I’m delighted to be sharing my thoughts about The Story Collector by Iris Costello.
Loved everything about this story!
The Story Collector by Iris Costello
- Category : Historical Mystery
- ASIN : B0BLYM4TV8
- Publisher : Penguin (29 Feb. 2024)
- Language : English
- File size : 4445 KB
- Goodreads | Waterstones | Amazon
The Story Collector Summary
Three women. A long-buried secret. One voice will free them all…
London, 1915: Amid the wartime chaos, Katerina is hailed as a beacon of hope for her bakery, which offers divination alongside sweet treats. But the dark truth she’s hiding could cost her everything.
Germany, 1918: Miriam secretly vows to help a mute British soldier in the prisoner-of-war camp she’s stationed at. Soon she must make an impossible choice: will she save the one she loves, or herself?
Cornwall, Present Day: Edie is astonished to discover a mysterious box hidden in the wall of her newly renovated cottage. As Edie starts to investigate, she uncovers a secret that has lain hidden for over a century…
The Story Collector Review
This is one of those stories where you know there’s a link between the three different narrations and timelines but can’t work it all out. So much intrigue! And, when it finally clicks you think to yourself ‘why didn’t I see that!’
Katerina, Miriam and Edie are perfect leads and easy to identify with.
Katerina, shunned for being different when younger, reinvents herself to survive. The bakery and cost price restaurant during WW1 does more than help the women and children. It doesn’t take long before it falls apart and she has to escape the East End. This narration is very traumatic at times. She is inspiring!
Miriam is working in a Prisoner of War camp in Germany assisting a language experiment. There are a few tense scenes in this narration. Another strong woman who has to get out of a situation to save her life.
Edie, with the world knocked out from under her is trying to find solid ground and how to move forward. There’s a lot of mystery in this narration with a Gothic vibe. I loved the atmosphere of mystery and suspense. In fact, each narration ends leaving us in suspense! What happens next? I needed to know 🙂
The women across the three different timelines grapple with societal expectations, oppression, and despite the lack of control over their lives, find a way through with the support of those around them (even if that breaks the ‘rules’).
At one point, I glanced at how long I had left to read on my Kindle and was really surprised at how far into the story I was, so absorbed with what was happening for each of the characters. And I must admit, disappointed that I would be finished quicker than I thought …
I loved the plot and how it all ties together. So inventive and creative. I also enjoyed how the tarot and paranormal activity are threaded through The Story Collector. Actually, I loved everything about this story! including the mix of emotions it provoked in me.
If you enjoy an historical mystery that involves a lot of heart, this one is for you. Highly recommended.
About the Author
Iris Costello is the pseudonym of bestselling author, Nuala Ellwood. She has a BA Hons degree in Sociology from Durham University and a Master’s in Creative Writing from York St John University where she is a visiting lecturer. She is the author of seven highly acclaimed novels, the most recent of which was The Secrets of Rochester Place. The Story Collector is her eighth book. X: @CostelloStories