Shadows of Swanford Abbey

Written by Julie Klassen

Narrated by Elizabeth Jasicki

Agatha Christie meets Jane Austen in this atmospheric Regency tale brimming with mystery, intrigue, and romance.

When Miss Rebecca Lane returns to her home village after a few years away, her brother begs for a favor: go to nearby Swanford Abbey and deliver his manuscript to an author staying there who could help him get published. Feeling responsible
for her brother’s desperate state, she reluctantly agrees.

The medieval monastery turned grand hotel is rumored to be haunted. Once there, Rebecca begins noticing strange things, including a figure in a hooded black gown gliding silently through the abbey’s cloisters. For all its renovations and
veneer of luxury, the ancient foundations seem to echo with whispers of the past—including her own. For there she encounters Sir Frederick—magistrate, widower, and former neighbor—who long ago broke her heart.

When the famous author is found murdered in the abbey, Sir Frederick begins questioning staff and guests and quickly discovers that several people held grudges against the man, including Miss Lane and her brother. Haunted by a
painful betrayal in his past, Sir Frederick searches for answers but is torn between his growing feelings for Rebecca and his pursuit of the truth. For Miss Lane is clearly hiding something. …

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 7, 2021
• ISBN: 9781705038956

Julie Klassen

Julie Klassen (www.julieklassen.com) loves all things Jane--Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. Her books have sold more than 1.5 million copies, and she is a three-time recipient of the Christy Award for Historical Romance. The Secret of Pembrooke Park was honored with the Minnesota Book Award for Genre Fiction. Julie has also won the Midwest Book Award and Christian Retailing's Best Award and has been a finalist in the RITA and Carol Awards. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full-time. She and her husband have two sons and live in St. Paul, Minnesota. For more information, visit julieklassen.com.

Reviews for Shadows of Swanford Abbey

[Sam Ashish · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A little on the grim side but the rotten Mr Oliver got his karma and Rebecca got her dream. Ended happily

[Laura Lane · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This one was full of mystery Gothic romance and surprise.

[Laina Scott · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Lovely. Mystery and love.. Clean and surprising. Quite enjoyable, I enjoyed very much.

[Frances O'Connor · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Well done mystery, romance, with a great message. Looking for to read more from this author.

[Melanie McGibbon · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed listening to this story. A mystery and a story of reconciliation. Highly recommended.

[headinherbooks_27 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I am great fan of this author and when I read the description that stated a twist of Jane Austen and Agatha Christie novels, I knew I had to read this one and I'm glad I did. Very entertaining and I'm impressed how the author creatively intertwined a Jane Austen style with Agathe Christie style.

[Marcie Turner · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved it, love the twists and turns, and HAPPY ENDING

[meganleigh844 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

“Shadows of Swanford Abbey” by Julie Klassen is a Regency mystery and romance novel. Ms. Klassen is the queen of inspirational regency fiction. Her newest addition is touted as Agatha Christie meets Jane Austen. In this story you will travel to an old abbey-turned-hotel, which is possibly haunted! Add in a murder and you have quite a story!This book is more of a mystery novel than many of Ms. Klassen’s previous works. But do not worry, there is still a super sweet romance reminiscent of Austen’s “Persuasion” and “Mansfield Park.” I was also reminded of “Northanger Abbey” with the Gothic feel and the mystery aspects. Speaking of nods to great literature, there are many fun character names and situations that brought to mind Austen, Brontë, Dickens and Christie.The atmospheric setting of an abbey that has been converted into a hotel is the perfect place for a murder mystery, as there are many guests gathered together. One gets to see characters from both “upstairs” and “downstairs”—people of all classes and walks of life. As one gets to know them, one wonders, what are their connections to one another? What could their motives be? Everyone seems to be hiding a secret of some sort. I feel the story lagged a bit in the middle, but it really picked up at the end. I also listened to parts of it as an audiobook and it was hard to feel the suspense and Gothic shivers because of the narrator’s chipper voice (but this is certainly no fault of the author’s). The mystery keeps you guessing till the end! There are as many twists and turns as the old abbey and just when you think you have figured something out, new evidence and information is presented.I highly recommend this book!Content: I give this book a PG rating. Some examples of the content are: a man is shown dealing with depression; a wife was unfaithful to her husband; references to liquor, opium and addiction; talk of women “entertaining” men at night in their rooms; a man is drunk and another high; descriptions of how the mentally ill are treated poorly with some asylums. Mental health does play a role in the story, and it is treated with sensitivity and respect. Rating: I give this book 4 stars.I want to thank Julie Klassen and Bethany House Publishers for the complimentary copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are my own. This is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR 16, Part 255.

