Customer Reviews

Greygallows

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This story has an excellent premise and does a good job of illustrating just how helpless a woman really was in terms of rights in the 19th century. However, it is very preachy, most of the characters are two dimensional, and I found myself skipping large portions of the text without feeling I was missing out. (I later went back and re-read it, and discovered my initial impression was correct.) The hero especially is a pale shadow of the irascable yet tender man that Michaels usually writes so well.

If you are a Barbara Michaels fan already, you will probably like this book. I am, and I did. However, if you are trying her for the first time, I recommend "Shattered Silk" or "The Wizard's Daughter," both of which are superior in terms of writing quality and suspense. I suspect Ms. Michaels was hard at work on her Elizabeth Peters books when she took time out to write this novel.

Another great read by Barbara Michaels. Her heroine is strong and way ahead of her time, adding outstanding depth and tension to the story. Loaded with suspense from cover to cover, each chapter brings with it a surprise that will keep you up reading until dawn. This book will transport you back in time to 19th century England and Scotland, and is a must-read for all lovers of historical romances.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NJL750/ref=cm_cr_rev_prod_img

Your typical gothic involves a beautiful young woman, destitute of friends, family, and money, suddenly hired to go to a remote and threatening location as a secretary, a librarian, or a nanny or governess. The owner of the place tries to obtain her love; meanwhile, there is a true love in the background who really loves her for herself, and the villain gets his comeuppance and the true lovers live happily ever after.

Greygallows is one of Barbara Mertz's earlier novels, but even as a fairly new writer she couldn't quite stomach the whole gothic schmear. So the heroine has plenty of money, there is no child involved, and the heroine is married off to the charming nobleman who becomes much less charming when he realizes that her aunt's story that she was dying of consumption, which of course would have put her money into his hands, was a lie.

It's pretty obvious from the first quarter of the book who the hero is, but how is he going to rescue the lady, much less marry her?

Well, that's what the book is about. I read a lot of gothics when they were stylish, and I always thought this was one of the best. It remains good today.

This novel has all the suspense and drama characteristic of a Barbara Micheals novel mingled with the etiquette and charm of a historical love story. It delivers the reader into an era reminiscent of "Sense and Sensibility". I consider it one of her best!

This was my first Barbara Michaels book. Imagine my surprise when I realized that the "historical romance" I thought I'd purchased turned out to be something different. ...What is this Gothic? Nonetheless, I continued to listen and I'm glad I did.

Although the pace of this book is a tad slow, the book isn't filled with action, and it was on the "dark" side, I did find the portrayal of a woman's life during the 19th century to be rather interesting. I also enjoyed the plot. In addition, the book provides a very good feel for how dependent a woman of that time's life was upon her husband's desire and ability to take care of her, and how helpless she is if he decides not to do so. A dreary prospect at best. The scenes are described in sufficient detail to allow you to visualize the time, place, and events. And while Lucy got on my nerves with some of her simpering weaknesses, I nonetheless liked her.

I had most of the mystery figured out before the end, but I'm pleased to report that the author did throw in a little information here and there that had me questioning my conclusions. The ending, appropriately, wrapped up all of the details tying everything together and filling in gaps on my conclusion.

I must admit, I might not have finished the book if it hadn't been on audiotape. That's primarily because of it's slow pace. On the other hand, I'd still recommend it if (1)you like Gothic novels (with good plots) that flow at a "leisurely" pace, or (2) if you want to try something different on tape. On tape, it is worth listening to. (Just don't buy hardback.)

This is a novel in the gothic tradition and one that fans of Victoria Holt will enjoy. The events in the book take place in the first half of the nineteenth century. Young Lucy Cartwright finds herself orphaned at the age of seven, after a terrible carriage accident kills both her parents and leaves her with a permanent limp. Sent to a school for girls in Canterbury, England, Lucy is spoiled by the headmistress, who caters to Lucy's whims. After all, the pretty Lucy is heiress to a vast fortune.

When she turned sixteen, Lucy's term at school ends, when her deceased mother's sister, Lady Russell, decides to interject herself into Lucy's life, and find her niece a husband. There is no love lost between Lucy and her aunt, as Lady Russell's intention is to rid herself of her niece as soon as is decently possible. When the handsome Baron Clare, owner of Greygallows, a magnificent estate located in the moors of Yorkshire, enters her life, Lady Russell sees to it that a match is made, despite the scandalous rumours that swirl about the Baron.

When Baron Clare and Lucy inevitably marry, she leaves behind London, a failed romance with her piano teacher, and Jonathan, her solicitor's clerk, whose friendship she treasures. After all, he is the one person with whom she can be herself. When she arrives at Greygallows, suddenly her life changes yet again, as the man she married undergoes a change in personality. Moreover, it turns out that Greygallows has a ghostly apparition that makes itself manifest. These, and other events, makes Lucy realize that something portentous is about to happen.

I have always been partial to gothic novels of suspense, so I very much enjoyed this one. While much of it was predictable, there were a few twists and turns in the tale. It is a novel to be read leisurely in one sitting with a good cup of tea.

I buy these books to read on my lunch hour when I'm working, in order to pass the time. I usually don't read at home, because my time is so limited. Greygallows is the first book I've read by Barbara Michaels, and after the first 150 pages, I brought the book home and finished Greygallows that night. I couldn't put it down! Full of suspense!

This was not one of Mrs. Michael's best works, but it still wasn't half bad. I enjoyed it, even though it was a slow read. I found it interesting, but didn't have any trouble putting it down. The ending was very climactic, but after the slow pace set in the previous pages the ending felt way too rushed.

This was my first time reading a book by Barbara Michaels. I thought the basic story was good, however the book read very slowly. I certainly wasn't kept in suspense. The characters really didn't flesh out well until very far into the book, just past the half way through point. Once the seemingly endless process of getting Lucy married off is over and the story focuses on Greygallows, the pace picks up and the plot of the story takes form. I will give the author another try, but wouldn't recommend buying this book. It was just ok, nothing special.

I felt the same way as ladytls. This is my first book I have read by Barbara Michaels and I kept waiting for a different ending. What a surprise! Now I will have to read another one by her.