreciated that a lot. There is even a dash of romance in this one, and it doesn't shy away from talking about important topics, in a context like that of WWII.
The setting aspect was really good, I appreciated the fictional small town the author created, it gave an even cozier vibe to the mystery. Speaking about that, the mystery aspect of it was good in my opinion. While it wasn't mind-blowing, it was still very rewarding in the end, and I have to say I didn't get what would happen.
The only part I didn't completely love was the ending, I felt it was kind of rushed, but it gave a nice closure, and all in all I would recommend this book if you like historical fiction books with gothic vibes, and a cozy mystery at their core.
January 20, 2023
Only got through about 30% in 4 days! It’s a dithering and boring story
January 30, 2023
It started out relatively promising and then just slid down a steep hill. Too much exposition, awful dialogue, and typical woke nonsense.
Also, far too much chest hair.
Also, far too much chest hair.
December 10, 2022
*gifted from Netgalley - I really enjoyed this book. I do enjoy historical fiction and this one is set during WWII in England. It follows a young lady studying in Cambridge and when the bombing starts follows her Grandmother out to a country town in Lancaster. There she meets some interesting characters and sees the mystery wraith that has been plaguing the town for many years.
Ruth decides to play detective and recruits her neighbour Malcom, a married man, who was discharged from the war to help her get to the bottom of the mysterious wraith and the Manor House that is rumoured to have a green house of strange creatures.
There is a lot going on in this book with a lot of side stories, although it all sort of ties together I gave it 3 stars because I don't know if this book knows exactly what it's trying to be. There were a few weird things that seemed out of place.
But overall it kept me entertained and if you like a good mystery, with some interesting characters with the war as a back drop definitely pick this one up!
Ruth decides to play detective and recruits her neighbour Malcom, a married man, who was discharged from the war to help her get to the bottom of the mysterious wraith and the Manor House that is rumoured to have a green house of strange creatures.
There is a lot going on in this book with a lot of side stories, although it all sort of ties together I gave it 3 stars because I don't know if this book knows exactly what it's trying to be. There were a few weird things that seemed out of place.
But overall it kept me entertained and if you like a good mystery, with some interesting characters with the war as a back drop definitely pick this one up!
March 15, 2024
3.5/5⭐️
I enjoyed this mystery set in a remote English village during the WWII era but which doesn’t center around the war per se but more with it serving as a backdrop. It has a bit of a Gothic feel with a mysterious wraith that our heroine, Ruth, a literary student who wants to write the next great novel, feels needs investigating. Ruth finds herself drawn to Malcolm, a wounded soldier, with a wife who has suffered a tragic accident that left her with brain damage (she is mute and seemingly unaware of what goes on around her).
I won’t go into more specifics except to say there are several side stories other than the wraith-plot, and I didn’t feel all of those were necessary or added much to the book. Otherwise, a decent read.
I enjoyed this mystery set in a remote English village during the WWII era but which doesn’t center around the war per se but more with it serving as a backdrop. It has a bit of a Gothic feel with a mysterious wraith that our heroine, Ruth, a literary student who wants to write the next great novel, feels needs investigating. Ruth finds herself drawn to Malcolm, a wounded soldier, with a wife who has suffered a tragic accident that left her with brain damage (she is mute and seemingly unaware of what goes on around her).
I won’t go into more specifics except to say there are several side stories other than the wraith-plot, and I didn’t feel all of those were necessary or added much to the book. Otherwise, a decent read.
December 26, 2022
Ruth Gladstone evacuates to a small village in England named Martynborough with her grandmother. She hears of a wraith that the villagers have seen and she and a coworker named Malcom are determined to solve the mystery. What long hidden secrets are they about to dig up?
This book started with a lot of promise but it went on and on with nothing happening until the last thirty pages. Then everything happened. There were multiple storylines that were wrapped up hastily. This book was billed as a Gothic mystery, but there were no Gothic themes at all. Because of this, I found this to be an average read.
This book started with a lot of promise but it went on and on with nothing happening until the last thirty pages. Then everything happened. There were multiple storylines that were wrapped up hastily. This book was billed as a Gothic mystery, but there were no Gothic themes at all. Because of this, I found this to be an average read.
January 14, 2023
Set in WWII England, we follow a college girl when she ends up in a backwater village for the duration. Scenes in the village were moderately entertaining, but that’s about it. I put the book down for a couple of weeks because I had little desire to finish. There is a teeny bit of supernatural because of a supposed ghost and we get a far amount of information about rationing and what not. The ending was a bit confusing as far as the relationships were concerned.
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