Lady Georgiana Rannoch is just back from her honeymoon with dashing Darcy O'Mara when a friend in need pulls her into a twisted Gothic tale of betrayal, deception and, most definitely, murder...
Bowen returns to good form here ... She does a nice job of channeling Daphne du Maurier’s novel without lifting its themes and characters wholesale; this classic influenced, but does not overwhelm ... There’s nothing terribly groundbreaking in terms of plot or character development, but longtime fans will be pleased.
...this is a delightful mystery that kept me guessing, with an interesting, sympathetic protagonist. I was confused by the many characters introduced at the beginning, so I recommend starting with the first book in the series. Bowen is a skilled writer, and mystery fans won’t be disappointed.
[Bowen] falls short of her usual high standard ... This explicit homage to Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca unfolds along predictable lines, and Bowen’s continued neglect of Georgie’s delightfully inept servant, Queenie, eliminates the comic relief that was a memorable aspect of earlier series entries.
