Cindy Anstey is an author I have read a couple of books by and enjoyed them. Today her newest book, The Hummingbird Dagger, is out in the world. Thanks to Xpresso Book Tours and Swoon Reads, I was provided with an ARC to read and review for this tour!

The Hummingbird Dagger
Cindy Anstey
Published by: Swoon Reads
Publication date: April 16th 2019
Genres: Historical, Mystery, Young Adult

From the author of Suitors and Sabotage comes a suspenseful and enthralling new Regency novel, perfect for readers who like their Jane Austen classics with a side of mystery and murder.

1833. A near-fatal carriage accident has deposited an unconscious young woman on the doorstep of Hardwick Manor and into the care of young Lord James Ellerby. But when she finally awakens, it is with no memory of who she is or where she came from.

Beth, as she calls herself, has no identity; the only clue to her circumstances is a recurring nightmare of a hummingbird, blood dripping from its steel beak.

With the help of James and his sister, Caroline, Beth tries to solve the mystery of her own identity and the appalling events that brought her to their door. But nothing could prepare her for the escalating dangers that threaten her and the Ellerby clan. From the hazardous cliffs of Dorset to the hostile streets of London, Beth will fight to reclaim her past, hunted by a secretive foe with murderous intentions.

Fans of Cindy Anstey’s previous novels won’t want to miss The Hummingbird Dagger, a dark and twisty new offering that blends romance, danger and mystery.

Praise for Duels & Deception:

“Delightful … It is Jane Austen spiced with action, suspense, and humor.” —VOYA, starred review

“Jane Austen fans in need of a good new book, look no further.” —Entertainment Weekly

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REVIEW

I’ve previously read Cindy’s other books and thought they were entertaining. The Hummingbird Dagger also caught my attention. Memory loss, murder and mystery sound like the perfect combination.

The Hummingbird Dagger starts off pretty intense. An accident at night, an injured woman and some circumstances that don’t seem proper. I love reading books that are set in the fast, because it’s always fun to read about how things were done and how things we don’t even think of these days are frowned upon.

James, Caroline and Beth are great characters. I loved how much James and Caroline felt the need to help Beth. They knew nothing about her, but were determined to find out her story! It was interesting to see their relationships grow as the story continued and they slowly discovered different facts. Their brother Walter seemed like the one who did everything wrong, but I really enjoyed him!

I loved trying to figure out what actually happened to Beth, but at times it took too long. I think this mystery could’ve been solved a lot faster. The little pieces of dreams and memories made The Hummingbird Dagger interesting and a few reveals kept me going, but I think it dragged a bit at times. I think this made the tension/suspense wilt a bit in comparison to what it should’ve been.

I received an ARC of this book and at times the formatting made reading more difficult. There was no clear space between switching POVs and because of no spacing between time frame, I was quite confused at times. I felt that this took me out of the story and made it harder to keep my attention on the story. This doesn’t change what I thought of the story, but it did make my reading experience less enjoyable. I hope this is changed in the final copy!

I think this is the darkest Cindy Anstey book I have read and I loved the aspect of Beth not remembering who she is. That added a lot to the mystery and suspense throughout the story. The Hummingbird Dagger is an interesting story and I couldn’t figure out who was behind everything until it was revealed. I love when mysteries aren’t easy to solve!

 

Author Bio:

Whenever she is not sitting at the computer, throwing a ball in the backyard, gardening or reading, Cindy can be found–actually, not found–adventuring around the world with her hubby.

She has lived on three continents, had a monkey in her yard and a scorpion under her sink, dwelt among castles and canals, enjoyed the jazz of Beale St and attempted to speak French.

Cindy loves history, mystery and… a chocolate Labrador called Chester.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

 

GIVEAWAY!

During this blog tour there is a giveaway for the US/CAN readers! You have a chance to win a print copy of The Hummingbird Dagger. This giveaway ends April 25th.

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BLOG TOUR

Of course, I’m not the only one participating in this tour. If you want to check out the other amazing blogs, click here to see the full tour schedule. The schedule is updated daily with the links to the tour posts!

 Historical fiction mixed with a little mystery is a lot of fun to read! What is your favorite historical fiction?