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Daughter of the Stars
Lacey Elliot has been a woman without a past for thirty years, refusing to speak of her father, her family, or her history. But when she intercepts a desperate letter from her aunt, she sees her chance to confront the past that has terrified her mother and to fill in the gaps in her own life. Against the charm and colorful, turbulent history of the town, the violent history of Lacey's heritage is about to repeat itself. As she finds herself drawn to a man intrigued by the town for his own reasons, old ghosts reappear, and danger returns as a killer walks among them once more.
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First published January 1, 1994
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About the author
Phyllis A. Whitney
190 books569 followersPhyllis Ayame Whitney (1903 – 2008) was an American mystery writer. Rare for her genre, she wrote mysteries for both the juvenile and the adult markets, many of which feature exotic locations. A review in The New York Times once dubbed her "The Queen of the American Gothics".
She was born in Japan to American parents and spent her early years in Asia. Whitney wrote more than seventy novels. In 1961, her book The Mystery of the Haunted Pool won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best Juvenile novel, and she duplicated the honor in 1964, for The Mystery of the Hidden Hand. In 1988, the MWA gave her a Grand Master Award for lifetime achievement. Whitney died of pneumonia on February 8, 2008, aged 104.
She was born in Japan to American parents and spent her early years in Asia. Whitney wrote more than seventy novels. In 1961, her book The Mystery of the Haunted Pool won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best Juvenile novel, and she duplicated the honor in 1964, for The Mystery of the Hidden Hand. In 1988, the MWA gave her a Grand Master Award for lifetime achievement. Whitney died of pneumonia on February 8, 2008, aged 104.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
January 10, 2016
I used to read Phyllis A. Whitney's books on a regular basis and always enjoyed them. I ran across this one that I had not read a few days ago and brought it home. I loved it! It turned out to have several of my favorite elements: a twisted tale involving quite a few characters - one family, in particular - in the present day linked to people involved in events that took place generations ago, ties to a place and an event I have heard about since childhood, a mysterious cover-up perpetrated over the years, and bits of romance here and there throughout. I could hardly put it down until I knew the answers!
August 24, 2022
"Daughter of the Stars" refers not to Phyllis A. Whitney's late-blooming interest in the supernatural and New Age but rather is the Native American source for the name of the Shenandoah River, which plays a role in this novel set in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Lacey Elliott has grown up in Central Virginia, where her widowed mother has raised her knowing nothing about their family. But now she will be summoned back to come face to face with 30 year-old secrets. The mystery involves the disappearance of Lacey's father. It's not a particularly gripping secret and the slim novel spends more time with Lacey discovering her long-lost relatives, including a wise child and an overbearing elderly lady, both Whitney specialties. Although it's not poorly written, the solution to the story hinges upon a random discovery of a historical document. Furthermore, both the love plot and the conclusion are abrupt and rapid, as if Whitney ran out of steam and needed to wrap things up. After this novel, three years would elapse before Whitney published her final book, "Amethyst Dreams."
June 7, 2013
I know.....I read a book by an old author and I am guessing very few or actually not a single teenager like me has probably read her book. Well I must say this book was mind blowing.. I thought it would be boring to death but not that bad... My grandpa and I read it and he explained me at times when the plot made no sense to me... Its a adult book so the vocabulary was hard for me to comprehend. I thought it would be a romantic book but it actually was suspense and I LOVE suspense books.. One of my favorites!!!
April 4, 2014
Boring! Such a slow moving yet convoluted book - much ado about nothing. There is no objective correlative to the actions of the characters. The murder happened 30 years ago, Lacey's mother hides her past from her daughter all of her life and then suddenly sends her off to meet her family when she hears that the alleged murderer of her husband is back in town. Why?? Lacey falls in love with a man who she's just met, but there's no romance. One of Phyllis Whitney's worst books!
April 5, 2016
I used to love Phyllis Whitney and I read all of her books when I was younger. I was excited to see a new book of hers that I hadn't read. I was a little disappointed though. The story seemed to drag on and it was confusing to me to keep all the characters straight. I finally made myself a little family history chart that I could refer to and that helped a little bit.
June 5, 2008
This, along with The Golden Unicorn by the same author, are what my grandmother used to call "Woman in Front of the House Books" from the standard cover art of a young woman in flowing garments posed in front of a large, spooky-looking house. The technical name is romantic suspense, and Phyllis A. Whitney was a master of the genre (in fact she was named a Grand Master by the MWA in 1988). When Whitney died recently at age 104, I realized I hadn't read anything of hers since junior high (she also wrote for young adults) so when I saw these two books ready for discard from a friend's bookshelf I took them to read on the plane.
