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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

The Shadow Knows the Best Thing about This Book

by Challice Neipp · 2 Comments

“What evil lurks in the hearts of men…”

The first time I heard that ominous voice asking that question I was enthralled.  Okay, I was also self-righteously ticked off that they dared to imply some “shadow” knew what God alone does.  I was a self-righteous that way.  Fine.  I still am.

At least I recognize it now?  Yeah. Let’s go with that.

But I loved the voice, the story, the acting, the screams!  Even more, I loved the idea of a nighttime vigilante out to solve crimes because “the seeds of crime bear bitter fruit.  Crime does not pay!” (or something like that).

Mom and I had debates on if “the Shadow knows” because he was a reformed criminal trying to pay for his former misdeeds. I was usually of the former.  Mom said he was a bitter law enforcement officer who’d gone rogue.  We never did hear if either of us was right.

A couple of months ago, I saw a book available for review—In the Shadow of Croft Towers—and the first thing I thought of was that old radio drama we used to listen to back in 1984 in the middle of nowhere.

I had to read it.  And then, of course, I wondered.  What do the shadows of Croft Towers know?

Note: links are probably affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.  Additionally, I requested a review copy of this book and chose to review it.

The Shadow Knows the Best Thing about This Book

There are a lot of excellent things about In the Shadow of Croft Towers, but I’ll get to them in a minute.  I want to throw out the things that bothered me and get them out of the way before I get to the good stuff—the really good stuff.

First, there were a few words that jumped out as out of place.  I don’t know if it was a thing back then, but I suspect it was. Americans wear pants. The English wear trousers or breeches.  While this was an ARC, I can’t imagine that’s one of the things that’ll be caught at this stage.  Reading along and seeing him give her pants (or was it that his pants were dirty?  Can’t remember)… well, it jarred me out of the story.

I have no idea if “exit wound” was a term during the Regency period, but I really don’t care. Because like many things we say or do today that make other things sound modern when they aren’t, it feels very modern.  Too many crime shows talking about exit wounds—it makes any reference to it two hundred years earlier feel anachronous.

There were also a few inconsistencies—one stood out in particular.

At one point, Sybil reads over someone’s shoulder as the woman begins writing a letter.  Later, she ruminates that she’d never seen that name before.  Um, yeah.  Ya did.

Also… amid excellent writing (and really, for first person it was excellent), we come to those romantical moments… and the declarations of love.  Gag.  Seriously, gag.  They read like a third-rate dime novel.  “Oh, my darling… my dear… my precious… my pet…”  Wait. I think that was Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.  Still, it felt like it.

Not my cuppa (my nod to the English and their love of tea).

Finally, there was the Christian element.  Or, rather, lack of it. My biggest complaint, if you want to know.

In fact, the way some scenes begin and then cut off abruptly, I would have sworn this book was written for a mainstream market with more of a PG-13 rating and cleaned up for the Christian market instead.  I just finished the book a few hours ago, and I can’t even remember if there was a prayer in the book.

Token prayers to “baptize”fiction are annoyances in themselves, but a lack of faith at all in a book by a Christian publisher… Yeah.  I shouldn’t be surprised. I’ve noticed a lot more of that in Thomas Nelson’s recent offerings.  Regardless if it’s there and I missed it or not, I got no spiritual lessons out of it aside from those I dug out myself.  I just enjoy seeing characters benefit from those lessons.

That said, at least it wasn’t preachy!  THAT is a blessing.

Speaking of the good stuff… nay the best thing the shadows of Croft Towers can tell us…

This is a fabulous mystery-slash-suspense novel with enough twists and turns and edge-of-your-seat  moments to keep you going right until the end.  I saw elements used in ways I haven’t before, and not too many anachronisms or attitudes that reflect modern sentiments and foisted on a mindset that didn’t hold them.

That’s a problem in historical fiction today, and the only one I really saw fit the scenario and the character who showed it. Thank you for that, Ms. Wilson.

Well written with a lovely balance of description and interwoven backstory—I seriously enjoyed this book.  I didn’t love it, but I liked it enough that I’ll be looking for more from Abigail Wilson. I’m so glad I requested this review copy—despite my “criticisms.”

Considering Abigail Wilson was a finalist for a Daphne Du Maurier award, I suspect I’m going to find some wonderful books among her backlist.  And I look forward to the next.

