The Novel
Somersham Boy
Human nature never changes.
When Miles Mortimer begins restoring the long-neglected Somersham Court with expert restorer Lucy Moncrief, they uncover a 300-year-old mystery surrounding the disappearance of Thomas Matthews, the estate’s former heir. Following clues hidden in a series of paintings, the pair must overcome obstacles from both past and present while discovering whether their growing relationship can survive the search for the truth.
Step inside the story
Meet the Author
Who Jay D. Waveney is, and how Somersham Boy came to be written.
Meet the Publisher
Publishing details, rights information, and press and media enquiries.
This book is a page-turner. I read it in four sittings. Effortless to read but by no means a simple plot. Set in two time periods the author (new to me) switches smoothly back and forth between the times, managing the ingenious stories with compelling clarity and historical accuracy.
Jay D Waveney captures the machinations of social hierarchy in the early eighteenth century and its influences on the efforts of “lower” classes to improve their worth. The two stories are linked by discoveries in Somersham House made by the present day new owner, Miles and his love interest, Lucy, a feisty but clever restoration and art expert.
A crime is witnessed and an innocent observer leaves his “statement” in the form of a series of paintings locked up in the house for three centuries. Miles and Lucy set about unravelling the mystery whilst fending off criminal challenges of their own.
No shortage of eclectic characters in this book from the pragmatism of hard rural life in the 1700’s to the hard nosed reality of modern day criminality. The author draws on sound knowledge of art, architecture, social history and human relations to craft an original and entertaining romantico-historical detective story. It had me scurrying to look up more about the history of the 1700’s. and left me eager for the next book that I hope will explore the tangents left unexplored for the reader to ponder. I was left with a strong sense of Norfolk rural life and that good feeling you get from any excellent book - that these characters will become old friends. I can't wait.