What an amazing story! The Shadow on the Bridge by Clare Marchant is an exceptionally researched gripping dual timeline historical mystery with a dash of paranormal. I enjoyed both past and present offerings equally and loved how the two worlds reflect each other and cross over in a ghostly sense.

My heart was heavily invested in these two women’s lives who try desperately to sort out issues behind the guilt they have carried far too long. They each felt responsible because they could not prevent what happened to their siblings. Each believing they had failed at protecting their little brother and sister. Essentially it is a story about heartbreak—and its after effects. Everything that happens in the plot is primarily inspired by devastating loss in one form or another. The valuable lesson is learning to let go of guilt—when an incident is not your fault. And in the case of the historical thread: avenging a murder will not make the person feel better when justice is accomplished. It is an empty victory in many respects as nothing will bring back the loved one—no matter whose fault it was or wasn’t.

This novel follows two artistic women with a family connection yet centuries apart. Poet Anne is observed from 1569 – 1572 and Sarah 2004 and 2025.

Sarah’s ill godmother calls her back to the large Tudor house in Norfolk. This visit is important for many reasons but one is to help her solve an age old mystery. Although Sarah is hesitant to go back due to an incident that happened in her childhood, she returns as she loves her godmother. But a tragic event that scarred her heart and damaged her confidence, prevented her from moving forward and having a normal life. Will she find healing and face what has caused her so much pain? Once she arrives, the memories come flooding back. Her parents are nasty people and their domestic issues affected Sarah deeply. As she crosses the bridges where the two rivers meet, she is reminded of not only the loss of her sister and her terrible experience with her parents but also the ghost of a little boy who lived there many years before.

Wind back time to the same location in Norfolk but in the 1500s when Countess Anne Howard has also lost her little brother. She is sent to London by her horrible father-in-law Thomas Howard who she believes has caused her brother’s death for gain. But there are other secrets and hidden activities of Thomas that will come to light— some that involve the crown. As Anne seeks revenge by using a code, she hopes her efforts will contribute to his fall. But how will all this affect her in the end? Will her courage make her feel invincible? Will her drive for revenge set her free?

For Sarah, this journey back to the Tudor House stirs up some serious issues and confrontations with her parents. But Sarah tries to focus on her purpose being there. When she finds a poetry book hidden on her godmother’s property, it leads her down many intriguing roads. Uncovering the truth of the past could liberate her and allow for a better future. So will Sarah get her new beginning, where the two rivers meet?

This is a riveting and rollicking read filled with mystery and intrigue. I became deeply immersed in the story quickly and was sustained by Clare Marchant’s excellent writing and story-telling skills. Being a poet myself, I loved the use of poetry in the plot! The female lead characters of both timelines are very strong and the lessons they learn are priceless. There are many nuggets of wisdom I wish I could quote but don’t want to give anything away. Get a copy of this fabulous novel that will capture your heart, cause a few tears and have you nodding your head in agreement. You will be enthralled, satisfied and uplifted by the time you turn the last page. A lasting story of historical significance. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC.

A mansion and two women separated by centuries. When, in the present day, Sarah finds a small book of poems, she sets out to translate it as a way of getting away from her problems and the tragedy that has weighed on her since she was a child. During the Elizabethan era, the author of the poems, Anne, has also suffered losses and seeks to avenge them with the help of her writing.
Throughout the novel, the voices of two courageous women alternate, and despite the struggles they face, they manage to overcome the obstacles that they and others put in their way.
A novel of history, mystery and a spark of romance that makes for an interesting and inspiring read.

The Shadow on the Bridge by Clare Marchant. Boldwood Books, 2025.

I’ve already “shelved” this wonderful book with my Susanna Kearsley collection, and other favourites by Nicola Cornick, Barbara Erskine, Elaine Fox, Elizabeth Goudge, Kate Morton, Rosamond Pilcher, and Mary Stewart where fascinating homes are almost as important as the characters who live in them.

This book tells two stories, that of poet Anne (1569-1572) and illustrator Sarah (2004 & 2025), each of whom as children suffered a very similar family tragedy at Barnhamcross Hall, a converted convent in Norfolk. When Anne is forced to marry at twelve, she is moved to London’s Howard Hall, another dissolved religious establishment similar to Barnhamcross Hall with “shadowy, monastic passages [that lead] further and further into the distance”. Sarah returns when, after her twenty-one-year absence, her godmother Cordelia begs her to come back to, among other things, try to solve a family maxim, a riddle handed down to house owners unsolved for nearly five hundred years.

This book is outstandingly well written with respect to plot, character development and consistency, and writing style.
I did miss reading historical notes at the end of this book, though it was quick work to find most of the characters I had not heard of before on Wikipedia.

This is the first book I’ve read by Clare Marchant, a bestselling author of dual timeline historical fiction. I will be looking for others right away.
Disclosure: I received a review copy of The Shadow on the Bridge free via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. #TheShadowontheBridge #NetGalley