| Genealogist Natasha Blake is
retained by Bethany Marshall to research her family history. Their
initial meeting takes place in the Cotswolds where Bethany is on a
photo shoot. Here Natasha meets Adam Mason, the photographer, who is
creating a series of photographs for an exhibition in Oxford, in the
style of the Pre-Raphaelite paintings, and with whom Bethany is
having a relationship. Natasha is struck by Bethany's fragility and
fascinated by the girl's obvious obsession with Lizzie Siddal, the
famous Pre-Raphaelite model and artist, and wife of Dante Gabriel
Rossetti. When Adam Mason asks Natasha if he can photograph her for
his series she reluctantly agrees, but when they meet, Adam tells
Natasha that Bethany has disappeared, but has left behind an old and
valuable diary, in which Natasha's address has been loosely pinned,
and Natasha feels compelled to find her. Recovering from the break
up of a recent relationship, Natasha is both fascinated by, and
distrusting of Adam. Aware that he attracts and disturbs her, she is
drawn to him, but suspicious. As the story unfolds, Natasha's need
to delve into the past, is in part explained, by the mystery of her
own ancestry. The setting and atmosphere of the book was haunting,
as Natasha's need to find Bethany takes on an urgency, the more she
learns of the girl's obsession with Lizzie Siddal, and Lizzie's
tragic death . I loved this book, it draws the reader on, giving
promise that on the next page all will become clear, but the next
page is as tantalising and full of shadows as the one before. A
quirky mystery. Highly recommended.
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