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The Master of Seacliff
A gothic mystery with a decidedly masculine point of view.
The year is 1899, and Andrew Wyndham is twenty years old - no longer a boy, but not yet the man he longs to become. Brought up by a harsh and stingy aunt and uncle in New York City after the death of his parents, young Andrew dreams of life as an artist in Paris. He has talent enough but lacks the resources to bring his dream to fruition. When a friend arranges for him to work as tutor to the son of a wealthy patron of the arts, Andrew sees a chance to make his dream come true and boards a train heading up the Atlantic coast. His destination is the estate called Seacliff, where he'll tutor his new charge and save his pay to make the life he dreams of possible. But danger lurks everywhere and nothing is quite as easy as it seems.
Seacliff: A dark and brooding cliff-top mansion enshrouded in near-eternal fog, dark mystery, and suspicion - perhaps a reflection of the house's master. An imposing Blackbeard of a man, Duncan Stewart is both feared and admired by his business associates as well as the people he calls friends. And his home, in which young Andrew must now reside, holds terrible secrets, secrets that could destroy everyone within its walls.
The year is 1899, and Andrew Wyndham is twenty years old - no longer a boy, but not yet the man he longs to become. Brought up by a harsh and stingy aunt and uncle in New York City after the death of his parents, young Andrew dreams of life as an artist in Paris. He has talent enough but lacks the resources to bring his dream to fruition. When a friend arranges for him to work as tutor to the son of a wealthy patron of the arts, Andrew sees a chance to make his dream come true and boards a train heading up the Atlantic coast. His destination is the estate called Seacliff, where he'll tutor his new charge and save his pay to make the life he dreams of possible. But danger lurks everywhere and nothing is quite as easy as it seems.
Seacliff: A dark and brooding cliff-top mansion enshrouded in near-eternal fog, dark mystery, and suspicion - perhaps a reflection of the house's master. An imposing Blackbeard of a man, Duncan Stewart is both feared and admired by his business associates as well as the people he calls friends. And his home, in which young Andrew must now reside, holds terrible secrets, secrets that could destroy everyone within its walls.
201 pages, Paperback
First published December 31, 2006
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568 people want to read
About the author
Max Pierce
4 books17 followersMax Pierce enjoyed a successful career as a Senior Executive in the apparel industry while he developed his writing skills.
As a journalist, he began writing on Hollywood history in 1999 for CLASSIC IMAGES magazine. He has contributed to numerous anthologies and is the author of the Lambda Literary Award-nominated gothic suspense, THE MASTER OF SEACLIFF and the romantic comedy AT THE CROSSROADS, both published by Lethe Press.
He has called Los Angeles home since 1988.
As a journalist, he began writing on Hollywood history in 1999 for CLASSIC IMAGES magazine. He has contributed to numerous anthologies and is the author of the Lambda Literary Award-nominated gothic suspense, THE MASTER OF SEACLIFF and the romantic comedy AT THE CROSSROADS, both published by Lethe Press.
He has called Los Angeles home since 1988.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
June 2, 2019
a sweet but rather bland trifle. basically a gay version of your typical gothic romance template: innocent tutor goes to beautiful but ominous estate to take care of troubled, precocious child; tutor fears and yet falls in love with the stern lord of the manner. Pierce's prose is not bad but not particularly impressive. I did like the emphasis on striking colors and lovely designs, as noticed by the protagonist - that felt quite gay, in a low-key way - and kudos to the author for successfully resisting any urge to turn this into a hardcore porn romp. the story is true to the template in almost all ways, save the gender shifts, of course. unfortunately, it is all too true to the template at its most basic, and I'm not usually a fan of basic. the story was mildly enjoyable (this is a strong 2 stars) but I grew very, very, VERY frustrated at all of the boring dithering by our innocent hero as he tries to make up his mind if The Master of Seacliff is indeed a murderer three or four times over. sweetie, get a grip! of course he's not a multiple murderer - he's the love of your life and he's surrounded by overtly untrustworthy types who you really should not be trusting. trust the dude who respects both your sensitive side and your boundaries; don't trust that fey fashion plate running around bitching about him while invading your personal space! duh. I don't like being bored by a protagonist and this clueless twit really bored me. in the end, I sorta felt The Hunk of Seacliff could do a lot better. as the saying goes, there's plenty of tutors in the sea. no need to settle for this cold fish.
March 9, 2015
*** 3,8 stars ***
A gothic mystery with a decidedly masculine point of view.
I'm not sure I can classify it as a gothic mystery-I expect more scary stuff from a gothic mystery. I see it rather as a historical mystery with a decidedly masculine point of view. Apart from genre's discussion - The Master of Seacliff is a very enjoyable and entertaining read.
A delicious mixture of a gay version of the Brontë sisters novels-let us imagine they were brothers and lived some decades later- and a mystery a là Edgar Allan Poe.
Well written, with a fantastic atmosphere, full of intrigues, old family secrets, and thrilling until the very end!
My only warning: Don't start it in the evening if you have to work the next day! There is a risk that you'll stay awake for the whole night!
January 5, 2016
This was pretty fun.
The Good: The Gothic vibe was really well done and made me think of Wuthering Heights, The Turn of the Screw, etc. It was also a bit silly, which I mean as a compliment.
