Not my typical historical fiction book but a good story. Lots of questions I felt could have been answered better but interesting.

Catherine, a young widow, lives in the mid 17th century with all of the political turmoil that that entails plus being a young widow bringing up her daughter. Hannah, 2019, finds a ring and a charcoal drawing of a young woman and sets out to find more about them. She is aided by the strong handsome young man and seems incredibly naive. I had far more sympathy with Catherine who seemed to cope admirably with her life problems. The dual timeline works well, and the descriptions and attitudes of times past seem realistic. There was an ending but I felt that more could have been made of it. 3.5* rounded up. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

The Woman in the Painting by Amanda Roberts is a dual timeline book of Historical Mystery Fiction. I was drawn to this book after reading the blurb about an intriguing historical mystery in Civil War England.
The characters and their lives are so realistic in both timelines. A heart wrenching story and mystery you’ll not soon forget. I hope to read more books by this author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book. 5 Stars

A mystery-quest set in the future, where Hannah races to unravel the past. In this novel, we follow dual perspectives: Hannah in 2019 and Catherine in 1645. Their viewpoints complement each other, slowly piecing together a puzzle as the narrative unfolds. The quest begins when Hannah discovers old coins and a unique ring. Intrigued, she delves into their history, unknowingly putting herself in danger and oblivious to others who also covet her treasure.

It's a perfect mystery with twist after twist, cleverly set in two distinct timelines that slowly converge into a satisfying conclusion. The historical setting, the English Civil War in 1645, is meticulously crafted, even though the author takes some creative liberties. I confess, I wasn't expecting the novel to delve into the political turmoil of the era, but it becomes surprisingly relevant to the central conflict. At first, the detailed descriptions of the surroundings felt unnecessary, but I soon realized but then I realized it set the ambience of the story perfectly. Moreover, the novel depicts the disadvantages of widowed lower class woman faces at that time.

This heartbreaking and bittersweet story lingered with me long after the final page. I became deeply invested in both protagonists, sympathizing with them through their individual struggles. In a way, Hannah's journey offered redemption for Catherine's past, making the ending all the more satisfying.

Ready to lose yourself in a captivating historical mystery? Dive into this dual-timeline adventure and discover the truth!

Thanks to BooksGoSocial and Amanda Roberts for the NetGalley ARC!

TW: Attempted Sexual Assault
I was unprepared for a scene depicting attempted rape later in the book. To ensure others are aware, I'm adding this trigger warning.

A good story of love and loss. It starts out with a ring given for good luck. But is it lucky? I was instantly drawn in and loved it!

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