Lead review (The Heirloom)

• Book: The Heirloom
• Location: Brisbane, Sussex
• Author: Julie Brooks

Review Author: tripfiction

The Heirloom by Julie Brooks is a difficult book to classify – it is a little bit romance, a little bit historical novel and there’s a swirl of magical mystery thrown in. This is a novel featuring several generations of women in the same family but centring on Philadelphia Foord in the early 19^th century and Mia Curtis in 2024. Philadelphia has tried to escape the notoriety of being born outside wedlock by marrying a tailor and becoming a milliner. Her mother, Susanna, has a reputation for providing herbal remedies and some say she is a witch. Philadelphia also hopes to avoid this dangerous slur, but she does employ many skills of herbalism herself. When her husband is found dead, it is perhaps inevitable – and terrifying – that suspicion falls on her.

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Mia is also trying to create a life for herself, with several failed romances and a tragedy in her past. An heir hunter seeks her out to tell her that her grandmother has died in the UK, so she leaves Australia to discover more about the mysterious Henrietta, a woman that she never knew.

I found it equally difficult to decide how much I liked it. At times I thought it was marvellous but I felt that the pace maybe didn’t hold my attention sufficiently. The historical novel part was captivating – and sustains the same appeal. The author, who is Australian, spent time in Sussex to get the setting descriptions right and she is native to Brisbane, so the contrasting locations are both well written, if not critical to the plot. The author’s descriptions of her characters’ uncanny talents, including premonitions, are very well handled and lead to some excellent chilling tension.

On the whole, I would say definitely give this book a go if you like historical romances, mysteries and a little bit of fantasy!

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