Gilbert's The Treachery of Time
won Britain's Catherine Cookson Award, and fans of Cookson will particularly appreciate this latest from the subgenre of gentle gothic. In 1919, Lorna Kent forsakes city life for the more bucolic splendors of Canterlow, England. At first, the small town is a peaceful refuge, seemingly unchanged by the recent distant battles of WWI. But as Lorna slowly discovers, the community's pleasant facade masks a substrata roiled by malicious gossip, mysterious tragedy and even barbaric evil. As Lorna becomes romantically obsessed with the local headmaster, she is equally consumed with finding out the truth behind the death of Alice Hood, an unmarried young woman who committed suicide after finding herself pregnant. Who was the man Lorna saw with Alice just before Alice died? Gilbert's tone is a little too village-cozy for readers to feel seriously menaced by events. There's only one real contender for the role of villain, and the most interesting relationship of the book gives way to a safely tepid one as order is predictably restored to the universe. Like weak tea on a cold day, this slender offering won't satisfy readers looking for robust refreshment, but it's perfect for those who like a comforting story told gracefully and well. (Dec. 28)
