Cameron's Landing

by Anne Stuart

Lorna MacDougall, a wild rawboned girl of Scottish descent, is forced by unusual circumstances to leave her parents' farm and go to the island fortress of Cameron's Landing. It is in the 1880's in Maine, and the Camerons are a wealthy shipping family. Ostensibly called to work for Lady Margaret, the Cameron dowager, Lorna soon finds she is to be Margaret's eyes and ears - for Margaret believes someone in the family is a murderer.

Genres: Romance, Gothic, Historical, Historical Romance, Suspense, Gothic Romance, Mystery

184 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Anne Stuart is a grandmaster of the genre, winner of Romance Writers of America's prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, survivor of more than thirty-five years in the romance business, and still just keeps getting better.

Her first novel was Barrett's Hill, a gothic romance published by Ballantine in 1974 when Anne had just turned 25. Since then she's written more gothics, regencies, romantic suspense, romantic adventure, series romance, suspense, historical romance, paranormal and mainstream contemporary romance for publishers such as Doubleday, Harlequin, Silhouette, Avon, Zebra, St. Martins Press, Berkley, Dell, Pocket Books and Fawcett.

She’s won numerous awards, appeared on most bestseller lists, and speaks all over the country. Her general outrageousness has gotten her on Entertainment Tonight, as well as in Vogue, People, USA Today, Women’s Day and countless other national newspapers and magazines.

When she’s not traveling, she’s at home in Northern Vermont with her luscious husband of thirty-six years, an empty nest, three cats, four sewing machines, and one Springer Spaniel, and when she’s not working she’s watching movies, listening to rock and roll (preferably Japanese) and spending far too much time quilting.

Anne Stuart also writes as Kristina Douglas.

Reviews

[*CJ* · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Cameron's Landing" is the story of Lorna and her adventures hero is Alex

Our heroine, a free spirited young woman is hired to be the governess to Lady Margaret's grandchildren. She needs the money to feed her destitute family, and travels to the remote island. She then realizes that she has to live in a gloomy mansion surrounded by cliffs, the sea and is asked to spy for the elderly owner of the house. Her husband was brutally murdered, and she believes one of the kids to be a culprit. Soon we meet her temperamental sons, hysterical daughter-in-law, sweet grandchildren, varied house-help and other characters, all of whom show potential to be a killer.. However, as bodies start piling up, the plot thickens..

A nice Gothic novel with loads of spooky elements, an average murder mystery and minimal romance. I think the reveal was extremely predictable, yet I didn't mind reading it. Pretty dark if you actually count the number of deaths, LOL.

An OK one time read! I think AS has done this trope MUCH BETTER later on! However, the epilogue is fantastic.

Safe?
2.5/5

[Be · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are just some books that you wish would never end ..... this was one of those books for me,,, something that grabs you from page one. I loved every last drop of it ! Anne Stuart has a style of writing that can keep a person enthralled . I wish she wrote more books like this . For me it was just a perfect romantic suspenseful gothic novel! Thanks Anne . And as she wrote in this book " It was simply obvious". There were a few parts in this book that would rate it PG. One of her earlier works.

[ᗰ.ᑕ. ❄️ O͎L͎D͎E͎R͎ ͎&͎ ͎W͎I͎S͎E͎R͎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many Years Ago = 4 stars
2025 = +1 star for good reread

I read most of Anne Stuart's books in my younger days. Over time, my tastes shifted to more smutty content. Now that it has swung back to low smut, I'm rereading some of A.S.'s books. Her first novel, Barrett's Hill (1974), was a DNF because I didn't like any of it. Thankfully, her second one, Cameron's Landing (1977), was a marked improvement. 👏

The well-written mystery suspense was gripping and kept my interest throughout, with distinct characters, detailed descriptions, and a relatable heroine.

The story is told from the h's POV, so we learn about her, while the H stays a bit of a mystery. The romance is a subplot. Their few interactions were often stormy—in response to his kisses, she kicked him; the next time, she slapped him. He's one of the few men who slap back! Somehow they fell in love. 🤷‍♀️ The hero begins the author's classic style—a dark, dangerous man who hides his feelings.