The Bad: There were too many mysteries for such a short book and the MC reminded me of Jane Eyre in that he didn't seem to have a penis. I kept picturing him sighing and feeling faint in a high-waisted dress while waiting for someone to brood at him seductively.
Sooo... Recommended?
Thanks as always to Mish for the BR.
The Good: The Gothic vibe was really well done and made me think of Wuthering Heights, The Turn of the Screw, etc. It was also a bit silly, which I mean as a compliment.
The Bad: There were too many mysteries for such a short book and the MC reminded me of Jane Eyre in that he didn't seem to have a penis. I kept picturing him sighing and feeling faint in a high-waisted dress while waiting for someone to brood at him seductively.
Sooo... Recommended?
Thanks as always to Mish for the BR.
October 4, 2020
So I reread this in 2020 and I really didn't enjoy it as much as the first time and I'm not sure why I liked it so much, to be honest. It felt like an overlong and overcomplicated mystery to me. Not much tension or romance. I enjoyed the atmospheric vibe it had going on but otherwise it fell a bit short of my effusive review in 2012, I'm afraid.
*Original review below*
The greatest endorsement that I can give this book is that I stayed up all night to finish it. No, really. I'm reading, like, 30 books simultaneously and I keep starting new ones because they fail to hold my attention. But not this book, no sir. This book was a mouthwatering mystery wrapped in a crispy layer of intrigue and dipped in the fondue of enigma. I freaking loved it. It's so lovely and atmospheric and the romance is deliciously drawn out and well worth the wait. It reminded me a bit of P.L. Nunn's Dynasty of Ghosts, both books have this great gothic feel and similar character arcs (young naif is wooed by headstrong alpha male, and male and female supporting characters with their own agendas). And trust me when I say that that book is amazing, so I was well impressed with this one as well. Definitely going on my favourites shelf.
*Original review below*
The greatest endorsement that I can give this book is that I stayed up all night to finish it. No, really. I'm reading, like, 30 books simultaneously and I keep starting new ones because they fail to hold my attention. But not this book, no sir. This book was a mouthwatering mystery wrapped in a crispy layer of intrigue and dipped in the fondue of enigma. I freaking loved it. It's so lovely and atmospheric and the romance is deliciously drawn out and well worth the wait. It reminded me a bit of P.L. Nunn's Dynasty of Ghosts, both books have this great gothic feel and similar character arcs (young naif is wooed by headstrong alpha male, and male and female supporting characters with their own agendas). And trust me when I say that that book is amazing, so I was well impressed with this one as well. Definitely going on my favourites shelf.
June 11, 2010
It’s not going to be a surprise to anyone that I enjoyed this book. First it’s an American gay gothic with a fab innovative cover. I was positively drooling when I got the book in my hands and excited when I opened it.
If you are looking for an erotic romance, then you’ll be dissapointed by TMOS, but if you want a solid, multi-layered mystery chock full of quirky characters, death and over-arching gothic D00M, red-herrings and a surprise denouement, then you’ll like this as much as I did. (Oh and a lovely romance too…)
From the outset, the plot is familiar to those who have already read books such as Jane Eyre and Gaywyck. Young and innocent (not-quite-yet-aware-of-his-sexuality) Andrew gets a job as tutor to Stewart and we can already see where the story is going. However Pierce isn’t going to let us off that lightly and he throws so many obstacles in our protagonists way that you begin to wonder if they are ever going to get together.
It’s a refreshing change to see so many secondary characters; Pierce doesn’t stint with them, and each one is fully rounded, different and has his or her own story to tell. Also, in the tradition of the Golden Age of Agatha Christie, nearly every single one has a motive in the dark secret that overhangs the house of Seacliff. There are flashes of Rebecca here, with an obsessed and creepy faithful retainer, touches of Jane Eyre but never so much so to annoy, it was always its own story.
I was impressed also, as to the many threads of the mystery that were woven together, one after another until I was thoroughly convinced of the guilt of the person that everyone else thought it was. Bravo, Mr Pierce. There’s nothing I like more it’s being led by the nose to the throroughly wrong conclusion!
Andrew might be young, but he’s not a shrinking and fainting heroine type. He’s a little sensitive; he tends to hug-a-lot, and he cries from time to time but he can stand his own ground too, which was something I appreciated. He has a lot to stand up against, too, as Duncan is a difficult, prickly (and very hairy!) man and he tries to push Andrew away more than once. I liked Duncan’s persistence and his wanting to do the right thing, even when he had the opportunity to get away from a frankly difficult and dangerous position.
There’s the inevitable OK Homo, I’m afraid, not only that, you begin to wonder if anyone in the world is straight at one point – but that didn’t spoil this book when the same thing had spoiled other books for me. In this twisted, remote and decadent world that Pierce paints it doesn’t seem unusual and the reasoning behind the homosexual relationships are believable.
The editing wasn’t 100 percent, as there were a few typo’s I spotted (lightening instead of lightning for example), which is a shame. It’s also a shame that this book is under the Howarth’s Harrington Press imprint – so its future is in the balance. If you want a copy, particularly with the delicious double cover than another printer might not go for – I’d advise you get one now, while it’s still available and still reasonably priced. You won’t regret it, as if you enjoy a really good gothic romance with all the trimmings – perfect for curling up with on a foggy night – then you’ll love this. I certainly did.
