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Nell Bray is an active member of the Suffragette Movement in Britain. Philomena Venn, a silent supporter, has passed away, leaving the Movement a painting. Nell Bray is asked to go and retrieve the painting from Philomena's spouse. Oliver Venn seems more than willing to help and is sympathetic to their cause. Once Bray returns to London, she realizes that the painting she was given was a fake and that Oliver still has the original. Bray appeals to Oliver -- but to no avail. She then turns to the other members of the Venn clan for help in retrieving the painting. The youngest son, Daniel, believes that Bray should just steal the original painting and replace it with the fake. While biding her time, Bray stays in the camp of a group of Scipians, who are a political group looking to change the world. They also have several musicians well-versed in folk music and dances. One of the violinists, Daisy Smith, is incredibly talented. To the surprise of the entire camp group, Daniel announces their engagement. This comes as a huge shock to his family and his current fiancée. When Daisy is found murdered, suspicion turns to Daniel and his family. Bray must help find the murderer before another victim is found and an innocent man is convicted. BLOOD ON THE WOOD has a lot of political undertones. The Suffragette Movement played a large role in the early 1900s in both England and abroad. Nell Bray is greatly influenced by this movement and its politics. In fact, it is almost impossible to get an understanding of her character as the politics of this movement dictate her reactions to every event. Another political element is the collecting of folk music. As England became more modernized through the late 1800s and early 1900s, the collecting of folk music and folk dances became a popular activity. With industrialization and the urban development of rural areas, the older cultural elements were disappearing. Some archivists were attempting to record the past before they completely vanished. This activity was also done in other European countries and the United States. While the camp and its music are in the background of the story, their impact greatly influences the atmosphere of the time. BLOOD ON THE WOOD is the 11th book featuring Nell Bray.
Reviewed by Sarah Dudley, September 2004
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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