This was a wonderful story! I normally love books by Julie Klassen, so I knew this should be a good story. But it was even better than I expected! The characters were well done, and I enjoyed getting to know them as the interesting story unfolded. The plot had some very interesting twists in it, and the mystery was amazing! Who would have thought a little island like this could hold such a story. The book is simply a must read in my opinion, and I can not wait for the next book by Julie Klassen to be released!


I received this book free through NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers for my honest review. The opinions are my own.

Julie Klassen’s The Bridge to Belle Island is a suspense-filled Regency romance, but for me, it wasn’t the Klassen I’m used to. Not to say that the book isn’t good. But it did take me a bit to get into. I pushed myself to continue reading, though, and I think it was well worth it.

Klassen did a great job of slowly revealing clues and building suspense. I would be certain I knew who the murderer was, but then Klassen would throw a curveball that left me second-guessing. With twists and turns and plenty of suspects, The Bridge to Belle Island will keep you turning pages. For me, though, it took about a third of the novel before I was truly invested.

The romance itself is nicely done, but it’s more of a subplot. The main story is in Isabelle’s anxiety and Benjamin’s search for redemption. Both are good stories and worthy of exploration, but they didn’t create the romantic tension I expected. If anything, they seemed to slow the story down a bit. And at times I found the leads to be a bit dry at times, though Isabelle became a bit more sympathetic when I learned more of her backstory.

That being said, I do still recommend the book. Julie Klassen may not write action-packed reads, but she knows how to weave a mystery while exploring the human condition. I liked the way she explored how fear can control our lives, whether it’s fear of repeating past mistakes or fear of stepping out of your comfort zone. And just as she did with her Tales from Ivy Hills trilogy, Klassen has crafted a book perfect for a relaxing afternoon with a cup of tea.

(Review will go live on the blog on Dec. 13 at 5 pm)

I have read almost all of Julie Klassen's books and this has to be my favorite of all of them.
The characters really jump off the page at you, demanding your attention to solve the case before another murder occurs.
The story line was superb and I learned about Belle Island and River Thames , the ebb and flow of the river and it's flooding.
Belle Island is fiction but I could picture myself there among it's people watching the mystery crack wide open.
The story involves a disenchanted lawyer on the island to get answers to a shocking murder. All the clues point to a beautiful woman, but is she really innocent as she claims or does she have something sinister hidden behind her beautiful eyes.
Smooth flowing the story takes us from one mysterious event to the next as the story progresses .

Pub Date 03 Dec 2019
I was given a complimentary copy. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

A beautiful heiress is implicated in a shocking murder, while a lawyer who vowed never to trust a beautiful face is the only one who can help her clear her name.



Isabelle loves her home on Belle Island, but fears keep her from spreading her wings and going beyond it's familiar comfort. She is shocked at the accusations, but she cannot with clarity say that she did not commit the crime.



Benjamin took a different path than was laid out for him, carving out a career in law. He seeks to live his faith, and has a compassionate heart. He can't help but want to believe in Isabelle's innocence, even when all the clues point to her.



A regency era gothic novel of murder, deceit, mystery, and betrayal. A compelling mystery, no one knows who to trust, even the suspects themselves are questioning if they could have done it. Benjamin is drawn to Isabelle despite his reservations he sees in her someone one who understands him like no one else, yet everything seems to lead to her. The mystery kept me guessing, along with the full cast of characters with secrets of their own. This is a wonderfully complex read, with good elements of mystery, faith, and characters that I loved cheering for the entire way through, with their vulnerabilities making them more real and relatable.



A riveting and highly enjoyable read from beginning to end, with a mystery that kept me guessing and wonderful world building. Highly recommend this fantastic read!



