Mystery set in Lydiard Hall, Swindon – The Woman in the Lake – Nicola Cornick

Historical novel in the real life location of Lydiard Hall, Swindon.

For fans of historical fiction where fact and fiction meet, merge and take you in several directions at once, this book by author Nicola Cornick could just be what you need.

Nicola is known for taking historical buildings and settings you can really visit and then sprinkling her own kind of magic on them…So, are you ready for a Mystery set in Lydiard Hall, Swindon – The Woman in the Lake by Nicola Cornick

The Woman in the Lake (c) Nicola Cornick

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Susan @thebooktrailer

The Woman in the Lake has all the ingredients I love in a novel. A mystery set across two different times, with a real old house at the core. An object which affects people across the years, a time travel aspect and a story of how the past and present can intertwine in the most unexpected of ways.

I always seem to prefer the story set in the past and I admit that was the case here. Lady Isabella and her maid Constance were instantly recognisable. Her husband is a bad one and he is abusive and evil in many ways.

The dress, which is to be the focus of the novel is at first worn by Lady Isabella. The historical backdrop of Georgian England is evoked in style. I was there in that hall with Lady Isabella but had I been in the novel, I would have probably been more with Constance to be honest. I liked both and was glad to be in the kitchen when the husband was so awful. The scene setting and the sense of foreboding was exciting. And that’s without mentioning the scandals!

Cut to the present day and I immediately didn’t like Fen. Fancy stealing a dress from a manor house!? I realise this was the story but I didn’t care for her from this point on. I did find the story and supernatural element of the dress intriguing. Far fetched? Well yes, but then so is time travel, supernatural tales at the best of times. And I do believe objects from the past do hold traces of that past on them  – like faded fingerprints or something. Constance was on it! As I said, I would have been with her and did what she told me especially regarding that dress.

Nicola’s love and fascination for history shines through – you can tell she’s been to this house and studied its moods. There were shivers down the back of my neck as I read. This mix of historical fact and fiction is a fascinating mix for me and Nicola a go- to author for delving into the history of old buildings and the objects within.

Off to Lydiard Hall I go!

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Twitter: @NicolaCornick Web: www.nicolacornick.co.uk/