The Secret of Pembrooke Park by Julie Klassen

Narrated by Elizabeth Jasicki

Abigail Foster, daughter of a respected earl, has just received some troubling news – her family’s fortune has disappeared in a failed investment. This is terrible for Abigail’s sister Louisa who was to make her debut this season. In Abigail’s case, it’s devastating because her father had made the investment based on Abigail’s advice. The family, now basically poor, will need to make some changes in their lives, i.e. downsize in every way. Abigail, not wanting her sister to suffer so and knowing no man will want her with their family troubles, secretly uses her dowry to fund Louisa’s come out. Abigail and her father, in the meantime, begin looking for a new place to live.

One day, a mysterious solicitor shows up with an intriguing offer – his employer will let the Fosters stay at an estate called Pembrooke Park. This person will also pay for servants and the upkeep of the house provided they agree to live in the house for a year no matter what happens. Abigail’s father is eager to agree but she is more hesitant; she knows if a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is. After all, the investment she advised her father to take was a really good deal. However, they have no other options as their current house has just sold and the owner is ready to move in. Despite her misgivings, Abigail and her father visit Pembrooke Park and upon arrival, a fierce Scotsman waving a gun and ranting about treasure meets them. Abigail wonders exactly what she has gotten her family into and if they wouldn’t have been better off staying in London.

I have a love/dislike relationship with The Secret of Pembrooke Park. On the one hand, the Gothic undertones of the mystery, as well as nods to Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice (there are key quotes, so be on the lookout) make for an appealing read. The cast of characters was appropriately mysterious and intriguing and the tone was dark and slightly sinister. On the other hand, I am disappointed that the romance wasn’t as well demonstrated. For three fourths of the book I was unsure of which man Abigail would choose. This is not a bad plot device; some great romances leave you on the edge of your seat wondering who will end up with whom. However, as Abigail spends equal parts of her time reminiscing on past good times with Gilbert and current times with William, it made it difficult for me to believe the choice she (eventually) made.

This is my first Elizabeth Jasicki narration and I enjoyed her performance with qualifications. Jasicki infuses her characters with the appropriate emotion, giving them life and substance but the way she does it can be annoying for some. Jasicki distinguishes each male character well, including a male Scots brogue and an upper class Englishman. It’s the female roles that are the problematic ones. Each one tends to use a breathy way of speaking – think Marilyn Monroe – and speed to separate them from other females. Abigail’s speech was slow and huffy; Lea Chapman was hesitant and rounded and husky. I am not sure if this is an effective method, as in group conversations there isn’t time for lots of pauses to effectively achieve the needed character voice. Thus the female characters tend to overlap. It is confusing at times, especially since Abigail and Lea’s voices were similar at times.  As I said previously, this tendency could be annoying; I did adapt but it took a while.

Diana

Narration:  B-

Book Content:  B-

Steam Factor:  You can play it out loud

Violence:  Minimal

Genre:  Historical Romance

Publisher:  Recorded Books

The Secret of Pembrooke Park was provided to AudioGals by Recorded Books for review.