Tuesday, August 04, 2015

Amy Snow by Tracy Rees, a delightful and engrossing Victorian-era debut

Last year, Tracy Rees’ debut novel won Richard and Judy’s “search for a bestseller” competition. Completely engrossing, it was a worthy selection.

Set in England in 1848, it’s full of romance and mystery, taking the form of a scavenger hunt in which the heroine, Amy Snow, follows a trail left behind in letters by her late friend and mentor, ebullient heiress Aurelia Vennaway. Seventeen-year-old Amy owes her life to Aurelia, who had found her as a newborn, abandoned in the snow on her wealthy family’s Surrey estate.

Lord and Lady Vennaway had acceded to their daughter’s wishes in letting Amy grow up at Hatville Court but always resented her presence. Before Aurelia’s tragic early death from a heart ailment, she developed a clever way of ensuring Amy’s future livelihood while broadening her social horizons – and attempting to make up for her family’s hateful behavior.

The clues Amy finds (some of which take time to figure out) lead her around the country, introduce her to fascinating people, and prove that the kindness, love, and the family life she craves exist outside of Aurelia’s sheltering wings. Along the way, she learns surprising revelations about Aurelia and a lot about herself. Amy’s journey – and, consequently, the novel’s structure – may be contrived, but the author wisely makes her aware of it. The obligations of her mission chafe from time to time, as does her burden of secrecy, especially when enticing alternatives present themselves.

While the story is fanciful in spots, Amy Snow is written with warmth and attention to detail, particularly on Victorian geography and modes of travel. Best of all, it offers a tenderly poignant portrait of true friendship, a rare thing that both young women rightly treasure.

Amy Snow was published by Quercus earlier this year in paperback (£7.99, 551pp).  Don't be put off by the page count since it moves very quickly!  This was a personal purchase that I reviewed for August's Historical Novels Review.  For now you'll have to get it from the UK, but I hope a US publisher will pick it up.

9 comments:

  1. I loved this book and was pleasantly surprised by how quick a read it was given its length. A great debut novel!

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    1. I can certainly see why it won the contest - she's a talented new author, and I saw on twitter she's working on a second novel. Great news!

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  2. This sounds great, thanks for the review!

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  3. Nice review. I've noticed that this and other books not available in US yet are available on Audible, though some books are better read then listened to.

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    1. That's interesting it's available more easily as an audiobook. You're right. I think this one would be better in print, where you can read at your own speed rather than rely on the narrator's pacing.

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  4. Anonymous2:12 PM

    Perhaps Quercus US will publish it - I've found some interesting stuff among their offerings. They are now publishing one of MN's own crime writers - Brian Freeman - and I mentioned to him last fall at a conference that I hope Quercus picks up his backlist . . . they also publish other mystery authors like Peter May (UK) and Andreas Schenkel (Germany). Plus Richard North Patterson - I've seen a lot of long-time authors now being published by smaller presses like Quercus (and various Amazon imprints).

    Sarah OL

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    1. Does it seem like their US division is primarily doing crime and fantasy? Quercus in the UK has a pretty broad focus - they have a good selection. It would be nice if their US division picked up this one. It's the type of book I think would do well here since it's in the Kate Morton mold - but with a lighter tone.

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    2. Anonymous1:56 PM

      It could be; I've seen other Quercus UK titles picked up by other publishers in the US

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