The Laughing Ghost

by Dorothy Eden

Published as a paperback original in the U.S.

Genres: Gothic, Mystery

Audio Cassette

First published January 1, 1943

About the author

Aka Mary Paradise.

Dorothy Eden was born in 1912 in New Zealand and died in 1982. She moved to England in 1954 after taking a trip around the world and falling in love with the country. She was best known for her many mystery and romance books as well as short stories that were published in periodicals. As a novelist, Dorothy Eden was renowned for her ability to create fear and suspense. This earned her many devoted readers throughout her lifetime.

Reviews

[C. (Don't blank click my reviews, comment please! · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had high hopes for “The Laughing Ghost”, even with a suspicion that a 1943 book would commandeer paranormal titles without paranormal material. Authors need to stop that. My second council is this: if you want to exude an eerie, mysterious, or gothic vibe and indeed fit those sub-genres; make that content the focus of the story. The atmosphere around an ancient family manor, with smuggling tunnels, was fantastic. An old, unsolved mystery, as always, yielded far greater interest to me than a present-day plot.

Alas, Dorothy Eden delegated pages to thieves, two romances, a broke actress, a broke American, a policeman who wanted to advance, and even his pregnant wife. Worse, the good parts were spread thin, broken off to distribute chapters of the narrative to EVERY ONE OF those external, “who-gives-a-shit” characters! Instead of spending this book searching for the remains of the titular ghost, who was lost in the tunnels centuries past; we sit through arguing thieves and paramours. Dorothy was playing with extreme caricature personalities by casting them in various scenes, wherein they spouted cliché dialogue. The speakers who held my attention were the protagonist, thank goodness and the uncle unknown to Lyn.

There are nuggets of value because Dorothy was no slouch. This was only second of all her work. An Uncle’s will was devised with prudence, that his niece appreciated and did not resent. Rather than leave their home to Felicity, while she sped cars and dallied with a layabout American cousin; Lynnford Carstairs sought the current relative bearing his name and invited them to see if they wanted to marry. This offer and the tunnel mystery are enough. Dorothy added a stolen necklace that turned this into trivial crime fluff. Not to worry: others among her novels have provided five-star delight for me.

[Dorcas · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ok gothic featuring an inheritance, hidden passages, smuggling and stolen diamonds. Although titled "The Laughing Ghost", there isn't one, this is kind of like an old Nancy Drew. There is a romance or two which actually feel eye rollingly hokey in places, so don't say I didn't warn you.
Dorothy Eden can do better than this but for a whipped up novel it's ok, especially when you're between books and just want something quick.

[Sandy Hearn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was pretty good, I had the feeling I was in an old movie like Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstien, had that kind of feeling to it, I could just imagine in an old black and white movie, intersting characters, nice ending.

[Adrian Griffiths · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is more than a crime thriller than a gothic. Instead one one beleaguered heroine, there is a wide cast of characters, each of whom get their own character studies and points of view. It certainly makes for a change, especially as the main character is actually a man, and that NEVER happens in gothic romances!

The plot tells of two people being brought together by the will of a wealthy eccentric. They have to marry each other in order to inherit wealth and a huge mansion. At the same time, the house is also the home of a "laughing ghost", and unknown to them, a plot to smuggle stolen diamonds is going on under their noses at the same time.

Dorothy Eden writes well, and although it's not very suspenseful or exciting for much of it's length, it passes the time, and things do ramp up in the final chapters with some tense moments in underground tunnels. The romantic elements are definitely in the background with this one.

[Carrie Dalby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, but not a favorite from Eden. I'm not a fan of so many POVs in a book because it tends to distance me from becoming emotionally invested in any one character--and I really wanted to feel more for Lynn. And it would have been great to have the lead hero in peril because they are rare in Gothics.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gothic.

[Lisa Greer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have this edition. So far, I'm enjoying it a lot! Might be my first Eden I really liked other than Winterwood I think it was called. Might have the title wrong.

[Terri Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fairly predictable, but good fun!