Christian Fiction Devourers discussion

In pursuit of an author who could help get her brother published, Rebecca Lane stays at Swanford Abbey, a grand hotel rumored to be haunted. It is there she encounters Sir Frederick--the man who broke her heart. When a mysterious death occurs, Rebecca is one of the suspects, and Frederick is torn between his feelings for her and his search for the truth.

Who's joining me for this wonderful Regency romantic suspense?

I finished it just this morning and found it thoroughly enjoyable. As it says on the back of the bookcover "Agatha Christie meets Jane Austein in this atmospheric Regency tale brimming with mystery, intrigue, and romance."

This is high on my TBR list for this month.🙂

I am joining in! I have been listening to the audiobook version. I am 50% done. Hope to finish it in the next couple weeks. I am really enjoying it.

Welcome Kate and Katrina!

I finished this recently and really enjoyed it!

Hope you will join our discussion mid-month Jenn!

I plan to join in. This was a pre-order that I haven't gotten to yet.

Started reading it today. Great to be reading a Klassen novel!

I downloaded it to my Kindle, is $1.59 on Amazon if anyone is wondering.

Just finished!

Julie Klassen is one of my favorite authors. This book was a Great read😊

I was hoping to join this discussion (it's been quite a while), but I'm still only about five or six chapters in. I'll need to pick up the pace.

Goodness August 15th got here faster than I thought. Here are the discussion questions. Please feel free to answer any or ask a question of your own.

1. What did you think of the book’s ancient abbey setting? Does the idea of staying in an abbey-turned-hotedl appeal to you? Why or why not?

2. Did you have a favorite character? Were you surprised by the relationships revealed between any characters or did you guess the connection early on?

3. This novel takes place before the establishment of a police force as we know it today. Were you familiar with the practice of “coroner’s inquests” ahead of an actual trial? Learn anything new?

4. Rebecca feels guilty about her brother’s condition and feels duty-bound to try to help him. How might you have responded differently?

5. Did any of the descriptions of mental asylums and their practice surprise you?

6. Several characters choose to forgive in the closing chapters? How easy is it for you to forgive someone who has done wrong or caused you pain? Any experiences to share?

7. How early did you figure out the identity of the killer? What convinced you? Did you enjoy the mystery element of this novel?

8. Do you feel the various characters involved in Mr. Oliver’s death received the consequences they deserved? Was justice served?

I just saw this today and bought it on Kindle! I can’t wait to read this! This is totally up my alley!

Camy wrote: "I just saw this today and bought it on Kindle! I can’t wait to read this! This is totally up my alley!"

Glad you are joining us Camy. I think you will love it!

1. What did you think of the book’s ancient abbey setting? Does the idea of staying in an abbey-turned-hotedl appeal to you? Why or why not?

I thought the abbey turned hotel was a great setting for a mystery!

3. This novel takes place before the establishment of a police force as we know it today. Were you familiar with the practice of “coroner’s inquests” ahead of an actual trial? Learn anything new?

The process was new to me and I found it fascinating. How interesting and perhaps effective to have the jury right there seeing the details so quickly.

7. How early did you figure out the identity of the killer? What convinced you? Did you enjoy the mystery element of this novel?

I didn't realize this was a mystery until I started reading it. Nice surprise as I love historical mysteries.

1. What did you think of the book’s ancient abbey setting? Does the idea of staying in an abbey-turned-hotel appeal to you? Why or why not?
~I love the idea of being so steeped in history! Sign me up for a hotel with historical connections!

3. This novel takes place before the establishment of a police force as we know it today. Were you familiar with the practice of “coroner’s inquests” ahead of an actual trial? Learn anything new?
~I had heard of the practice of a 'coroner's inquest', but knew nothing about what actually happened. That information was actually quite fascinating, especially with Frederick's role as magistrate.

7. How early did you figure out the identity of the killer? What convinced you? Did you enjoy the mystery element of this novel?
~The mystery was SO good! I had suspicions running off in different directions, but was surprised at who it ultimately turned out to be, and why.

1. What did you think of the book’s ancient abbey setting? Does the idea of staying in an abbey-turned-hotel appeal to you? Why or why not?
I loved this idea. We stayed in an old Victorian home on Mackinac Island that had been turned into a hotel, and it was wonderful.

3. This novel takes place before the establishment of a police force as we know it today. Were you familiar with the practice of “coroner’s inquests” ahead of an actual trial? Learn anything new?

