(Blurb from Goodreads)
Felicity
has decided to become a nun. She departs to visit convents in spite of
her mother's imminent arrival and Fr. Anselm's request that she and Fr.
Antony recover a missing priceless Russian icon before the Patriarch of
Moscow arrives at the community for Holy Week.
Felicity's
discernment journey takes her to Rempstone, Norwich, London, and
Walsingham, but her discovery of afriend's murdered body in a shallow
grave, the disappearance of more icons, the shooting of a London art
expert just after she visits him, the disappearance of Antony, and
finally the abduction of Felicity and her mother teach her far more
about motherhood, life, and love than she could learn in any convent
retreat. Breathtaking chase scenes, mystical worship services, dashes
through remote water-logged landscapes, the wisdom of ancient holy
women, and the arcane rites of The Knights of St. John of Malta keep the
pages turning. And will Felicity choose the veil--or Antony?
A Reader’s Opinion:
Let
me begin by saying that I found this book both, interesting and
enjoyable – simply put, I liked it. Let me explain. I know nothing of
Catholicism, very little of the Church of England, or to be honest, a
majority of the religious references and history mentioned in this book.
Before reading, I was aware that I would run into a lot of unfamiliar
information and I believe that is what allowed me to enjoy the book as
much as I did. There were times when I felt there was too much delving
into the religious aspect, but I read those sections more like I was in a
university class, so I found it interesting.
Antony
was by far my favorite character. He’s kind, chivalrous and unassuming,
but certainly not boring. His humble demeanor was balanced out with
noticeable charm and I found myself smiling each and every time he
winked or grinned at Felicity. Our heroine, Felicity was an enigma in
the first third of the book. I couldn’t decide if I liked her or was
just putting up with her. As the story progressed, Felicity proved to be
a worthy heroine - a modern personality warring with the search for
some higher purpose. She found her footing halfway through and began to
show her strength and determination. Her personality seemed to shine
through more as the story progressed and I became immersed in both the
intellectual and romantic relationship between her and Antony.
Then
there’s the murder and mystery – well plotted, well developed and not
entirely predictable. I’ll admit that one of the culprits was a complete
surprise to me. I had gone along thinking I knew everyone who did it
and where I figured out most, I appreciated that the author could twist
enough to keep me on my mental toes.
The
amazing amount of research the author did for this book is apparent. In
fact there were passages when I felt I was being taught – for some
readers that may be a bother, so read the book knowing what you’re
getting into. If I hadn’t known, I may not have enjoyed it as much. As
it was, I finished the book in a few days because it held my attention
and I was interested in the outcome. This is the second book of the
Monastery Series and not having read the first yet, I can’t say how one
flows into the next, but I would recommend this book to any intellectual
reader who enjoys a good whodunit and learning something in the
process.
Title: A Darkly Hidden Truth
Publisher: Monarch Books
Published: 1 December 2011
Format Read: Copy provided by author in exchange for review.
In accordance with
FTC guidelines for bloggers and endorsements, I would like to clarify
that the books reviewed on An Avid Reader's Haven are provided by the
publisher/author free of charge. I am neither compensated for my reviews
nor are my opinions influenced in any way by the avenues in which I
obtain my materials.
