Secrets of a Scottish Isle (A Jane Wunderly Mystery)
On a remote island in the Scottish Hebrides in 1927, Jane Wunderly is initiated into the mysterious Order of the Golden Dawn in a secret midnight ceremony. But Jane’s intention is not to gain magical prowess or travel the astral planes. Instead, she and her fiancé Redvers have come to Iona to secretly investigate Robert Nightingale, the charismatic leader of this branch of the order. However, the disappearance of another member of the order, found dead on an isolated hilltop, quickly changes the trajectory of Jane’s investigation. The woman’s body was covered with mysterious scratches, and she wore only a black cloak. Did the dead woman leave her wealth to the Order, as Nightingale insists, or was her will a forgery? Was her death the result of rivalry between two factions of the Order? And will Redvers and Jane manage to escape this sacred island safely, or will they fall prey to Nightingale’s occult machinations?
Secrets of a Scottish Isle is the fifth in the Jane Wunderly mysteries. The Order of the Golden Dawn, which did exist in the late 1890s and into the 20th century, provides an intriguing background for the mystery. Nightingale, Neubauer states, is very loosely based on the notorious magician Aleister Crowley. Other real historical personages such as William Butler Yeats and Dion Fortune add interest to the plot. The Isle of Iona is convincingly depicted, although I can’t relate to Jane’s dislike of single malt whisky! To each his own, I suppose. The deepening relationship between Jane and Redvers will satisfy longtime readers of the series, while both new and old readers will enjoy the potent mix of 1920s mystical orders and the Scottish setting. A fun read!
