Unwrapping a Guest Review by Connie Fischer of THE BRIDGE TO BELLE ISLAND by Julie Klassen

Greetings my darling readers, I know I’ve been remiss in providing you reviews of good reads this past year and I apologize. Life has a hold on me which does not allow me much reading time. I have tried to make up for that by publishing my own good reads for you and I hope you’ve given them a try. So to make up for my neglect, I will be offering up guest reviews for you enjoy. I hope to be back reviewing for you soon but in the meantime, I hope you’ll enjoy my dear friend, Connie Fischer’s reviews to guide you to good reads. Enjoy and Happy Reading!

I present to you a guest review of THE BRIDGE TO BELLE ISLAND by Julie Klassen, published December 3, 2019.

Blurb for THE BRIDGE TO BELLE ISLAND:

After a humiliating mistake, lawyer Benjamin Booker resolves to never again trust a beautiful woman. When an old friend is killed, the senior partner isn't satisfied with Bow Street's efforts and asks Benjamin to investigate. Eager to leave London for a while, Benjamin agrees. Evidence takes him to a remote island on the Thames, a world unto itself, shrouded in mist and mystery. Soon he finds himself falling for the main suspect—a woman who claims not to have left the island in ten years. But should he trust her?

On Belle Island, Isabelle feels safe and leads a productive life, but fear keeps her trapped there. When Mr. Booker arrives with news of her trustee's murder in London, Isabelle is stunned. She has not left the island, yet she has a recurring dream about the man's death. Or is it a memory? She had been furious with him, but she never intended...this.

When a second person dies, and evidence shockingly points to her, Isabelle doesn't know who to trust: the attractive lawyer or the admirer and friends who assemble on the island, each with grudges against the victim. Can she even trust her own mind? While they search for the truth, secrets come to light and danger comes calling.

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Connie’s Review:

1819 - London

Benjamin Booker, age 31, and an attorney. is humiliated at having lost a case when he was taken in by a beautiful woman. He had believed her story and now finds she had lied to him. Afterward, he and the head of his firm learn of the murder of an old firm member who has been acting as the trustee of the Wilder family and living at their home in London. The man was not liked by the family nor the servants. He was tight fisted with the family money and a drunkard. Benjamin is then asked by the head of the firm to visit the Wilder family’s home in Berkshire called Belle Island.

Upon arrival, Benjamin meets Isabelle Wilder, age 30, who along with her niece Rose, age 19, are the two heirs to the Wilder money. Rose is preparing to be married soon. Isabelle is a lovely woman who has not left the island in many years. Having lost many family members who had left the island, some feel it is cursed and she feels safer staying there.

As Benjamin gets to know Isabelle, he realizes she is a very strong woman and admires everything that she does to keep the local people employed and cared for. The members of her family and other people in the area are well described as they each fit into her world. But there is murder and mystery afoot which tends to point right at Isabelle. Benjamin knows this lovely woman could not be guilty of such, but then again, he has been fooled before by a beautiful woman. Will it happen again?

A really good book written by a favorite author of mine and I believe it is her best one to date. I highly recommend it to all readers. Nice and clean too. Don’t miss it.

Copy provided by Goodreads and the publisher, Bethany House, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The BRIDGE TO BELLE ISLAND by Julie Klassen, Bethany House, available now in ebook, print, and audiobook at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobobooks.