The Alexandrite

Who is the stranger found dead in the woods outside Pamela, Lady Scawton's family home? Why was he carrying a stone that changes colour and a threatening letter? The quest leads from World War One to the present day and from an English village to New Zealand farmland, to discover how past events are intertwined with the present. To unravel the mystery Pamela is forced to confront truths that shatter her beliefs about her family's ancestors, her son and their place in the world. The Alexandrite is a story of class conflict, hidden sins and deceit. 'A gripping narrative, spanning several generations of English and New Zealand families, lent tension by the iniquities of the British class system and the differing values of its colourful cast.' Graeme Lay - award-winning author of a trilogy about James Cook. 'This novel is a fascinating account of how the rigidity of the British class system and keeping "a stiff upper lip" can have devastating effects on families.
I truly recommend this read' Helen Piper, Historical Novel Society