The Shadowy Horses: A Book Review

Written by Susanna Kearsley, this novel follows Verity as she, and the team she is apart of, attempt to discover a lost legion from Ancient Rome.

The Ninth Legion, Legio IX Hispana, disappeared somewhere around 120 AD and historians have no idea what happened to them. Send North from England, the could have gone to Germany, Scotland, who knows where.

Why is this important, you may ask? Well, Kearsley makes a point of having her novels have some real basis in history – in this case, the Ninth Legion. Verity is contacted by an associate and former boyfriend Adrian to join Peter, an aging archaeologist, in a dig that Adrian claims is mad. But has good money. After meeting David, a handsome Scotsman who is also apart of the dig, and Peter himself Verity agrees to join the dig.

I loved this novel. This is a well written, well developed novel. And I really like how Kearsley handles her love interests and how her characters develop. Her characters feel real. And the history is so well conveyed and embedded into the story.

The love interest development is slow and feel so very real. This is how this happens. And sweet. And subtle.

However, I would think that, while you are in Scotland, you would be measuring everything in metric, not English.

If you enjoy mystery, the mystic, history, or Scotland, this would be a good book for you to check out.

If you enjoy a well written novel with rounded characters, this would be an excellent book for you to check out.

If you have been looking for something with a happy ending that still feels like a real conclusion, I highly recommend this book for you.