Dark Interlude by Pamela Kelt

This book is far and away my favorite that I have read by this author so far. The story is set in Scotland at the end of World War I. Soldiers are coming home, some to no jobs while others return to their former employment, displacing the women that held those jobs during the war. Alexandra Milton has three months left on her contract as deputy librarian at St. Peter's University when the senior archivist returns from war to resume his position. Newly redundant, Alex is sent to inventory, catalog and pack a 17th century bequest left to the university.

Almost as soon as she arrives Alex is beset with problems. Someone breaks into the library before she barely makes any progress, an attempt at arson and a stunning find. Along the way, she is rebuffed and all but ignored by James Buchanan whose law partner is handling the bequest, attacked by unknown persons and finds herself developing an interest in David Sinclair, the solicitor handling the bequest.

Murder, unscrupulous dealings, revolutionaries, battle weary soldiers and romance combine to make a compelling story. The attention to detail makes it obvious the level of research the author undertook prior to writing. I enjoyed learning about the use of interludes, what they are and how they could enhance a play or be used to make social, political or religious comments. This was the most fascinating part for me. I enjoyed the interplay between the characters as they got to know each other and seeing Alex become a part of the community while working to archive the books and documents.

As a whole, a wonderful story that anyone who enjoys this genre should pick up. The author calls this an historical romance, but I would add mystery or suspense to that as well. I would be more than happy to read more books like this by Kelt. I was gifted a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 4 stars

This book is available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.