Swept Away: Ruth Mornay and the Unwanted Clues
Swept Away: Ruth Mornay and the Unwanted Clues
In the deepening gloom they could see movement. A black shadow glided from the edge of the woods, past her mother’s lilac bushes and headed toward the house.
“I wish that motion sensing porch light was still working,” Ruth muttered.
“Should we make some noise and scare them off?” Saul asked.
“No.” Ruth wanted to know who was creeping around their house. The figure was bent over, so it was impossible to guess their height, but it definitely wasn’t a kid. The shadow neared a bit of light from the den window that came through the curtains and brightened a small patch of ground. Ruth hoped that the light would give the sneak away. A couple more steps and Ruth would have her answer. Whoever it was, they took one step closer and the light bounced off something in their hand.
Ruth gasped. It was a crowbar.
“Bwrack”
Behind them Dorcas stood in the still-open door of the coop and raised the alarm. The hens who were normally roosting quietly were now all clucking and flapping. Ruth cursed whichever brother it was who forgot to close up the coop. Brothers were so unreliable.
The shadow stopped, spun and took off back towards the woods.
“Should we chase them?” Saul asked, moving away from the wall, ready to run.
“Are you crazy? Didn’t you see the weapon in their hand? One bash of a crowbar on the skull and its lights out, for good.”
Ruth Mornay is the only girl and youngest of seven siblings in her family. She is a loner with an undistinguished appearance, ‘plain as a fence post’, that allows her to disappear into the background from where she keeps a watchful eye on the neighbourhood.
Ruth is heartbroken when her special friend and neighbour, 64-year-old Beatrice, is allegedly swept away in a flood. Ruth has serious doubts about the manner of Bea’s death, doubts which are confirmed when Bea’s honorary nephew moves into her old house. Saul has evidence indicating Bea knew she would be murdered and, what’s more, that Ruth is to be the next victim. He also gives Ruth a box of strange unrelated objects believed to be clues. Against her wishes, Ruth and Saul become friends, sharing a common goal of finding Bea’s murderer.
There are many elements of this fast paced read to enjoy, including an easy to read writing style, subtle humour, clever observations and identifiable, relatable child characters. Saul and Ruth are a good partnership, each having nicely drawn down-to-earth personalities. Similarly, personalities of local residents, some of whom are suspects, are captured deftly.
The plot, itself, is fast moving and holds the reader’s attention although some of the motivations for murder around ancient secret societies seem a bit obscure. In short order, readers touch base with templar societies and their treasures, the shocking realization that Ruth is intended to be the next society patron, obscure family connections that come to light, basement cupboards that become tunnels and complex clues involving flowers and human hair. The pieces all come together in the end although the denouement of the culprit is rather an anti-climax since the individual rarely features in the story.
Overall, however, Swept Away is an entertaining read with Ruth’s chicken, Dorcas, or Portia the pig bringing some light relief, frequently coming to Ruth’s rescue at critical times.
Aileen Wortley is a retired Children’s Librarian from Toronto, Ontario.