Two Women Linked 150 Years Apart - an Editorial Review of "What Time Has Kept"
Book Blurb:
Two women, 150 years apart, linked by an enduring archaeological mystery
"An intriguing and absorbing novel, meticulously researched." -Fiona Valpy, internationally bestselling author of The Sky Beneath Us
In 1870s Scotland, Christian Maclagan--one of Britain's first female archaeologists--struggles for recognition in a world determined to silence her. Emboldened by her acquisition of a rare Neolithic carved stone ball, she becomes obsessed with unlocking its ancient secrets. But as she studies the mysterious artifact, disturbing dreams begin to unravel her. Eventually, Christian must grapple with the shocking truths she has unconsciously buried for decades.
One hundred fifty years later, American graduate student Ellen Byrne arrives in Scotland to research her thesis. Reeling from a devastating betrayal and haunted by her father's suicide, Ellen discovers a Victorian journal leading her to an extraordinary find--a possible companion to Scotland's most famous carved stone ball. As Ellen races to authenticate her discovery, her increasing obsession with the stone threatens not only to derail her promising career but also to destroy her faith in herself.
An intriguing blend of historical and contemporary fiction, inspired by a true archaeological mystery, What Time Has Kept explores the interplay of memory and consciousness, the emotional power of objects, and the remarkable resilience of the human spirit.
Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/DhLR
Author Bio:
Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard is a bestselling author of historical and women’s fiction. She has a lifelong interest in human consciousness, metaphysics, extrasensory perception, and spirituality—concepts she often explores in her novels.
Elizabeth’s first career was music. She was a vocalist, traveled extensively, and has written over 100 songs ranging from pop to jazz, rock, and country. She plays piano and flute, both of which she studied formally. Her later careers focused on PR, marketing, and publishing.
At home with her husband, she has two rescue dogs—a Lab and a Boxer mix. One of her favorite pastimes is walking with them in the desert and mountains of Arizona.
HISTORICAL NOVELS
Elizabeth enjoys the extensive research required to make historical fiction compelling and credible. "Writing historical fiction requires a lot of patience and the desire to always dig deeper. I learn a lot from my research and want to pass along the most interesting parts to my readers. Whether I'm writing biographical fiction or a mystery-thriller like THE BEAUTY DOCTOR, details matter. They have to be right."
THE BEAUTY DOCTOR is a nail-biting thriller that takes place in the early days of cosmetic surgery (Victorian/Edwardian era)—when the world of medicine was like the Wild West and beauty doctors were a shocking new breed of outlaws. A young woman wishing to become a doctor serving New York City's poor becomes entangled in a terrifying plot of deception and possibly murder. Winner, Best Historical Thriller of 2024 (Best Thrillers).
Elizabeth's 2023 release and Amazon Kindle #1 Bestseller, SISTERS OF CASTLE LEOD, is set in Scotland at the turn of the twentieth century. The novel, inspired by real people and events, is an emotionally charged story of two very opinionated sisters torn apart by jealousy and superstition as each struggles to discover her own truth. Winner of the 2023 Maxy Award for Historical and Adventure Fiction and an Editors’ Choice of the Historical Novel Society.
THE SEAFORTH HEIRESS: LADY OF THE LAST PROPHECY is an Amazon #1 Bestselling New Release in Biographical Historical Fiction. In 1803, the family of Lord Seaforth lives under the shadow of a dark prophecy. Over a century earlier, Coinneach Odhar, known as the Brahan Seer, foresaw the demise of the Seaforth line. There is little doubt among Scottish Highlanders that the end of the dynasty is drawing near. Inspired by true events, the story follows the incredible journey of Mary Mackenzie, eldest daughter of Lord and Lady Seaforth, as she struggles to save her family’s legacy and become the only woman ever to claim the mantle of Clan Mackenzie chief. Shortlisted for the 2025 Eric Hoffer Book Award Grand Prize.
TEMPTATION RAG, a historical novel featuring real-life characters from New York City's ragtime era, has been hailed by Publishers Weekly as a “resonant novel . . . about the birth and demise of ragtime . . . in which romance and creative passions abound.”