Daughter of the Stars' title refers to the Shenandoah River, which meets the Potomac at Harpers Ferry, WV, the setting for this novel. Whitney always began writing by visiting the location and it shows; I could easily visualize the setting although I've never been there. The heroine of this book has been raised by her mother with no other apparent relatives. During the mother's recovery from surgery, a letter comes from Harpers Ferry and the heroine discovers that she does have relatives there, and that they may be in danger. She travels to West Virginia, meets the relatives, and also meets a handsome historian. There is a murder, but all ends more or less happily. One can usually predict what's going to happen in these books, and this was no exception, but the setting was so well done and the writing so well-crafted that it was an excellent way to pass the time during the 11 hours in airports, airplanes, and bus that it took to get from Savannah to Portland.
Daughter of the Stars' title refers to the Shenandoah River, which meets the Potomac at Harpers Ferry, WV, the setting for this novel. Whitney always began writing by visiting the location and it shows; I could easily visualize the setting although I've never been there. The heroine of this book has been raised by her mother with no other apparent relatives. During the mother's recovery from surgery, a letter comes from Harpers Ferry and the heroine discovers that she does have relatives there, and that they may be in danger. She travels to West Virginia, meets the relatives, and also meets a handsome historian. There is a murder, but all ends more or less happily. One can usually predict what's going to happen in these books, and this was no exception, but the setting was so well done and the writing so well-crafted that it was an excellent way to pass the time during the 11 hours in airports, airplanes, and bus that it took to get from Savannah to Portland.
February 19, 2016
Enjoyed the history and local color (Harper's Ferry, WV), and the plot was interesting enough.
On the downside, the prose often felt amateurish. It was not painfully bad, but frequently more awkward than Whitney's contemporaries Mary Stewart and Victoria Holt ever got. Still looking for an American author of this genre who writes with their skill and authority.
But Whitney, although she doesn't write "keepers," is entertaining enough until I find her.
On the downside, the prose often felt amateurish. It was not painfully bad, but frequently more awkward than Whitney's contemporaries Mary Stewart and Victoria Holt ever got. Still looking for an American author of this genre who writes with their skill and authority.
But Whitney, although she doesn't write "keepers," is entertaining enough until I find her.
November 17, 2013
With not much substance this was an easy read. Set in Harper's Ferry it could be considered a historical romance. If it is true, or has some truth, you could learn a lot about John Brown. Lacey Elliot learns about her past, the murder of her father, her great grandmother, great aunt and her half-sister.
January 3, 2010
This wins an award - for sitting on my bookshelf the longest, about 15 years, without being read. Nothing exciting, it probably should have just stayed there.
Has some history of the abolitionist John Brown.
Has some history of the abolitionist John Brown.
June 16, 2008
Finally finished this book! I should have listened to myself halfway through and not bothered finishing it!
I went to the Library with out a list of books from "Good Reads", and I have always loved a good romance mystery!
I went to the Library with out a list of books from "Good Reads", and I have always loved a good romance mystery!
January 26, 2016
2 1/2, rounded up because it seems like Whitney was an interesting, accomplished lady. If anyone has recommended titles let me know please - I've read two so far and am lukewarm, at best, on them, but would like to read something by her that I loved.
August 2, 2013
Trudged thru it but would not read anything by this author again. Felt like I was reading a Nancy Drew book.
October 28, 2024
Wonderful story and a fantastic ending. Loved it!
October 7, 2022
A story of family and betrayal. History based.keeps you guessing.very suspenceful
June 26, 2014
I used to read a lot of Phyllis A. Whitney's books in junior high and high school. I eventually stopped reading them because they all seemed the same.
This summer I've been reading some of my "read someday" pile, and I was in the mood for some very light reading. This is the third book I've read in the "light reading/romance" category. I probably got it through book-of-the-month club or The Literary Guild, and it's one of four Whitney novels I found sitting there on a shelf.
The novel starts with a historical flashback to John Brown's raid (which partially sparked the American Civil War) and that chapter was riveting. Too bad Ms. Whitney was not willing to try her hand at an actual historical novel - because, unfortunately, the teaser chapter has almost nothing to do with the rest of the book - and it was the best part.
The novel is about Lacey Elliot, a successful author and illustrator of children's books. She's living with her mother, her only family - she thinks, who's recovering from breast cancer. Because her mother is weak, and in need of care, Lacey opens a surprise letter - and discovers she has family in Harpers Ferry.
