Customer Reviews

Mistress of Mellyn

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I first read this book in 8th grade, at a summer camp. I've lost count of how many times I've read it thus far; but I'm reading it right now and I'm 42 years old!

As others have said, this is a timeless classic that relies on a gripping story and excellent characters to hold the reader, rather than the sleazy sex scenes that fill many modern-day romance novels. I believe I have read all of Victoria Holt's books over the years (She has also written as Jean Plaidy and Phillipa Carr) and yes, they are somewhat formulaic, but they are always a good, satisfying read.

"Mistress of Mellyn" inspired my interest in all things English, from afternoon tea to English history. It vividly creates a world that completely draws you in, right up to the last page.

This is really dating me because this is the first romance novel I ever read. I read it when it was published about 35 years ago--but then I was rather young at the time--so to speak.

I thought it was one of the most wonderful books I had ever read, but then I was a young teenager. The world of romance was opened to me by this book, and I shall never forget it even though I have moved on to other types of books and away from romances per se.

Besides being a romance, it is a mystery with a surprise ending, which lends itself to being compared to Jane Eyre and Rebecca. This novel, though not a classic, is refreshing still in the 21st century.

Martha Leigh has come to Mellyn to care for Connan Tremellyn's difficult daughter, Alvean. In the process of caring for her, Martha falls under the spell of the home, Mellyn and its many secrets--the main secret being was the former Mrs. Tremellyn murdered, and if so by whom. As she searches for answers, she falls under Connan's spell while still frightened he may have murdered his wife.

This books is still as delightful today as it was many years ago.

Set during the 1800s in Cornwall, England, "Mistress of Mellyn" follows a 24-year-old woman's (Martha Leigh) adventure as a governess in a haunted mansion owned by the widowered Connan TreMellyn and his young daughter, Alvean. While struggling with her emotions over Connan and his just-as-difficult daughter, Martha must also try and uncover the mysterious death of his wife before she, too, faces the same fate Alice did.

"Mistress of Mellyn" was the first book I ever read by Victoria Holt, and it also happens to be the first book Eleanor Alice Burford Hibbert wrote under this pseudonym over 40 years ago. It was given to me by one of my aunts when I was about 11 and is still one of my favorites, even though I'm not necessarily a romance fan. But if you are--or even if you're just a reluctant gothic romance reader like I am--, then you'll more than likely enjoy this one. There's nothing offensive or racy in it, so it's appropriate for all ages, yet it's still very suspenseful. Highly recommended.

Although this romance novel was written well over 30 years ago, it still stands the test of time. It has all the essential elements of a true romance suspense novel: Sprited heroine, dark/handsome/mysterious hero and a good mystery to follow and to decipher throughout the book. For those seeking a "romance" novel, don't let the "suspense" part hold you back. The sexual tension between the 2 main character sizzles! I think this is still Victoria Holt's best novel. Very absorbing book with great atmosphere. The 1st person voice (not much used these days)adds that extra dimension that you are right there with Martha as she ponders the mysteries surrounding her and her feelings for Connan TreMellyn. You will be totally satisfied with the ending!

Judged from a man's point of view, Mistress of Mellyn succeeds on a number of levels, most of them tied in with the "whodunnit" factor of the book.

It is almost as though Victoria Holt gave REBECCA a good read and then thought to herself, "Gee, I could take that same plot and make it much, much better." So some elements of the famous Daphne Du Maurier story repeat themselves here--the forbidding mansion, the sexy master of the house, the elderly servant mumbling gloomy, doleful advice like a Cornish version of Maria Ouspenskaya. You'd think that she (Holt) would have changed the setting a wee bit though, I mean move it away from the cliffs of Cornwall, for heaven's sake, you're just asking for comparisons!

And yet think of how different REBECCA would have been had Rebecca and Max de Winter had a little daughter! Which is pretty much what happens here. Little Alvean is sort of like Miles and Flora in Henry James' THE TURN OF THE SCREW, and Martha Leigh is a bit like the governess who worried about her charges so in James' 1890 novelette. When "Marty" first meets her and tries to find out what her lessons should be, the little girl is rude, disrespectful, and totally spoiled by having been allowed to run free. Plus her father's aristocratic snobbery towards the middle class has infected young Alvean so she feels no compunction about telling Martha that she doesn't have to listen to her.

The whodunnit aspect comes towards the end of a long and suspenseful story. The very last person in the world who you would suspect, turns out to be the killer, a mad monster whose actions seem incalculably cruel. Only later do you begin to piece it together and to feel even a little sympathy for the murderer, who was coming from a very tough place which Victoria Holt sketches out pretty well. Anyhow, I liked it, but I can see how if you read 50 of these books they would all start to seem the same.