🔺 SUMMARY & SPOILERS 🔺
(Major Spoilers Hidden.)

Lorna MacDougall (20) travels from Vermont to Maine to work for the Camerons. After her father's accident left him bedridden, she has to help support her many siblings. (Interestingly, after the opening, Lorna's family is never mentioned again.)

Lorna is nearly 6 feet tall, known for her voracious appetite and outspokenness. I enjoyed reading about her large meals, and how she was a "born mother" with a tender heart for children and horses. Despite having the sight, it was hardly of any help to her.

Lady Margaret Cameron (74) is a formidable Dowager with a sharp tongue. She brought Lorna to Cameron's Landing, the family mansion island, to investigate her husband Josiah's year-old murder. Suffering from rheumatism, she needs Lorna's help.

Josiah Cameron was a cruel man and a real womanizer—a number of the villagers are his descendants. Many likely wished him dead.

The Staff:
Old John, the stableman. His younger sister killed herself after Josiah got her pregnant.
Thora, the housekeeper (she was Josiah's mistress)
Katie and Nancy, the house servants.
(Nancy is a Cameron half-sibling.)

The Cameron Sons:
Charles, (40) the oldest, is from Josiah's first wife.
Stephen (33), Margaret's eldest son, has weak lungs. Married to the unlikable Allison, they have two children: Jenny and young Stephen.
Captain Alex (30?), the "wild son," is known for his woodcarving. He's unfairly seen as the black sheep.

(Allison made it clear she wanted Alex.)

Lorna spends her days talking with staff, caring for the two children, and enjoying the outdoors. She also sews pretty dresses for herself. Her moment to shine comes when she wears her handmade ball gown to a family party, revealing her beauty. The belle of the ball, she attracts several suitors including charming Charles, whom she has no interest in.

It’s no surprise who Lorna falls for and who everyone, including her, thinks the main murder suspect is.

At 31%, important info. is shared when Margaret says that Alex "once swore he'd seen Charles setting fire to baby kittens, and he came to us with horrible burn marks up his arms, claiming Charles had held him down and burned him!" Alex pretends not to care for Lorna when Charles shows interest in her, to keep her safe. He knows Charles responds badly to being thwarted. This is shown after Lorna rejects him.

At 88%, more info is learned: Charles' mother went mad, attempted to murder him as a baby, and spent her last years in a large cradle in an infantile state.

😰 Murder Most Foul:
Murder #2: Stephen was thrown from his horse (a bur was found under the saddle). He lay senseless for hours in bad weather. Barely alive, he was taken to the house where he met his demise, after his bedroom window was left open.
Murder #3: Lorna sees Katie wearing her dress, on her way to a secret meeting. Katie's body was found at the bottom of the cliffs. Initially, it was believed to be Lorna due to her attire. Alex's distress hints at his feelings.

Lorna is dismayed to see Alex side with his mother and fall for Pamela Sutton. He pays her little mind at the ball, except to dance the last one—somehow, Lorna knows all the dances despite being raised on a farm.

At 90%. Alex plans to return to sea on a new ship. Everyone is going to his christening party, where he'll unveil his carved figurehead. Allison and Lorna are sad to see him go. Before the party, Lorna knows something is very wrong, and the house will be forever changed when she returns. Now that the end is near she no longer wants to know the truth, because she's terribly frightened of what she will learn.

The Exciting Conclusion: At the shipyard on the mainland, a crowd gathers for the christening. Alex is with Pamela, but he finds a moment to passionately kiss Lorna before being interrupted. The ship is christened, and the figurehead, carved with Lorna’s face, reveals Alex’s love. A scream interrupts—another murder has occurred.

Murder #4: Allison was stabbed to death. It's later learned that she knew Charles had killed his father, and was blackmailing him.

Margaret, worried about Stephen's children, sends Lorna back to the island. A terrified Lorna finds a boat and horse waiting—someone knew she’d return. The house is dark and strange. She finds Old John near the fire, barely alive with a knife in his chest.

