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"The author skillfully builds a suspenseful mystery, cautiously meting out just enough information to keep readers gripped by the plot, but not so much that the conclusion becomes transparently obvious. In addition, her prose can be elegant: “In some way, this sealed display made it seem that Mr. McGee’s death was all for show. Even Christ’s body hadn’t been left hanging so long as a lesson to his people before he’d been decently interred.” But the novel’s strongest selling point is its artful amalgam of historical scholarship and fictional drama—Shortell brings her meticulous research to vivid life.
A thrilling and historically edifying period tale." - Kirkus Reviews READ FULL REVIEW Shortell constructs her gripping historical novel on the bones of an actual incident: the murder of Thomas D’Arcy McGee, . . . the story is told with brio by 15-year-old Clara Swift . . .. Shortell vividly conveys the atmosphere that surrounded the murder and examines the profound impact that McGee’s death had on the development of the fledgling nation. This is a lively and fascinating story, well-told.”
- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY READ FULL REVIEW "Those who think Canadian history lacks drama will find, in Celtic Knot, a suspense-filled fictional tale that chronicles the impact of a singular event at a turning point in a young nation’s development. It is a confident, meticulously researched, and superbly written tale. Shortell perfectly captures the language and atmosphere and ethos surrounding those momentous times.[...] It is a tale that will not only appeal to students of history, but to anyone in search of a well-told, gripping tale of murder and its aftermath."
- Jim Napier, THE OTTAWA REVIEW OF BOOKS READ FULL REVIEW "ANN SHORTELL came into the bookstore about a month ago and dropped off a copy of her first mystery titled Celtic Knot. I’ve been meaning to get to it for a while now as I had heard her talk about her book, its plot and characters and it sounded all so intriguing. It had also been shortlisted for the Arthur Ellis award for the best unpublished manuscript, The Unhanged as it’s called. Finally got to it, and, well, so far so good. I’m at the cottage, it’s wet and miserable so what better than to curl up with a good book and read? Although summer is not quite officially here it had been really hot and humid when I arrived, but it turned so cold and damp that I started the fire. Pixie was quite pleased about that. The story takes place around the time of Confederation and deals with the assassination of Thomas D’Arcy McGee, one of the greatest murder mysteries in Canadian political history... It all makes for a lively, entertaining story."
- Marian’s Pick, Sleuth of Baker St. Newsletter READ FULL REVIEW "Ann Shortell’s Celtic Knot examines history through a young Irish teen as she grapples with a mystery, assassination, and political intrigue.. . . Clara Swift, who thinks the world of her slain employer, sets down a path to discover an explanation for his murder. As Clara becomes swept up in the investigation, the trial, and the eventual hanging of an Irish immigrant, she records it all in her diary.. . Her actions offer a unique view of the somewhat debated conspiracy behind McGee’s murder. The decision to frame the story through a fifteen-year-old housemaid adds a dramatic touch while retaining the unusual nature of the crime and its aftermath.
Clara is a fascinating character. . . While she is intelligent and determined, she’s still young and inexperienced. She idolizes McGee and frequently recalls his words and her experiences with him. She leads his story through all its highs and lows with her own flair and determination. . . his actions and thoughts resonate and drive her forward . . .Polished prose captures the tones and styles of the late 1800s perfectly. . . Since the narrative is entirely Clara’s, the ambiguity creates compelling interest . . . a secondary mystery simmers beneath the surface. McGee’s latest manuscript is missing and all signs point to theft. Clara’s loyalty to McGee drives her to discover the fate of the manuscript, one with important political ramifications. Celtic Knot is unusual and engrossing historical fiction that winds plausible mystery elements into an ode to a treasured national hero." - Foreword Clarion Reviews READ FULL REVIEW "Celtic Knot is a story of hope, heroes, loyalty and patriotism, as seen through the eyes of 15-year-old serving girl Clara Swift, a bright, engaging character. The focus is on the impact of a true event at a turning point in Canada’s political history . . . Clara is the fictional creation of author Ann Shortell—and a perfect foil . . .Celtic Knot is a lively mixture of historical fact and literary drama, peopled with well-rounded characters and details of the time . . . elegantly written in polished prose, with an all-pervading sense of place . . .. The story remains one of the great murder mysteries in Canadian history."
- Historical Novel Society "... well-written “history with a mystery” instilled with dialogue from a past time, peppered with Gaelic terms and expressions to add to the realism. Indeed, Celtic Knot has a distinctly “aged” feel to it like it could have been written in the time period shortly after the events of that fateful night in 1868. One hopes Ms. Shortell continues with more Clara Swift novels!"
- The Miramichi Reader, Independent Book Reviews for Independent Readers READ FULL REVIEW |
