Book review: The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton by Jennifer N. Brown

Genre: Mystery & historical fiction

Release date: April 14, 2026

Goodreads rating: 3.92

My rating: 4

This post contains affiliate links that earn us a commission at no cost to you.
This helps to support the work of The Bookish Bulletin.

I really enjoy both dual timeline stories and stories based on real events, so I loved this book.

In the 16th-Century storyline, we follow Elizabeth Barton, a young woman who experiences religious visions and becomes a prophetess known as the Holy Maid of Kent. We learn how her visions came to be, what they predicted, how they were manipulated, and ultimately, why these visions proved so dangerous for her.

In the modern storyline, we follow Alison, a historian researching Elizabeth’s life who uncovers a long-lost manuscript tied to Elizabeth that draws attention from other researchers. Alison is invited to a retreat to present her findings, and a murder unfolds.

I loved that the two storylines were so distinct. One read like a historical fiction while the other was distinctively a murder-mystery story.

I found myself gravitating more toward Elizabeth’s timeline. I was not familiar with the Holy Maid of Kent story and found it compelling and emotional. The present-day timeline is a bit slower but really pulled me in as well. The old estate setting (which was also the setting of some of the 16th-Century events) connected the present and past beautifully.  

I also loved how Brown intertwined some of the clues helpful in solving the murder-mystery in the past as well. 

This is a story where history doesn’t stay buried but instead, rewrites the present. 

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for granting me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Or search for similar books here

More historical fiction you may enjoy: