Book 21: The Ivy Tree, by Mary Stewart (pub. 1961)

Wow, am I glad I read this again.  I have had a love-hate relationship with this book ever since I first read it in high school.  It has a huge and unexpected twist in the story, and I really felt betrayed the first time I read it.  When I read it again several years later, I realized that there had been hints given earlier, but I still didn't like it much. But this time I LOVED it!!!  Maybe it helps to be doing the chronological-read thing, but I felt more open to the nuances this time, and I was not disappointed.

This book takes place in northern England, near Hadrian's Wall.  Without giving anything away, it is the story of a family battling over who will inherit the estate on the old patriarch's death.  But within that standard setting, Mary Stewart has written a clever and unusual story that is gripping and suspenseful and really fascinating.  She is at the top of her game, and takes the reader for a lovely ride.  The beginning-of-the-chapter quotes are all from old northern poetry and stories.  The setting is vividly described.  The characters are fully drawn.  What fun!!!

And I have to say, it took a long time to read this book because I read every word, carefully looking for the foreshadowing of her surprise ending.  And it was there, hidden in the most subtle double-entendres ever.  I am so impressed with her skill!  

If you have never read this book, read it and enjoy it.  And then after you finish, plan to read it again in a few months so you can catch the trickiness of the story.  I love it!!