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| Boldwood Books 25 October 2022 Alardyce Trilogy #2 My thanks to the publisher for the copy of the book and to Rachel Random Resources for the invitation to the blog tour |
Edinburgh 1896. At Alardyce House, the family are gathered to celebrate the engagement of the heir to the estate, Robert, to his childhood sweetheart. But what should be a precious memory for his mother Amy, is marred by darkness. For Robert’s biological father was a demon and a criminal, and now Robert is coming-of-age, disturbing reports are beginning to emerge about his behaviour.
Amy is torn between her love and loyalty to her son, her hope that she can save his soul, and her growing sense of dread that the streets of Edinburgh aren’t safe when Robert is in town. Meanwhile the increasing distance between Robert and his stepfather Henry threatens the peace of her loving marriage.
The Alardyce family is riven by secrets and scandal, but will this most cursed heir of all, be the one to ruin their reputation forever, or can the power of a mother’s love save them all?
📖 My review...
Those who have read the first book in this gothic series will be able to pick up the story very quickly as it follows on from where book one left off. For those new readers to this trilogy the author gives a very good run down of what has gone before so it is entirely possible to read as a standalone story although of course, it does make sense to read from the start of the trilogy.
In The Cursed Heir we meet again with Robert, Amy's now grown up son, who has just become engaged to his childhood sweetheart. All would be well except Robert has a brooding secret and a rather dark and nasty side to his personality which his mother is dismayed to discover bears all the traits of his biological father. What then follows is a rather dark story of how Robert deals with his split personality disorder which wreaks havoc on the lives of all those who care for him. Robert is hellbent on following his own path even though it puts his family in grave danger.
The author writes this Victorian gothic melodrama very well and brings a decidedly chilly edginess to this second story which matches that of the first book very well. The continuation is seamless and whilst I enjoyed delving deeper into the dark side of Robert's life I also welcomed the return of the other characters we got to know so well in book one. Amy's husband Henry does all he can to protect his wife but sometimes the forces of evil are just too strong.
The ending of the book certainly finishes on something of an intriguing cliffhanger so I am already looking forward to the conclusion of the story in book three of the trilogy.
🍷Best read with... a restorative glass of Port
About the author
Heather Atkinson is the author of over fifty books – predominantly in the crime fiction genre. Although Lancashire born and bred she now lives with her family, including twin teenage daughters, on the beautiful west coast of Scotland. Her gangland series for Boldwood, set on the fictional Gallowburn estate in Glasgow begins with the title Blood Brothers.
Twitter @HeatherAtkinso1 #TheCursedHeir
@BoldwoodBooks #BoldwoodBloggers @bookandtonic
@rararesources
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