Eva Pasco
Goodreads: 5-Stars
July 20, 2025

Historical Fiction Steeped in Romance and Suspense

Author Celia Martin’s writing prowess transports the reader to seventeenth-century England. So much so, I didn’t want to leave Perfidious Brambles. From the moment I arrived at the estate in Northumberland England, along with Lady Timandra Lotterby, Eliza Tillbury, and her siblings, the author transported me to 1673:

Here vivid descriptions of the architecture and grounds, the clothing styles, details of running a household, and maintaining the stables are spot-on. Character dialog is consistent with the lilt and speech intonations of the time period, be it the King’s English or Northumbrian dialect. Her astute awareness of social decorum is impeccable.

The budding romantic relationships are endearing, especially the one developing between Timandra and Gavin, the most prominent and perplexing. Murderous intentions under the cover of darkness contribute to the eerie suspense redolent of a Gothic novel.

I highly recommend ‘Perfidious Brambles,’ a story brimming with heart and historical accuracy.