Library Journal - Audio
06/10/2024
In 1640s England, Jayne Swift cannot officially call herself a doctor, but she has been trained by a noted physician whose beliefs are revolutionizing the field. Jayne, the daughter of a squire, works mostly with women and the poor, as the upper classes prefer to go to male doctors. On her way to treat her nephew for croup, she meets a footman named William, who, unbeknown to Jayne, is a spy and a master of disguise. When the English Civil War begins, Jayne treats the wounded, although she insists on neutrality and helps soldiers on both sides of the conflict. William keeps turning up in her life, and she finally learns the secrets he has been hiding. Mystery writer Walters (The Turn of Midnight) captures the prejudices of the times, from politics to religion to science to social status. Emma Gregory narrates the story deftly, communicating the characters' struggle with loyalty, religious beliefs, and class distinctions. Listeners will appreciate her skill in employing a variety of accents and tones to distinguish the many characters. VERDICT Share this well-researched and thrilling story with historical fiction fans and readers of Philippa Gregory and Margaret George.—Joanna M. Burkhardt
The Times Antonia Senior
Minette Walters, a stalwart of crime fiction, is excellent on the horrors of civil war in Dorset, and Swift is a memorable and spirited…heroine.”
New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Buchan
Gripping and fascinating.”
bestselling author of the Jackdaw Mysteries S. W. Perry
I loved every moment of this brilliantly evocative saga of struggle, love, and danger set against the horrors of civil war.”
Belfast Telegraph
This is historical fiction at its finest…Jayne is a fantastic character, a woman very much in a man’s world, living and working to bring succor to those in need.”
LoveReading Paul Blezard
“A truly, utterly gripping English Civil War love story that is as fleet and majestic as the birds of the title. This is Minette Walters at her brilliant best.”
Good Housekeeping Joanne Finney
This well-researched, atmospheric tale is as gripping as any of her thrillers.”
Library Journal
★ 06/01/2022
Readers who are initially alarmed at the page count of Walters's ("Last Hours" series) latest historical novel will come to the end and wonder why the story couldn't have gone on longer. During the English Civil War in 1642, families and friends are divided between the warring Parliamentarians and Royalists. Jayne, daughter of Royalists, was already a respected physician who treated the wealthy and the poor. She chooses neutrality to continue her work, treating persons from both sides. While on her way to help a sick child, Jayne's chance meeting with Lady Alice Stickland and her mysterious footman, William Harrier, kicks off a series of events that present Jayne with difficult choices she never expected, with joy and sorrow coming in equal measure. Walters's characters are true to their historical period, yet relatable to a modern audience, and notable historical figures and events are described accurately in detail—informative and full of dramatic tension. An author's note provides a brief summation of the book's era, and there are maps for better understanding. VERDICT Endearing characters spark life into centuries-old history in Walters's latest, which will appeal to fans of Philippa Gregory, Margaret George, and Sharon Kay Penman.—Stacey Hayman
AUGUST 2022 - AudioFile
Emma Gregory shines as narrator of this historical fiction set during the English Civil War of the 1640s. Jayne Swift is a doctor in all but name. She trained as a doctor, but gender norms require that she use the title of nurse. When war breaks out, Jane vows neutrality and helps anyone she can. But being neutral is dangerous in such uncertain times. Throughout the war, she encounters William Harrier, who intrigues her, as he is not what he seems. Time and again, he comes to Jayne's aid. Gregory skillfully manipulates her voice, giving authenticity and distinction to each character by using various accents and pitches. Gregory's talent as a narrator is on full display in this stunning performance. A.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2022-04-27
Crime writer Walters tells the story of a bloody civil war that turned England into a crime scene.
Life was hard for women in 17th-century England, and in Walters’ latest novel, Jayne Swift has it even harder because she’s a physician, a role reserved for men in that era. Living with her aristocratic family in Dorsetshire on the English Channel, Jayne struggles against the chauvinism and lethal concoctions of the local quacks who kill more patients than they save. And if that weren’t enough, her skills are badly needed to handle the brutal injuries as Royalist and Parliamentarian armies clash in a civil war that eventually ends with the execution of Charles I. Walters draws wonderfully on her crime-writing skills to capture the violence and gore of the era. She gives us a likable, resourceful heroine in Jayne, who, with a MacGyver-esque ability to treat any injury with brine, calendula oil, catgut, or a handful of maggots, refuses to take sides. “I still favor neutrality and will continue to do so even after the conflict ends,” she insists at one point. “I have no wish to judge anyone for their beliefs, now or in the future.” It’s definitely an admirable position, but she’s out of place in an era demanding absolute loyalty. As a result, Jayne gets into frequent trouble, but thankfully she has William Harrier in her corner. Harrier’s a chivalrous footman who helps her out of many tight spots and isn’t quite what he seems to be. Questions swirl around him—is he a spy? What side is he on?—as Walters takes us through the years of this devastating war and shows its effects on the towns and villages of Dorsetshire. Her expositions on English history might make some readers impatient for action, but they provide much-needed context for a crisis that divided English society and viciously turned citizens against each other in a way that feels strangely familiar now.
This well-researched novel of 17th-century warfare shows the perils and rewards of sticking to one's principles.