If you are looking for an erotic romance, then you’ll be dissapointed by TMOS, but if you want a solid, multi-layered mystery chock full of quirky characters, death and over-arching gothic D00M, red-herrings and a surprise denouement, then you’ll like this as much as I did. (Oh and a lovely romance too…)
From the outset, the plot is familiar to those who have already read books such as Jane Eyre and Gaywyck. Young and innocent (not-quite-yet-aware-of-his-sexuality) Andrew gets a job as tutor to Stewart and we can already see where the story is going. However Pierce isn’t going to let us off that lightly and he throws so many obstacles in our protagonists way that you begin to wonder if they are ever going to get together.
It’s a refreshing change to see so many secondary characters; Pierce doesn’t stint with them, and each one is fully rounded, different and has his or her own story to tell. Also, in the tradition of the Golden Age of Agatha Christie, nearly every single one has a motive in the dark secret that overhangs the house of Seacliff. There are flashes of Rebecca here, with an obsessed and creepy faithful retainer, touches of Jane Eyre but never so much so to annoy, it was always its own story.
I was impressed also, as to the many threads of the mystery that were woven together, one after another until I was thoroughly convinced of the guilt of the person that everyone else thought it was. Bravo, Mr Pierce. There’s nothing I like more it’s being led by the nose to the throroughly wrong conclusion!
Andrew might be young, but he’s not a shrinking and fainting heroine type. He’s a little sensitive; he tends to hug-a-lot, and he cries from time to time but he can stand his own ground too, which was something I appreciated. He has a lot to stand up against, too, as Duncan is a difficult, prickly (and very hairy!) man and he tries to push Andrew away more than once. I liked Duncan’s persistence and his wanting to do the right thing, even when he had the opportunity to get away from a frankly difficult and dangerous position.
There’s the inevitable OK Homo, I’m afraid, not only that, you begin to wonder if anyone in the world is straight at one point – but that didn’t spoil this book when the same thing had spoiled other books for me. In this twisted, remote and decadent world that Pierce paints it doesn’t seem unusual and the reasoning behind the homosexual relationships are believable.
The editing wasn’t 100 percent, as there were a few typo’s I spotted (lightening instead of lightning for example), which is a shame. It’s also a shame that this book is under the Howarth’s Harrington Press imprint – so its future is in the balance. If you want a copy, particularly with the delicious double cover than another printer might not go for – I’d advise you get one now, while it’s still available and still reasonably priced. You won’t regret it, as if you enjoy a really good gothic romance with all the trimmings – perfect for curling up with on a foggy night – then you’ll love this. I certainly did.
October 30, 2013
Another great American gothic romance which was thoroughly enjoyable. I really can't get enough of these right now. The Master of Seacliff was especially good and action packed right until the last page. The story is about the budding romance that builds (very slowly) between young and inexperienced Andrew Wyndham, who takes a position as a tutor in a remote seaside manor, and dark and brooding (and extremely hairy) Duncan Steward. There are sinister secrets at Seacliff and Andrew makes it his mission to solve them.
May 6, 2013
Except for having a male protagonist this was a completely traditional Gothic genre romance. Innocent young thing travels to isolated, creepy manor house on cliff to tutor lonely, troubled child whose father harbors a dark secret and is ill-tempered yet somehow irresistibly attractive to said young thing. The only neighbors and the Danvers-stand-in butler are malicious and obsessively interested in the Master. Will love true love save all?!
May 12, 2020
This was an impulse read to occupy a Bank Holiday weekend with a book that would be entertaining but not too demanding.
The Master of Seacliff turned out to be a queer pseudo-Gothic mesh combining a number of classic tropes, such as the innocent tutor, the isolated mansion, the brooding master of the house and mysterious children.
There's a distinct vibe connecting Max Pierce's novel to Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca. Seacliff manor - lonely and threatening - reminded me immediately of Manderley and the very backbone of the story, has many points in common with du Maurier's famous novel.
There are of course other important literary antecedents that should be kept in mind while reading this book, in particular, Charlotte Brönte's Jane Eyre and Henry James' The Turn of the Screw and its wonderful cinematic adaptation by Jack Clayton ( 1961).
Overall, I think that the game of literary sources and references was the thing I appreciated the most in the novel. And perhaps at times, the reshuffling of Gothic tropes hindered the evolution of the plot that became too tangled up in the end and unnecessarily complicated.
The main characters were okay, but my favourite one was certainly little Asher, with his silences, secrets and hidden talents.
Not a fabulous read, but certainly an entertaining one with an overall rating for me of a somewhat rounded 3 stars.
The Master of Seacliff turned out to be a queer pseudo-Gothic mesh combining a number of classic tropes, such as the innocent tutor, the isolated mansion, the brooding master of the house and mysterious children.
There's a distinct vibe connecting Max Pierce's novel to Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca. Seacliff manor - lonely and threatening - reminded me immediately of Manderley and the very backbone of the story, has many points in common with du Maurier's famous novel.
There are of course other important literary antecedents that should be kept in mind while reading this book, in particular, Charlotte Brönte's Jane Eyre and Henry James' The Turn of the Screw and its wonderful cinematic adaptation by Jack Clayton ( 1961).
Overall, I think that the game of literary sources and references was the thing I appreciated the most in the novel. And perhaps at times, the reshuffling of Gothic tropes hindered the evolution of the plot that became too tangled up in the end and unnecessarily complicated.
The main characters were okay, but my favourite one was certainly little Asher, with his silences, secrets and hidden talents.