I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

One would think there would not be many suspects to be found on a small privately owned island related to a murder committed in London. Ah, but one would be wrong because there are suspects in abundance. It is up to attorney Benjamin Booker to work through them all in order to prove the innocence of Isabelle Wilder, owner and prisoner of Belle Island. Intrigued? I hope so because I believe you will find this mystery and Klassen's characters compelling. Klassen's theme of trust and confidence over worry and doubt is carefully woven into the story, and is viewed through the lens of personal failure and circumstances that steal one's hope. I highly recommend this book and am grateful to have received a copy from Bethany House via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.

I’ve read a handful of Klassen books and this may be one of my favorites. It reminded me a little of the movie “Clue” where there are many people around and everyone seems to have some reason for disliking the victim. I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery.

There were several interesting factors in the story. One of the suspects is an agoraphobic woman who claims to have not left her island in 10 years. One of the investigating lawyers has vertigo. There are random Jane Austen quotes sprinkled throughout. And it was fascinating to see how the criminal investigation went forward in this time period. There were twists and turns. All this made for a great read. I’d recommend it.

Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

#TheBridgetoBelleIsland #Netgalley

" The Bridge to Belle Island" is a mystery and also romantic fiction. Benjamin Booker is a lawyer and is in a firm with several other lawyers. In the beginning one of the lawyers was murdered. Benjamin was sent to Belle Island to figure out the details on how the murder occurred and who may have killed his partner. Belle Island is isolated and the area is a mystery . It is located on the Thames river. Other problems have occurred there which have not been solved. The island was very secluded and removed. from other areas and cities in London. Why would there be unsolved mysteries there. Isabelle has lived there for years. She rarely left the island. She tried to find safety on Belle Island but it also was a place of fear to her after all the tragedies that have occurred there. She was very anxious and is constantly looking for peace and serenity. The reader will enter the world of mystery and uncertainty when they read the Bridge to Belle Island. How will these uncertainties be solved. ? It is wonderful that the author reminds the characters of how God is there for them during times of trouble. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book. It is a wonderful book . I will share my review with facebook, Goodreads, Amazon, my blog and the church staff as well.

The author kept me guessing, almost to the end, and thankfully a wonderful job is done to totally complete this read.
Greed and Pride, and maybe more, but these come in to play, and end with murder, but who wanted this lawyer dead? When the facts begin to fall, the list grows, and really surprises abound.
The setting sounds so ideal, a beautiful island on the Tames, made me want to live there!
If you like a book that is filled with action, most you won’t see coming, intrigue, and mystery, and natural disaster, this one won’t leave you wanting!
I received this book through Net Galley the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.

Julie Klassen’s latest release is full of twists and turns, making it a challenge, if not impossible, to solve the mystery of who killed Percival Norris. The majority of the time, I felt like I was reading a drawn out game of Clue that had me guessing and regrouping several times until the end.
All characters are likely suspects, with powerful motivations to see the crotchety former barrister dead. With the introduction of secondary characters scattered throughout the first few chapters, each one is highly suspect and hiding something. What is revealed in later pages may have readers stunned to learn their secrets.
There is something to love, and forgive, about each character. Ms. Klassen spins a tale so intriguing that one can’t help but to root for the innocence of the full cast. In the end, the culprit is not the most likely suspect.
When it comes to issues of faith, main characters struggle with their relationship with God. It's not heavy into the faith journey, but there is a bit of it throughout the pages.
This was such an enjoyable read that it’s going in my TBRA pile (To Be Read Again).
Next time, I’ll be sure to study the red herrings more closely and congratulate the author on her obvious cleverness.
Well done.
I received an ecopy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Lawyer Benjamin Booker resolves to never again trust a beautiful woman after a humiliating incident with a young woman he believed innocent, admitted her guilt. So when a murder case involves a client of the firm, the senior partner asks Benjamin, eager to leave London, to investigate. Evidence takes him to a remote island on the Thames, a world unto itself, shrouded in mist and mystery. Soon he finds himself falling for the main suspect—a woman who claims not to have left the island in ten years. But should he trust her?

