Footsteps in the Dark by Georgette Heyer

Having read my first Georgette Heyer crime novel a couple of weeks ago, I thought I knew what to expect from Footsteps in the Dark and it started off true to form.  Celia, her husband Charles and siblings Peter and Margaret have moved into the Priory which the Fortescue children have inherited from their Uncle.  The locals are full of tales about The Monk - a mysterious ghost that haunts the Priory and its surroundings.  So the Edwardian country house is there, as are the upper class heroes - but this novel has more than a touch of the supernatural about it and for much of the first half of the book I was convinced this was more of a ghost story than a crime fiction.

Heyer is so readable and perfectly draws you into the story - and that is what I love about her books.  They are complete escapism and while the mysteries are not the most complex (I confess to guessing the ending, although not that much before it was revealed!) and yet it remains a real page-turner.  Thank heavens she was such a prolific writer - these are the sort of novels I love to have 'on standby' for those times when I want an easy, enjoyable read.

Anthony Trollope

Putting aside Heyer, I have now thrown myself into the world of Barsetshire and begun The Warden by Anthony Trollope.  I have only previously read one Trollope, The Way We Live Now, and I thought it was wonderful and I am very hopeful that The Warden will also deliver!  Trollope's characters are so vividly created and his writing so smooth that it makes his novels an absolute joy to read.  Much as it pains me to say, I may even end up preferring Trollope to Dickens...

Penhallow by Georgette Heyer

I think I may well have stumbled across a new guilty pleasure - Penhallow by Georgette Heyer is the type of book that makes commuting a joy.  I actually began to look forward to my train journey in the morning (and considering it is still dark when I leave the house, that is no mean feat) because it meant half an hour of pure escapism.  Georgette Heyer is probably best known for her Regency period novels, but she also wrote a number of Edwardian novels.  What really caught my eye with Penhallow was the wonderful cover - so beautifully Art Deco!

So, on with the book.  Heyer's writing style is very easy to read.  She creates interesting characters and her dialogue is believable.  Penhallow had comedy and tragedy and moved seamlessly between the two, without trivialising either.  For me, there were genuinely heart-breaking moments and the comic moments, although not perhaps laugh-out-loud funny, certainly raised a wry smile.

The story follows a large, aristocratic family dominated by the cantankerous and devilish Adam Penhallow (an interesting choice of name - Adam, the first man?)  Penhallow enjoys playing with people and rules his house with fear.  His first wife is set on a pedestal, whilst his second wife can do nothing right and is bullied and humiliated by her husband.  Penhallow has called all his children back to the family home for his birthday and we see the whole dynamic of the family creaking and breaking under the pressure.

What is most unusual about this novel in terms of it being a murder-mystery is that there is no mystery.  We know who the murderer is and how/when they commit the murder.  We already have the inside story, so what is clever is how convincing and believable the false leads are.  Despite knowing the culprit, I couldn't help getting drawn in by the possibilities of the other suspects.

All in all, not a masterpiece but a good read none-the-less.  A great example of a book that can take you to another place and time and make you forget the ordinary and everyday for the time you are reading it.

The Rising Tide by Molly Keane

The Rising Tide is the third book I have read by Molly Keane and she continues to be an absolute delight.  The Rising Tide, written in 1937, was originally published under the pseudonym of M J Farrell.  At that time it was considered inappropriate for women of Molly's social status to write novels and she wanted to hide her creative literary side from her hunting friends.  It was not until 1981 when she began writing again after a break of nearly thirty years that she published under her own name.

Her novels describe the lifestyles of the Anglo Irish - a lifestyle with hunting and outdoor pursuits at the very heart of it.  Her characters are complex and interesting and her books are full of subtle humour.  She does not write comic novels, but her characterisations and plots are full of comedy.  She also explores the darker side of that lifestyle - the competitive and snobbish pre-occupation with appearances and the all encompassing obsession with horses and hounds.

In The Rising Tide we meet the French-McGraths - Lord Ambrose and Lady Charlotte live in Garonlea, a Gothic mansion with their four daughters and one son.  Lady Charlotte rules the house, insisting on standards of behaviour totally at odds with the interests of the children.  When Desmond falls in love with and marries the beautiful Cynthia, Lady Charlotte's reign comes under threat.  Cynthia befriends Diana, the youngest daughter, and Diana comes to live with her in Rathglass, a house in the grounds of Garonlea which Cynthia has taken possession of from some elderly relatives (in her perfectly charming way).

When tragedy strikes and Desmond is killed in the war, the status quo slowly begins to unravel as Cynthia eventually takes control of Garonlea.

With such a great cast of characters it would be hard not to love this book.  Molly creates such a fascinating and richly described atmosphere - the house and the family really come to life.

So, from an author I have read twice before to a brand new experience.  Somehow, I have managed to never read a Georgette Heyer novel.  I think this was mainly because I always thought all her novels were set in the Regency period and this never particularly appealed to me.  On Saturday in the library I stumbled across a number of her novels set in the Edwardian era, and so I decided to take the plunge.  I am starting with Penhallow... I'll let you know how I get on!