On the Cliffs of Foxglove Manor by Jaime Jo Wright

I had no idea Confederate gold might have ended up in Michigan. Learning about historical possibilities like that is one reason I like to read Wright's novels. Wright's daughter, with her love of Civil War history and missing Confederate gold, inspired the creation of this novel.

Wright's story telling technique is in the dual time genre. The historical story takes place over a century ago, at a manor on the shores of Lake Superior, while there were still Confederate loyalists hoping to rekindle the cause, even long after the Civil War. The narrative alternates with a contemporary account of a young woman trying to solve a mystery surrounding her visit to the manor two decades ago.

Wright does well revealing information in the two narratives, moving both stories along at the same engaging pace. I liked the Gothic feel of the historical setting of the manor, the crashing waves below the dangerous cliffs. I like that Wright includes a bit of ghostly intrigue and deadly suspense. The characters are crafted well. The plots, while complex, flowed rather well. While sometimes puzzling, all the actions made sense in the end.

This is a good book for readers who like a novel that keeps you entertained while introducing you to some very interesting history.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Jaime Jo Wright is the author of six novels, is a winner of the Christy, Daphne du Maurier, and INSPY Awards and a Carol Award finalist. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband and their two children. You can find out more at www.jamiewrightbooks.com.

Bethany House Publisher, 362 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book form the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)