[grammy57 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Julie Klassen did not disappoint in her new book, Shadows of Swanford Abbey. The story held my attention from beginning to end. This is a Christian book in a very good way. It doesn't preach at you but shows how people that ARE Christians use their faith in their daily lives.The main characters were very well developed. You felt like you were getting to know them. The minor characters were also well developed and played their roles well also.This was an ARC edition and the editing was well done. I did notice a handful of errors but I'm sure these will be addressed before final publication.If you are looking for a good, Christian, historical novel this is the book for you. I give this a solid 4 out of 5-star review. Just so you know, I rarely give 5-stars, those are given to the most outstanding books. This would be 4.5 if allowed.

[becky_l-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

“For the first time in years, the rusty hinges of his shuttered heart gave an experimental creak.”Julie Lessman entices the reader into the world of the Jane Austen era with beautifully crafted sentences like this. Lessman’s latest offering, The Shadows of Swanford Abbey, is wonderfully stuffed with mystery, Regency-era (even a bit of Gothic) romance, and faith.It is March of 1820 in Worcestershire, England.Rebecca Lane returns home to care for her foundering brother. His problems are deeper than Rebecca realized, and she must board at a nearby hotel, where a famous writer is in residence.A former family friend who is also their landlord, Frederick Wilford, is staying at this hotel. Wilford’s manor renovations, started by his deceased wife, were never completed. Before his marriage, young Rebecca carried a torch for Frederick. Can she hide the embarrassment of that attraction now?So many different characters to puzzle out, whether Rebecca’s brother, John, Miss Selina Newport or Lady Fitzhoward, to name a few of the supporting cast. What fun it is when there are several well-thought-out and presented mysteries to try to work through before all is revealed.Rebecca is greatly loyal, but that lands her in a heap of trouble. “She just wanted her brother back as he had once been, but she feared that John was gone forever.” She wants to help John, but how far will she go in the name of brotherly love? What will that do to the attraction that is finally blossoming between her and her erstwhile unrequited love? One thing she does realize is this:“Family . . . once gone, there’s no replacing them.”A ghost. Secrets of the former convent. Relationships are hidden, some for nefarious reasons, some discarded in the shadows of the past. What will come to light at the end?Lovers of Regency Romance, who also want faith and mystery will devour this Lessman novel, as will historical buffs. Definitely discovering I have not read enough of Julie Klassen’s expertly crafted Regency tales! Hand me another, please!!I received a copy of this book from the author and Bethany House via NetGalley. No positive review was required. All opinions are my own.

[kimpotter-309059 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Shadows of Swanford Abbey by Julie Klassen is a stand-alone regency romantic suspense. Rebecca Lane returns to her childhood village after being away for several years. She checks into the local hotel so that she may complete a favor for her brother; deliver his manuscript to Ambrose Oliver, an author who is staying there, in hopes that he will help him get it published. But things aren’t what they seem on the surface. When the author is murdered, it is discovered that there were many people who didn’t like him very much; including Rebecca and her brother. This story started out very slowly for me but it soon picked up and I couldn’t put it down. Lady Rebecca and Sir Frederick complemented each other so well. I enjoyed the camaraderie between all the characters, and even the suspense of searching for the murderer. All the twists and turns made for a great page-turning ride through regency England.I received this book from the author for my honest review.

[lifeofliterature · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Julie Klassen is one of my favorite authors because she can write novels with great historical detail, fantastic character development, multiple surprising twists, and amazingly complex plots! This novel is true to her style with intrigue and romance galore! This book has even more of a mystery with a “who done it” theme than some of her past novels and I found myself reading late into the night to discover the villain and the conclusion. The romance is well integrated (although not front and center like the mystery is) and I loved the development of the relationship of the two long time friends. There are fun characters with wit to lighten the plot as well and I found myself chuckling a time or two at Lady Fitzhowards. I truly did not want this novel to end and found myself savoring the rich descriptions and historical setting. This is not a novel to miss! I most highly recommend it!I received a complimentary copy of this book from an Austen Prose tour with Laurel Ann Nattress. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.