A Forgotten Girl

by Elisabeth Ogilvie

Strange things begin to happen when Alix's family inherits part of an island.

Genres: Mystery

172 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Elisabeth Ogilvie’s striking evocation of the atmosphere of the Maine seacoast that is the background of The Seasons Hereafter is no accident, for she lived in just such an area for many years, and her love for its people and their way of life has influenced all her novels.
Her activities on Gay’s Island, where she spent most of the year, included writing, gardening, and “trying not to suspect that a bear is at the door, a moose lurking in among the alders, or a horned owl hovering overhead about to bear away the cat.”
She contributed a considerable amount of writing of magazine fiction and children’s books, and is the author of several novels, including There May Be Heaven, The Witch Door, Rowan Head, The Dawning of the Day, Storm Tide, and one book of nonfiction, My World Is an Island.

Reviews

[Paula Brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Val and Alix's father unexpectedly comes into an inheritance - half an island off the coast of Maine. He wants to sell, but the girls insist on seeing the place before he does. They find it a grand old adventure - until, obviously, things start to go wrong! The girls are subject to mysterious incidents that make it clear they're wanted off the island. The other half of the island belongs to the Bancroft family, headed by great-grandmother matriarch Grace Bancroft. Alix grows increasingly fond of Grace's great-grandson, Simon, but worries he could be behind what's going on. Or is it Grace's housekeeper, Annie, who is in love with Simon and clearly hates Alix? Or even Grace? She doesn't seem to like Alix much either....

Enjoyable romantic mystery from the 80s Windswept line, a series I've recently started collecting. (I only have three left to get!) Reading books from the 80s, as I've said before, reminds me a lot of visiting video stores in my youth. Yes, I come from the days of VHS! This, of course, was very mild, but I enjoyed the descriptions of the island, especially the fog and the storms. Ogilvie doesn't go overboard with the descriptions, either, as some authors are apt to do. Younger sister Val was a bit whiny and annoying, but Alix had a level head on her shoulders in regards to her feelings for Simon. But I have to say, I was more than a bit disturbed by the fact that Alix and Simon are revealed to be blood related - his great-grandmother is the sister of Alix's great-grandmother - and they continue their romance! Yuk!

It's really not all that different to the Point thrillers that came along later in the 80s and 90s, just a bit milder, and probably why I enjoyed reading it!

[Woff · Rating 2 out of 5]

This read like someone had written a book, then was given the title and the cover and tried to hastily adapt it to fit.

[Joanna Warrens · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the setting on an Island in Maine. The teens were realistic and I could picture the setting perfectly. I loved how the parents let the teen girls have their own adventure. I was looking at other books by the author and saw that she wrote a series set in Main for adults. I am definately going to check those out.

[Melinda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Strange.