CBR Book 6: The Wolves of Andover

The Wolves of Andover, by Kathleen Kent

About halfway through The Wolves of Andover, my husband asked me what I thought of it, and I told him that it read sort of like a historical romance novel, just without all the sex. Upon finishing the book, I regret dismissing it in that fashion. It's a strong read, fascinating in its nods to actual history, and written in such a way so as to evoke the matter-of-factness of its world and the characters that inhabit it.

The novel takes place in colonial Massachusetts, and in Restoration-era London. It follows a strong-willed young woman sent to live and work for her cousin's family, and the machinations of a group of London criminals sent to the New World to track down and capture or kill a regicide: specifically, the man who actually beheaded Charles I under orders from Cromwell, who they believe to be "hiding in plain sight," like many of his compatriots, somewhere in New England.

The characters in the story, in addition to the larger, historical happenings, contend with all the usual problems of the day: the spread of disease, rough passage from England to America, Indian raids, weather, and so on. The writing style accordingly reflects the straightforward, slightly rough-hewn colonial lifestyle; it's not overly descriptive or florid, and what description there is definitely works to evoke the metaphor and simile that would be understood by the subjects themselves. The novel suffers only mildly in that this same rudimentary sketching is applied to the characters themselves. One might hope for a little more depth to the people one meets, but overall, somehow the style works for them, too. They are simpler people belonging to a simpler time, and despite its brutish and short nature, it's almost possible to envy them the simplicity of their lives. You know, when they're not all trying to kill each other.

The Wolves of Andover is a true work of historical fiction: many of the characters were real people (in fact, the author is descended from the two protagonists), although their roles within the story may or may not have been as depicted. It seems to me to be well-researched in its representations of the time period, both in the colonies and in England, and it's a quick and enjoyable read. I picked it up because I do rather like history, although I prefer it to be slightly dramatized, and therefore less dry, than straight non-fiction reading. Again, perhaps a bit more character development, and a little more use of a thesaurus (the author is given to one particular phrase quite a lot; I won't spoil it for you, though), but overall, no regrets. Apparently, this novel is sort of a prequel to the author's The Heretic's Daughter, and I'm undecided as to whether or not I'll give that one a try (I have sworn off series - too much commitment) but it also sounds fairly interesting.