On Belle Island, Isabelle feels safe and leads a productive life, but fear has kept her trapped there. When Mr. Booker arrives with news of her trustee's murder in London, Isabelle is stunned. She has not left the island, yet she has a recurring dream about the man's death. Could it be a memory, but how? She knows she has never left the island!

As evidence keeps pointing to Isabelle, she doesn't know who to trust: the attractive lawyer or the admirer and friends who assemble on the island, each with grudges against the victim. Searching for the truth, long held and new secrets come to light.

Fast reading with a plethora of likely suspects set against an almost gothic-like background kept this reader pretty much glued to the pages. Filled with a wonderfully interesting set of protagonists, Benjamin was still upset over having let a young attractive woman play him against his usual astute instincts. And now here he was, faced with another young woman whom his instincts wanted to believe in spite of evidence that she was the guilty party!

Isabelle was everything a man could desire in a woman, strong, true, non-assuming, caring and yet - it was by her own admission that her uncle Percy was a thorn in her side! And wasn’t it Isabelle who had the bigger motive to be rid of him? I guess you will just have to read this engrossing tale to find out!

Marilyn Rondeau

Both Isabelle Wilder and Benjamin Booker have allowed the events of the past to overshadow and shape their present. Will they find the faith and courage they need to set aside the past and reach for a brighter future? Or will a murderer claim yet another victim? The Bridge to Belle Island is a story of letting go and of holding on to the One who holds the future in His hands.

Klassen is a master of the Regency novel, skillfully weaving in a page-turning mystery that will keep you guessing until the end.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I am a huge Julie Klassen fan and her latest book was superb. The setting is an island on the Thames River and the characters are very well thought out. The mystery kept me guessing until the very end. The is a bit of romance but not overly done.
The point of view from Benjamin, the lawyer who come to the island to ask questions about the murder was a refreshing change from usually female dominated characters in this genre.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Net Galley and these opinions are solely my own.

"The Bridge to Belle Island" is a historical romance/mystery set in 1819 in England. Benjamin loses a case because he trusted a beautiful woman. Then one of the partners is found murdered, which further threatens the firm. Benjamin's mentor sends him to subtly investigate Isabelle, but he greets her by basically accusing her of murder. She's a very kind and compassionate woman who continues to forgive his suspicion, but they couldn't really grow to love each other because of his continued distrust. I could see them becoming friends, but I had trouble accepting the romance, especially when she had several supportive, interested men around.

The story focused more on relationships than on uncovering clues, but I knew who the murderer was before half of the book was done. I could understand why Benjamin and Isabelle didn't see it, though.

Isabelle struggled with an intense fear of leaving the island, and several men who cared about her were trying to help her overcome this fear. She also had to forgive several people for wrongs done in the past and needed forgiveness as well. Benjamin occasionally prayed to God about his worries and for guidance. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this historical romance.

The story begins in a courtroom, introducing Benjamin Booker in 1819. “Benjamin Booker sat in the Old Bailey, pulse pounding His most important case to date had finally been called to trial – his chance to prove himself to the firm’s partners.”

Things don’t go as planned. The partners are not impressed with Benjamin and one of the partners turns up dead, Benjamin suspects there’s foul play. His partner tells him to go to Belle Island and deliver the news to the relatives. See for yourself how they react. Everyone’s a suspect. The story is told through the eyes of Mr. Benjamin Booker a lawyer chasing down leads in the murder of one of the partners in the firm. His senior partner tells him to go to Belle Island and see what he can find.

I love how the author shines the spotlight on many of the people in the story and their motives. Just when Benjamin was getting close to solving this puzzle, another body shows up with a different set of circumstances it suggests a cover up.

The author says, “Belle Island is a fictional place, but it is something of a composite of the islands I researched. Physically, it resembles Ray Mill Island near Maidenhead, Berkshire, which I’ve had the pleasure of visiting a few times. Named after the Ray Family, who once operated a flour mill there, the island is now a public park with lovely gardens and wooded paths.”

…”the opening court room scene is based loosely on an actual trial transcript from the Old Bailey, through the names have been changed.”

