Despite being a sequel to The Tragical Tale of Aelianus of England, this novel also stands well on its own. The characteristic wit of the author makes this an amusing read, but the extra length of this book gives her the room to develop characters and situations which amuse, but also give food for thought. The plot clips along at a nice pace, and her depiction of small-town life on the Island of St Pierre will certainly bring a smile to the reader's face. It's a great mix of mystery and romance.

The Widow of Saint-Pierre is a worthy successor to the Tragical Tale of Aelianus. Witty, tender, and just plain fun to read, this book weaves comedy, tragedy, and melancholy together into a rich tapestry of human passion, manners, and relationships. And if these are not enough to satisfy you, you will also find mystery -- who is the Widow of Saint-Pierre? And what business takes her to Newfoundland every night? -- and magic to pique your interest.

The characters are wonderfully drawn, along with the setting. More than once did I feel a longing to drop everything and head out to the North Atlantic and wander along the roads of Saint-Pierre, as described in the novel.

I heartily recommend this book -- you will not be disappointed!

After The Tragical Tale, Seraphic Single greets her readers again with mystery, love, loyalty and music in, slower but more elegant, The Widow of Saint-Pierre. Her sentences dance around in your mind with delicate humour and irony. Her characters are defined vividly with inner struggles and physical details. The plot is weaved with twists and introductions without forcefulness. Finally, the book ends with a delicious hint of Flannery O'Connor leaving the reader with a puzzled mind and a satisfied heart.

Welcome to St. Pierre, where nothing is quite as it seems. More magic-realist than fantasy; the characters take on new depth at every plot twist. If this book was an opera, we'd recognize the pattern of arias and recitatives, but the progressions and resolutions would surprise us.