WHAT TIME HAS KEPT: A DUAL-ERA MYSTERY
by Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 15, 2026
“A suspenseful and thought-provoking work of historical fiction.” –Kirkus Reviews
(The following review appears on the Kirkus Reviews website.)
In Bernard’s novel, women in two different centuries lead parallel lives.
In 1872, Christian Maclagan, a “Lady Associate” of the Society of Antiquaries, travels to a farm in Scotland to seek out a carved stone ball similar to the Towie ball, an ancient relic. A real-life historical figure, she has a narrative voice that reflects her outspoken personality: “The underlying fact that women are not taken seriously enough to be considered for full membership cannot be ignored,” she fumes over the “Lady Associate” invitation. “I will need to say something.”
Anthropologists speculate about the origins and purpose of the Towie ball—was it a weapon or connected to pagan spiritual practice? The author hints at supernatural or metaphysical significance, as when Christian writes a cryptic inscription in her book taken from a proverb: “Books lie, but the stone is true.” Intrigued by this inscription, Ellen Byrne travels to view the Towie ball in a Scottish museum in 2023. Like Christian, Ellen’s “premonitions” mark her journey as a fateful one.
Both women are powerfully drawn to the mysterious stone. “The weight of the stone in my palm, combined with the coolness of its polished black surface against my skin, is nothing short of intoxicating,” Christian narrates; “Since my trip last July to Edinburgh, I have become rather obsessed with the magnificent stone dug up outside the hamlet of Towie.” Both women wish to evade long-buried personal secrets, but escaping their personal histories proves more difficult than anticipated. Christian and Ellen also parallel one another in their truth-seeking—not only into the origins and purpose of the Towie ball, but also regarding themselves. In this way, the narrative is more a quest for self-knowledge than it is a supernatural mystery or SF yarn, which may disappoint those who are anticipating an otherworldly revelation. That said, the historical details fascinate—curiosity about the Towie ball and evocations of Scotland’s rich cultural heritage may invite further speculation and research on the part of readers. Some biographical details of Christian Maclagan are fictionalized for storytelling purposes.
A suspenseful and thought-provoking work of historical fiction.
Pub Date: Oct. 15, 2026
ISBN: 9781685138042
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Categories:
THRILLER | HISTORICAL MYSTERY | PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER
