Books 2014 - The Shadowy Horses by Susanna Kearsley

[byslantedlight]

I finished this ages ago, but what with everything else haven't posted - but I've at least been able to read! I bought this book online - my very bad that the copy that arrived had a completely different cover than that online, and I'm not entirely sure what it has to do with the story except that there is both a woman and a horse in it.With its dark legends and passionate history, the windswept shores of Scotland are an archaeologists dream. Verity Grey is thrilled by the challenge of uncovering an ancient Roman campsite in a small village. But as soon as she arrives she can sense danger in the air. Her eccentric boss, Peter Quinnell, has spent his whole life searching for the resting place of the Ninth Roman Legion and is convinced he's finally found it - not because of any scientific evidence, but because a local boy has 'seen' a Roman soldier walking in the fields, a ghostly sentinel who guards the bodies of his long-dead comrades. Surprisingly, Verity believes in Peter, and the boy, and even in the Sentinel, who seems determined to become her own protector... but from what?

Well, I thoroughly enjoyed this! It was a nice easy read with archaeology and Scotland and ghosts - what's not to like! *g* Even the archaeology was reasonably well done - although I'm not sure that Scotland is most archaeologists dream (digging in the rain - even when possible - is not fun!), and most archaeologists are not given a state-of-the-art finds solid-building in the middle of gorgeous countryside (to be fair the author does know this!)

I liked the ghost too, and it did turn out to be a ghost, not just an is-it-?-isn't-it-? flurry of frights. It wasn't over-exaggerated, but it was very definitely there, and you could well understand why it might suddenly seem like a very good idea to be indoors... *g* Definitely worth reading!

And come Sunday I'd like to be able to get on with my challenge a bit better... *g*(Four books, any length, that you feel fit (the very broad definitions) of R.I.P. literature.)
Lord John and the Hand of Devils by Diana Gabaldon
The Bones of Avalon by Phil Rickman
The Magpie Lord by K.J. Charles
The Heresy of Doctor Dee by Phil Rickman
Frost Hollow Hall by Emma Carroll
The Shadowy Horses by Susanna Kearsley