Lantern for the Dark

If you like historical fiction without wooden characters, lots of beautiful detail, romance and suspense, by all means check out this book! Jessica Stirling hasn't only created a sympathetic and admirable heroine in the young Clare Kelso, but has created other characters just as intriguing and emotive inducing. Set in the late 1700s, Latern for the Dark is a novel that shows Scottland to be both a socially corrupt and also very independent country with as rich a history as Ireland or England. Clare is in the employ of her cousin Andrew Purves's household as a maid after her mother's death, but because of her blood relation, her social status is elevated by the attentions of a calculating rogue named Frederick Straker, who has tons of enemies. Men are all charmed by her beauty and manners; the ladies, especially other household servants and Andrew's own wife Edwina, are jealous. Soon, though, everything goes wrong after Frederick and Clare become lovers. She is pregnant with his child, and he runs away, refusing to marry her because of his debts, only visiting her and the child when he's sure his enemies won't catch up to him. Then the unthinkable happens; Clare is accused of committing infanticide on her son, and only Frederick's sister Eunice, cousin Andrew, and a young lawyer named Cameron Adams are positive of her innocence. If you want a great historical book with unexpected twists and turns, check this one out, because Stirling's plot starts out with a slow climb, and then the climax has more momentum than a Sixx Flags roller coaster. I guarantee a great, wild ride. There is no doubt that, when it comes to historical fiction, Jessica Stirling is truly beyond gifted at her craft.

I almost gave up at about page 60 but I'm very glad I didn't. Once the story goes back in time to tell Clare's story it becomes hard to put down. Stirling pays attention to detail making each character stand out nicely - except for Striker who (perhaps purposely) is not as well fleshed out. The ending has a couple of neat twists, too.

it was wonderfully written about 18th century life ,and how people lived and worked and developed relationships. The characters are so real, and full of courage. Reading about life in the 18th century makes history come alive without opening a history book. Characters like Clare and Frederick are so sincere and represent everything true about the 18th century.