by Thorne Moore
SYNOPSIS
The Owens are tied to this Pembrokeshire land – no-one will part them from it dead or alive.
Leah is tied to home and hearth by debts of love and duty – duty to her father, turned religious zealot after the tragic death of his eldest son, Tom; love for her wastrel younger brother Frank’s two motherless children. One of them will escape, the other will be doomed to follow in their grandfather’s footsteps.
At the close of the 19th century, Cwmderwen’s twenty-four acres, one rood and eight perches are hard won, the holding run down over the years by debt and poor harvest. But they are all the Owens have and their rent is always paid on time. With Tom’s death a crack is opened up and into this chink in the fabric of the family step Jacob John and his wayward son Eli, always on the lookout for an opportunity. Saving her family, good and bad, saving Cwmderwen, will change Leah forever and steal her dreams, perhaps even her life…
REVIEW The Covenant is a prequel to A Time for Silence which follows Sarah as she investigates her family history after discovering her Grandparents derelict farmhouse in Cwmderwen, Pembrokeshire. The Covenant follows on with the same story and begins with a letter, written to Sarah from a relative in America, giving some insight into their family in West Wales going right back to 1883. The remainder of the book tracks the Owen family’s story from this point in the late 1800’s until about 1922. Their story is one of religion, betrayal, duty and murder – all set against the agricultural backdrop of rural Wales and follows them through a period of unimaginable heartbreak, loss and hardships.
I love reading historical fiction that has a crime/thriller element to it and this book had me hooked right from the start. This had more of a domestic thriller angle but I was so involved with the lives of the characters and spent the whole of the story desperately hoping that Leah would find happiness.
As a Welsh speaker myself, I really appreciate the fact that there were references to the language throughout - a few quotes and bible verses were even written in both Welsh and English. It would be likely that a religious family living in rural West Wales at that time would speak Welsh, so for me this added another layer of authenticity to a very well researched historical novel.
The Covenant is a fantastic choice for anyone interested in Welsh history, historical fiction, or wanting to read an engrossing and surprisingly dark family history.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Thorne Moore was born in Luton but has lived in north Pembrokeshire for over 30 years. She
has degrees in History and Law, worked in a library and ran a family restaurant. She divides her time between running a miniature furniture craft business and writing psychological crime mysteries.
Thanks to / Diolch yn fawr iawn i @RandomTTours, @ThorneMoore and @honno for the opportunity to read and review.
Fiction: Historical Fiction / Historical Thriller
Product format: Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-912905-23-2
Pages: 320 pp