1671, Rose Gwyn faces execution for her part in a plot to steal the Crown Jewels. Desperate to save her unborn child, she writes to her infamous sister Nell. Present day, Jess’ life is in tatters as her husband is imprisoned and she leaves her job. She turns to her celebrity sister for a home and job…
The Other Gwyn Girl is a dual timeline novel set in the 1670s and present day.
Poor Rose has not had the easiest start in life and now she is trapped in an unhappy marriage. Her husband coerces her into joining a madcap scheme to steal the Crown Jewels but she is caught. Her only hope of surviving is her sister Nell, the mistress of King Charles II, but Nell has her own fears and needs Rose’s help in return. I loved this timeline and how the life in the seventeenth century was depicted. The characters felt authentic and the danger seemed to really loom over them.
The juxtaposition of the two pairs of sisters is interesting to watch unfold. In the present day Jess’ husband has gone to prison and she feels tainted and guilty by association. Her sister is a celebrity and needs a housesitter for an old manor house she is restoring. Jess agrees to help out as a means of escape and uses her time to explore the house and its contents which establishes the link with the Gwyns.
I was a little less interested in the present day timeline. Jess seems more of a passive character than her sister or the Gwyns. Rose’s perspective had danger and passion and her vivacity brought her character to life. There are elements of supernatural and mystery which develop in the present day as Jess explores the setting.
The Other Gwyn Girl is a fascinating interpretation of life in the seventeenth century and I loved Rose’s character.
The Other Gwyn Girl
1671 – London
The Civil War is over and Charles II, the ‘Merry Monarch’, is revelling in the throne of his murdered father and all the privileges and power that comes with it. Sharing the spoils is his favourite companion, the celebrated beauty, actress Nell Gwyn. Beloved of the English people, Nell has come a long way from selling oranges and a childhood in a brothel, but as her fortunes have turned, her sister Rose has taken a different path. Marriage to a feckless highwayman has left Rose in the grim Marshalsea prison and now she needs her sister’s mercy to help get her out. But Nell needs Rose too. A plot to steal the Crown Jewels has gone tragically wrong, and Nell’s future with her protector King is at risk. If Rose can’t solve the riddle of the jewels both Gwyn sisters will head straight to the Tower.
Present Day
Librarian and history enthusiast Jess Yates has hit rock bottom. With her ex behind bars for fraud, Jess needs to lay low – easier said than done with a celebrity sister. But Tavy has her uses. Her latest TV project involves renovating Fortune Hall, and she needs a house sitter while she’s jetting around the world. The opportunity is too good to miss, especially when Jess discovers that Fortune Hall has links to the infamous Nell Gwyn.
Slowly the house begins to reveal its mysteries, and secrets that have laid buried for centuries can no longer be ignored. Jess hears echoes from a tragic past and as she struggles to understand her sister, Jess feels ever closer to Rose Gwyn, the sister forgotten by history but who had the fate of her family in her hands.
Bestselling author Nicola Cornick is back with a captivating, gripping, unforgettable tale of treachery and treason, love and loyalty, perfect for fans of Barbara Erskine, Elena Collins and Christina Courtenay.
Nicola Cornick is a historian and author who works as a researcher and guide for the National Trust in one of the most beautiful 17th century houses in England. She writes dual time novels that illustrate her love of history, mystery and the supernatural, and focus on women from the footnotes of history. Her books have appeared in over twenty five languages, sold over half a million copies worldwide and been described as “perfect for Outlander fans.” Nicola also gives writing and history talks, works as a consultant for TV and radio, and is a trustee of the Wantage Literary Festival and the Friends of Lydiard Park.
