One of the things I love most about Kearsley is her ability to create an all-encompassing sense of place, an atmosphere that draws the reader in so completely that it is only with great reluctance that you can move on to another novel. She has certainly done that in Named of the Dragon! Literary agent Lyn Ravenshaw and her self-involved author-client Bridget Cooper are spending Christmas in the little Welsh Village of Angle, visiting with celebrated author James Swift and his brother Christopher, who are in residence at their uncle's property for the holidays. Lyn hopes to sign Bridget's lover, James, as a client, but her firm has a bigger goal: they have offered her a directorship if she can snag reclusive playwright Gareth Gwyn Morgan, who also lives in Angle, as a client.
Five years ago Lyn lost her son at birth, just a few months after the death of her husband. Since then she has been plagued by nightmares, unable to recover from the death of her baby. In Angle, she ,meets Elen, a young widowed mother who rents one of the adjoining houses. Elen is generally thought to be unbalanced due to her alleged communication with Merlin and her fear that her son, Stevie, will be taken from her by the dragon who frequently enters his room when Elen is not vigilant. She inexplicably chooses Lyn, who has been avoiding contact with children since her son's death, as her son's protector.
This novel has it all: a charming village, cheerful, efficient employees, a moody, yet appealing playwright, other-worldly intrigue, a cute dog, a hint of possible romance, and a surprise reveal at the end. as with all of Susanna Kearsley's novel, I highly recommend this one!
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