Lacey mentions the letter, carefully, to her mother then travels on a journey of self-discovery. She meets a lot of previously unknown relatives, and soon ends-up trying to solve her father's murder. It turns out that her mother had fled Harpers Ferry with 4-year-old Lacey when her father disappeared, presumed dead.
Lacey, of course, meets a handsome stranger that she's drawn to - even though he might be dangerous.
The novel makes use of the historical backdrop of Harpers Ferry, John Brown's raid, and the Civil War - as many of the characters are descendants of those who fought. However, it's set in a misty "present".
The novel comes to a sudden end, and one character who was suddenly starting to look suspicious - does things to clear-up the mystery, and resolve the plot.
And actually, Daughter of the Stars works fairly well as a romantic suspense novel, until the end, which just suddenly unfolds, almost out of the blue - as if the author suddenly noticed her word count was almost up. The character involved, I had suspected of something, prior to it being revealed, but it was one of those, lets'hurry-and-wrap-up the novel' endings.
This novel could have been much better if it had been either a longer historical novel (say 350-400 pages, not 217 - including the afterword) or if, staying in the contemporary setting, it had been at least a little longer so the end could have been built-up a bit more and not suddenly pulled out of a hat, like magic.
This summer I've been reading some of my "read someday" pile, and I was in the mood for some very light reading. This is the third book I've read in the "light reading/romance" category. I probably got it through book-of-the-month club or The Literary Guild, and it's one of four Whitney novels I found sitting there on a shelf.
The novel starts with a historical flashback to John Brown's raid (which partially sparked the American Civil War) and that chapter was riveting. Too bad Ms. Whitney was not willing to try her hand at an actual historical novel - because, unfortunately, the teaser chapter has almost nothing to do with the rest of the book - and it was the best part.
The novel is about Lacey Elliot, a successful author and illustrator of children's books. She's living with her mother, her only family - she thinks, who's recovering from breast cancer. Because her mother is weak, and in need of care, Lacey opens a surprise letter - and discovers she has family in Harpers Ferry.
Lacey mentions the letter, carefully, to her mother then travels on a journey of self-discovery. She meets a lot of previously unknown relatives, and soon ends-up trying to solve her father's murder. It turns out that her mother had fled Harpers Ferry with 4-year-old Lacey when her father disappeared, presumed dead.
Lacey, of course, meets a handsome stranger that she's drawn to - even though he might be dangerous.
The novel makes use of the historical backdrop of Harpers Ferry, John Brown's raid, and the Civil War - as many of the characters are descendants of those who fought. However, it's set in a misty "present".
The novel comes to a sudden end, and one character who was suddenly starting to look suspicious - does things to clear-up the mystery, and resolve the plot.
And actually, Daughter of the Stars works fairly well as a romantic suspense novel, until the end, which just suddenly unfolds, almost out of the blue - as if the author suddenly noticed her word count was almost up. The character involved, I had suspected of something, prior to it being revealed, but it was one of those, lets'hurry-and-wrap-up the novel' endings.
This novel could have been much better if it had been either a longer historical novel (say 350-400 pages, not 217 - including the afterword) or if, staying in the contemporary setting, it had been at least a little longer so the end could have been built-up a bit more and not suddenly pulled out of a hat, like magic.
August 13, 2012
Lacey Elliott has grown up with no family other than her mother Amelia, who refuses to reveal any information about their past. Then a letter comes, begging Amelia to return to Harpers Ferry, but Amelia, recovering from a cancer operation, cannot go. Lacey takes her place so she can learn about her family, which turns out to be all shades of surprising, warm, cold, dangerous, and tangled up in old history. As she learns more and meets more members of her family, she is determined to find out what happened to her father--no matter the cost.
This book started out really well, with lots of secrets to unravel and the promise of historical connections back to the Civil War. All that was involved, along with much detail about Harpers Ferry, but the book just didn't really work for me. It felt kind of more like a computer game, with Lacey going to one place, meeting people and learning huge chunks of information, then going somewhere else and learning more, then something happens, etc., etc. Big events occur with no build-up so they run by completely unexpected, and you have to go back and say, wait, what? And the characters don't have much reaction to them, and those they do are more told than shown. I also didn't buy the romance. It all felt a bit mechanical, like a draft written to get all the plot in, but then the final draft--which would breathe life into it--didn't get written. I must say, though, the reader was excellent; gave everyone a distinctive voice, and the men actually sounded like men.