We just watched a TV show that had a coroner's inquest and it really gave me an understanding of what that was about. I heard of it before but this made it clearer how it worked.

Just finished the book! I read it as an audiobook. I really liked the narrator. Such a great book!

1. What did you think of the book’s ancient abbey setting? Does the idea of staying in an abbey-turned-hotel appeal to you? Why or why not?

I loved the setting in an abbey. I feel I should have known, but I didn't know what cloisters were. So I had fun looking that up and looking at many different abbeys online. I would love to walk through the cloisters.

6. Several characters choose to forgive in the closing chapters? How easy is it for you to forgive someone who has done wrong or caused you pain? Any experiences to share?

Forgiveness can be hard, but always the best way to go. I once had a person cause me incredible pain. The situation should not have happened but it did. I forgave them and that allowed me to live without bitterness.

I really loved the mystery!

I liked the author's note at the end (at least in the audiobook) as to how she included hints to other authors and books... Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, Elizabeth Gaskell etc.

1. What did you think of the book’s ancient abbey setting? Does the idea of staying in an abbey-turned-hotel appeal to you? Why or why not?

Yes and no. The idea of a chapel connected to a hotel is great. The idea of a hidden entrance into one of the guest rooms is beyond creepy.

4. Rebecca feels guilty about her brother’s condition and feels duty-bound to try to help him. How might you have responded differently?

I wish John had been a more likable character. He told Rebecca she couldn't stay with him because he needed the extra room for his mess and asked a huge favor as though she owed him rather than showing gratitude. While I enjoyed the overall theme of honoring and protecting family, he made it difficult. I didn't understand why she felt so guilty regarding his state.

7. How early did you figure out the identity of the killer? What convinced you? Did you enjoy the mystery element of this novel?

I was misled by Sir Frederick seeing his wife in the author's book. Before seeing the title of that book, I thought the references of infidelity were vague enough that someone else could have been upset by it.

1. What did you think of the book’s ancient abbey setting? Does the idea of staying in an abbey-turned-hotedl appeal to you? Why or why not?

I would love to stay in a hotel turned abbey! But I also agree with Amanda that the hidden passage into the guest room would be scary in real life, but it sounds intriguing in fiction.

2. Did you have a favorite character? Were you surprised by the relationships revealed between any characters or did you guess the connection early on?

Her employer, Lady [what’s her name] was really neat, and I loved her reunion at the end.

3. This novel takes place before the establishment of a police force as we know it today. Were you familiar with the practice of “coroner’s inquests” ahead of an actual trial? Learn anything new?

The whole inquest process was so neat to read! Julie Klassen always does such great research!

4. Rebecca feels guilty about her brother’s condition and feels duty-bound to try to help him. How might you have responded differently?

I’ll be perfectly honest, I didn’t really like the heroine very much. She was pretty much a doormat for her brother, and while I understand she’s motivated by her guilt, it made her do things that didn’t make her all that likable.

On a whole, it was a fun book—it reminded me so much of the Agatha Christie books that I love. And that abbey setting was just to die for.

Camy wrote: "1. What did you think of the book’s ancient abbey setting? Does the idea of staying in an abbey-turned-hotedl appeal to you? Why or why not?

I would love to stay in a hotel turned abbey! But I als..."

Thanks for sharing your thoughts Camy! It's so good to have you back with us again! BTW I am a huge Agatha Christie fan and am hooked on the Hercule Poirot shows on TV.

I love Hercule Poirot, too! My favorite actor was David Suchet. I even bought some Hercule Poirot audiobooks that he narrated.

I loved the Agatha Christie aspect of the book, also!

1. What did you think of the book’s ancient abbey setting? Does the idea of staying in an abbey-turned-hotel appeal to you? Why or why not? I thought it was an interesting location and learned a lot about the abbeys in that area that I never knew before. Definitely, I would consider staying in one! And yes, the idea of the secret passage to the room was pretty creepy.

2. Did you have a favorite character? Were you surprised by the relationships revealed between any characters or did you guess the connection early on? My favorite character was Lady Fitzhoward. She was an unusual person, and I enjoyed her occasional comments, etc, in the book.

Camy wrote: "I love Hercule Poirot, too! My favorite actor was David Suchet. I even bought some Hercule Poirot audiobooks that he narrated."

David Suchet was the epitome of Hercule Poirot. I've seen others play that role and they just didn't have it down like he did!