"I strive to write books that leave the reader with plenty to ponder," says Elizabeth. "Issues of trust, faith, and the role of destiny in our lives are themes that I often explore in my novels. I enjoy ambiguity, which is perhaps one reason I am fascinated by historical characters whose lives, in retrospect, can be interpreted in so many different ways."
To learn about Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard's latest releases, follow her on Amazon.
Editorial Review:
Title: What Time Has Kept
Author: Elizabeth H. Bernard
Rating: 4.3
“Hello, sweet girl. You are safe here.”
The year is 1870. Christian Maclagan is awakened by her young housemaid who informs her that the gardener has found “some kind of bones.” Upon careful examination and borrowing from her vast archaeological knowledge, she determines that they belong to the skull of a young girl. The skull has no trace of soft tissue, yet the moment Christian looks at the face, something inside of her whispers the words above. But much to the gardener’s shock, she decides to keep the discovery a secret, asking him to rebury the bones and mark the spot with a big stone. This passage in the early pages of “What Time Has Kept” by Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard, immediately draws the reader into Christian’s world, revealing her capacity for love and care. They also sense that these few words are the novel’s quiet pulse and the heartbeat that will sustain everything that will follow.
The plot turns to 2023 in Aberdeen, Scotland, where we meet Ellen Byrne, a student conducting site research for her master’s thesis on Scotland’s Neolithic carved stone balls. In the last one week, her world has been turned upside down by people she was counting on, including her lover and academic advisor, Paul, who, to her shock, announced a few days before her departure that he was going back to his wife to try to work things out. Her arrival in Scotland is further disrupted when her guide Kendra McPherson, a PhD candidate in archaeology at the University of Edinburgh is replaced at the last minute by James Duncan, who terms himself a “simple fella—an outdoor guy.” During one of their drives, James mentions a journal.
“But do I not have a duty, as her friend and a loyal servant of God, to watch her more closely now? For if she has indeed strayed into the Devil’s domain, someone must pull her to safety.”
This 1873 entry appearing in a journal connects the reader to Christian Maclagan, one of Scotland’s first female archaeologists. The journal’s owner, Jessie Colvin, believed her friend Christian had fallen under the Devil’s influence. Jessie, having seen Christian kneel before a huge stone resorted to stealing something from her. To the reader, the journal is a fascinating mystery that makes them wonder how the “simple fella” could know about it and why he led her to it, forcing them to question everything about him.
“It is my daily habit, when at Ravenscroft, to remove it from my grandfather’s rosewood box and sit with it in my hand—for how
Long I have no idea, as time loses its hold upon me when I am visiting the stone. I say visiting because I no longer perceive this perfect black ball as merely an object. I would swear there is life in it.”
One of the most remarkable achievements of this novel is the author’s personalization of rocks and stones. She refuses to treat them as inanimate objects, opting instead to give them life and personality by naming them, addressing them, making them understood and trusted. Among the stories brought to life is the Towie mate, the Beheading Stone, and the Towie ball, among others. Through this technique, the reader finds themselves caring about these ancient objects and longing to uncover the secrets they hold.
This book is deeply layered with intense dual timelines, archaeological mystery, and personal trauma. But thanks to its clear labeling with the timeline and location at the beginning of every chapter, its relatively short chapters, its clear transitions, its recurring motifs such as “Books lie, but the stone is true,” and a clear character arc, the reader doesn’t get lost or confused. Instead, through the additional integration of simple-to-understand metaphors, they can engage with the novel’s profound themes and emerge with a deeper understanding of how the past shapes the present and how buried truths can ultimately set one free.
“What Time Has Kept” by Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard is a book you will love to read if you enjoy novels that bring history to life through the eyes of remarkable women. Its compelling mystery and touch of romance, combined with ancient artifacts and the thrill of discovery, make it a must-read novel for curious hearts, as well as those who believe that objects can carry meaning across time.
To have your historical novel editorially reviewed and/or enter the HFC Book of the Year contest, please visit www.thehistoricalfictioncompany.com/book-awards/award-submission
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