Naomi Weisman is a Canadian-Australian and mother of three who loves to ramble with her dog, cook for family and friends, and laugh whenever possible.
“The truth may be stretched thin, but it never breaks, and it always surfaces, as oil floats on water” - Miguel de Cervantes, Don Quixote
As an English Literature major at university, I took a course on early literary classics. We began with Beowulf, arguably the first known written English tale. Let me tell you, it was quite a slog, and I worried about whether or not I would survive the rest of the course unscathed.
Later in the course, I was introduced to other firsts, like Mary Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792), which advocates for women's empowerment in education, politics, society, and marriage. Wollstonecraft is often regarded as the first published feminist, and she also happens to be the mother of Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein.
However, one novel that has always stayed with me is The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins (1868). Widely regarded as the first detective novel, it's structured in three parts and masterfully blends romance, intrigue, deception, and murder in a simply delicious way.
The Square of Sevens, by Laura Shepherd-Robinson, reminds me a lot of The Moonstone, with themes of truth, lies, inequality, unrequited love, twists and turns, and layers of mystery and danger.
Set in Cornwall in 1730, a young girl named Red travels with her father, earning a living by predicting fortunes using the ancient Cornish method known as the Square of Sevens. Just before his death, her father entrusts her care to a learned gentleman named Mr. Antrobus, whom he met at an inn, and hands him a document containing the secret of the technique.
Adopted by Mr. Antrobus and raised as a lady in the elegant city of Bath, Red’s talents in fortune-telling quickly earn her favor among those in high society. Yet, questions linger in her mind: who was her mother, and how did she die? Why was her father so terrified of mysterious enemies who seemed to be constantly on his trail?
In search of answers, Red, also known as Rachel Antrobus, embarks on a journey that takes her from Cornwall and Bath to London and Devon, from the lively chaos of Bartholomew Fair to the grand estates of two of England’s most powerful families. But while the pursuit of these mysteries offers the promise of great reward, it also brings her closer to dangerous forces lurking in the shadows.
It’s been quite some time since I’ve read a truly gripping mystery, and this one certainly didn’t disappoint. While the plot is a bit convoluted, I was completely drawn in and thoroughly enjoyed the ride.
The incorporation of fortune-telling and the novel's unique structure added an extra layer of intrigue. The “Historical Note” at the end, where the author reveals the inspiration behind this captivating story, was a particularly thoughtful touch. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did!
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