ShortBookandScribes #BookReview – Time’s Tyranny by Linda Gillard

Time’s Tyranny by Linda Gillard is independently published and is available in eBook and paperback. I purchased my own copy.

Time’s Tyranny is the first in the Wyngrave Women trilogy. You can find my review of book one, Time’s Prisoner, here.

The new novel from the author of Kindle bestsellers, THE MEMORY TREE and HOUSE OF SILENCE – a captivating sequel to TIME’S PRISONER, The Wyngrave Women Book 1.

1934
Hidden under the bed in her father’s studio, five-year-old Emerald Heskett watches as the picture gradually disappears, obliterated by white paint. The child doesn’t understand what she’s witnessed, but gives the new painting a name: The Snowstorm.

2020
The first lockdown is over and the women of Wyngrave Hall are coming to terms with their new lives. Retired actress, Sylvia Marlow, now blind, cannot see or even touch her granddaughter, Ros, a nurse living in isolation in a cottage in the grounds. Her partner, Bridget, begs Ros to quit before she, too, becomes a Covid statistic. Jane Summers, owner of Wyngrave and author of historical whodunnits, hasn’t seen Jesper Olsen, art conservator, since he locked down with his frail mother.

At Howthwaite Castle in Cumbria, Bella Heskett and her brother, Nick care for elderly Cousin Em as they struggle to transform the roofless ruin of their family home and its abandoned gardens into a tourist attraction. When Nick asks his old friend Jesper to visit and assess some damaged paintings, he persuades Jane to go with him to Howthwaite where they encounter the enigma of The Snowstorm and Em’s curious attachment to it. But despite their passionate reunion, when Jane learns the truth about Jesper’s past, she questions their future together.

Nick gathered up the incriminating letters, replaced them in his father’s desk and locked it, though he wasn’t sure who needed to be protected from the contents. Cousin Em would never know and Bella wouldn’t care. Nick had never asked himself why his mother drank, or why his late brother took drugs. Hesketts didn’t ask questions. The family motto was “Perfer et obdura”. Persist and endure.

But would Howthwaite endure…?

Time’s Tyranny is the second in what is now a trilogy about the Wyngrave Women. We first encountered Wyngrave Hall in the first book, Time’s Prisoner, which focused on Jane Summers, a historical novelist who, to her surprise, inherited the hall (and an unexpected sitting tenant). Jane features in this second instalment too, but we are also treated to another old building, Howthwaite Castle, a romantic ruin that is a drain on the owners. The two buildings and therefore the two strands of the story, are linked by Jesper, an art conservator and Jane’s partner, and his assistant, Bella, who is one of the Hesketts of Howthwaite.

As I often find with a Linda Gillard book, I could go on and say so much more about the story because there are so many aspects to it and I’m not sure how she fits so much into the pages whilst making it flow and blend so beautifully. She’s a talented author whose books I have been reading for many years now and I always enjoy them very much.

Time’s Tyranny looks at the burden of responsibility and legacy. There is a strong artistic aspect to the storyline as Jesper is called to Howthwaite to help with conservation and identification of two paintings in particular. The characterisations are wonderful; Gillard always writes a good hero and Jesper is absolutely the sort of man you’d want by your side. She also excels at the older heroine, not just Jane in her 50s but also the next generation, feisty retired actress Sylvia and Jesper’s forthright mother Iris. I particularly enjoyed the convergence of the characters as the second Covid lockdown hits. The portrayal of the impact of the pandemic, particularly on Sylvia’s granddaughter, nurse Ros, is incredibly moving.

A great plot with historical mysteries; three-dimensional, richly drawn characters; and atmospheric and immersive settings, made this a fabulous and warm read that I struggled to put down. I’m looking forward to the third book in the trilogy now, based around another Wyngrave Woman.

Linda Gillard lives in North Lanarkshire, Scotland. She’s the author of twelve novels, including STAR GAZING, shortlisted for Romantic Novel of the Year in 2009 and the Robin Jenkins Literary Award for writing that promotes the Scottish landscape.

HOUSE OF SILENCE and THE MEMORY TREE became Kindle bestsellers.

Linda has written a series of art mysteries, “The Wyngrave Women” which began with TIME’S PRISONER. The second, TIME’S TYRANNY was published in 2025 and TIME’S TESTIMONY will be published in 2026.