Peeking Between the Pages

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Lady of Ashes by Christine Trent & Giveaway (Int’l)

by

Lady of Ashes

In Christine Trent’s newest novel Lady of Ashes which releases tomorrow she hits on an intriguing story line – a woman undertaker in Victorian London.  This novel is great mix of historical details along with a tale that keeps you turning the pages.   Lady of Ashes is the first book in a new historical mystery series that Christine is writing and I can’t wait to read more.  She is one author who can spin a tale that never fails to draw me in and keep me there!  I must say as well that I adore this cover along with the title!

Violet Morgan is no normal lady of society.  In fact, she is an undertaker who works along with her husband in their shop which is something unheard of back in the 1860’s.  Not only is she an undertaker but she’s spirited, opinionated, independent, and quite intelligent – again out of the norm that most women followed back then of the quiet, polite, homemaking lady.  Violet can dress up a deceased person but don’t ask her to roast a duck because it’s unlikely she could.  While she loves working with her husband Graham trouble seems to be brewing on the marital front.  The very thing that first attracted Graham to Violet which was how she took so quickly to the undertaking business now seems to be turning him off and he’s complaining that she doesn’t keep a proper home for him.  It’s not long before Graham is keeping secrets from Violet and staying out all night and it leaves her wondering what her husband is up to.

Too add to Graham’s displeasure of his wife she takes in an orphan of whom she becomes quite attached.  In the meantime Graham is still up to no good and it’s not long before he and his brother have to flee London for their lives.  This leaves Violet on her own with the orphan Susanna but Violet is no weeping willow and she pulls up her boots and moves on with, of course, the help of a handsome fellow who is more than willing to help her.  As all of this is unfolding Violet is noticing disturbing things with the corpses she is attending for burial and she begins to wonder if there isn’t someone causing these deaths.  To this end Violet finds herself in even more dire straits and soon enough she is fighting for both her and Susanna’s life.  Who will be victorious – the murderer or Violet?

While this novel is full of many true historical characters and happenings which I really liked as I learned quite a bit,  it is still Violet who steals the show.  It is her story that kept me turning the pages.  I really liked her and the way she stood up for what she believed in.  Of course she elicited a few giggles from me when she was angered and would becomes incensed at people who she felt deserved a verbal battering.  The novel also takes us back to Victorian London in a way that made me feel as though I was there.  Trent is a very descriptive writer and I could almost feel the darkness of the streets and the swirling mist that seemed to constantly fill the air.  One of my favorite parts though would have to be the diary entries of the murderer every few chapters as they contemplated the people getting in their way and the next move that they would have to make.  What I found to be the most intriguing thing about the book was the information on the undertaking business back in the 1800’s.  It was fascinating to learn how they prepared bodies back then and that embalming was thought to be evil and not a common practice as it is today.

Lady of Ashes by Christine Trent is another winner for me.  I enjoy her writing and her stories and I could not have found a better way to spend my weekend than to immerse myself in the tale she wove.  I am already looking forward to the next novel in this series!

Lady of Ashes by Christine Trent is on tour with Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours and today is the kick off day so be sure to stop by all the other tour stops coming up for more reviews, interviews, guest posts, and giveaways!  Christine can be found on her website and Facebook so be sure to check out more of her work there.  Your own copy of Lady of Ashes can be purchased at Amazon or Amazon Canada.

 Lady of Ashes Tour Banner FINAL

 

GIVEAWAY DETAILS (International)

I have one copy of Lady of Ashes by Christine Trent to share with my readers.  To enter…

  • For 1 entry leave me a comment entering the giveaway.
  • For 2 entries follow my blog.  If you already do let me know so I can pass the entry on to you as well.
  • Tweet, Like on Facebook, or Blog about this giveaway for 3 entries.

This giveaway is open Internationally!  I will draw for the winner on Saturday, March 9/13.  Good luck!

Source: Review copy provided by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours and Christine Trent. No compensation was received. All opinions are my own.

