The Vanished Days
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4.3 • 88 Ratings
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- $16.99
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- $16.99
Publisher Description
"I've loved every one of Susanna's books! Bedrock research and a butterfly's delicate touch with characters—historical fiction that sucks you in and won't let go!" —Diana Gabaldon, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Outlander
From international bestselling author Susanna Kearsley comes a historical tale of intrigue and revolution in Scotland, where the exile of King James brought plots, machinations, suspicion and untold bravery to light. Told partially in flashbacks, The Vanished Days weaves in and out of the timeline of the author's beloved New York Times bestseller The Winter Sea, unraveling an investigation into a young widow's secrets to unveil a plot that resonates to the highest echelons of Scotland's social and political leaders.
In the autumn of 1707, old enemies from the Highlands to the Borders are finding common ground as they join to protest the new Union with England. At the same time, the French are preparing to launch an invasion to bring the young exiled Jacobite king back to Scotland to reclaim his throne, and in Edinburgh the streets are filled with discontent and danger.
Queen Anne's commissioners, seeking to calm the situation, have begun paying out money sent up from London to settle the losses and wages owed to those Scots who took part in the disastrous Darien expedition eight years earlier—an ill-fated venture that left Scotland all but bankrupt.
When the young widow of a Darien sailor comes forward to collect her husband's wages, her claim is challenged. One of the men assigned to investigate has only days to decide if she's honest, or if his own feelings are blinding him to the truth.
Set at the cusp of the eighteenth century, in the midst of the Jacobite Rebellion, The Vanished Days is a brilliantly told story of espionage, loyalties divided, boundless courage and enduring love.
Customer Reviews
Wow , wow
That was a fabulous story, some old characters from Susanna Kearsley’s other best selling novels. Must read!
My Favorite Author Pens Another Masterpiece
Book: THE VANISHED DAYS
By Susanna Kearsley
Series: Scottish
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Release Date: 10/05/2021
Overall Rating : Five Stars but deserves 1000!
Overall Blog Rating: Five Saltire Flags
This book takes place in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. It is a time when there is so much upheaval in Scotland. Between politics, religion and a Union most don’t agree to! King James Stuart being dethroned and fleeing to France. The Jacobite movement started, and as Jacobite is the Latin name for James. Also many Scot’s were not happy about joining the English parliament with “The Treaty of Union by Acts of Union!” Plus so much bigotry and religious issues with Catholicism, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, and it was a total disaster! On top of that there was the unsuccessful Darien scheme backed by Scotland to gain wealth and influence for a new colony Caledonia. This novel centers around the life of Lilias (Lily) Aitcheson-Graeme narrated by Adam Williamson.
Scotland 1683-1707
Adam will never forget the first time he met Lily, it was shortly after “The Treaty of Union by Acts of Union” was passed between Scotland and England parliaments in 1707. This was to form The Great Britain Parliament. Adam was staying at his friend’s home with his pregnant wife Helen, where he had been taken ill. His friend Turnbull was away, so in his friend’s place with another man Lily was being interrogated-to be able to get the proof her marriage was genuine. As her husband Jamie Graeme was a dead sailor, Lily was trying to prove she was his heir and attempting to get his back wages too. This was all due to her as Jamie Graeme’s widow, however the problem was all her witnesses were dead and they never married in a Kirk. It was an Episcopalian ceremony, where this religion seemed to have many prejudices against it and the marriage took place outside a Kirk.
Lily and Jamie’s relationship which began as children, where he was always so kind and protective, but from a noble family. Lily was also warned by her Grandmother that they were of two different classes, where Jamie would always be the Lord and she the servant. In other words, she would never be good enough for the happy go lucky boy Jaime Graeme, who was also her very best friend.
This also details Lily’s relationships with a few different families even though she was an orphan. One was her fathers second wife, another was a family she worked for and third was a woman named Barbara who found her. This is how Lily met her foundling sons where she eventually fell in love with the eldest son named Matthew, though he was a bit of restless spirit and couldn’t stay in on place for long.
This novel also has several different timelines one is current day 1707 and the other time lines start in 1683 to 1699 when Lily was eight years old until she was about twenty-three. It shows her hardships and tragedies that she has struggle through, yet still be true to herself and the ones she loves. It also shows how Adam is immediately smitten with her right from the beginning, even through his research and when he gets to understands her and her true dilemma.
This book weaves true history with a fictional story that is absolute brilliant. It show how the Jacobites are supporter of James II and his descendants in their claim to the British throne after the Revolution of 1688. Drawing most of their support from Catholic clans of the Scottish Highlands. It shows how he is dethroned no matter how hard he tries to get his throne back. Yet this book did sweep me and my Jacobite heart away! It show how politics, religion and union are a big part of this tale too and how the author did such detailed research which will give readers a history lesson too.
This is a prequel, crossover and a type of companion book for Kearsley’s 2017 novel, “The Winter Sea.” It includes so many familiar families that are in the book, The Graeme’s, Moray’s, plus other familiar characters from the book. So for fans of that book this is like a dream come true, which made this reader ecstatically happy! The author did a phenomenal amount of detailed research with true history which is absolutely brilliant. Plus the clever way it is connected and crosses over to “The Winter Sea” novel is absolutely magnificent!As this book is an absolute masterpiece, probably my favorite read of the year. Susanna Kearsley is the master of this genre and definitely my go to author, as she has been a favorite of mine for a very long time. I have read every book she has written and “The Vanished Days” is now my absolute favorite, previously it had been “The Winter Sea.” She has this incredible talent of sweeping the reader off her feet and smack in the center of her story very quickly. As she has written another choice story filled with history and compassion with special understanding of human motivation and love! A book that will definitely stay with you long after you have read it and you will want to read again and again!
It is a book I absolutely love and can’t
recommend enough obviously. Also I think it is a novel that can be read as a stand alone book. For readers who haven’t read The Winter Sea, I think this book sets readers up perfectly to read The Winter Sea next. I myself am going to re-read it, as it made me miss the characters from that book too!
I received this book from Sourcebooks Landmark for a fair and honest review. I voluntarily agreed to read, review, blog and promote through netgalley. All words, ideas and thoughts are my own.