Daughter of Deceit [Audiobook, Unabridged] [Audio Cassette]

Victoria Holt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1992

Noelle Tremaston has led a charmed life, daughter of the incomparable Desiree, the darling of Drury Lane. She has grown up amid a flurry of opening nights and elegant parties, basking in the fatherly affection of her unconventional mother's devoted beaux. But when kind-hearted Desiree opens her home to Lisa Fennell, and adoring fan and ambitious ingenue, Noelle's carefree existence is changed forever.

Desiree falls prey to a mysterious illness that forces her to cede her place on the stage to Lisa and eventually takes her life. Devastated by the death of her beloved mother, Noelle turns for solace to the man she loves, but the revelation of a dark secret threatens to separate them forever.

As Noelle tries to rebuild her shattered life, she meets many people who are not as they seem. Mystery, madness and murder stalk her - until a startling and ironic twist of fate brings her tantalizingly close to the happiness she thought was lost forever.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA-- Readers are introduced to the dramatic world in England and an artistic lifestyle in France as they become steeped in the lives of a theatrical family. Desiree, a leading actress, and her daughter Noelle have a special relationship. After Desiree's death, however, a secret the woman had kept is revealed, and Noelle is shattered. She flees to France to try to put her life in order. Then her mother's former understudy writes to inform her that she has married the man Noelle loves. YAs will enjoy the theater background and the trials of a struggling artist. The history of the early 1900s is intriguing but not overwhelming. Although there are many twists in the plot and a great many characters, the story is still easy to follow. Once into it, readers will be kept guessing until the very last chapter. An excellent choice for Holt fans and for those who love historical romances.
-Jacqueline Craig, W.T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

All hail to octogenarian, pseudonymous Eleanor Hibbert (Victoria Holt/Jean Plaidy/Philippa Carr) on the occasion of her 30th Holt novel of romantic suspense! Though this tale of an actress's daughter and her tribulations is not up to Holt's suspenseful best, who cares? Certainly not her large following, who look forward to such as: a variety of impressive digs (here, late- 19th-century Kent, Cornwall, London, and Paris), at least two of which give the feisty heroine a shiver of apprehension and a buzz of secrets--plus a murder and a shadowy someone bent on bad business. Noelle Tremason spent an ideal childhood in London with her beloved mother--the famous, beautiful (and good) musical-comedy actress D‚sir‚e, who attracted admirers, among them wealthy Charles Claverham from Kent. Then D‚sir‚e took under her wing an orphaned, poor, aspiring actress, Lisa--who takes over as understudy when D‚sir‚e begins to suffer sick spells. Lisa also seems to want to understudy for Noelle on her secret meeting with Roderick, Charles's son. Then D‚sir‚e dies. In Noelle's agonized travels afterward, marriage is prevented by a devastating revelation; an enemy becomes a friend during a near-fatal accident in an archaeological dig; the Franco-Prussian War ends marriage possibilities in Paris; and there's a poisoning murder. Chat. Action. Chat. And a murder(s) that will out just before the final clinch and fade-out. May Hibbert/Holt keep 'em coming for the faithful following. (Literary Guild Dual Selection for October) -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Unabridged Library Edition; Unabridged edition (February 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561000892
• ISBN-13: 978-1561000890
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,948,113 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars England/ France of 1860's setting, July 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Daughter of Deceit (Mass Market Paperback)

Noelle, daughter of London musical theatre celebrity Desiree, narrates the story. The settings range from England's London, Kent & Cornell, to France's Paris and its countryside. Set in the 1860's, the story does capture the excitement of theatre first nights, discovery of past civilizations (Roman ruins in Kent), and heritage. Deceit and manipulation, and their motives, are woven throughout the plot without judgement by the author, or the narrator. In my opinion, the global theme is that every action, regardless of the decision behind it, impacts others. The characters never come alive for me, but the sounds of the cities, the haunting loneliness of areas outside large cities, and the excitement of discoveries sustained my interest. I found myself wanting to research London theatrical history, France under the Bonapartes, and Roman forays into England. Narrator Noelle, for all her innocence, does have a cynical component to her personality, which she tries to suppress. Characters gain depth (but not life) through Noelle's faithful recounting of conversations with the other characters; everyone she knows has something to say about someone else she knows. In addition to these filtered reports, Noelle adds her own impressions of each character. On the whole, I enjoyed the book, and found myself looking forward to reading it, although I would not classify it a page-turner. Setting and theme were more provocative than character and story.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, from start to end, December 11, 2009

By 

Minal Patel - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Daughter of Deceit (Mass Market Paperback)

I have read this book over and over again. Its a great read on a rainy day.

3 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Ok I suppose, June 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Daughter of Deceit (Mass Market Paperback)

It all ends rather nicely, doesn't it? But do two wrongs really make a right, as is implied here?