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The Dark Mill
Tansy wasn't really a child. She was a living masquerade. Death cloaked in beauty, consummate evil wrapped in the gauze of innocence.
144 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1971
27 people want to read
About the author
Claudette Nicole
24 books5 followersAlso wrote books under the name Pamela Windsor. Real name was JOHN MESSMAN.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 7, 2025
From 1971
These Claudette Nicole Gothic Romances have been re released by Cutting Edge Books, so they are available for e-reading. I love the adorable paperbacks but I don’t always want to read them. Only if they’re “Easy Eye” and have big, like normal, size print. Claudette Nicole is actually John Messmann.
The Dark Mill is the best of the few I’ve read. They are good, well plotted. But they also have some problems. I feel like they were written fast and could have used another draft or two. It could be really good with more editing.
This takes place in Maine, where I was born and live. There were/are a lot of old mills in Maine but I guess there are anywhere with a good river.
These Claudette Nicole Gothic Romances have been re released by Cutting Edge Books, so they are available for e-reading. I love the adorable paperbacks but I don’t always want to read them. Only if they’re “Easy Eye” and have big, like normal, size print. Claudette Nicole is actually John Messmann.
The Dark Mill is the best of the few I’ve read. They are good, well plotted. But they also have some problems. I feel like they were written fast and could have used another draft or two. It could be really good with more editing.
This takes place in Maine, where I was born and live. There were/are a lot of old mills in Maine but I guess there are anywhere with a good river.
April 28, 2015
When Valery is hired to watch over a child for two months, it feels like a paid vacation. But as she waits for the child to arrive, each day brings a little more unease, and when Tansy is finally present nothing seems normal. The family is odd, and as snippets of old news come through, Valery's suspicions are raised. But who can she trust?
Despite the cover description I wouldn't classify this as romantic suspense - it felt much more along the lines of John Saul's thrillers, or maybe even V.C. Andrews without the incest... Mary Stewart this is most definitely not, either in style or plot. It's short, though, almost a novella by today's standards, so at least it's a quick read, and it is well written. Plenty of heightened tension and danger for the heroine.
Despite the cover description I wouldn't classify this as romantic suspense - it felt much more along the lines of John Saul's thrillers, or maybe even V.C. Andrews without the incest... Mary Stewart this is most definitely not, either in style or plot. It's short, though, almost a novella by today's standards, so at least it's a quick read, and it is well written. Plenty of heightened tension and danger for the heroine.
December 7, 2019
This was a fun book and a bit more intense than your average gothic from this time period. A few points were predictable, but overall a good book. If it had been longer, the characters would’ve been more well developed. I’ve looked for information about the author, but have found no info online. Looking forward to seeking out more of her books.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews