The Indelible Stain - The Esme Quentin Mysteries 2
Formats: E-Book, Audio, Paperback
Ages: 12-15, 18+
Esme Quentin’s arrival in north Devon is marred by the gruesome discovery of a fatally injured woman at the foot of Warren Cliff. Esme is troubled by the woman’s final words and curious about the old photograph clutched in her hand. The police, however, dismiss Bella Shaw’s death as accidental.
But Bella’s daughter, Neave, has her own questions and approaches Esme for help. The subsequent trail leads Esme back to the brutal penal history of 19th century England and the mystery of a Devon convict girl transported to Australia for her crime.
As evidence of betrayal and duplicity are revealed, Esme discovers Bella’s link to events in the past – a link which now endangers Neave and, by association, Esme.
A legacy of hatred which has festered for generations in the 'land beyond the seas' now threatens to spill over on to Devon soil with devastating consequences.
Reviews
The Indelible Stain is the second Esme Quentin mystery and I've enjoyed reading it even more than the first novel, "Blood-Tied". The author has made good use of her own knowledge of family history and research methods to devise a clever and well-constructed plot full of unexpected twists and turns. Meticulously researched, the story of Sarah Baker, convicted of theft and transported to Australia in 1837, gives the novel an enthralling extra dimension. The Indelible Stain is a highly readable, well written and engaging novel which keeps the reader guessing right to the end.
I became utterly enthralled by this story, as Esme delves back into past records and ships’ logs to unravel the complicated history that she believes led to the murder of Bella Shaw. The more she uncovers, the more she fears for Neave, as it becomes clear that much skulduggery had taken place. As she pieces together the history of two families the legacy of generations of hatred emerges. But her revelations have put her and Neave in danger. Whilst obviously aware that Britain transported convicts to Australia, I had not realised that it covered a period of 80 years, or that the number amounted to 160,000. The description of the conditions endured is a harrowing read, but nonetheless most interesting.
The Indelible Stain is an incredible read and as good as it gets as far as gripping murder mystery novels go. You are immediately thrown into the story and the plot has plenty of twists and turns along the way. An extremely intricate plot that weaves together the past and present members of two different families that become entangled over time and inseparable in agony and grief. Set against the beautiful Devon countryside, the story really has you on the edge of your seat. The attention to detail and the historical context are superb and this is a book that I literally could not put down. Having watched TV crime dramas for as long as I can remember I can honestly say that the Esme Quentin series of books would make for an excellent series for TV.