Not a fabulous read, but certainly an entertaining one with an overall rating for me of a somewhat rounded 3 stars.
September 20, 2014
3.5 stars
A good Gothic romance with a nicely woven mystery and great atmosphere. The romance was a very slow burn and I'm more than okay with that, but I thought the MCs a little lacking in chemistry... more snark,sizzle,banter or good old UST would have nudged this into a 4 or 5 star read for me.
A good Gothic romance with a nicely woven mystery and great atmosphere. The romance was a very slow burn and I'm more than okay with that, but I thought the MCs a little lacking in chemistry... more snark,sizzle,banter or good old UST would have nudged this into a 4 or 5 star read for me.
May 27, 2019
Delightful gothic mystery romance. It's creepy, tense, a bit melodramatic, and very enjoyable. The atmosphere of this book is excellent and the gloomy Seacliff mansion is so sinister in a wonderfully Manderley-esque way. The cast of interesting and suspicious secondary characters is great. The mystery is intriguing and possibly more interesting than the romance. I really enjoyed this.
April 24, 2012
Gerry B's Book Reviews - http://gerrycan.wordpress.com
Every once in a while I get a yen to read a gothic tale—something like the compulsion for a decadent dessert—so when I came across one in the gay genre I just had to order a serving.
The Master of Seacliff by Max Pierce [Lethe Press, 2012] is a gothic novel written in the classical style, with a quintessential brooding mansion atop a seaside cliff; a cast of eccentric servants; a young innocent (male); and a darkly-handsome master with a slightly sinister reputation.
Young Andrew Wyndham, driven by his ambition to study art in Paris, takes a position as tutor to the son of a wealthy, hardnosed businessman, Duncan Stewart. He therefore travels from his modest home in Manhattan to take up residence at “Seacliff,” Stewart’s remote seaside estate on the Atlantic Coast.
His arrival is none too encouraging when the first person he encounters is a grizzled man who warns him to flee for his life—and his soul. He nonetheless carries on, and eventually hears that Duncan is rumoured to have shot his father and his father’s friend in order to gain control of the family business.
However, this is not the only mystery hanging over Seacliff Manor, for Duncan’s protégé (and secret lover), pianist Steven Charles, disappeared a year before Andrew’s arrival and his absence has cast further suspicion on Duncan. But Duncan is a man who can be disarmingly charming, as well as irascible, and so Andrew is more intrigued by him than frightened.
Other characters populate this story, as well: The dour and suspicious butler; the (gay) brother and sister who own the neighbouring estate; Duncan’s son, Timothy; and the mute son of the housekeeper’s daughter (who leaped from the cliff when she found her lover had been murdered.)
All is revealed in the end, but in the meantime it is a fun read, almost reminiscent of suspects ‘popping in and out of doors’ in an Agatha Christie novel. Highly recommended. Four bees.
Every once in a while I get a yen to read a gothic tale—something like the compulsion for a decadent dessert—so when I came across one in the gay genre I just had to order a serving.
The Master of Seacliff by Max Pierce [Lethe Press, 2012] is a gothic novel written in the classical style, with a quintessential brooding mansion atop a seaside cliff; a cast of eccentric servants; a young innocent (male); and a darkly-handsome master with a slightly sinister reputation.
Young Andrew Wyndham, driven by his ambition to study art in Paris, takes a position as tutor to the son of a wealthy, hardnosed businessman, Duncan Stewart. He therefore travels from his modest home in Manhattan to take up residence at “Seacliff,” Stewart’s remote seaside estate on the Atlantic Coast.
His arrival is none too encouraging when the first person he encounters is a grizzled man who warns him to flee for his life—and his soul. He nonetheless carries on, and eventually hears that Duncan is rumoured to have shot his father and his father’s friend in order to gain control of the family business.
However, this is not the only mystery hanging over Seacliff Manor, for Duncan’s protégé (and secret lover), pianist Steven Charles, disappeared a year before Andrew’s arrival and his absence has cast further suspicion on Duncan. But Duncan is a man who can be disarmingly charming, as well as irascible, and so Andrew is more intrigued by him than frightened.
Other characters populate this story, as well: The dour and suspicious butler; the (gay) brother and sister who own the neighbouring estate; Duncan’s son, Timothy; and the mute son of the housekeeper’s daughter (who leaped from the cliff when she found her lover had been murdered.)
All is revealed in the end, but in the meantime it is a fun read, almost reminiscent of suspects ‘popping in and out of doors’ in an Agatha Christie novel. Highly recommended. Four bees.
May 20, 2016
Loved it, brought back fond memories of reading my mothers's Victoria Holt novels as a teen.
Read
April 11, 2019DNF @ 48%. Well-written, but the love interest is smug and hirsute and it's not for me.
February 28, 2012
The Master of Seacliff by Max Pierce is an American gay gothic historical mystery with a romance. We've all read gothic historicals before, right? Pierce reeled me with great atmosphere, a multi-layered mystery and some excellent characters.
Let's begin with the setting. Our main character Andrew travels from New York City to an unnamed place up the Atlantic Coast to Seacliff, a doom and gloom estate that just reeks with atmosphere and a personality all of its own. As soon as the place is described you just know the place is either full of ghosts or something awful is going to happen.
