The Messenger of Measham Hall (Measham Hall, Book 2)
When we first meet the protagonist, Nicholas Hawthorne, it is 1678. The twelve-year-old is the Catholic heir to Measham Hall in Derbyshire, a safe haven in which he is seemingly protected from the religious conflict of the outside world. But he is soon plunged into dangerous territory when his cousin, Matthew, is taken away by Royalist soldiers.
This sets the scene for what is to come. His father, Sir William, is reclusive, but Nicholas doesn’t know why. He vows to find out the truth about what happened to his mother and aunt and who betrayed his cousin. Over the course of the novel, which is split into three parts – Boy, Youth, and Becoming a Man – Nicholas finds himself caught up in conspiracies at the court of James II at a time when England is poised to be invaded by the Protestant William of Orange in the Glorious Revolution of 1688.
This compelling tale is told with great authority, a keen eye for detail and meticulous research. Written in the third person from Nicholas’s point of view, the reader is invested in getting to the bottom of the intrigue as we get to know him and follow his investigation. This is the second of Abney’s series of Measham Hall novels, but it is not necessary to have read the first to enjoy The Messenger for what it is. It was nominated for the Bath Novel Award spotlighting emerging talent.
The author’s connection to the story runs deep. She is among the last descendants of the Abney family who lived at Measham Hall (which no longer exists), and the series taps into a rich stream of creativity inspired by her ancestors’ lives.
