Customer Reviews

Kirkland Revels

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First Sentence: "I met Gabriel and Friday on the same day, and, strangely enough I lost them together; so that thereafter, I was never able to think of one without the other."

Catherine Corder marries Gabriel Rockwell more out of affection and to escape an unaffectionate father than out of real love. Shortly after returning to Gabriel's home of Kirkland Revels and being introduced to Gabriel's family, one of whom think she is a fortune hunter, Gabriel dies of apparent suicide. Cathy finds she is pregnant and she is being terrorized by a vanishing monk, things disappearing and being made to question her sanity.

It was fun to read this again after probably almost 40 years. I was amazed how much I still enjoyed it. It is a classic gothic suspense with the gutsy female protagonist, a large, brooding building, an undefined threat to her life, sanity and/or child, and a romantic interest to support her. I really enjoyed it.

The book starts with a typical Victoria Holt hook: 'I met Gabriel and Friday on the same day, and strangely enough I lost them together..' and from then on, it goes off at a thrilling trot, taking you into the life of young Catherine Corder, who is brought up by her sad, widowed father in a gloomy house on the Yorkshire Moors. Her backstory is briskly filled in and then you go straight to that meeting with Gabriel and Friday, which will change her entire life..
Taken as a young bride to the imposing mansion of Kirkland Revels, she begins to slide into an atmosphere of foreboding and secrets...and extreme danger.
A fabulous story with lots of atmosphere, a spirited heroine and great love interests, this novel is vintage Victoria Holt!