THE BLACKSTONE KEY

Rose Melikan sets her novel in 1795 England, just prior to the Napoleonic Wars, when smugglers and knaves ran the land. Young, orphaned Mary Finch has left her position as a teacher at Mrs. Bunbury's academy to visit an estranged uncle who has contacted her in the hope of healing a family rift. While Mary's solo travel and independence seem out of place for the time, Jane Collingwood tells the story with enthusiasm. With a proper English accent she recounts Mary's adventures as she unravels the mystery of her uncle's life and death, sifting through the motives and evaluating the trustworthiness of the various characters she comes in contact with. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2009]