Then there are the characters. There's the young and naive young hero, the handsome and brooding master of the household, and what I thought was a rather large cast of characters for a gothic. Pierce works them all into the mystery, and either uses them as red herrings to throw off the reader or incorporates them into the story to give it depth. The characterization is excellent and I came away from the book thinking of all these characters as having quite distinct personalities. Well done!
There's Duncan, the unhappy, unconventional master rumored to have killed his father to gain access to the business, and young Timothy, born out of wedlock, is a terror with no manners. Then there are brother and sister Leo and Elena from the neighboring estate who initially seem to be a breath of fresh air, but are they really Duncan's friends or is there something else going on? And then there's the staff who range from the downright creepy to those with tragic histories and/or secrets.
The story is definitely traditional gothic historical mystery. Our young and very naive hero is talented but poor Andrew Wyndham. He dreams of going to Paris to paint but lacks funds, so he secures a temporary three-month position at Seacliff as tutor to Timothy, son to the Duncan Stewart, Master of Seacliff. Seacliff and its inhabitants, however, are about to make those three months tough for young Andrew.
Secrets abound at Seacliff, and as Andrew begins to unravel them danger lurks everywhere, and to top it all off sensual undercurrents and confusing feelings place him in an awkward position. Who is the murderer? Who can he trust? As the bodies begin to pile up, Andrew can't decide and he needs to find out fast or he might be the next victim. Pierce leads the reader all over the place with this story, it's great! I can tell you that I guessed and changed my mind numerous times along the way and was never certain who did it until the very end.
Although the mystery in The Master of Seacliff definitely takes precedence over the romance and you won't find explicit sexual scenes, there is plenty of sexual tension between our central characters -- especially when our yet-to-become sexually aware Andrew becomes a bone of contention between brooding Duncan and sexy Leo. The romance between our two protagonists is developed slowly throughout the story and woven quite well with the mystery. I particularly like that when it comes to the romance Pierce went along with tradition and Andrew, although young, is not easy and in the end holds out for true love.
It has been a while since I read a gothic historical mystery, and frankly I enjoyed The Master of Seacliff. The American setting and the great atmosphere were both a plus for me as was the excellent characterization. And even though in some levels I found this to be a standard gothic historical, the male perspective gave this story a fresh feel, and the multi-layered mystery with its great twists was a joy to read as was the happy ending to the romance.
Let's begin with the setting. Our main character Andrew travels from New York City to an unnamed place up the Atlantic Coast to Seacliff, a doom and gloom estate that just reeks with atmosphere and a personality all of its own. As soon as the place is described you just know the place is either full of ghosts or something awful is going to happen.
Then there are the characters. There's the young and naive young hero, the handsome and brooding master of the household, and what I thought was a rather large cast of characters for a gothic. Pierce works them all into the mystery, and either uses them as red herrings to throw off the reader or incorporates them into the story to give it depth. The characterization is excellent and I came away from the book thinking of all these characters as having quite distinct personalities. Well done!
There's Duncan, the unhappy, unconventional master rumored to have killed his father to gain access to the business, and young Timothy, born out of wedlock, is a terror with no manners. Then there are brother and sister Leo and Elena from the neighboring estate who initially seem to be a breath of fresh air, but are they really Duncan's friends or is there something else going on? And then there's the staff who range from the downright creepy to those with tragic histories and/or secrets.
The story is definitely traditional gothic historical mystery. Our young and very naive hero is talented but poor Andrew Wyndham. He dreams of going to Paris to paint but lacks funds, so he secures a temporary three-month position at Seacliff as tutor to Timothy, son to the Duncan Stewart, Master of Seacliff. Seacliff and its inhabitants, however, are about to make those three months tough for young Andrew.
Secrets abound at Seacliff, and as Andrew begins to unravel them danger lurks everywhere, and to top it all off sensual undercurrents and confusing feelings place him in an awkward position. Who is the murderer? Who can he trust? As the bodies begin to pile up, Andrew can't decide and he needs to find out fast or he might be the next victim. Pierce leads the reader all over the place with this story, it's great! I can tell you that I guessed and changed my mind numerous times along the way and was never certain who did it until the very end.
Although the mystery in The Master of Seacliff definitely takes precedence over the romance and you won't find explicit sexual scenes, there is plenty of sexual tension between our central characters -- especially when our yet-to-become sexually aware Andrew becomes a bone of contention between brooding Duncan and sexy Leo. The romance between our two protagonists is developed slowly throughout the story and woven quite well with the mystery. I particularly like that when it comes to the romance Pierce went along with tradition and Andrew, although young, is not easy and in the end holds out for true love.
It has been a while since I read a gothic historical mystery, and frankly I enjoyed The Master of Seacliff. The American setting and the great atmosphere were both a plus for me as was the excellent characterization. And even though in some levels I found this to be a standard gothic historical, the male perspective gave this story a fresh feel, and the multi-layered mystery with its great twists was a joy to read as was the happy ending to the romance.
March 10, 2013
SlashReaders: I thoroughly enjoyed this book much more than the last two ones that I read. For starters, the writing was ten times better, and the plot tried harder. It was a typical gothic romance, so if you don't like that sort of thing well skip this.
However, it was well written and the characters were typical though nicely done. The author tried to twist things around though if you think like a writer it was rather obvious what happens. But the author does a good job of keeping you guessing right up until the end of the book. Though there are only so many possible ends of the story. Though I do think that this book could've been written better and the relationship aspects developed better.
