Pursuit of Truth and Vindication to Clear a Loved One's Name - an Editorial Review of "Murder on the Lyceum"

Book Blurb:

Grief-stricken by her mother's death, Emmeline Chesterfield throws herself into a pursuit of truth and vindication to clear the name of her late aunt, Viola Sands, accused a decade earlier of murdering her paramour, newspaper editor August Rowe.

As Emmeline delves into the past, she uncovers a world where Viola and her Lyceum rival and counterpart, Charlotte Wetherton, dared to defy the rigid conventions of Victorian society- both in their public ambitions and private desires.

Set against the vibrant backdrop of the Redpath Lyceum speaking circuit, crimes and betrayal unravel in two intertwined timelines. From the posh homes of Boston's elite to the sun-soaked villas of Italy, from Newport's rocky shores to the serene paths of Mount Auburn Cemetery, can Emmeline face truths about her own past to right a wrong that haunts her family?

Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/ni0TYv

Editorial Review:

“Is there anything more sorrowful than a nameless grave? I stared at the simple headstone, almost hidden by the snow and by a large rock with moss lining its cracks. It stood alone, isolated far from the rest of the community of the deceased. It seemed the poor soul rested in a grave that one would find only by accident, as I had. No longer able to endure gazing at Mother’s new earthly residence, I had wandered away, disoriented, and now found myself standing before the bare monument. My charcoal mourning dress brushed across the windswept snow as I stepped carefully around to look at the back of the small marker. A broken column was carved upon it, two words engraved within: “Pax Vobiscum.” A kind send-off, at least. But no name? Even an infant would warrant some form of identification.”

 Emmeline Chesterfield is the fascinating central character in the equally fascinating novel “Murder on the Lyceum”, by Ariel Rodman. The narrative is set in Victorian times, reaching from Boston, USA through to Europe. This book has a spooky gothic vibe in the best tradition of that genre, with a masterful murder mystery and family secrets – all tropes on the gothic bingo card and all compulsive reading for this reviewer. The story commences in a cemetery, which sets the tone for the rest of the plot.

The dialogue is superb, with all its restrained hints and rigid formality and everything just being delightfully unsaid, which leaves a lot to the reader’s imagination. A lot. There have been several gleeful ticks on this reviewer’s bingo card, because a novel like this done well – which this one is – is a joy to read. There’s even a séance, and the atmospheric sense of dread is spine-chilling. Repressed emotion is surely the most powerful of all.

“Murder on the Lyceum” is one of those rare books that sits comfortably in multiple genres, and those readers who prefer the paranormal or the sleuthing aspects of a storyline will find much to focus on. The pacing fits the genre(s) and in any event it’s not the sort of book a reader will ever want to end, except for the sole purpose of (perhaps) solving the mystery.

““Please sit down, Emmeline. May I call you Emmeline?” Mrs. Pratt gestured to the accompanying chair. The pristine snow gleamed through the glass.

“Of course,” I beamed.

She began cautiously. “Now Emmeline, I am very pleased to meet you, but I do not imagine you came for a mere outing.” She indicated my mourning attire.

“Oh, yes. My mother... as you are aware. Thank you very much for your card.”

“My deepest condolences.”

I knew that Anna Pratt understood heartache. She had lost many loved ones. “Thank you, Mrs. Pratt. I came to discuss my aunt: Viola Sands.””

History is woven throughout the story – the Boston Lyceum was a civic association that provided educational lectures and discussions, and it was this forum that the mystery revolves around. It’s perhaps an unusual backdrop but only adds to the uniqueness of the author’s approach and writing style.

“I opened the lavender upholstered bench at the foot of my bed and removed my sketchbook and a pencil. Flipping through the pages, I followed the lines of each drawing with the tip of my pencil, scrutinizing every crown, scapular, beak, breast, tail feather, wingtip, and talon. When I had studied each fowl, I turned to a clean page and drew the somber oak that grew near my mother’s grave, its unbridled power unveiled in wintertide nakedness. I penciled every avian suspect upon its branches and alongside the trunk below, one by one. Sprigs multiplied beside them on their boughs, each shoot an echo of foul. Until I came upon one bird in particular. I paused, focusing upon it until my eyes could have burned it to embers. I traced the outline of my drawing harder and harder until the tip of my pencil broke.”

“Murder on the Lyceum” by Ariel Rodman is a complex novel but one that is richly rewarding for the reader. The dialogue and conversations are carefully crafted to reveal just enough, and to hint at the rest. The rigid observance of social customs harks back to a time that now seems so far away from the liberal, relaxed approach of many modern societies. The meaning of conformity and rebellion is another thought-provoking aspect of this story, as the women within the pages test the boundaries of what society will tolerate. A gripping read that will have the pages turning late into the night (as long as the night light is on!)

*****

“Murder on the Lyceum” by Ariel Rodman receives 5 stars from The Historical Fiction Company

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