The old mansion, the governess, the gruff master of the house, the mystery surrounding his wife’s death, and the relationship that begins to develop between the master and the governess. However, this book is, more or less, a poor man’s Jane Eyre. Her writing style is still quite effective and can create a strong sense of unease, even for the most jaded modern reader. Holt’s books may be true the era of time in which she sets her stories, the women of the day having little opportunity and often at the mercy of men, but her heroines are rarely ‘too stupid to live’, or present themselves as the proverbial ‘damsel in distress’. They are often a representation of a simpler time, in the days when the suspense was more reliant on atmosphere and dialogue, and the romance was about as chaste as it comes. So, it’s fun to pull one of these off the shelf and lose myself in a different time, despite the datedness of some of these stories. Victoria Holt’s name is nearly synonymous with this genre and she was quite prolific.Īs such, I’m still hunting down some of her harder to find books and haven’t come close to reading all of her novels. The Mistress of Mellyn by Victoria Holt is a 1960 publication.Įveryone knows I am a huge fan of these old Gothic suspense novels and love to collect the old paperbacks.Those covers are just fantastic!! The romance, suspense, and mystery tromp across the pages with predictable frequency, and there are enough dark looks and dark corridors for any gothic fan. Though the desire between Martha and Connan grows, Alice's tragic death continues to haunt them both and endanger any future they may have.Ī delightful combination of highbrow writing and lowbrow sentiments, Mistress of Mellyn is a guilt-free treat you can indulge in. Now familiar with Alvean, she feels herself falling for Connan.

As Martha tries to connect with Alvean, she researches the history of Mellyn, and discovers hidden family secrets that still haunt the present.

As the departure of the three prior governesses suggests, Alvean is a difficult charge, though understandably so since the recent death of her mother, Alice. Our heroine Martha Leigh is a prim and freshly minted governess who has been hired by the remote and demanding Connan TreMellyn to care for his daughter Alvean. Part Jane Eyre, part Rebecca and all good, clean, campy fun, Mistress of Mellyn will keep you tearing through the pages, and looking for copies to lend out to friends. Originally published nearly 40 years ago, this gothic classic has been frightening, romancing, and winning fans ever since.

Mistress of mellyn goodreads