The Splendour Falls

By Susanna Kearsley

Book Overview

"I've loved every one of Susanna's books She has bedrock research and a butterfly's delicate touch with characters--sure recipe for historical fiction that sucks you in and won't let go "--DIANA GABALDON, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Outlander

In an intricate balance of past and present, Susanna Kearsley offers a story of French historical fiction full of breathless suspense, Gothic romance, and priceless treasure.

Emily Braden has stopped believing in fairy tales and happy endings. When her fascinating but unreliable cousin Harry invites her on a holiday to explore the legendary town of Chinon, France and promptly disappears--well, that's Harry for you.

As Emily makes the acquaintance of Chinon and its people, she begins to uncover dark secrets beneath the charm. Legend has it that during a thirteenth-century siege of the castle that looms over the city, Queen Isabelle, child bride of King John, hid a "treasure of great price." And in the last days of the German occupation during World War II, there was another Isabelle living in Chinon, a girl whose love for an enemy soldier went tragically awry.

As the dangers of the past become disastrously real, Emily is drawn ever more deeply into a labyrinth of mystery as twisted as the streets and tunnels of the ancient town itself.

A tale that deftly examines the ripples of the past through the present, The Splendour Falls brings the romance of French history to life for fans of Diana Gabaldon, Kate Morton, and Kate Mosse.

Also by Susanna Kearsley:

The Winter Sea

The Firebird

A Desperate Fortune

The Rose Garden

The Shadowy Horses

Named of the Dragon

Season of Storms

Mariana

Bellewether

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1402258615
• ISBN13: 9781402258619
• Release Date: January 2014
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.91 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.3" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Chinon Castle in Beauty and Mystery

I absolutely loved this book set in Chinon, France about the castle (of the same name) which was originally built by Henry II (and where he died) and steeped in history. Susanna Kearsley does not disappoint her readers with a little mystery thrown in. As the story unfolds, Emily heads for Chinon to meet up with her friend Harry to explore the town and the castle. When Emily arrives at the hotel in Chinon, she discovers that Harry has disappeared and no one at the hotel has seen him. The reader is drawn into the story of two Isabelles, one the wife of King John and the other a chambermaid at a hotel who falls in love with a German soldier during WWII with tragic results. So, not only is Emily searching for her friend, Harry, but also to solve the mysteries around the two Isabelles. Wonderful plot which keeps the reader interested to the end.

Mystery and History!

Susanna Kearsley weaves a wonderful story full of several mysteries the reader cannot wait to solve; mysteries within mysteries. As with her other stories, there are always plenty of surprises in the end. Her historical references are good and accurate. I was disappointed that she did not mention that Henry II, Richard the Lionheart, and Queen Eleanor are also buried at Fontevrault Abbey, but then a portion of the story was more about young Queen Isabella, King John's wife. I absolutely love this author. She writes and researches her details very well.

Enchanted Setting, Magical Plot

When emotionally hard-boiled Emily agrees to join her errant cousin Harry on an academic-treasure-hunting holiday in Chinon, France, she does so reluctantly. Yet, from the very first moment she sees the fabled chateau and senses its evocative magic, she slightly lets down her guard, becoming slowly embroiled in the events surrounding a recent murder in the village and the corresponding intrigues of her fellow vacationers at the lovely Hotel de France. As her romantic sensibilities had been dampened by her parents' divorce and now are reinforced by her cousin's no-show, Emily unsuccessfully attempts to stay neutral to the obvious charms of the setting as embodied by the handsome French vineyard owner and the German violinist with the rock star ambiance. Only when she realizes that Harry's delayed appearance has something to do with the murdered man, and she unintentionally jeopardizes the life of one of the young tourists at the hotel by confiding her ruminations, does the story quickly wind down to a satisfactory conclusion. Kearsley weaves her story with the history of Chinon and adds some supernatural occurances to further alloy the magical tone of the tale with reality. Emily is a belivable heroine, crafted in the Mary Stewart genre of not quite damsel in distress, but rather the innocent tourist who unwittingly backs into a situation she cannot totally control. The beautiful setting, the handsome collection of men, the alluring music and olifactory descriptions of Chinon embue the book with a sensory lushness which is as delightful to experience as devouring a gourmet dark chocolate truffle. I did not find the book overly predictable. Perhaps, I knew from the middle on with whom Emily ultimately would find favor, but even this did not detract from the overall pleasure derived from the reading as I was torn between not being able to put it down and not finishing it too quickly. I look forward to Ms Kearsley's other offerings in the future and hope that her first two books, "The Gemini Game" and "Undertow" will be reissued.

one i continue to re-read

there are few books that continue to hit me reading after reading, but this is one of them. the relationships between emily, paul and neil i find true to life. i found susanna kearsley earlier this year and am now addicted to her writing. its a shame this book isn't readily available in the states, but its become a best-seller in Germany (and in fact, i have yet to find an english copy, but had to settle for a german one).