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The Lady's Slipper

by Deborah Swift
Griffin: St. Martin's. Nov. 2010. c.464p. ISBN 9780312638337. pap. $14.99. F
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A lady of waning wealth, Alice Ibbetson develops a fierce passion for a rare orchid, the Lady's Slipper, found on the property of her Quaker neighbor, Robert Wheeler. When she steals the orchid in hopes of breeding it, her actions have far-reaching consequences. She must soon contend with the machinations of a power-hungry maid, the intimidating demands of the local medicine woman, and the threatening presence of her partner in crime, the wealthy and ruthless Geoffrey Fisk. A murder, a good dose of 17th-century politics, and an increasingly complicated relationship between Alice and the upright Robert round out Swift's debut novel.
VERDICT Though written at a slightly plodding pace with long sections of tedious prose about the politics and history of the time, loosely disguised as dialog or character musings, The Lady's Slipper has all the characteristics of well-received historical romance. Recommended for fans of Philippa Gregory and Rose Tremain, as well as students of the English Civil War. [Library marketing campaign.]
Reviewed by Therese Oneill, Monmouth, OR , Oct 01, 2010
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