When seven-year-old Ethan du Maurier, only son and heir of New York City real estate tycoon, Alexander du Maurier, disappears during school recess, the FBI quickly determines that his disappearance was an abduction. Within hours of a special news bulletin airing nationwide, the FBI’s hotline is inundated with anonymous tips relating to sightings of a little boy matching Ethan’s description outside a historic Savannah building, now a newly-renovated eatery. The FBI quickly assembles a task force and searches the premises but instead of finding little Ethan, they stumble upon the century-old remains of what appears to be a murdered man hidden in a pirate’s tunnel under the historic building.
With her restaurant on temporary lockdown pending the FBI’s forensic investigation, owner Annie Eastwood researches the history of the building she inherited, hoping it will shed some light on the identity of the murdered man, but what she uncovers are bits and pieces of a horrible scandal that nearly destroyed the du Maurier family over a century ago. With hopes for Ethan’s safe return dwindling by the hour, Annie finds an unlikely lead in an old classified ad from a Boston newspaper which connects the events of the past to the present-day abduction of Ethan du Maurier—and to the identity of his abductor. Determined to rescue little Ethan before time runs out, Annie quickly realizes that the boy’s abductor will stop at nothing—even murder—in order to exact his revenge.
"Mystery, particularly historical mystery, and romance fans should enjoy this. "
Reviewer: Reader for Bookangel.
The abduction of Ethan du Maurier, a millionaire's young son is of little interest to Annie, until the FBI turn up at her restaurant opening following an anonymous tip. The abduction has its roots in a century-old murder scandal, and Annie finds herself drawn into the events as she works with the boy's father to solve a murder one hundred years previously to save a child's life in the present day.
There are two distinct plot lines, one set in 1905/06 and one in the present day, which interweave. The spelling and grammar are of a professional standard – I didn't spot any errors. The plot is generally well thought out, although the ending feels a bit rushed as a lot of events happen at once with little set-up. While the chain of events is explained afterwards, the lack of foreshadowing makes it feel rather out of left field at the time. These flaws don't make Continuance a bad book, but it is as well to be aware of them.
There isn't anything I can point to with this book to say it is objectively bad, and there are many things that it does well – the linked plot threads, the writing style and the presentation. The problem is that I never felt particularly engaged with this story, or on the edge of my seat despite the subject matter.
This book does contain explicit material, which is a shame because it adds little to the story and does restrict readership of what would otherwise be a strong detective story suitable for mainstream readership. As it is, this is definitely adults-only.
For me it was a three, but its target audience - mystery, particularly historical mystery, and romance fans - should enjoy this.
I have to admit that I quite enjoyed this. Initially it was the cover which attracted me, and the poem that sets the perfect tone. However, I did struggle a little initially with Ethan's voice, it jarred, striking me as being a bit too adult, and I re-read the beginning three times to see if I had missed something about 'the secret', as his actions didn't make sense . Still, I forgot both quibbles soon enough, and overall I have no more. A pleasant enough read
Pete, I get what you mean about the secret that s alluded too, but the entire scene was so atmospheric, I got chills. once I realised what was going on. (No spoilers.)
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