Book Review: The Secret of Pembrooke Park

The Secret of Pembrooke Park by Julie Klassen is a mysterious historical fiction novel set in England in the early 1800's. Abigail Foster is the older sister - practical and supportive of her family. She feels tremendous guilt over a unsuccessful financial decision she helped her father make, which causes major monetary problems for their family. In her quest to right this situation, she and her father stumble upon temporary lodging in the form of an abandoned manor home called Pembrooke Park. Nothing can prepare the Fosters for the aura of mystery surrounding Pembrooke Park and the tragic events that occurred there over eighteen years ago.

The setting of this book (both time and place) are wonderful, especially for those that enjoy classic British novels. I found the book full of suspense and intrigue. There were many plot twists and turns. I found many of the revelations in the book to be unexpected. Abigail is a well-developed character and I found her to be both likable and relatable. The book is quite long and I did feel that it moved slowly in some parts as it was setting up various events and situations. If you are a fan of historical fiction with a Christian message, I would recommend this book as an enjoyable choice.

I received a copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for this review; all opinions are my own.

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