Bridget Cooper is a notoriously unpredictable writer and
her literary agent, our protagonist Lyn, strives to keep up
with the successful bohemian. When Bridget invites her
agent to spend Christmas in Wales, along with a literary
gentleman the agency would love to represent, the prospect
is both alluring and terrifying.
NAMED OF THE DRAGON lets us into the life of Lyn Ravenshaw,
a widow whose baby died at birth, leaving her touchy
about small children and devoid of a partner, though
interested in looking. In a holiday cottage in a coastal
village she meets the novelist James Swift and his brother
Christopher, an antiques dealer. Bridget is sure they'll
all get along, but Lyn is nervous of a neighbouring
playwright, Morgan. Amusingly these writers are egotistical
and pretentious, though not caricatures, and the
experienced Lyn takes them in her stride. Their talk is of
their various romances and book awards, so they come across
as self-centred. Lyn has to tread a careful ethical line,
as an agent is not supposed to steal clients from another
firm. But the talented James might come over to her of his
own accord.
A large part of this leisurely tale is the setting, which I
enjoyed throughout; the coastline, rugged countryside and
pastel-painted small houses of Pembroke; log fires, woollen
jumpers and country pub dining. The Christmas holiday
aspect builds on the atmosphere, with a locally grown tree
and good cheer from almost all persons. Lyn's upsetting
dreams provide a contrasting dimension to her account, with
a ghostly mother and boy added to her haunting regret over
her own child's loss. Real ghost, or a figment of her
submerged grief? And why does the woman talk of Merlin and
the Dragon's banner? Lyn starts hunting up legends.
In a wry aside, a character mentions that books set in
Scotland are easier to sell than those set in Wales. But
pulling in the Arthurian legends seems to me like a good
way around the problem. Susanna Kearsley is a quality
British author and I love her book, THE SHADOWY HORSES, about
a London archaeologist on a Roman dig in Scotland. To me,
NAMED OF THE DRAGON has many similar characteristics but
lacks the intensity of the dig because the characters are
kicking off work over Christmas. This lovely work will suit
adult readers looking for a relaxing yet haunting book to
wile away an evening by the fire.
A haunting tale of intrigue from New York Times bestselling
author Susanna Kearsley.
SOMEWHERE IN THE HEART OF LEGEND
LIES THE KEY TO HER TERRIFYING DREAMS
The charm of spending the Christmas holidays in South Wales,
with its crumbling castles and ancient myths, seems the
perfect distraction from the nightmares that have plagued
literary agent Lyn Ravenshaw since the loss of her baby five
years ago.
Instead, she meets an emotionally fragile young widow who's
convinced that Lyn's recurring dreams have drawn her to
Castle Farm for an important purpose--and she's running out
of time.
With the help of a reclusive, brooding playwright, Lyn
begins to untangle the mystery and is pulled into a world of
Celtic legends, dangerous prophecies, and a child destined
for greatness.
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