'The Master of Seacliff', is a good enjoyable read that will keep you going through the length of it. It will also keep you guessing as to the outcome of the current situation as well as the past shadows that hang over the estate and its darkly handsome Master. It's not a great piece of literature by any means however it is a fun read, though I think some of the chapters and scenes felt a little choppy and cut as if something was missing in places as if the author wasn't sure what to do. However I got along with that, and give the nature of the gothic romance and all, I could let that go and just enjoy the rest of the book.
LOL, my biggest problem was the mention of Duncan's, hairy fingers. *laughs* I don't mind a hairy man however, that doesn't overly speak 'attractive' in my book. But it was only done once or twice so I got over that. I enjoyed this work through to the conclusion.
However, it was well written and the characters were typical though nicely done. The author tried to twist things around though if you think like a writer it was rather obvious what happens. But the author does a good job of keeping you guessing right up until the end of the book. Though there are only so many possible ends of the story. Though I do think that this book could've been written better and the relationship aspects developed better.
'The Master of Seacliff', is a good enjoyable read that will keep you going through the length of it. It will also keep you guessing as to the outcome of the current situation as well as the past shadows that hang over the estate and its darkly handsome Master. It's not a great piece of literature by any means however it is a fun read, though I think some of the chapters and scenes felt a little choppy and cut as if something was missing in places as if the author wasn't sure what to do. However I got along with that, and give the nature of the gothic romance and all, I could let that go and just enjoy the rest of the book.
LOL, my biggest problem was the mention of Duncan's, hairy fingers. *laughs* I don't mind a hairy man however, that doesn't overly speak 'attractive' in my book. But it was only done once or twice so I got over that. I enjoyed this work through to the conclusion.
June 20, 2014
I know this book would not be to the taste of many M/M readers but if you like the Cambridge Fellows books then this is for you. This is the first book I have read by Max Pierce but hopefully it will not be the last, his writing style, character development and settings in this book are so real you believe that you could actually visit. I have to admit I am a sucker for period stories and this one is set at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries in upstate New York. The story involves a 20 year old young man who has been brought up by relatives (who he doesn't really get on with) since the death of his parents. Andrew Wyndham is a budding artist who idolises Monet and yearns to travel to France to study but having no money he is persuaded to take a position teaching a young boy at an estate north of New York. The story is quite dark and centres around the mystery of the deaths of Duncan's father and his business partner. The novel is very atmospheric and not everything is revealed until the final pages.
As I stated this will not be to the taste of many readers of the M/M genre as there is no explicit steamy sex but in-keeping with the Victorian period it is more insinuated than giving a blow by blow account of the main protagonist's coupling.
All in all an excellent book which I shall keep on the back burner to reread in the future.
Five stars.
As I stated this will not be to the taste of many readers of the M/M genre as there is no explicit steamy sex but in-keeping with the Victorian period it is more insinuated than giving a blow by blow account of the main protagonist's coupling.
All in all an excellent book which I shall keep on the back burner to reread in the future.
Five stars.
January 27, 2016
Such a great read and a new author for me. Very Jane Eyre-ish, not better after all Jane Eyre is a classic, but similar and in my opinion nearly as good. Duncan definitely has Mr. Rochester's brooding down and Andrew certainly shares Jane's curiosity. Did Duncan really kill his father & Albert then make it look like murder/suicide? For that you'll have to read and you really won't know until near the end, I will say that my suspicions changed a few times. Very rarely does a story come together where every single character has a true purpose and effect on both the tale and the reader. There is a little something for everyone and just because I have made comparisons to Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre, don't think this is just a M/M genre retelling of the gothic classic, aspects are remnant but not a copy. The Master of Seacliff is a story all its own and I am so glad that luck or fate brought it to my eye.
July 16, 2014
I absolutely loved the first half - very atmospheric; great play on the gothic themes; interesting, sexy characters, and a good solid mystery.
But then it all kind of unraveled.
It was just a bit too convenient that almost every character turned out to be gay, and the main protagonist went from innocent to unfazed without any real development.
There was also almost zero development from the first meeting to being madly in love.
Also the way the characters talked about and to each of the murder mystery was a bit too unrealistic for me.
However, the conclusion was exciting and very satisfactory.
But then it all kind of unraveled.
It was just a bit too convenient that almost every character turned out to be gay, and the main protagonist went from innocent to unfazed without any real development.
There was also almost zero development from the first meeting to being madly in love.
Also the way the characters talked about and to each of the murder mystery was a bit too unrealistic for me.
However, the conclusion was exciting and very satisfactory.
September 19, 2014
There is a first for everything. In this case, it would be the first Gothic novel I have actually enjoyed. To be honest, if the romance in the book were of a heterosexual nature, I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it, but that is more from a place of wanting familiarity than anything. I did find this story hard to put down.
April 30, 2014
This is something new in the world; a Gay Gothic Romance. And it is considerably better written than most of it's heterosexual sisters. Check my full review: The Master of Seacliff
July 13, 2012
Reminiscent of classic gothic historical romances, but with a gay twist. Enjoyable.
February 10, 2013
Enjoyed it greatly. Fine plot and good character development.
to-read-pruned
May 5, 2014"Decidedly masculine point of-"
What the fuck does that mean?
What the fuck does that mean?
