I wanted to keep reading to know if Hester would find out the truth about what happened to her sister and her baby. I liked the family theme which ran throughout the book and also the Quaker religion. The supernatural element was present and added to the story.

Although this is historical fiction, and not my usual genre, I was intrigued from the start. Hester, one of the main characters is a Quaker who has visions or visits from dead people. On the death of her sister in a workhouse far from hone, Hester goes to visit to find out the circumstances of her death. She meets a whole host of characters who appear very correct and caring in the first instance. The writing is great and leads you into a very atmospheric story of illegitimate children and their mothers in the workhouse. The author manages to intertwine the supernatural aspect of the story well, without it being very unrealistic. I enjoyed the development of the relationships between Hester and all the people she came into contact with. This is definitely a book I would recommend to friends for a change of genre.

I very much enjoyed reading The Shadowing. I really enjoyed the historical element reading about the workhouse and the Quakers and found that to be very interesting. I was hooked from the beginning and enjoyed the style of writing and found the book to be quite a page turner. My one critique would be that the romance element seemed too quick and a bit forced but it doesn’t spoil a good read.

The Shadowing by Rhiannon Ward is part gothic, part historical mystery filled with intrigue and suspense. It’s an easy read and succinctly written with an atmospheric, supernatural aspect to the novel which I really enjoyed. The characters are varied and interesting: some you’ll love, some you’ll loathe, but they all make for intricate relationships. Hester is a Quaker and contrary to her upbringing, she is a feisty, strong, independent woman on a search for answers. I found her various interactions with the other characters enlightening. The story itself progressed at a comfortable pace and I relished the slow exposure of the various characters and their misdeeds. The ending, however, was a little surprising. Overall, an enjoyable read!