HE THOUGHT HE’D NEVER FIGHT, OR KILL … he was wrong.HE THOUGHT HE’D NEVER LOVE AGAIN … he was wrong about that too.Bestselling author John Avery’s novel, THE LINEN SHAWL, immerses readers in 12th century England’s fierce civil war, weaving a tragic love story into an historical thriller that will grab hold of your heart and never let go. Avery’s narrative is nicely woven and has all the elements of a good novel which is love lost, love found, turmoil and uncertainty. You have to read this book to the very end. The ending is unpredictable and makes one wonder if there could be a series! – 5-star reader review The Linen Shawl drew me in instantly … I could picture this book as a movie! I hope to read any other historical fiction by this author. He is certainly creative with his stories. I took a chance on this author and I am glad I did! – 5-star reader review John Avery has produced an admirable work of an historical thriller! – 5-star reader review This was a very compelling book for me. It was a story about man’s struggles set against the backdrop of the rivalry for the throne of England. It says a lot about the author that he added such details of the 12thcentury to the story. The way this history moves in and out of Noah’s story really added to the overall quality of the book.The one thing that I really enjoyed about the book was the characters. The relationships between all of the different characters was the driving force of this story. It wasn’t just the story of Noah and his ward, Nest, but how all the characters were interwoven. While Noah was by far the main character, and this was his story, it was almost like he was a connecting point for all of these different people. And I found myself just as involved in Rachel’s, Barriemore’s, and even Lord Warin’s storylines as I did the main one. It was that, more than anything, which kept the pages turning for me.The ending wasn’t quite what I wanted after reading the book, but it definitely fit the theme of the book. While it wasn’t how I envisioned it, I can’t stay that I’m disappointed with the way it turned out.Overall, I highly recommend this book. Anyone who has an interest in the early British setting and the characters of that time will enjoy it. It was a great way to spend a couple of lazy days at home! – 5-star reader reviewAnd don’t miss Avery’s bestselling Aaron Quinn thriller series, THREE DAYS to DIE and BLACK COBRA!