Tag: Historical Fiction

I am a fan of Siobhan Curham. Her approach to historical fiction is interesting as she always manages to find a unique approach. The Secret Keeper is no exception.

I was immediately drawn in by the name-dropping in the first chapter. It told me that a tone was being set that would draw me in even further.

I wasn’t wrong.

Elena comes from a different background than is usual in historical fiction novels. This plays perfectly into what lies ahead for her. This is one of the reasons the book resonates.

Yes, it still would have been interesting with someone from, say, New York. But Elena’s heritage allows the author to put her in positions that others would not have succeeded in. Yes, I’m being cagey because I don’t want to give those aspects away.

Aside from that, however, Elena’s path to helping the war effort is fascinating. Wisely, the author introduces characters along the way who are interesting enough in their own right.

For example, the people she meets in training; you know they will cross paths again one way or another.

As for the plot – who doesn’t like a story of an unassuming person being chosen to become a spy and being thrown into dangerous situations?

Elena is intelligent and resourceful. Fortunately, this serves her well as she navigates the clandestine world she is inhabits.

The chapters involving Elena’s experiences in 1942-1944 alternate with letters written by her grandmother in 1940, as she dealt with Nazis occupying Paris. The reader learns a lot from these letters, but does Elena?

But I kept thinking there was more to the letters than met the eye, that they must help Elena somehow. Or play a bigger part in the plot.

And, no, I’m not going to tell you if I was right or not.

I loved The Paris Network and Beyond This Broken Sky by Siobhan Curham. I am happy to add her to my “one-click” historical fiction novels. The Secret Keeper is another winner.

Author Bio:

Siobhan Curham is an award-winning author, ghost writer, editor and writing coach. She has also written for many newspapers, magazines and websites. Siobhan has been a guest on various radio and TV shows, including Woman’s Hour, BBC News, GMTV and BBC Breakfast. And she has spoken at businesses, schools, universities and literary festivals around the world.

Sharon Maas has a knack for writing compelling historical fiction involving famous events that people actually know very few details about. The Girl from Jonestown is no exception.

People have heard of Jonestown. And if they don’t know exactly what happened there, they have a general idea. Even if they know nothing, they have probably heard the mainstream phrase about drinking the Kool-Aid.

It is odd to think that there are people who say that but probably have zero knowledge about its origin. But I digress.

The story is equally Lucy and Zoe. Lucy is writing from inside Jonestown. From her, we get the entire backstory of how it came to be and what is currently happening in the camp.

Zoe gives us the “outsider” point of view. She has family in the area, so we learn about traditions and how people view the area they live in.

Jonestown is the lurid hook to the story. But I found myself more intrigued by learning about Guyana, the Amerindian people, and their beliefs. The parallel points of view dovetail nicely into a lush, disturbing narrative.

The author’s writing has improved over her books. The chapters flow seamlessly into each other, looping around to include other characters, before moving back to the main plot lines. It all works to draw the reader into an immersive experience.

There are a few scenes toward the end that I know are present to advance the plot, but one involving Zoe and “Dad” felt gratuitous. His power, influence, and insanity are already perfectly clear by this point.

The Girl from Jonestown is memorable historical fiction. Sharon Maas has written another unique story, and I look forward to more from her.

Author Bio:

Sharon Maas was born to politically active parents in Georgetown, Guyana, in 1951. She was educated in England, Guyana, and, later, Germany. She now lives in Ireland. Her books include The Violin Maker’s Daughter, The Soldier’s Girl, Her Darkest Hour, and many other novels.

Suzanne Kelman has become one of my favorite historical fiction authors. Her stories are always well-balanced between contemporary and historical storylines. She always manages to find a unique aspect of history to use as a starting point. Garden of Secrets is no exception.

In this case, I feel like the author succeeds in unique settings for both timeframes. In the contemporary, Laura works as a garden restoration artist. After a personal loss, she accepts an offer to stay with friends and restore a garden on an old estate.

This leads her to a 75-year-old mystery that she feels compelled to solve. Is it because of her own losses? Or is there something else driving her to discover the truth behind the note and items she finds?

That is one thing I really enjoy about this author’s works. She allows the characters to have real reasons for their actions. They don’t fit a stereotype or only do what is expected. People react to things differently, and her characters are always individuals.

The story then unfolds with Laura in the present chasing down clues and trying to figure out the meaning of what she finds. Those chapters alternate periodically with Anya’s (in the past) and a few from Nikolai (also in the past).

Anya and Nikolai’s story is fascinating, although I was slightly slower to warm to it for some reason. I’m not sure why, because it is by far one of the most interesting threads I have read in recent memory.

It is more common to see Germany as the enemy in historical fiction novels, and it is rarely remembered that Russia was an enemy as well – at least to a point.

I don’t want to give anything of their plot away. Usually, I like one storyline slightly better than the other, but in this case, I was eager to get back to either plot. That’s the way to keep a reader engaged.

I do have to say that I love the analogy using the Avon River. Having been there (and it being one of my favorite places ever) I was able to picture it clearly. Not to mention, it was just good life advice as well.

Garden of Secrets is another great entry in the historical fiction genre, and I can never get enough of Suzanne Kelman’s books and I always look forward to the next one.

