Thomas Thorpe Reviews

Added February 15, 2006

The Darmon Family Saga Book 1: Message of the Pendant

Author: Thomas Thorpe
Publisher: Port Town Publishing
Available At: Bookstores Everywhere
Publishing Date: December 2005
Genre: Mystery: Historical
Format: Trade Paperback
Price: $10.95
ISBN: 1-59466-039-5
Author Email/Website: www.thomasthorpe.com
Reviewer: Kathy Martin
Rating: 7 Gargoyles

It is 1818 and William and Elizabeth Darmon are looking forward to celebrating their 2nd wedding anniversary at their home in Kent. Elizabeth had taken great care to ensure William's ancestral home - Mayfair - was all ready for the number of relatives and guests who would be staying during the festivities.

Then tragedy strikes. One of their family members is murdered in the mansion, and the only clue they find is a pendent that carried an old message. It was from Napoleon to the Americans, asking for help in his war effort. Wanting to solve the mystery of their relative's murder, William and Elizabeth end up on a journey that will not only span months of time, but take them to two continents and threaten not only their lives, but the existence of Mayfair.

I have always liked historical fiction, and I was not disappointed when I read this book. I liked being introduced to a new character every few pages. This added to the intrigue and mystery of the story. I always had someone to like, dislike, and someone who I could question their motives and truthfulness.

This author also did a good job of "showing" and not "telling" about what kind of a person each character was. Through how each character acted, and what they said told me what kind of a person each character was. If you are looking for some historical fiction with a mystery attached to it, I would suggest getting this book.

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Added March 11, 2005

The Darmon Family Saga Book 2: The Forth Contention

Author: Thomas Thorpe
Publisher: Port Town Publishing
Available At: Bookstores Everywhere
Publishing Date: Available Now
Genre: Mystery: Historical
Format: Trade Paperback
Price: $10.95
ISBN: 1-59466-042-5
Author Email/Website: www.thomasthorpe.com
Reviewer: Joyce Handzo
Rating: 7 Gargoyles

The Forth Contention is a first class mystery! This second book in the series continues with the lives of Elizabeth and William Darmon, a young English couple, and their friends, Charles and Emily Bagwell. While trying to solve a mystery that affects them personally, they are placed in mortal danger as the trail leads them to an international conspiracy. Set in the early 1800's, this book is a rich combination of history and fast-paced action.

A bitter family grudge travels down through the generations, and now, Elizabeth and William are in danger of losing their family home because of it. As they seek the truth, they are led to the knowledge of an international organization, which has the potential to hurt many people and several nations. The clock steadily ticks on this thriller, as the players and their dastardly plots are exposed. The action and the interest level of this book remain at a fever pitch throughout. Each turn of the page seems to reveal new enemies and dangers. The final moments of this story explode in a chilling and fitting conclusion to this finely crafted book.

The setting and the history of this time period play an important role. As the action moves from Surrey to Egypt and even to a prison in Constantinople, the author smoothly integrates descriptions and facts about these places, making them come alive in the reader's mind. The political climate is also explored and becomes the motivation for the characters' actions.

The mystery was extremely well written and gave the reader a trail of fascinating clues to follow. The author's expertise in astronomy provided an especially intriguing clue, which was set in the spring sky. There was a tantalizing mix of high and low points as the characters seemed to succeed in their quest, only to be thwarted once again. There will definitely be some sighs and gasps from readers!

The Forth Contention will grab the reader's attention from the first page!

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