March 14, 2015
Great gothic romance -- lots of atmosphere and lovely writing.
September 27, 2024
No need to read the author's notes to know he is a fan of Victoria Holt 😵💫 this book is like the gay version of Mistress of Mellyn As a fan of VH, and because the writing does not suck i decided to be generous and rate it a 2.
I think I hate most of this book. Following all my complaints, full of spoilers:
For starters, 90% of the characters are men, and 85% of them are gay 😑 and I hate it when in MM it is all so messy! This one was a big tangle of lovers, and we are talking about a total of 8 guys total?? But all of them had a something with at least 2 guys of this small group:
- Duncan (love interest): in his youth seemed he was in love with the neighbor/friend Leo ("Duncan loves Leo"), had a liason with his stepfather (the lover of his father) when he was younger; moved out to Paris, had an affair with a French girl (who had his son), then Duncan had an intense relationship with a pianist (both were into kinky things it seemed, from what Andrew read in the letters) and now, only months after his lover left him and 2 weeks into knowing Andrew, he is again in love "forever".
- Leo attempts to seduce Andrew merely days into knowing each other because he notices Duncan's interest in Andrew. He used to be also the lover of Steven the pianist.
- Duncan's dad was married to the mother but had his lover living with them. These lovers were together for 30 years, but Albert had an affair with Duncan?? And then that letter of the father, saying he knew Albert only loved Duncan as a son and that they both were going away because they loved each other. Excuse meeee?? Loved him as "his son"?? 🤮
- There is a creepy butler obsessed with his mistress, the mother of Duncan. In one moment Andrew accuses him of being in love with Duncan (the butler is twice his age) but turns out he was in love with Duncan's father??
- Duncan's lover of 6 years (?), the pianist, cheated on him continuously, with Leo, with Edgar the painter and who knows who else.
I also cannot stand the familiarity of all characters. I guess I am more used to the proper British etiquette, where there is a social difference and people addresses the other as "Miss", "Mister". Here they were all in first terms, Andrew is an equal, calling all of them by their names and not being afraid of being nosy since he wasn't a mere "tutor". Sure, Marty from MoM was also nosy but she was also always very prim and knew "her place".
Also, in this book everyone is too touchy. Leo was constantly touching Andrew, Andrew hugging his master (!!!) when he was happy, Duncan touching Andrew's hair/face constantly even when they were still employer/employee, and Andrew giving Duncan a massage in his studio (!!). In a proper Gothic romance this would never, ever happen.
The only new thing the author added was the mess of Duncan's parents + the lover. And the mess of the painter who was also the pianist lover (gosh, what is the need to make all these gays so promiscuous!) But even the culprit was the same, and the purpose ofGilly Asher was the same. I didn't like Conan in MoM but I liked Duncan even less. He even looked like a macho kind of hero (black beard and mustache; hairy chest, big guy who loves to drink liquor and smoke cigars) I kept thinking wth was Andrew doing, choosing to stay in such a messy household! He could just have gone to Paris and be an artist, like he wanted to at the beginning **facepalm**
I think I hate most of this book. Following all my complaints, full of spoilers:
For starters, 90% of the characters are men, and 85% of them are gay 😑 and I hate it when in MM it is all so messy! This one was a big tangle of lovers, and we are talking about a total of 8 guys total?? But all of them had a something with at least 2 guys of this small group:
- Duncan (love interest): in his youth seemed he was in love with the neighbor/friend Leo ("Duncan loves Leo"), had a liason with his stepfather (the lover of his father) when he was younger; moved out to Paris, had an affair with a French girl (who had his son), then Duncan had an intense relationship with a pianist (both were into kinky things it seemed, from what Andrew read in the letters) and now, only months after his lover left him and 2 weeks into knowing Andrew, he is again in love "forever".
- Leo attempts to seduce Andrew merely days into knowing each other because he notices Duncan's interest in Andrew. He used to be also the lover of Steven the pianist.
- Duncan's dad was married to the mother but had his lover living with them. These lovers were together for 30 years, but Albert had an affair with Duncan?? And then that letter of the father, saying he knew Albert only loved Duncan as a son and that they both were going away because they loved each other. Excuse meeee?? Loved him as "his son"?? 🤮
- There is a creepy butler obsessed with his mistress, the mother of Duncan. In one moment Andrew accuses him of being in love with Duncan (the butler is twice his age) but turns out he was in love with Duncan's father??
- Duncan's lover of 6 years (?), the pianist, cheated on him continuously, with Leo, with Edgar the painter and who knows who else.
I also cannot stand the familiarity of all characters. I guess I am more used to the proper British etiquette, where there is a social difference and people addresses the other as "Miss", "Mister". Here they were all in first terms, Andrew is an equal, calling all of them by their names and not being afraid of being nosy since he wasn't a mere "tutor". Sure, Marty from MoM was also nosy but she was also always very prim and knew "her place".
Also, in this book everyone is too touchy. Leo was constantly touching Andrew, Andrew hugging his master (!!!) when he was happy, Duncan touching Andrew's hair/face constantly even when they were still employer/employee, and Andrew giving Duncan a massage in his studio (!!). In a proper Gothic romance this would never, ever happen.