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Comments

  1. Winnie Thomas says

    December 23, 2018 at 9:07 pm

    Thanks for the review. I enjoyed reading about the things that bothered you in the story, and also those that you liked about it. I’ve had this book on my radar, and I’m looking forward to reading it.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      December 23, 2018 at 9:53 pm

      I really do look forward to the next. 🙂

      Reply

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Episode 163: A Chat with Naomi Craig about Ezekiel's Song
byChautona Havig

Before I began the interview with Naomi Craig about Ezekiel’s Song, I kind of went crazy and left it in to give you a chuckle. But Naomi and I chat about her upcoming release, why she chose to write about Ezekiel, and what areas she focused on. Listen in and hear her heart for the Word and for stimulating readers to love it and live it.

Oh, and that song I couldn’t remember? Well, I found it after a BUNCH of hunting on YouTube. Here you go!

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

Has Ezekiel Always Confused You? How about a Little Fictional Clarity?

There’s SO much to write about in Ezekiel, but after talking to Naomi Craig, I feel like I got a pretty good grasp of where she’s taking this book without feeling like I don’t need to read it now that we chatted, and that’s always great. Naomi shows service in the temple, how Ezekiel could have had a mentorish relationship under Jeremiah, and even what kind of woman his wife might have been.

Personally, I love the “Darcy-ish” meeting where he totally insults her and accuses her of being an idolatress. Let me tell you something. I cannot wait to read that! Seriously!

God had Ezekiel do a lot of weird things, and I always wondered how he managed some of it, but Naomi brings out possibilities by focusing on this wife that we don’t know much (anything) about. How cool is that?

Naomi also gave us a couple of glimpses into what’s coming next!

She’s #TeamBlue in the Keeping Christmas novella collections, writing about Herod’s palace and the wise men’s appearance looking for “the King of the Jews.”  And… from a scribe’s perspective!  How cool is that?

Also… next up is a book about a woman in Ephriam’s lineage who built three cities. A woman credited with the building of these cities!  I cannot wait! I love how Naomi focuses on how strong Biblical women were. So often we think of them as downtrodden and little more than cattle, but God shows how much He loves His daughters in the Word, and He definitely allows them to shine. We saw that in Naomi’s debut novel Rahab’s Courage.

Ezekiel’s Song by Naomi Craig

A prophet’s heart broken, a woman’s joy gone. What does Yahweh have planned for His people?

On the brink of Jerusalem’s demise, devoted priest, Ezekiel, sees the insincerity of Judah’s worship. Despite his efforts to call the people back to true worship of Yahweh, priests, artisans, valiant warriors, and royals are exiled to Babylon. When God gives him messages of continued judgment for the people in his homeland, his heart breaks. How can he minister to the people from so far away?

The presence of the Lord is tangible when Shiriel sings in the temple, and her voice prepares the hearts of many to worship. When she is exiled to Babylon, her faith is shaken. Does the Lord’s presence extend beyond Jerusalem and His holy temple?

Ezekiel is struck mute and paralyzed as he begins his prophetic ministry, and Shiriel devises a plan to get the Lord’s message back to the unfaithful people of Judah. Shiriel struggles with discontentment as serving the Lord looks nothing like she’d imagined. Can she provide for her family and carry out her husband’s ministry when her joy is gone, and her own dreams are placed on hold?

How will Yahweh save His people from themselves? Find out in Ezekiel’s Song!

Ezekiel’s Song is available at 30% off paperback and at a discount for Kindle, too through release week, so visit Naomi’s WEBSITE for more information.

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Episode 163: A Chat with Naomi Craig about Ezekiel's Song
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young—except the ones who destroy her beloved books. You could say she doesn’t have a very nice 
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Fascinating moon tonight. Fascinating moon tonight.
If only owning a bookstore didn't mean dealing wit If only owning a bookstore didn't mean dealing with people.
Harper Brevig has two skills—picking out snarky bookish t-shirts and alienating customers. 
Oh, and racking up bills out of thin air. Make that three skills. She loves the elderly and the very 
young—except the ones who destroy her beloved books. You could say she doesn’t have a very nice 
“book-side manner.” 
Milton Coleridge and his parrotlet Atticus (not Finch) come to the rescue… but is it too late to 
save this bookstore?
Twice Sold Tales: the first full-length novel in the Bookstrings Series releases on November 2, 
2022. Link to more information is in my bio! 
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