Named of the Dragon by Susanna Kearsley

Prior to reading this book, I had never pondered the relationship between an author and her or his agent.  In Named of the Dragon, literary agent  Lyn Ravenshaw travels to Wales with her client, author Bridget Cooper.  They are set to spend the Christmas holidays with Bridget's boyfriend, also an author.

Lyn is is much in need of a quiet holiday as she is yet grieving the loss of her child Justine several years earlier.  After arriving at the rural farm, she is upset to find that a young baby is staying in the adjoining house.

This story starts at a gentle pace and slowly builds to a crescendo.  The detailed descriptions of the sweeping landscape helped  lull me into a false sense of safety.  I began to second guess who was behind sneaky mis-behaviour.  Was it Lyn's fanciful imagination or was there truly an other worldly intervention attempting to guide Lyn.

I really enjoyed the play off between the three authors in the story, Bridget, her boyfriend James and Gareth,the secretive playwright.  It really highlighted for me that authors come from all walks of life and that they are often nothing like the persons they create in their works of fiction.

This is not a high action drama, rather a novel that you read while  curled up in a quilt with a cup of tea  and time to savour and enjoy the relationships while they develop.


Also by Susanna Kearsley:

• The Winter Sea

To learn more about Susanna Kearsley visit  her website.

Thank-you to Sourcebooks for my review copy and for use of the cover image.