Review of Bristol House by Beverly Swerling

This is the first novel I've read by Beveryly Swerling and it caught my attention intially because it's described as having many of the qualities I like in my reading such as historical fiction, suspense, mystery, and ghosts. Dr. Annie Kendall is invited to London to research Judaica for the Shalom Foundation. She is definitely damaged goods with the fact that she's a recovering alcoholic, has lost custody of her only son, and is now seeing ghosts. She knows instantly that it isn't the hallucinations usually associated with drinking, so she draws a picture of the ghost.

While at dinner with a friend, Annie is introduced to Geoff Harris, a big shot BBC reporter who exposes politicians and all their dirty deeds. He inquires about Annie's quest to find evidence of Jews being in London during a time in history where they were killed for announcing so and Geoff is also concerned that maybe her new boss Philip Weinrub has ulterior motives the reasons why this research needs to be done.  Geoff is also damaged goods in the sense that he's carrying around the guilt of his past the same as Annie. Eventually, these damaged goods get together in an actually natural manner.

Swerling is able to introduce the historical fiction by the ghosts of the pasts Dom Justin and the Jew of Holborn. I actually found their stories more interesting, and thrilling than the main one involving Annie since she isn't even afraid of the Carthusian monk's ghost, why would the reader be? Dom Justin and the Jew of Holcomb had real fears since the religious unrest during the time in Tudor England made life extremely difficult and unsafe for them. Swerling does an excellent job at transitionining between worlds and making both characters from each side of reality very strong.  Her attention to detail is also top-notch. I felt as if I were standing in every room she was describing. Swerling definitely knows how to bring her words to life. I look forward to reading more by this author. ***

The Bristol House Ghost

Well... where do I start with my current read Bristol House by Beverly Swerling? I guess we'll start at the beginning. Dr. Annie Kendall, a recovering alcoholic, is asked by Philip Weinrub, to study Judaica for the Shalom Foundation. The period she is researching is during a time when being Jewish and in England were not good things at all. Because of religious unrest Jews were in hiding. Before long, Annie is visited by the ghost of a monk named Jew of Holborn and she also finds a huge mural in her room that may contain information that she's researching.

Another main character is a man named Geoffrey Harris who is an expose type news reporter who is suspicious as to why Weinrub is asking Dr. Annie Kendall to do the research. Harris is aware of Annie's past and wonders why someone of obscene amounts of wealth would hire someone who's lost custody of their child and has dealt with sobriety issues especially when this person's work will be extremely important for the foundation. Of course, a romance ensues between them but honestly so far, it's not forced or weird. They both seem to be carrying around a lot of guilt and depth which ironically makes them perfect for each other.

So far I find that there's a lot going on and I don't know where it's all leading to. With a mystery that's a good thing. I have no idea where this is all leading. I also like that there's so much information given about the time period of Tudor England when Henry VIII was most concerned with annulling his first marraige so he could be with Anne Boleyn. The introduction of the Carthusian monk helps to bring in the times and how perilous it really was to be Jewish during this era.

Although there is a lot going on with murals, old scrolls, and dual time periods, I don't get the suspenseful feeling yet in this novel. Annie isn't backing down nor is she afraid that the monk will harm her so why should the reader be? The only person that's seemingly going to bring harm to her are the people employing her but as of now at 40%, there isn't much to know about him except that he may be involved in some shady dealings. Essentially, this novel is definitely well written, thoroughly researched, and complex. I look forward to where everything is going and how these worlds are going to collide.

 

The Bristol House by Beverly Swerling

I end my day beginning Bristol House by Beverly Swerling.  She is an author of historical fiction and thrillers. I am actually pretty excited about this one and I hope I won't be let down. Let's Read!

Synopsis: In modern-day London, architectural historian and recovering alcoholic Annie Kendall hopes to turn her life around and restart her career by locating several long-missing pieces of ancient Judaica. Geoff Harris, an investigative reporter, is soon drawn into her quest, both by romantic interest and suspicions about the head of the Shalom Foundation, the organization sponsoring her work. He’s also a dead ringer for the ghost of a monk Annie believes she has seen at the flat she is subletting in Bristol House.


In 1535, Tudor London is a very different city, one in which monks are being executed by Henry VIII and Jews are banished. In this treacherous environment of religious persecution, Dom Justin, a Carthusian monk, and a goldsmith known as the Jew of Holborn must navigate a shadowy world of intrigue involving Thomas Cromwell, Jewish treasure, and sexual secrets. Their struggles shed light on the mysteries Annie and Geoff aim to puzzle out—at their own peril.

This riveting dual-period narrative seamlessly blends a haunting supernatural thriller with vivid historical fiction. Beverly Swerling, widely acclaimed for her City of Dreams series, delivers a bewitching and epic story of a historian and a monk, half a millennium apart, whose destinies are on a collision course.