The only new thing the author added was the mess of Duncan's parents + the lover. And the mess of the painter who was also the pianist lover (gosh, what is the need to make all these gays so promiscuous!) But even the culprit was the same, and the purpose of
July 18, 2017
I'm not really sure what I thought of this. It was very cold and clinical, which I believe it was meant to be, in order to reflect the house. The characters did not seem to have very much depth to them, and there were a lot of them.
The mystery was I think too big and complicated for its own good. Something so complex could have unraveled over many books, each one dedicated to one of the murders with a final culmination. There were clues and situations that were not given their spooky due, like the lion pin, the key, the postmortem, the clocks and so on. Much more attention could have been paid to them, but were instead mentioned once or twice in passing.
I can't say there was really a romance. It was a buildup of emotion which was not built on lust or passion, which suddenly erupted. In this way, I also felt it a bit cold. Still, by the end of the book, you could say you definitely had a very good picture of Seacliff and its insanity, and the book, though reminiscent of Rebecca in some ways, was very different, which is always appreciated.
The mystery was I think too big and complicated for its own good. Something so complex could have unraveled over many books, each one dedicated to one of the murders with a final culmination. There were clues and situations that were not given their spooky due, like the lion pin, the key, the postmortem, the clocks and so on. Much more attention could have been paid to them, but were instead mentioned once or twice in passing.
I can't say there was really a romance. It was a buildup of emotion which was not built on lust or passion, which suddenly erupted. In this way, I also felt it a bit cold. Still, by the end of the book, you could say you definitely had a very good picture of Seacliff and its insanity, and the book, though reminiscent of Rebecca in some ways, was very different, which is always appreciated.
August 2, 2020
I loved this book. It's a nice easy reading. A bit young-adult yet the homosexual tension and eroticism brings it back to us, the gay adult guys.
The story is fun. Imagine a mix of Cindirella-Agatha Christie-Allan Poe. Well done.
Of course the description of one of the main characters makes you fall right there, in his arms. O boy!, why "a man who walks so confident, masculine, wearing his hair as he wishes" is so attractive. Put yourself in this situation:
"..His shirt was open almost to his middle, and a patch of dark olive skin separated his facial hair from that on his broad chest. Without looking at me, he fingered through a thick patch of black... For one so wealthy, he lacked proper manners"....
It couldn't be more gay than that. Pure testosterone and suspense keeps you glued to this book.
The story is fun. Imagine a mix of Cindirella-Agatha Christie-Allan Poe. Well done.
Of course the description of one of the main characters makes you fall right there, in his arms. O boy!, why "a man who walks so confident, masculine, wearing his hair as he wishes" is so attractive. Put yourself in this situation:
"..His shirt was open almost to his middle, and a patch of dark olive skin separated his facial hair from that on his broad chest. Without looking at me, he fingered through a thick patch of black... For one so wealthy, he lacked proper manners"....
It couldn't be more gay than that. Pure testosterone and suspense keeps you glued to this book.
February 27, 2019
A little lackluster, but overall not bad.
It's really slow, that has to be said. I was pretty bored at the beginning.
If anyone is expecting to be spooked (like I was, for some reason), it's not gonna happen.
The mystery is predictable. Like, ridiculously predictable. Like, the resolution literally made me laugh. But it is entertaining. And well crafted: everything fits nicely, as it should.
The characters are all perfect cliches, and that's all that can be said about them, to be honest. I did not like Duncan at all, he's the classic rude and brooding love interest of gothic romance, and he's just not my thing. I did not see that much chemistry between him and Andrew either. The romance was built slowly, though, and in that sense it was believable enough.
It's really slow, that has to be said. I was pretty bored at the beginning.
If anyone is expecting to be spooked (like I was, for some reason), it's not gonna happen.
The mystery is predictable. Like, ridiculously predictable. Like, the resolution literally made me laugh. But it is entertaining. And well crafted: everything fits nicely, as it should.
The characters are all perfect cliches, and that's all that can be said about them, to be honest. I did not like Duncan at all, he's the classic rude and brooding love interest of gothic romance, and he's just not my thing. I did not see that much chemistry between him and Andrew either. The romance was built slowly, though, and in that sense it was believable enough.
March 28, 2020
Turn of the nineteenth century mystery romance set in the coastal northeast and New York city. POV a young tutor, an aspiring artist, who unravels the murders that cause much unhappiness at Seacliff. Apparently well researched, the reader can see the mansion and its setting atop the waterfront. The characters are drawn well as the plot progresses, and details uncovered. An entertaining read with plenty of surprises.
As I am a gatherer of books, I collect books and ebooks from a variety of sources: Goodreads wins, Bookhub, BookFunnel, emails from authors and publishers, and others. I do lose track of their sources. But, as a reader, I feel I should give an honest, unencumbered review for all I read.
As I am a gatherer of books, I collect books and ebooks from a variety of sources: Goodreads wins, Bookhub, BookFunnel, emails from authors and publishers, and others. I do lose track of their sources. But, as a reader, I feel I should give an honest, unencumbered review for all I read.
October 4, 2024
Mr. Pierce managed to cram in so many gothic romance tropes into just 201 pages, he is truly a man after my own heart. The few complaints I may have initially had were eventually silence by the realization that Pierce is a faithful fan of the genre. If Andrew has been gender swapped then this could have been any other GR and that's exactly what I was looking for. Just another GR with a doe-eyed twink swapped in for the usual doe-eyed ingenue. Sadly it doesn't seem Pierce has followed up The Master of Seacliff with anything in a similar vein.
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