An evocative Victorian murder mystery revolving around the Metcalfe family, and a crusade for justice for their mother, Orla.

The novel richly portrays 19th century village life in Yorkshire, highlighting the close-knit yet often judgmental nature of rural communities, where gossip, secrets, and jealousy are rife.

Everybody loves Pip Metcalfe. She's gentle, she's kind, and the whole village felt sorry for her when her Irish mother abandoned the family.
Outsiders are not welcome in Ackley, and four years after leaving the family home, Orla is found dead. With a village full of people who hated her, the search is on to find her killer.
Inspector Jarvis Blackburn knows that tracking down the murderer is the key to promotion. This would realise his lifelong ambition to become chief inspector, emulating his late father.
Pip and Jarvis join forces, finding themselves steadily changed by the experience and begin to wonder whether finding Orla's killer will lead them to future peace and happiness after all.
Yet love has a way of choosing the path we take, and both slowly discover they have no control over their future any longer.

What readers have said about Orla Metcalfe has Run Away:

*****
A beautiful, enthralling, emotional historical romance/whodunit, which drew me in at the first few chapters, and kept me hooked to the very end. This book had me close to tears one minute and smiling the next! I loved it.

*****
A great piece of historical fiction unusually blending character romance with a twisty whodunnit. The characters and Yorkshire setting are very authentic and conjure vivid images; the plot is fast-paced and twisty and, as someone who nearly always works out who did it, it was a pleasant surprise not to figure this one out. An easy, very satisfying read. Highly recommended.

*****
I have read all the books Jo Priestley has written and this is definitely the best so far. All her books flow and are easy reading and this one will keep you guessing. You will enjoy it.

*****
A Yorkshire whodunnit with romance and mental fear. In your mind, you experience the remote life of the family and how the town feels about them, because the description of characters and places are so well written

Orla Metcalfe has Run Away is part of the Women of Old Yorkshire collection by Yorkshire-born author Jo Priestley; historical, romantic novels featuring relatable women, engaged in emotional journeys of self-discovery about love in all its many forms.

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• Literature & FictionGenre FictionFamily LifeMultigenerational
• Literature & FictionHistorical FictionHistorical
• Literature & FictionWomen's FictionSagas

• Publication Date: July 16, 2023
• Text-to-Speech: Disabled
• Lending: Disabled
• Print Length: 215 Pages
• File Size: 661 KB