Penningtons

April 1, 2011
In steadfast British author Oldfields standalone historical tale of suspense set in 1902 in and around Bath, Miss Dutton abruptly resigns as housekeeper to the elderly and bedridden Montague Pennington. Montys overbearing siblings convince earnest yet reluctant young housemaid Daisy to take her place until another, more qualified candidate is found. Somewhat to their surprise, Monty and Daisy find themselves getting along quite well without help, but Daisys rapidly approaching eighteenth birthday and the secrets to be revealed, as well as her burgeoning romantic interest in a solicitors clerk and an unbalanced stranger who threatens their very lives, provide continuing drama. Oldfields genius for developing patently unlikable characters until the reader sympathizes with their circumstances is once again displayed to good effect here.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)