The Blackstone Key
by Rose
Melikan
Period novel
with delightful main character and action packed hunt
for clues to a political mystery
Publisher:
Touchstone (August 2008)
In 1795, Mary Finch sets out from Mrs. Bunbury's school to make
her way in the world and meet her wealthy uncle, a man rendered
mysterious on account of his estrangement from Mary's family. On the
way from Cambridge to Suffolk, Mary is waylaid by a horse race, a
roadside accident in which she is called upon to render assistance to
an injured man, and a series of adventures full of deception and
political intrigue. When the injured man issues a stern warning and she
discovers one of her uncle's items in his possession, Mary's
determination to unravel the mystery suddenly makes her question the
configuration of those people surrounding her on this voyage. As Mary
tries to ascertain their character, she comes face to face with a world
more dangerous than that of the closed society of Mrs. Bunbury's world.
The violence of the recent French Revolution reverberates in the
shadows of the English mind and France's declaration of war sets the
stage for plots of spies, traitors and smuggling. Can Mary trust Mrs.
Tipton, a woman helping her rise above her station in life but who
watches her actions a little too closely? Is Captain Holland the
protector he appears to be? What about the shadowy man from St. Lucia,
a certain mysterious Mr. Deprez who understands her artistic nature but
has a dangerous underside? Is there more to Mr. Hicks than meets the
eye? Mary Finch rises to the challenge, using her intelligence, her
study of character and her intuition to solve a secret code and
discover a plot that could endanger her own life, the life of those
around her and indeed all of England itself.
Rose Melikan's THE BLACKSTONE KEY
has a delightful combination of period dialog, manners and mores as
well as suspenseful action that hinges on an intriguing historical
detail. Mary Finch's character draws the reader into the story. Her
fanciful imaginings and moments of covertness bring a smile but Mary is
also a woman who buckles down to solve the details of the mystery
despite the kinks and difficulty presented before her. Somewhat
innocent, generous, and full of imagination, her character is balanced
with a sense of integrity and ability to question herself. Rose
Melikan's historical novel brings the period to life with its language,
a language reminiscent of novels written during the period. With an
academic background in 18th and 19th century British political and
constitutional history, Rose Melikan integrates her knowledge of the
period seamlessly and directly into several cruxes in Mary's adventures
while giving the reader a look into social history as well. THE BLACKSTONE KEY is a novel to be
savored in every detail by enthusiasts of the period. All in all, THE BLACKSTONE KEY is just one fun
read. Once the reader gets to know Mary's charismatic character, the
pages just fly as the reader becomes immersed into this historical
world and the emerging political intrigue.
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