ADVERTISEMENT
The Old Cape House
Barbara Eppich Struna, author
Adult; General Fiction (including literary and historical); (Market)
Nancy Caldwell relocates to an old sea captain's house on Cape Cod with her husband and four children. When she discovers an abandoned root cellar in her backyard containing a baby's skull and gold coins, she digs up evidence that links her land to the legendary tale of Maria Hallett and her pirate lover, Sam Bellamy. Using alternating chapters between the 18th and 21st centuries, The Old Cape House, a historical fiction, follows two women that are lifetimes apart, to uncover a mystery that has had the old salts of Cape Cod guessing for 300 years.
Plot/Idea: 9 out of 10
Originality: 8 out of 10
Prose: 8 out of 10
Character/Execution: 8 out of 10
Overall: 8.25 out of 10
Assessment:
Plot: Mystery and a heartfelt tale of love and loss unfold through narratives set in both past and present-day Cape Cod. This is a gripping and immersive novel with a very satisfying conclusion.
Prose: Clear but unobtrusive descriptions evoke a strong sense of life in the 1700s.
Originality: Struna presents a unique and believable version of the legend of Sam Bellamy and Maria Hallett.
Character development: The 1700s characters serve to capture readers' interest while Nancy and her more relatable present-day family keep the narrative grounded.
Blurb: A mysterious discovery in an old root cellar provides the backdrop to a gripping story of an infamous pirate and his lover.
Date Submitted: June 26, 2018