This book started out really well, with lots of secrets to unravel and the promise of historical connections back to the Civil War. All that was involved, along with much detail about Harpers Ferry, but the book just didn't really work for me. It felt kind of more like a computer game, with Lacey going to one place, meeting people and learning huge chunks of information, then going somewhere else and learning more, then something happens, etc., etc. Big events occur with no build-up so they run by completely unexpected, and you have to go back and say, wait, what? And the characters don't have much reaction to them, and those they do are more told than shown. I also didn't buy the romance. It all felt a bit mechanical, like a draft written to get all the plot in, but then the final draft--which would breathe life into it--didn't get written. I must say, though, the reader was excellent; gave everyone a distinctive voice, and the men actually sounded like men.
September 19, 2014
Window on the Square is an absolute favorite of mine and I think it set a rather high bar for the rest of Ms. Whitney's writings. Still, this was a good read, excellently written in a way I just don't see in cozy/traditional mysteries any more. A very solid murder mystery, albeit a very weak romantic sub-plot. I'll look for more of her books, and hope I find the ones more reminiscent of WotS.
Full review: http://jenn.booklikes.com/post/988418...
Full review: http://jenn.booklikes.com/post/988418...
August 21, 2010
I went through a period of time where I read Phyllis Whitney books back to back - I chain-read her books! Her writing style appeals to me, and these books make a great summer day in the park type read, or a good story to curl up with on a rainy day. The only drawback is the plots are all pretty similar (girl is usually trying to solve a family mystery and finds an attractive yet scary man, etc.) and I can't remember which is which! I liked them all, however.
December 21, 2010
Daughter of the Stars is the meaning of the word shennedoah. The story is set at Harper's Ferry, West Virginia where the Shennedndoah river becomes part of the Potomac. It threads the pre-civial war history of the area through the mystery that makes up the story.
Whitney was a master story teller. I had forgotten how skilfull she was and how wonderfully satisfying it is to read one of her stories.
Whitney was a master story teller. I had forgotten how skilfull she was and how wonderfully satisfying it is to read one of her stories.
July 10, 2013
Not sure how I found Whitney but absolutely love reading her books. They are difficult to find so now I'm on a quest for more of her books (I might have one or two stashed, will have to check). This story had me on the edge from the first few pages. As with the mystery she even threw a bit of romance in the midst. Was surprised at the ending -- especially since I always try to figure out the end as I'm reading along. Another great book by Whitney!
September 8, 2016
Lacey's mother took her away from her family in Harper's Ferry after the murder of her father. She has never told Lacey anything about her father or the existence of her family. When she intercepts a letter from her aunt to her mother begging her mother to come home, Lacey decides to go herself. Once there, she discovers she has more family than she has ever imagined, and is confronted with the truth about her father's death. If you are a Whitney fan, you will love this book also.
December 6, 2016
This was my second Phyllis Whitney in a row -- perhaps my ONLY ones. Did not care for it at all. The mother kept family secrets from her adult daughter, daughter goes to Harpers Ferry to find out the truth, the truth is really not very interesting, daughter meets man and falls in love immediately, all secrets are revealed and none really matter. Way too many great great grands, uncles, etc. Pretty bad !!
May 13, 2011
This was a great mystery that also included some excellent American history and some romance. Definitely kept my attention riveted to every word. She surely deserved 'The Grand Master' award. It made a portion of the early stages of the U.S. civil war easy to visualize. I highly recommend this book. (given to me by my good friend Gail Griffith)
March 25, 2014
I love historical fiction that marries current happenings with situations that played an important part in history. This novel harkens back to John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry, Virginia and the repercussions of an area that had brothers and friends fighting on opposing side.
I am interested in researching other novels written by this author.
I am interested in researching other novels written by this author.
September 1, 2008
At first I had fun reading especially at the beginning. Then it began to drag a bit, like you’d notice this in a not very long book or long ending. But it challenges to perfection. The kind of writing readers all enjoy.
January 19, 2015
I was raised on Phyllis Whitney since she was a favorite author of my mother.
This is a quick little read, not too much on the mystery but great on local history since I live in the area it takes place.
This is a quick little read, not too much on the mystery but great on local history since I live in the area it takes place.
March 5, 2017
I very much enjoyed this book. I loved how the author intertwined true history with the fictional story. I love Harper's Ferry, so this book was great to read and picture where each plot took place. I am anxious to other books by this author.
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March 31, 2008Whitney, Phyllis A.
August 9, 2008
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August 16, 2008
I didn't know until the end who the murderer was, that was good. But just felt annoyed with all the characters, so only giving it two stars.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews