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.