Carisbrooke Abbey [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Amanda Grange (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2004

"I am delighted to see the return of the Gothic novel, and in this case, one so skilfully handled. We have the full range of ingredients here. Miss Hilary Wentworth is the orphaned young woman going for a position to a gloomy, dramatic abbey set in a wild and lonely spot; Lord Carisbrooke is her irascible employer who has more to him than at first seems the case. There are strange sounds in the night, secret passages, an untrustworthy heir, a mad woman and sullen retainers. Lord Carisbrooke has a terrible secret hanging over him; dastardly deeds are in train and Hilary finds herself in very real danger. Over the top you might think, but Amanda Grange tells her story so well and with such bravura we are convinced and read on to an exciting denoument and a satisfying end. An absorbing and enjoyable read." Historical Novel Society

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

When Hilary Wentworth takes up an appointment at Carisbrooke Abbey, little does she suspect it will lead her into a whirlwind of mystery and suspense. Her irascible employer, Marcus, Lord Carisbrooke, is as enigmatic as one of the heroes from her favourite Gothic romances, yet behind his gruff manner she senses a deep and abiding pain. As Marcus's brittle exterior dissolves, Hilary catches a glimpse of the man beneath. But when she discovers the secret that haunts the Abbey, it puts them both in terrible danger - a danger they might never escape.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Ulverscroft Large Print (October 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 184395480X
• ISBN-13: 978-1843954804
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,099,476 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A light read, January 27, 2006

By 

Helen Hancox "Auntie Helen" (Essex, England) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Carisbrooke Abbey (Hardcover)

I read Carisbrooke Abbey after reading Darcy's Diary by the same author. I had enjoyed the light touch of that book and the way the plot moved forward.

It was an enjoyable read - the plot was very fast-paced, the language is simple and none of the plot details are that complex. Characters are introduced but we don't delve deeply into their behaviour - everything moves along and I read the whole book in under three hours.

It was enjoyable but a little too lightweight for me. I like reading books set in the Regency period but this book is light on historical detail; that's OK but in this case the social requirements of the day would have killed the plot - Harriet wouldn't have stayed in the house without a woman's company - so this is glossed over. For a while I wondered if we were having another Jane Eyre situation (hero has mad wife) but eventually we discovered the mad girl is a sister. Phew, our hero and heroine are able to get together after all, having overcome a few problems along the way.

Although this is a fun book it almost read more like a children's book to me - the light nature of the writing and the lack of depth in the plot and characters meant that when I finished the book it hadn't really scratched an itch. Great for holiday reading though.