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Comments

  1. I like historical fiction, and I like mysteries. So I’ll have to give this one some thought. Thanks for the review.

    GFC follower

  5. I agree with your first sentence: a woman undertaker in London provides an intriguing story line. I would love to win this mystery novel.
    Thanks for the giveaway.

    I follow through GFC

  6. I subscribe to Christine Trent’s newsletter and from there I found out about your blog which I have now joined as a follower.
    I’d love to enter the draw for the giveaway.
    Thank you,
    Margaret

  9. Just read ” Not only is she an undertaker but she’s spirited, opinionated, independent, and quite intelligent ”
    That story sounds very intersting to read. I love mindstrong womamn in stories!Thanks for the giveaway!
    I follow and love and share your blog on Facebook
    nlaverdure88@videotron.ca

  15. I’ve never read a novel centered around a female undertaker in Victorian England so this sounds fascinating! Thanks for the chance to win a copy!

  27. This story is so unique. My 1st husband’s law office was in former funeral parlor and everytime that I went there I thought about it. I worked as a secretary to him and my room was in the former coffin room. That gets me in the mood for this book! I love to read about Victorian England and mysteries too so I know that I would really enjoy this book.

    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

  36. Hi, Darlene!

    I have been very curious to read this novel for quite some time now. I’m sure that things have changed considerably over the years in the undertaking business, but to know what it was like back during that time would be very interesting and educational. I’m sure a woman had a very hard time breaking into the business then too. I have added this to my Wish List and cannot wait to read it.

    Thanks so much for your review. It simply cemented the reasons I want to read it.

    I follow via email and I follow your blog as well. Liked on Facebook. Still trying to do the Twitter thing. 😉

    Connie Fischer
    conniecape@aol.com

  38. Looks like an intersting historical novel with a strong female character. Thanks for the giveaway.
    mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

    -GFC follower
    -email subscriber

  39. I’m a longtime follower of your blog. Thanks for the great book review! This sounds so intriguing & up my alley! I love hearing about strong women who overcomes difficult adversities especially in that era. This should be a wonderful story!

  42. Just want to say I enjoyed your review of this book. Sounds like a great read. I love historical fiction/mystery books. Thank you for this give away.

  44. I work for the state medical examiner’s office so this novel would definitely interest me!

    I’m a GFC follower

    lafra86 at gmail dot com

  47. Thanks for the giveaway! I really enjoy this book cover. Kind of reminds me of “Mary Poppins” when the new nannies arrive under umbrellas and blow away!
    I follow via GFC: Meghan Stith
    mestith at gmail dot com

  48. I added this to my ‘To Read’ list on GoodReads a week ago after reading the sample chapter online, it looks amazing! So many entries, but hope I win.

    I tweeted (@Carpe_Librum1) and liked on FB for two additional entries.

    Thanks for hosting the giveaway 🙂

  50. LADY OF ASHES sounds like such a unique read. Loving the cover too.

    GFC: Mary Preston

    Email Subscriber:

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

  53. Like the cover. So mysterious and in the victorian erea has me very interested to read it.

    -blog follower
    -tweeted

    Margaret
    singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com

  56. Sounds like a promising series. Thanks for the chance to win. I’m an email follower.

    nanze55(at)hotmail(dot)com

  63. This book sounds very interesting. I can’t imagine a woman undertaker in the 1800’s. I would love to read it. Thanks for this chance.

    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

  65. Tweeted giveaway.
    Twitter Name:@AnitaYancey
    Liked on Facebook as Anita Yancey

    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

  66. My interest was instantly captured when I read “woman undertaker”. I’ve long wanted to read a novel by Christine Trent and this certainly has topped my list.

  68. This book sounds great. I would really like to read it. I also just started to follow your blog via email and look forward to reading more reviews!

  76. That is such a GORGEOUS cover! I didn’t even have to read your review, I just went and added this one to my Goodreads TBR list 🙂 It sounds really good too! Great review Dar!