Title: Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey
Author: Abigail Wilson
Genre: Historical Romance/Suspense
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release date: 26 May 2020
Pages: 336
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About the Book
When the widowed Lord Torrington agreed to spy for the crown, he never planned to impersonate a highwayman, let alone rob the wrong carriage. Stranded on the road with an unconscious young woman, he is forced to propose marriage to protect his identity and her reputation, as well as his dangerous mission.
Trapped not only by her duty to her country but also by her limited options as an unwed mother, Miss Elizabeth Cantrell and her infant son are whisked away to Middlecrest Abbey by none other than the elder brother of her son’s absent father. There she is met by Torrington’s beautiful grown daughters, a vicious murder, and an urgent hunt for the missing intelligence that could turn the war with France. Meanwhile she must convince everyone that her marriage is a genuine love match if her new husband has any hope of uncovering the enemy.
Determined to keep her son’s true identity a secret, Elizabeth will need to remain one step ahead of her fragile heart, her uncertain future, and the relentless fiend bent on her new family’s ruin.
Excerpt
“Madam, are you hurt?” A deep voice echoed from somewhere above, but I couldn’t maneuver around to see its owner. My ears buzzed as I drew Isaac close, reveling in the feel of his warm arms.
We had a rescuer, but what now? My entire body throbbed in pain. And—the Palmers! They were expecting us in Dover. Tonight. The horrid highwayman had ruined my carefully laid plans.
Blood trickled down my wrist as I pressed the wound on my forehead. “I don’t think anything is broken, sir . . . only, my head . . . I believe I hit it rather hard.”
“It was a ghastly accident, I’m afraid.” The voice was that of a gentleman, a passerby perhaps? “I’m afraid your coachman has suffered greatly. I’ve bound up his leg, but he has not yet regained consciousness.”
I clenched my jaw. “Indeed, it was ghastly! Did you see the devil who ran us from the road?”
A pause. “Well, yes.” A metallic squeak sounded, and the equipage jolted. “I’ve the door open above you now. I think it best if I come in and assess your wounds before lifting you out.”
Unable to take the sudden flash of bright light, I shielded my eyes with my hand. “That sounds reasonable. My son seems unharmed, though I’m not certain I can move at present. My head is awfully tender.”
The carriage shivered as the man dropped safely into the coach. He pushed my valise out of the way and knelt at my side, bringing his face into view at last. I stifled a gasp as an icy wave filled my chest.
It was him—the highwayman. I clutched Isaac against me.
He held up his hand, his voice tender. “Don’t be frightened. I’m only here to help.”
“Is that so?” I pushed through the burning twinge inching down my neck to dip my chin. “A highwayman with a conscience. What a comfort.”Taken from Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey by Abigail Wilson
Copyright © 2020 by Abigail Wilson
Used by permission of http://www.thomasnelson.com/
Review
There’s no doubt that Abigail Wilson knows how to create atmosphere with her words, particularly the kind of Gothic atmosphere that seems to pair so well with a Regency setting. Unfortunately, I felt as though this story didn’t have the substance to do her words justice. Notwithstanding the dramatic opening and the fact that there’s a murderer to find, there wasn’t anything mysterious or sinister about any of the characters, particularly the hero, Torrington. I had my suspicions about who the culprit was early on, and although the overall picture turned out to be bigger than I originally guessed, there was a kind of inevitability about it that sucked the marrow out of the story.
As mentioned, Wilson makes good use of descriptive writing, however the dialogue, and even the narrative at times, was too on the nose for me, particularly for a novel that’s trying to create an air of mystery and suspense. There were also times when the phrasing pulled me out of the novel, for example obvious Americanisms such as “I hadn’t even considered what all she might apprise me of,” and oddly enough, obvious Heyerisms, such as the exclamation “’Pon rep!” It felt a bit…affected to me—jarring rather than authentic—but maybe that’s just me?
The other thing that was disappointing for me was the lack of any chemistry between the hero and heroine, which made it difficult to become invested in them as a couple. Readers who are looking for atmospheric writing and a bit of mystery will get the most enjoyment out of this novel.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.
About the Author
Abigail Wilson combines her passion for Regency England with intrigue and adventure to pen historical mysteries with a heart. A Registered Nurse, chai tea addict, and mother of two crazy kids, Abigail fills her spare time hiking the National Parks, attending her daughter’s gymnastic meets, and curling up with a great book. In 2017, Abigail won WisRWA’s Fab Five Contest and ACFW’s First Impressions contest as well as placing as a finalist in the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. She is a cum laude graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and currently lives in Dripping Springs, Texas, with her husband and children.
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