I bought a new Susanna
Kearsley novel the other day which is exciting because now I get to talk about
my favorite author of all time. I have read almost all of Kearsley’s books and
she is honestly my greatest inspiration as a writer, especially of historical
fiction. Every book I have read of hers is thoughtfully researched and
beautifully portrays the combined stories of women living both now and many
years ago.
I recently picked up ‘A
Desperate Fortune,’ which just came out this year, but it took me awhile longer
than usual to read it, probably because it was so rich in detail and I really
wanted to remember every detail for later. Just as I always am after reading
Kearsley’s novels, I was wide-eyed in admiration for the complexity and depth
of the narrative and the characters.
‘A Desperate Fortune’
contains the stories of two main characters from two different times in
history. Mary Dundas is a strong, creative young woman living in France who
unexpectedly joins the rank of Jacobite spies during the 18th
century. She is quite suddenly thrown from her quiet life into one fraught with
danger and secrets and has to learn to survive in her new world. Almost three
hundred years later, Sara seeks to translate her diary, which was written using
a cipher, so that it can be used to aid an author doing historical research.
Working from a quiet home in France, Sara slowly uncovers Mary’s story as a spy
during a time of deeply held secrets and murderous schemes as she herself
learns how quickly life can change.
As always, I am amazed
at how original and interesting this book is. The characters are alive even
within the confines of historical truths and the plot was intriguing throughout.
Eventually we come to realize, just as Mary and Sara did, that even when we bury
our expectations for love and life, there is always hope for the life we
dreamed of.
If you enjoy historical
fiction or even just a good love story, I recommend this novel as well as any
other book by Susanna Kearsley.
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