In her novel None So Blind, Alis Hawkins explores the culture and hierarchy of rural Welsh communities in the mid 1800s. We follow Henry Probert-Lloyd, a solicitor newly out of school who is suffering with a degenerative disease that is diminishing his eyesight. His vision is gradually blurring and what little sight he does have is peripheral. This is a solid metaphor for what is happening in the novel: Henry is blind to a lot of what is happening around him in his life when it comes to his friends, his acquaintances, and his former loves.

Henry is drawn to the investigation of a mysterious death: bones are found among the roots of a tree and Henry knows they belong to his love interest from years before, Margaret Jones. There is an inquiry and, through the influence of Rebecca, a mystery figure who takes the name of the riots held in Wales during the early 1800s, the cause of death is deemed accidental. Henry is not convinced. He enlists the help of a clerk, John Davies, and together they go out in search of the truth.

Hawkins does a great job of revealing what life was like in the mid 1800s for the rich and poor alike. The Rebecca Riots, an actual series of events from that time period, were initially meant to allow the poor and working class to protest unfair wages and work conditions. In this novel, Hawkins shows how this somewhat noble cause has been perverted, used to strike fear in the hearts of those who may have done the people or community wrong. It can be an obscure offense that sets Rebecca in motion and Henry’s fear is that Rebecca is responsible for Margaret’s death.

John acts as Henry’s eyes, determining what facial expressions may be revealing about the thoughts of witnesses that their words do not. John himself plays a crucial role in the proceedings, since he knows much more about this mystery than he is letting on. That is one point of contention I have with the novel: John has information that could blow the case wide open and his reasons for not revealing what he knows are weak and indefensible.

Overall, this is an entertaining novel. Hawkins takes the reader to a land that is not often represented in novels and makes it familiar. Along the way, Hawkins introduces us to interesting characters who are very much of their time: landowners who hold a bitterness and resentment towards their superiors, a priest with a secret of his own, and women who are trying to establish a good life for themselves and their children in a time when it is much easier said than done. Henry and John are a formidable duo and I would love to read about their further adventures now that they are established. Check this one out!

I was attracted to this book by the cover which looked bleak, foreboding and mysterious and I wasn't disappointed . Alis Hawkins has written an historical mystery set in Wales during the 1840's a time of unrest and the Rebecca movement which challenged those in authority.

Henry Probert-Lloyd a young barrister just coming to terms with his loss of sight with the assistance of a solicitors clerk John Davies set out to uncover the circumstances behind the death of a young woman who's skeleton is found under the roots of a tree.

I particularly enjoyed the book because the setting and time was unfamiliar to me, the author was successfully able to convey the atmosphere of place and time. The poverty most lived in and how fear of losing all and landing up in the hated work house meant people would be willing to do almost anything to avoid this fate.

The story line was well plotted and the characters well drawn and believable. I understand this is going to be one of a series and I am very much looking forward to the next book. any one looking for an intelligent well written historical mystery can't go far wrong if they pick up 'None So Blind'

Thank you Freight Books and Netgallery for allowing me to read this book in an exchange for a fair review

I received a free electronic copy of this historical novel from Netgalley, Alis Hawkins, and Freight Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for sharing your hard work with me.

This is an excellent historical novel. The research and attention to detail is obvious, and the story flows easily from the Rebecca Riots, a March 1843 uprising of local farmers and tradesmen against oppressive fees and tolls, through the inquest involving the death of Harry Probert-Lloyd's former love, Margaret Jones. Harry is the only living son of a gentleman county magistrate. Currently a solicitor in London, he finds that he is going progressively blind. He returns to his home in Cardiganshire in November 1850 to assess his options, just in time to be on-site when the bones believed to be those of Margaret Jones and her unborn child are uncovered.

I very much enjoyed this mystery. Though we don't get to meet a living Margaret Jones, so very much the center of this novel, I found myself an advocate for finding her truths.

This novel combines two of my favourite genres: historical and detective fiction,. However, although the story itself is an interesting one, I found it a rather tedious read, principally because dramatic drive was, in my opinion, almost completely lacking. Also, although I genuinely wanted to be able to engage with the two narrators, I found neither of them sufficiently well-drawn to make me feel any warmth-or even distaste towards- either Sadly, this is not a novel that has gripped me.

What a wonderful mystery book, so well written!... And a different setting, Wales.
There are a lot of things I loved about this story full of nostalgia, different in so many ways from what I’ve been reading, but so fascinating! There’s the detailed perspective of a young man going blind and how he copes with his failing sight, how he tries to adapt – and we see this through his and his assistant's perspective. There's a perfect handling of double point of view and detailed and accurate descriptions of the hero’s difficulties and problems, seen from his and from his assistant's “eyes”: “I directed my peripheral vision towards the landscape but could make out little beyond the colours of winter, an impression of trees and fields, scattered buildings of indeterminate purpose. Unlike the majority of my travels which were undertaken over long-familiar routes, here in these eastern flatlands I could not rely on memory to fill in the blurred and barely distinguishable world outside the train (…).”; “I watched Harry trying to see her, trying to bring her into view in the corner of his eye.” (quotes from ARC).
There’s a quiet, pervading sadness throughout the story and underlying the hero’s journeys (across the country and across his inner self) and a sort of resignation accepting his new condition that is very touching and lingers even after having read the book a while ago. I think it has to do also with all the metaphors and imagery built around the concept of blindness. And the beautiful cover reflects this sadness.
The pace is slow and sometimes I had some trouble keeping track of all the characters, but I loved reading this mystery set in South Wales in the 19th century and to get to know more about this historical period. And I'm waiting for the next Harry Probert-Lloyd Mystery!

4 stars

Harry Probert-Lloyd is the protagonist of this book. He has recently returned home from London to take over his father’s business as a magistrate. At the same time, he is slowly going blind. He begins to doubt almost all that he sees.

A body is found beneath an uprooted tree. Harry suspects it may be his long ago friend and love, Margaret Jones who has disappeared seven years earlier.

He begins an investigation of his own, aided by a friend and solicitor, John Davies. The local community is still reeling from the aftermath of riots. Could they be responsible for the woman’s death? Are there more killings to come now that the woman’s body has been located? Is anything to be believed?

This book is well researched, written and plotted. Although the beginning is a little confusing, the story evens out after the first few pages.

I want to thank Netgalley and Freight Books for forwarding to me a copy of this book to read.

In 1850 Wales, the remains of a woman are found underneath the roots of a tree and local lawyer, Harry Probert-Lloyd, a man facing imminent blindness knows who the girl is. Harry world with his clerk, John bring the guilty party to justice, but he faces tremendous opposition from three locals, all with a reason to fear being exposed. A weighty historical mystery that will delight readers of the genre