A Step in the Dark

by Judith Lennox

Book Overview

A powerful family drama set in India and Scotland, from 1915 to the 1960s

It's 1915 when young Bess Ravenhart, recently widowed, leaves her baby son Frazer with her mother-in-law, Cora, while she sails from India to Britain to set up a home. But Cora has no intention of returning Frazer to his mother's care. Though Bess makes a new life in Edinburgh and knows the joy - and pain - of motherhood with further children, her heart always aches...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 075533132X
• ISBN13: 9780755331321
• Release Date: July 2005
• Publisher: Headline
• Length: 640 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.6" x 5.2" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

From colonial India to a whodunnit

From the moment I picked it up, I could not put it down. Hard though it was, I was compelled to finish it off from one afternoon to the next morning at the cost of a few social engagements. Bess Ravenheart is guilt ridden at having abandoned her son to Cory Ravenheart, who steals him away from her. A loss that Bess will regret to the end of her days. She remarries again and again producing a happy brood of children with tales of romance largely set in Edinburgh. Her son returns to her unexpectedly with a brooding castle in Perth as part of his inheritance. Into this steps his grown up half sister and tales of passion as Britain drifts towards the second world war. Weaving the backdrop of history from Colonial India to the First World War, to the strikes and the economic depression of the 30s, Lennox weaves a rich tapestry of information centered on families, romance and relationships. The one point I may question is her assertion of the Luftwaffe bombing radar stations - had they invented radar that early? Convincing, page turning moving from romance to a detective tale and satisfyingly, the ends are all tied together, almost too late as the book draws to a close given its long rambling, yet good humored style. Lennox writes with the skill of Iris Murdoch, a tale of India, cold Scotland, a large estate and the chief protagonist, Bess from around 1914 to perhaps 1965 or so. This book is about the UK, about the British at their best except for when they seem to drink too much. There is much darkness and intricate beauty in the characters, especially the female ones that Lennox skilfully conjures up. Yes, she conjures most of it up cleverly, in a rich, historic yarn of love and colour.

beautiful!

I bought this book a year ago and fell in love with its characters. It's practically in tatters now from how much its been passed around with friends and family. I couldnt beleive it when I saw that it had yet to be reveiwed! It's an uplifting story filled with the happiness and sorrow of a woman in the early 1900's. Her ability to cope with the difficulties thrown her way is almost inspirational, and many other characters in the book are not only endearing, but complex. Its easy to place youself in their shoes and get lost in the story. A wonderful read and a truly beautiful book overall!