I read "Mistress of Mellyn" about four years ago and was charmed by it's tale of gothic romance. I think that it is a great romance book for young teenagers to read, because it isn't sugar coated with inappropriated scenes yet it still gives you the light romance that you want. Frankly the trashy bodice rippers that you see in the grocerey stores aren't appealing to my sense of a "good" read and would probably leave a bitter taste of dissappointment in my mouth. It gets stale after a while when an author writes a book that is sprinkled with so many sexual scenes that you can't flip a page without finding one. Plus books like that are so predictable that you feel like the moment that you pick one up you are going to know the plot. It doesn't leave you something to think about at all like some books will . . . the only thing that comes into your brain afterwards is how could the heroine be so naive and trusting, That is why I believe that "Mistress of Mellyn" is such a pleasurable read, because it gives you a sense of warmth toward the love between the characters, not disgust. The only thing that I would find fault with "Mistress of Mellyn" is that it seems to be almost identical to the plot in "Jane Erye." But all in all I really enjoyed reading it . . .

I first read Mistress of Mellyn when I was 10 years old (in 1960); I'm 61 now. It was my first "adult" book. I saw it displayed in the adult section of the library and begged my mother to let me read it. She looked it over and didn't see why I shouldn't. I was simply enthralled with the story, and read all of Victoria Holt's books as they came out. I am tickled to see that it is as popular today, as it was fifty years ago.

Martha Leigh is the central female character of this delightful story. The tale is told, mainly in the first person, with added dialogue.
After the death of their father, 20 year old Martha and her 18 year old sister Phillida, are taken to London by their aunt Adelaide, for 'a season'. At the end of that season Phillida had married, but after four years of living with her aunt, Martha still had not found a husband.
"There are two courses open to a gentlewoman when she finds herself in penurious circumstances ...." aunt Adelaide had said. "One is to marry, and the other to find a post in keeping with her gentility."
Thus, one of aunt Adelaide's friends suggests that Martha should become governess to Connan TreMellyn's daughter, Alvean.
Martha arrives at the house, Mount Mellyn, to find her employer is a cold imposing man, and his daughter is resentful towards her. The house itself is a 'cold brooding house on the Cornish cliffs'.
It was only Martha's growing love for Alvean and an unwilling attraction to Alvean's father that made her stay on and try to solve the mysteries which shrouded their lives.
What eventuates between Martha and Connan TreMellyn is a little predictable, however the journey towards the outcome is a delightful read; and, there is a wickedly surprising 'twist' at the end of the book (which I'm not going to spoil for you).
The book is very well written, and I found the characters very interesting.
The author of my copy of this title was Victoria Holt. This was one of the pseudonyms of Eleanor Alice Burford. After marrying she became Eleanor Alice Hibbert. Others she wrote under included Jean Plaidy, Ellalice Tate, Kathleen Kellow, Elbur Ford, Philippa Carr. She wrote almost 200 books under these names!

Her books are VERY addictive!

Sadly, most of her books are out of print at the date of this review. Some can be purchased on the Internet or from second-hand bookshops.

This is the book that started it all for me! I was never an avid reader but had to do a book review for high school English. Borrowed this book from the library. It was such a great mix of mystery, romance, and history. After reading this book, I continued and read everything Victoria Holt ever wrote and those books under her other pen names (Phillipa Carr, & Jean Plaidy) as well. I only wish there were more of them. I began to read books by the shopping bags full! If only I could bottle this kind of magic to turn young people to such an interest in books, it would open whole new worlds of information and adventure. Thank you Miss Eleanor Hibbert!!

I recently watched the 2006 Masterpiece Theater version of Jane Eyre (excellent!), which caused me to revisit the book. I quickly finished Jane Eyre, and wanted to find books that were similar in genre. (This turned out to be somewhat difficult of a task, given that Jane Eyre has seemingly a little bit of everything in it.) I eventually found this book, read the description, and since it was a bargain price at the time, decided to buy it. I'm glad I spent very little money on it.

Mistress of Mellyn is almost exactly like Jane Eyre. While there are some differences in the plot, the basic points are the same. Impoverished young woman moves to isolated mansion to become the governess of the ward/child of the master of the house. Governess falls in love with master, etc, etc. All the while there is a creepy feeling in the house, due perhaps to a mad woman on the third floor, or in the case of Mistress of Mellyn, a dead body hidden within the walls.

Getting to the main point of this review: If this book seems like one that would appeal to you, but you have not yet read Jane Eyre, please read Bronte's work instead. First of all, the writing is simply better. The character development in Jane Eyre is exceptional; the relationship between Jane and Mr. Rochester is much more believable than that between Connan TreMellyn and Miss Leigh. Bronte allows more time for her character's feelings to develop. When Connan proposes to Miss Leigh, the reader knows its coming, but it still seems contrived. I could go on and on with reasons why Jane Eyre is a better book, but what it really comes down to, for me at least, is that Jane Eyre just has so much more feeling in it, and thus elicits a greater emotional response from its readers.

If you have already read Jane Eyre, and are looking for something similar, this book certainly is similar. However, it is much too similar for my taste, and lacks a lot of what makes Jane Eyre a wonderful book.