Jennifer Ashley, The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie

The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie

Jennifer Ashley

Leisure, May 2009, $7.99

ISBN: 9780843960433

In 1881 England, anyone who knows Ian Mackenzie assumes he is mad. Even he believes there is something wrong with himself as thinks and reacts differently than his siblings and people in general. Ian has problems with understanding "normal" feelings; as he always is honest, which gets him in trouble.

When wealthy widow Elizabeth Ackerley is to marry a rascal, Ian honest as ever makes it clear he thinks she is foolish to wed such a degenerate and that he feels nothing. Beth rejects his declaration; she begins to look closer at Ian and his family. Beth soon admires Ian and that turns into love; Ian rejects the notion he can love, but does not understand why he feels mushy when she is near. . However, as their respect and admiration grows, several young women have been murdered with Ian because of his odd behavior as the prime suspect. Beth vows to prove her beloved is innocent and that he now knows what love is.

This is an intriguing Victorian romance that looks deep into what back then was labelled madness, but today would be on the high functioning side of the Pervasive Developmental Disorders spectrum as probably either Asperger's Syndrome or a non specified disorder. Thus the audience has a unique lead character who thinks differently than the acceptable "norm". Beth, by just accepting him as he, proves she is a fabulous person. The murder accusation fits as Ian's madness makes him the obvious suspect. Jennifer Ashley has provided a terrific insightful thriller.

Harriet Klausner