"Early Stuart Gothic still shines"

This is one of the earliest Anne Stuart's (Doubleday 1977). It came out during the period when Gothics ruled the woman's book market, before Historical Romance came along and took command. And it's one of the best Gothics ever written. Since Gothics are making a wee bit of a comeback, it's a shame this book is not reprinted!

Lorna MacDougall, a big redheaded lass, must enter service because her father fell and breaking his back. With nine brothers and sisters, she has to secure the post on Cameron's Landing - a small island. In the 1880s women had few choices how they could earn a living, so she knows even though the island is foreboding, she must impress Lady Margaret, the matriarch of the Landing. She at first is accepted as Lady Margaret's companion, but slowly finds herself being the woman's "ears and eyes" in solving the mystery of Cameron's Landing. Margaret believes someone - someone in her family - is a murderer. Her husband was recently stabbed to death and the killer never revealed. Josiah Cameron's enemies were legion, so anyone about Lorna might be the killer. It a classic Gothic with the dark mysterious hero tossed in.

The writing is pure Stuart, though done in the traditional first person Gothic voice. Since nearly all Stuart's books are third person (which I prefer permitting a wider range of emotions and actions from the hero and secondary characters) Stuart handles this with panache. It's very interesting to her fans to see her so effortlessly moving through this different voice.

This book is well worth reading to any Stuart fan or fan of Gothics or if you are looking for a super read that is a wee bit different from today's market.

Reviewed by DeborahAnne MacGillivray
Posted September 18, 2004