The Scourge of the Skua - The Esme Quentin Mysteries 5
Formats: E-Book, Audio, Paperback
Ages: 12-15, 18+
WHEN OBSESSION FROM THE PAST IS UNLEASHED IN THE PRESENT
The discovery of a 100-year-old murder in a client’s family history leaves Esme Quentin bewildered by her client’s curious reaction.
But with no instruction to find out more, Esme instead turns her attention to clearing the dilapidated outbuilding at her new cottage. Amongst the junk she finds a 17th-century map associated with the name Chalacombe, a local family with an intriguing and mysterious history.
As Esme begins to unpick the threads of the family’s story, she is plunged back to a time when lawlessness ruled the high seas and piracy was rife.
The arrival of an unwelcome visitor raises questions which Esme cannot answer, and in a desperate search for the truth, Esme stumbles upon a bizarre and disturbing crime.
Has she inadvertently uncovered a link between the Chalacombe family’s enigmatic past and the 100-year-old murder? But who might be threatened by such a revelation now, in the present day? Who has got the most to lose?
Reviews
I absolutely adore these books, not only it incorporates my love for genealogy but the stories are fantastic. While reading these books you get so engrossed in the story line it's hard realise that the stories are made up and the characters are from someone's imagination and not real. I look forward to new stories coming out so keep them coming and I'll keep on reading them. If I could give more stars I would they are absolutely fantastic.
A genuinely entertaining and constantly engaging plot, with the North Devon coast and Lundy in particular taking centre stage. Although the novel ranges widely, through antiques, a last will and testament, the building of a new museum, a school closure, Morocco, 18th-century Barbary pirates and alleged missing treasure amongst other things, it is never far-fetched.... With a genealogist as detective, the book is always going to be about revelations in the past... these become increasingly crucial, and lead to a dramatic conclusion. This is the first novel in this series that I have read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The short chapters keep the action moving along and my interest never faltered. It’s difficult to avoid the cliché of it being a page-turner, but it is. I genuinely wanted to know what happened. If you haven’t read any of this series, I keenly encourage you to do so.
I have been looking forward to reading another adventure in North Devon with genealogist Esme Quentin and it certainly didn’t disappoint. In this complex plot we travel across the sea to Lundy Island following the story of Barbary Pirates and looking for descendants of a family feud. While Esme tries to extract the truth from newly discovered old documents, she also becomes entangled in a current problem involving a mysterious little boy.... She bravely investigates any problem even when it puts her at risk, which certainly adds to tension and excitement in the story. I can recommend this volume, even if you haven’t read the previous books in the series, for a compelling tale of past history and present day concerns.
