By Barbara Hadley Smith, The Garden Club of Frankfort
Lost traditions, history, romance, botany and murder are all featured in a just published book written by Jocelyne Waddle, a member of The Garden Club of Frankfort.
“Set in 1885, the book, ‘Death Comes at First Light,’ follows characters navigating a world of societal constraints — but instead of accepting their limitations, they turn to floriography, and a little bit of mischief,” Jocelyne said.
Jocelyne explained that floriography is the Victorian art of sending hidden messages through flowers. In the 19th century, when society had all kinds of rules about what you could and could not say, especially in matters of love and rebellion, people became creative. They may have used a secreted letter, a coded bouquet or an adventure disguised as botanical research.
“And, of course, there was the art of fan waving.” she said. “A woman could flirt or shut down an admirer without uttering a single word. Holding the fan to the right cheek signaled a ‘yes,’ while holding it to the left cheek meant ‘no.’ Rapidly fluttering the fan, signaled ‘I am unavailable. Go away.’ Slowly waving it meant ‘come closer.’“
This fast-paced novel is an engrossing page turner. Plant hunters chase rare specimens across dangerous landscapes. Lovers send secret messages through carefully chosen flowers. Intrigue weaves through every twist of the story.
As Jocelyne remarked, “ If you are going to challenge the status quo, why not do it with a handful of poisonous plants and a dash of romance?”
The novel’s protagonist, Aurora, Countess of Grandrivers, is a young widow with a tragic past, resilience in her veins and an unsettling amount of knowledge about lethal plants. She has survived a cruel husband, but survival does not come without secrets.
“That’s the heart of my novel, the delicate balance between love and fury, trust and rebellion,” Jocelyne declared. “My heroine carries with her both love and rage. She endures cruelty, but she is not broken.”
Aurora’s adventures include her childhood friend, Francois, Viscount de Beaulieu, and the intriguing Lord Marshwood, Earl of Sommerset. These adventures include searching for a mysterious notebook, a flight in the dead of night and even a giant in a cave.
Jocelyne said the idea for the novel came to her “in a vivid, disturbing dream.” The dream became an obsession and haunted her until she started writing.
“But nothing went as planned,” said Jocelyne, “I quickly learned Aurora has her own mind. I thought I was the author, but I was merely the scribe. She had her own secrets to reveal, her own twists to throw at me. She was stubborn, unpredictable and utterly determined to tell her story her way.”
The author, a resident of Frankfort, is of French heritage, a retired English and World Language teacher, and talented gardener, as well as a writer. “Death Comes at First Light,” published by Wings, ePress, is the first book in a series. Book II is in progress.