Try these great historical fiction novels from her as well: A View Across the Rooftops, Under a Sky on Fire, When the Nightingale Sings, When We Were Brave

Author Bio:

Suzanne Kelman is a 2015 Academy of Motion Pictures Nicholl Finalist, Multi-Award-Winning Screenwriter and a Film Producer. As well as working in film she is also an International Amazon Bestselling Fiction Author of the Southlea Bay Series – The Rejected Writers’ Book Club, Rejected Writers Take the Stage and The Rejected Writers’ Christmas Wedding. Born in the United Kingdom, she now resides in Washington State.

I was thoroughly taken by The French House by Helen Fripp. It is historical fiction at its finest. So, you can imagine my excitement when I saw The Painter’s Girl. While I don’t think it quite lives up to her previous novel, there is plenty to like about it.

First of all, Paris. Who doesn’t like a novel set in Paris?  Then add a circus. And impressionist painters.

Yes, it might seem like a lot going on, but I promise it all makes sense in the course of the plot. Although, it does seem a bit “busy” at times, with so much going on.

As always, you can read the gist of the plot in the blurb on any number of sites. I will say that as I read, I had mixed vibes. Maybe it was the subject matter, maybe it was the setting. I don’t know.

But at various times, I got vibes that were Les Miserables, Moulin Rouge, and La Boheme. Not sure if that was the intention, or just my personal knowledge seeping in, but it all added an extra level of enjoyment to my reading.

The plot itself is pretty straightforward even as there are twists and turns in Mimi’s life. And she certainly experiences the fickleness and unpredictability of an artist’s personality. Then again, she is an artist as well, soooo…..

There are a few things that I had difficulty with. It felt a little rushed and complicated where it didn’t need to be. But when I think about it, it seems as if a couple of decades of history are condensed into this story. So that could be part of it.

There are also a lot of characters to keep track of. It’s not an insurmountable amount, but you do have to pay attention.

As with any good historical fiction novel, there is a mixture of historical fact and fiction to tie it all together. In this case, it works for the most part.

I think if a reader goes into this with the knowledge that a lot is going on, but with the eye to being entertained, they will find The Painter’s Girl to be an excellent read. I look forward to reading more from Helen Fripp.

About the author

I love delving into the past and uncovering new stories, and in my writing, the tiniest historical detail can spark an idea for a whole chapter. My female characters rail against the social constraints to which they are subject and often achieve great success, but they are of course flawed and human, like the rest of us. It’s the motivations, flaws, loves and every-day lives of my characters that I love to bring life, against sweeping historical backdrops – and I will find any excuse to take off and research a captivating location or person for my next story.

I am a huge fan of Suzanne Goldring. Her historical fiction novels have impeccable research. They are heartfelt and unique. The Girl with the Scarlet Ribbon is no exception. This may be my favorite one yet.

There is a contemporary storyline that alternates with the historical timeline. And (as usual) the author does a masterful job switching between the two.

This works because each of the timelines is a full story in its own time. It is almost like reading two different stories, where each has its own interest. Except they weave together to make a full narrative.

Simply put, it is masterful storytelling.

First off, Sofia is tasked with putting together an exhibit of her recently deceased father’s paintings. Riccardo is world-renowned, and the paintings are full of symbolism. However, neither Sofia nor her mother (Isobel) fully understands them.

In the historical timeline, we get Riccardo’s story. He grew up in Italy during the German occupation of WWII. The history is apparent. This makes some of the symbolism in Riccardo’s paintings is abundantly clear.

But the pathos in the story comes from his childhood. In linear fashion, how the events that he witnessed created a tortured mind. And how that tortured mind produced the famous paintings.

I know that sounds convoluted but it really isn’t. It is straightforward and easy to follow. The topic and the focus grab the reader with their uniqueness. Together, they weave a spell that allows for seamless transitions.

I don’t want to say how Sofia and Isobel come to learn more about Riccardo’s paintings. That is part of the surprise of the story. But it is an interesting twist that allows for some self-reflection from both characters.

I will say that I did not like Isobel. Why? Because she was, to put it bluntly, a shrew. Now, I understand why the author wrote her character that way. But it was annoying.

I felt no pity for her complaints about how much she suffered at the hands of Riccardo’s genius because she was just so unlikeable. Even when you learn his secrets, she still is whiny and entitled.

Honestly, Sofia was a saint for putting up with her. And even she had her trouble doing so. Their relationship is not an easy one. They are quite opposite each other.

That all takes place secondary to the paintings, though. Finally, a last word about the symbolism. These were easily my favorite parts of the book. As I mentioned, some were obvious, and others only became apparent after Riccardo’s story unfolds.

But all of it is fascinating and gives this novel a truly unique spin.

Suzanne Goldring is a masterful author, and The Girl with the Scarlet Ribbon is an excellent addition to the genre. For more by this author, check out the following books: My Name is Eva, The Girl Without a Name, Burning Island, The Shut Away Sisters.

Author Bio:

Following an eventful career as a public relations consultant, specialising in business and travel, Suzanne Goldring turned to writing the kind of novels she likes to read, about the extraordinary lives of ordinary people. Whether she is working in her thatched cottage in Hampshire or her seaside home in North Cornwall, Suzanne finds inspiration in the secrets hidden by everyday life.