Benjamin meets Isabelle she’s a beauty who’s never left the Island after her parents’ death. She struggles with a dream she had about the deceased partner. It was almost like she was there. It is of the murder that Benjamin Books has come to tell her about. How could she have such a dream? She never leaves the island.

This author does a great job of taking readers on a grand adventure to a beautiful Island and I enjoyed getting to know the community. It almost felt like a Sherlock Holmes mystery. It’s a complex story that had me guessing up till the end. I loved getting to know the Island it’s people and that time period.

The author includes 10 discussion questions to help with your book club discussion time. This would make a fun book to discuss at your next book club meeting.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins! www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com

It's been way too long since I've read a Julie Klassen book. The Bridge to Belle Island reminded me of what a master she is in this genre. The romance, the setting, the characters, the intrigue, the historical detail, the dialogue. So good!

The mystery was superb. Everyone was a suspect and had plenty of motive to do the deed. I was constantly left guessing and trying to figure out what was going on and who the most likely suspect was. I was shocked when the reveal finally came.

The pacing was a little inconsistent at times and dragged in a few places, especially the end, but other than that, I really enjoyed reading it. It's sure to delight fans of regency mysteries.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

This reminded me of a Hercule Poirot story. It was a story of who done it! Someone was murdered and I had no idea who killed them. And things just got more mysterious with every page. I love this authors writing and I love the time period.
But having said that...This wasn’t as romantic as I’d wished and parts of it dragged for me. Don’t get me wrong, the writing was good and I’m always going to read every book she writes. I hope this was helpful.
This was a NETGALLEY gift and all opinions are my own.

Very interesting and intriguing book.
It captivated my attention from the very first line till the end.
A lot of tragedies had happened in the life of Isabella to earn her isolating herself in her lovely island. But her time out comes to an end when her life is once again treated at it's foundations. Despite her fears I enjoyed reading about her sweet spirit and her love for people. As a homebody myself I could relate with her.
Ben had been bitten before by a pretty woman and he had set his heart on not to be deceived by a pretty face again but the face of Isabella caught him smack down.
Together they were a force to be reckoned with. The story shoved and threw them in different paths but they always found a way to make it work.
Things became very complicated and complex but I loved how the author showed how God can untangle the complexities of life and walk through it with us if we ask for help and trust him. I enjoyed most how things began to turn when the characters started to pray and read God's word.
The suspense and build up of the story will keep you glued.I received a copy of the book from Netgalley for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed here are mine.

I have enjoyed this series by Julie Klassen, but this book is my favorite. I love how the characters have grown and how real they are. Julie Klassen writes an intriguing story and presents realistic, flawed characters. I know this will bw popular in our library system.

I selected this book to read because of the author. I have enjoyed her books in the past and this one was no exception. It was a mystery that found its way to a suspect at an estate away from London. A disgraced lawyer made the trip to this estate to accuse the maiden aunt of murder. Getting to know her and her phobia not to cross the bridge, he is inclined to believe that she could not have done it. So who did? As he learns more about the aunt and the events around the murder and his own law firm, his suspicions come closer to home. As the young lawyer gets to know the aunt better, he slowly falls in love with her. I really loved the interaction between the characters and how they stayed true to themselves during the book. It was a wonderful read and much more than a romance!

This book is a bit different than the other books I've read by Julie Klassen. This is a murder mystery. It is also a historical fiction with a bit of romance thrown in. I did enjoy the book. The characters were very well developed and the story flowed well. I do admit I was suspicious of whom the actual murder was about 3/4 of the way through. But, that did not detract from the story in any way.

The ebook I received was an ARC and it did have a few errors both grammatical and spelling. A couple of times this caused me to have to re-read the sentence and figure it out but hopefully that will all have been addressed at final editing.

I would recommend this book and give it a 4 out of 5-star rating. This review is my own opinion and freely given. I was given an ARC copy of this book through Netgalley.