Format: Hardcover, 352 pages
Release Date: April 16, 2019
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Mysteries
A brother and sister are caught up in a deadly mystery after they take in a young woman who lost her memory in a near-fatal carriage accident in this YA thriller from the author of Love, Lies and Spies.
1833. A near-fatal carriage accident has deposited an unconscious young woman on the doorstep of Hardwick Manor and into the care of young Lord James Ellerby. But when she finally awakens, it is with no memory of who she is or where she came from.
Beth, as she calls herself, has no identity; the only clue to her circumstances is a recurring nightmare of a hummingbird, blood dripping from its steel beak.
With the help of James and his sister, Caroline, Beth tries to solve the mystery of her own identity and the appalling events that brought her to their door. But nothing could prepare her for the escalating dangers that threaten her and the Ellerby clan. From the hazardous cliffs of Dorset to the hostile streets of London, Beth will fight to reclaim her past, hunted by a secretive foe with murderous intentions.
The Hummingbird Dagger, by author Cindy Anstey, is a young adult mystery standalone that takes place in 1833 England. Historians call it the Regency Era. The story follows members of the Ellerby household (Lord James, Caroline, and younger brother Walter), after they find an unconscious young woman after a carriage accident, and decide that they will take her in and help discover her who she is, and why she doesn't have any memories before the crash.
The crash survivor calls herself Beth. She has no memories, except a reoccurring nightmare of a hummingbird dagger and lots of blood. She has no luggage, and nobody knows why she was on this particular carriage at this particular moment in time. Friends that I trust have put this story in the same category as one of Jane Austen's stories with plenty of mystery, and a bit of romance splashed in to make things appealing to readers of both genre's.
For the Ellerby's, the past year hasn't been exactly smooth after they lost their beloved father. Lord James is just short of turning 21 and will soon become a full member of the House of Lords which is currently debating legislation that will have long lasting implications on the county, and especially privateers who work for the crown. So, when Beth comes along and upsets the apple cart, it also changes how they go about living.
Caroline takes a keen interest in helping Beth, while Walter is a spit fire with plenty of go power that never seems to ween itself out. Walter, I would say, is the most eager character in this entire book. He is the youngest, and therefore doesn't believe he gets the respect he yearns for. But, when he, and his best friend decide to play Sherlock and Holmes, interesting things happen. Meanwhile, James is drawn to the young woman and will put himself and his family on the line in order to protect Beth and discover her secrets.
The best parts of the story were the beginning, and the final chapters of the book when we learn who Beth really is, and why there are so many villains out to get her. Unfortunately, I do have one particular negative that really undermined my liking this story even more. My
ARC was formatted in a way that didn't have any breaks between change of settings, or change of characters, or any idea of the passage of time between one particular scene to the next. I hope the finished copy
isn’t formatted this way because it confused me so much!
It is fair to say that there are a whole lot of characters that are introduced over the course of this book. Which
is why I encourage reviewers not to be afraid to
put pen to paper and take copious notes or saving particular lines or
sentences while you are reading on your Kindle or whatever else you use
to read. Taking notes is also good when
it takes you a few days to write your review, and you don't want to come
across as an idiot for mistakenly mentioning a wrong character's name,
or plot lines, or why you liked, or didn't like the story.
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