Today I am thrilled to be part of the Blog Tour for The Inheritance by Anne Allen.
Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources, the author and publisher for a copy of the book, which I have reviewed honestly.
The Inheritance – The Guernsey Novels book 7
1862 Young widow Eugénie faces an uncertain future in Guernsey when her husband dies at sea. A further tragedy brings her to the attention of Monsieur Victor Hugo, exiled on the island and living in his voluptuous house only yards away from Eugénie. Their meeting changes her life and she begins working for him as a copyist, forming a strong friendship with both Hugo and his mistress, Juliette Drouet.
2012 Doctor Tess Le Prevost, born in Guernsey, now living in Exeter, is shocked to inherit her Great-Aunt’s house on the island. As a child she listened to Aunt Doris’s tales of their ancestor, Eugénie, whose house this once was, and who, according to family myth, was particularly close to Hugo. Was he the father of her child? Tess doubts it, but inheriting the house allows her to make a fresh start in her beloved island.
Will she discover the truth about Eugénie and Hugo? A surprise find may hold the answer as Tess embraces new challenges which test her strength – and her heart.
Here is the video trailer to the book, which gives a taste of the friendship between Victor Hugo and his copyist Eugenie. Modern-day Tess questions what really happened and if the rumours regarding her ancestry are true.
My Review
I have become a huge fan of Anne Allen from reading other novels in this Guernsey Novel Series. The Inheritance is book 7 in the series but the books work well individually, the theme being the amazing location of Guernsey which I have come to love, just from reading these novels.
I do enjoy a dual timeline and this was one of the best I’ve come across. My heart broke for the young Eugénie, as we meet her for the first time in 1862. Widowed and alone in the world, she has little to look forward to, until a chance meeting between herself, a famous writer and his mistress, changes everything.
The other timeline, well over a century later, revolves around a harassed Accident and Emergency doctor, Tess Le Prevost, set in 2012. At just the right time Tess is given the news that she has been left a property in Guernsey by a distant relative. She arrives on the island with high hopes for a completely fresh start. Sadly, Great Aunt Doris was a hoarder and recluse so Tess finds a mountain of work to do. However, with help from her neighbours and friends, she sees the potential for the property and her future starts to look brighter.
Great Aunt Doris had shared stories that her inheritance could be linked to the great writer Monsieur Victor Hugo who lived just a few doors away. Tess sets out to reveal the truth, but what secrets will she uncover?
I’ve said before that I believe Anne Allen to be a born storyteller and The Inheritance emphasises the fact even more. Highly recommended for lovers of mysteries set in a location which is overflowing with mystery, myths, and magic. The story is atmospheric and the characters voices instantly jump to life. Both main protagonists are equally charismatic and the book switches between the centuries seamlessly.
All the other 6 titles in The Guernsey Novels are only 99p/c across all ebook retailers until 15th April while The Inheritance is only £1.99/$2.99 until that date.
Here’s the link for all titles on Amazon: http://Author.to/AnneAllen
They make a really great holiday read, and the writing is inspired and extremely well researched.
Other reviews in this series
There is an amazing giveaway for this novel which is situated further down this post. Good luck everyone!
Author Bio –
Anne Allen lives in Devon, by her beloved sea. She has three children, and her daughter and two grandchildren live nearby. Her restless spirit has meant a number of moves which included Spain for a couple of years. The longest stay was in Guernsey for nearly fourteen years after falling in love with the island and the people. She contrived to leave one son behind to ensure a valid reason for frequent returns.
By profession, Anne was a psychotherapist, but long had the itch to write. Now a full-time writer, she has written The Guernsey Novels, six having been published and the seventh, The Inheritance, is due out in 2018.
Social Media Links – Website: http://www.anneallen.co.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Anne-Allen-Author-176883759173475/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnneAllen21
Thank you for reading
Hi Louise, thank you so much for taking part in my blog tour and for your lovely review of The Inheritance. I’m so glad you enjoyed it ☺
Thank you too, it’s a brilliant series.