Jan Middleton: Bright Shadow (June 2025)

This is the story of Katherine Plantagenet, one of the seven children of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville. She is a lesser-known historical character but the daughter, niece, sister, sister-in-law and aunt of kings who comes across very much as a three-dimensional, warm and intelligent woman in this novelised historical account.

Upon the early death of Edward IV and the disappearance of her brothers, the Princes in the Tower, Richard usurps the throne. The family is now in jeopardy and the marriage of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville is declared to be illegal.

However, the sisters are resilient and resourceful with Elizabeth marrying Henry VII after the victory at Bosworth and Katherine becoming the wife of William Courtney, heir to the Earl of Devon. This is depicted as a happy union and Katherine is loving and protective of her husband and children.

The claims to the throne are tenuous and Henry VII is, rightly, concerned about possible rebellion and treachery, resulting in the placing of spies in all households with links to royalty.

There is constant fear of accusations of treason which could lead to imprisonment, torture and execution.

Early death through illness, during childbirth and infant mortality is rife and, by relating this in the form of a novel, from the viewpoint of one woman gives the reader a real sense of the personal tragedies that have to be endured.

The book was daunting at over 560 pages but we found that we became engrossed in this well-researched novel and enjoyed the local connection to the Courtneys and Tiverton Castle where Katherine died in 1527.

We witnessed the early life of her nephew, Henry VIII who had her son executed in 1529.

There was one slightly jarring note towards the end with a fictional romance that Katherine had after she had taken a pragmatic vow of celibacy to guard her independence following the death of her husband.

The book is very long but it does encompass a fascinating and complicated period of history with the introduction of many different characters and it was an engaging and entertaining read.

4.5/5