Testament

The two time frame story is becoming very popular. I've seen it so many times and every time it works like a charm.

Here too we go to medieval England to Salster to 1385 and to a master mason Simon and more unusually his wife a master craftsman too. The building of any place is in this time a massive achievement. A lifetime honor for a craftsmen and from the details found in this story, obviously a massive undertaking. Stones were chiselled and part of a building as a labour of love, of much pride for not just the master but also for his workmen. The story of this couple and their unusual child and the complications of local politics and pride is one story.

Fast forward to 2019 and we have Dalmia taking over as Marketing Manager of the college Kinetton and Dacre. The college is bankrupt and is left vulnerable to take over bids where the main concern is turning over a fast buck. Whilst undergoing renovations, a grotesque series of paintings is uncovered. Will this be the saving of the college? but first the story has to be uncovered as to what it signifies.

Two stories of history in two separate time frames, two personal stories one of Simon and his wife and son and then we have Dalmia and her partner trying to find a balance between career and love.

I loved the detail in both time frames. The procedure of building, of architecture in the 14th century and the machinations and marketing of a college which is behind the facade of a well run institution in the 21st century.

‘Hidden only until those who are looking come.’

This novel is the story of the fictional medieval college of Kineton and Dacre, told in two different timelines. The first timeline commences in 1385, when the college was being built. The second timeline is in 2019, when the college is facing financial problems and is under threat.

In 1385, master mason Simon of Kineton is building a great college. But the building is threatened by the Bishop of Salster: the established church seeks to control all such building. And two things threaten this building: the hint of Lollardy, and rumours that the mason’s son is cursed.

In 2019, Damia Miller has been employed to manage marketing and publicity for the college. A series of paintings has been uncovered during recent renovations, and Damia is keen to learn more about the history of this painting: what does it mean, and who does it represent?

As the story moves between past and present, we learn about the people involved and the issues faced. Simon is married to Gwyneth, a master carpenter. They have a son, Tobias, who is physically disabled. Aspects of Tobias’s disability cause some people to consider that he is cursed.
In the present, Damia has some challenges of her own. She and her partner are struggling to find balance, to enable each of their needs to be met.

While my main interest was in the fourteenth century part of the story, I was fascinated by Damia’s search to find out the truth behind the paintings. In both stories, there is an issue about the land on which the college is built. In both stories, there are political realities to be acknowledged and dealt with. I kept reading, wanting to know if Damia’s research would lead her the truth. Can the truth save the college? Will Damia find what she is searching for personally?

While a couple of details had me wondering (no spoilers here), the story moved at such a fast pace that I kept moving with it. I enjoyed the story.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Sapere Books for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith