Yorkshire 1845 - The moor was vast and largely impassable - an expanse of black bogs, impenetrable undergrowth and dense woody swathes of small tufted shrubs...
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The Blurb
Yorkshire, 1845.
Folklore whispers that they used to burn witches at the standing stone on the moor. When the wind is easterly, it wails a strange lament. History declares it was placed as a marker, visible for miles—a signpost for the lost, directing them towards home.
Forced from their homeland by the potato famine, a group of itinerant Irish refugees sets up camp by the stone. They are met with suspicion by the locals, branded as ‘thieves and ne’er-do-wells.’ Only Beth Harlish takes pity on them, and finds herself instantly attracted to Ruairi, their charismatic leader.
Beth is the steward of nearby manor Tall Chimneys—a thankless task as the owners never visit. An educated young woman, Beth feels restless, like she doesn’t belong. But somehow ‘home’—the old house, the moor and the standing stone—exerts an uncanny magnetism. Thus Ruairi’s great sacrifice—deserting his beloved Irish homestead to save his family—resonates strongly with her.
Could she leave her home to be with him? Will he even ask her to?
As she struggles with her feelings, things take a sinister turn. The peaceable village is threatened by shrouded men crossing the moor at night, smuggling contraband from the coast. Worse, the exotic dancing of a sultry-eyed Irishwoman has local men in a feverish grip. Their womenfolk begin to mutter about spells and witchcraft. And burning.
The Irish refugees must move on, and quickly. Will Beth choose an itinerant life with Ruairi? Or will the power of ‘home’ be too strong?
My Review
This was an excellent read, and I enjoyed every minute that I invested in reading it.
Although this is the third book in the Talbot series, it is something of a prequel to the rest of the books. It also worked perfectly well as a standalone novel, and it has definitely inspired me to read the others in the series.
Set in Yorkshire in 1845, the author has done an excellent job in conjuring up the atmosphere of the Yorkshire Moors. I could almost feel the wind howl against my face and the snow beneath my feet.
The main character, Beth, has been wonderfully well portrayed. She is a multi-faceted character who knows her own mind and lives life on her own terms, in as much as she could within the restrictions of a Victorian society. She has many decisions that she has to make throughout the story, and she does so with kindness and compassion for others on every occasion.
There is a large cast of characters in this book, but at no point in my reading did I find it difficult to keep track of who was who. In fact, there is a list of characters at the beginning of the book, but I did not need to refer to this. Each of the characters are portrayed in a genuine way, and they were utterly believable.
The book reminded me of reading the classics, partly perhaps because of the location where Emily Bronte based her book, Wuthering Heights. However, this is far from a retelling of another book. What it provides is a story that has plenty of interest, a variety of characters, and a strong plot. I'm not sure that as readers we ever want more than that from our fiction.
I was absolutely engrossed in this book. When I was away from my reading of it, it definitely had the ability to pull me back. I kept wondering what was happening in Beth's life. For me, that is the sign of an outstanding book - one that nags away at me to get back to it as quickly as possible.
The author is a great storyteller and conveyed her story in a way that was engaging throughout. This was a wonderful book, and now I cannot wait to read some of the others in the series.
Book Details
ISBN: 978 1739469979
Publisher: Allie Cresswell Ltd
Formats: e-book and paperback
No. of Pages: 531 (paperback)
Series: Book 3 of the Talbot Saga (can be read as a standalone)
Purchase Links
About the Author
Allie has been writing fiction since she could hold a pencil. She has a BA and an MA in English Literature, specialising in the classics of the nineteenth century.
She has been a print-buyer, a pub landlady, a bookkeeper and the owner of a group of boutique holiday cottage but nowadays she writes full time.
She has two grownup children, five grandchildren and two cockapoos but just one husband, Tim. They live in the remote northwest of the UK.
The Standing Stone on the Moor is her sixteenth novel.
You can also find Allie at:
(ARC and media courtesy of The Coffee Pot Book Club)
(all opinions are my own)
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