Book Review: The Shadow on the Bridge by Clare Marchant

I’m so excited to be welcoming Clare Marchant back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, The Shadow on the Bridge.

‘You must forever watch your back,’ I spoke the words clearly, though he could not hear me. ‘Come what may, I shall avenge my brother’s death.’’

Now: When Sarah’s summoned by her godmother to remote Norfolk, she doesn’t want to go. Crossing the bridges where the two rivers meet, said to be haunted by the ghost of a little boy, a large Tudor house looms in front of her. And Sarah’s instantly reminded her of the summer when she last visited. The summer she would like to forget. Which left her unable to ever move forward… Can a person ever recover from the loss of a sibling?

1571: Anne Howard, newly-made countess of Arundel, has also lost a sibling. And been dragged from the relative safety of her home in remote Norfolk to London, by her overbearing, manipulative, new father-in-law Thomas Howard; the very person she suspects of killing her beloved only brother. The Howards have greater secrets than this though. Secrets that will lead Anne to a tragedy that will echo down the ages…

When Sarah finds a mysterious book of poems in a hidden chamber of her godmother’s house, she is drawn into Anne’s story. Perhaps the mystery will take her mind off her own loss? But – as the flood waters begin to rise under the bridges – is Sarah laying ghosts to rest, or bringing truths to the surface that should stay beneath?

A completely haunting, gripping historical novel, perfect for fans of Philippa Gregory, Alison Weir, and Diane Setterfield’s Once Upon a River.

*****

It’s 1571. The 4th Duke of Norfolk has ordered Anne to marry his eldest son in order to gain land and fortune. Anne however, is focused on revenge and her new father-in-law is in the firing line.

2025, Sarah has been invited to Norfolk by her godmother. She’s not been there since a family tragedy made her estranged from her parents.

Sarah soon finds a book hidden in a secret chamber. She is also feeling a presence. Is this a connection to Anne or something else?

I have loved previous novels from this author and so I am excited to be invited onto the blog tour for her latest book, The Shadow on the Bridge.

First, kudos to whoever designed this cover. It’s stunning. Now, onto the story. This is the kind of historical fiction that really grips me. This is a part of Tudor history that I wasn’t familiar with and it’s ignited a real interest.

Anne is a strong protagonist. Like many women of her era, she is forced into a marriage. The 4th Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Howard, is a nasty piece of work but she deals with him well. Kate, Cordelia, Amanda and Jed are great supporting characters. Sarah’s parents, like Thomas Howard, were not so good. It was fascinating to see how each era mirrored the other. Sarah and Anne faced different challenges but both women held the burden of grief.

Clare Marchant does a great job at weaving the two timelines together. The plot develops and unfolds at a great pace and there wasn’t a point where it felt slow. I didn’t want to stop reading. I got completely engrossed in Anne and Sarah’s story.

The themes include murder, betrayal, power and grief amongst others. There were some moments where I cheered out loud and others that were totally heartbreaking. The paranormal side of the story was fantastic and the ghosts weren’t just the ones that haunt houses, Sarah especially was haunted by her past. Anne’s past was what motivated her.

This book was an emotional and captivating read that is a must for any historical fiction fan. Clare Merchant has once again written an engaging tale that I devoured and she is one of my favourite authors in this genre.

(Thank you to Boldwood Books, Netgalley and Rachel’s Random Resources for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review). 

About Clare Marchant – 

Growing up in Surrey, Clare always dreamed of being a writer. Instead, after gaining a degree in history and an MA in women’s studies she accidentally fell into a career in IT.

After spending many years as a project manager in London, she moved to Norfolk for a quieter life and trained as a professional jeweller.

Now, finally writing full-time, she lives with her husband and the youngest two of her six children.

Say hello to Clare via Facebook, Twitter (X), Instagram and Bookbub. Click here to sign up to her newsletter.

The Shadow on the Bridge was released by Boldwood Books on 11th March 2025. Click to buy on Amazon and Waterstones. 

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.