Another Review at MyShelf.Com

Lord of the Far Island

by Victoria Holt

     

Ellen Kellaway was brought up by her Cousin Agatha, treated as a "Poor Relation" and only allowed to remain in the household because Cousin Agatha wished to gain the admiration of the neighbors. When Ellen reaches the age of eighteen, Cousin Agatha informs her that she must now fend for herself and finds her a position as a governess to an obnoxious family.

However, when Ellen becomes betrothed to Philip Carrington, son of a powerful London family, suddenly she finds herself being pampered by Cousin Agatha. But then Philip allegedly commits suicide and Ellen is alone once more, until she receives an unexpected letter from a distant relation, Jago Kellaway.

Jago invites her to visit Far Island, which had previously belonged to her father. Ellen knows nothing about her father, or about Far Island, but decides to accept the invitation, to try to find out about the secrets surrounding what happened to her father and mother, and perhaps find the cause of the nightmares she has had all her life. Once there, she is plunged into mystery and deception involving her guardian, Jago, before she is able to finally find her true place in the world.

This is another of St. Martin's reprints of Victoria Holt's romances (Mistress of Mellyn and Bride of Pendorric also reviewed on MyShelf). It is well written, with the usual gothic romance characters: the poor relation, rescued by the romantic hero, and the unfriendly relatives. This edition proves once again that Holt's novels are timeless.

The Book

St Martins Griffin / Macmillan
Nov 21 2009 (reprint from 1975)
Hardcover
0312384173
Romantic suspense
More at Amazon.com
Excerpt
NOTE:

The Reviewer

Barbara Buhrer
Reviewed 2010
NOTE:
© 2010 MyShelf.com