At 96%, Lorna finally realizes that Charles is mad like his mother. He says he killed: to stop his family from sharing the truth of his madness, to protect his inheritance, or because of mistaken identity. He plays cat and mouse until Lorna is told the servants took the children. After Lorna, he'll kill them next. Alex arrives, but it's Margaret who stops Charles by ordering him to his room. In a regressed state, Charles climbs into his mother’s old crib. (We're told he died at 87, his mind like an infant.).

🤗 Alex holds Lorna in a tender moment.

At the very end, many years have passed. Lorna writes that she and Alex married, took care of Stephen's children and had many of their own. They traveled the seas together before retiring to their tiny island of Cameron's Landing.

[Crista · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cameron's Landing was written the year I was born. I usually hesitate to read favorite author's early works because I find that, like fine wine, authors only get better as they age. Anne Stuart is a definite exception to this rule.

Cameron's Landing is written in the first person, through the eyes of Lorna MacDougall. I usually do not like first person narratives because they leave other characters feelings and motives left to the imagination. In this book, Stuart's decision to use this style only enhances the plot, creates more mystery, and leaves the reader guessing and then second guessing.

This is more mystery than romance, but the romance is definitely there. Stuart's "bad boy" tendencies are definitely seen (I wonder if she knew back then where her bad boy fettish would take her?:) In some ways, I wish I knew more of Alex. What he thought, how he felt, why he acted like he did, but I think that this type of mystery surrounding Stuart's hero's only add the their, and her, appeal.

Lorna MacDougall finds herself in the midst of a very complicated, intense, and "messed up" family. It is her job, as the matriarch's companion, to investigate and find the murderer of Josiah Cameron. All evidence points to Alex, but Lorna finds herself drawn to Alex in some pretty profound ways. Their romance is not sweet, rather it is dark, intense, dangerous, and very much vintage Stuart!

Find a copy...you'll be rivoted until the very last page.

[Eliza · Rating 2 out of 5]

I must have been in a funk when I read this--- because normally it is totally my favorite genre. However, I found it boring and I disliked the heroine immensely. She was pretentious and lazy. It was obvious from the start who the bad guys was....anyway, I skimmed at the end because my patience ran out. Oh well, can't all be winners :)

[Sandra Rosa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very different Anne Stuart Book, i'd say it's a combination of Jane Eyre with the cast from Wuthering Heights and a cozy mystery to mix it all up...

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story with all the characters that were within this book. The main character was Lorna MacDougal.

Lorna MacDougal goes to the Cameron��s family estate that is on an island. She is applying for an interview as a governess. But she did know that the job would have her also find a murder. The lady of the estate wants to hire her to find out who has murder her husband. While looking around, she meets the three sons of the lady. The lady thinks that one them might have done it but is not sure.

This was a fun story to read. It had action,adventure, and suspense throughout. The mystery within was fun to solve. It had a few giggles within.

I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. This is my honest, unbiased opinion.

[Toffee · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of Anne Stuart’s earlier works, Cameron’s Landing is a gothic novel with a murder mystery plot set on a remote island.
The heroine of the story is a young woman hired by the matriarch of a rich family to be her companion, and tasked with covertly investigating which of the family members murdered her husband. And it seems like any one of them could be the culprit. The chemistry between the hero (Anne Stuart's classic villainous anti-hero) and heroine was a bit forced, as they had almost no interactions with each other.
This was an ok read, and AS has done this trope and these types of main characters much better in her later novels, which are a must read.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lorna MacDougal takes the job as a companion for Lady Margaret Cameron and a governess for her grandchildren. With too many unanswered questions about her husband's murder, Lady Margaret appoints Lorna as her spy to find the murderer. Only one person stands out as the murderer, Alex Cameron. As much as Lorna's told to stay away from Alex, her body and her heart say otherwise. Fear escalates with more murders and a murderer is still free. Stuart is at her best writing a story with more questions than answers.
A Victorian Gothic Romance. Kissing only.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book through Netgalley.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time I've read a murder mystery and I knew who dunnit at the beginning. The Heroine is supposed to have the sight, which not only fell flat plot wise, but also didn't help her figure out the murderer. I think the age of the book is showing. If it had edits, it could still be competitive in the market. Reminded me a lot of Agatha Christie's Poirot detective with a side of romance. A very small sliver side of romance.

[The Unabridged Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story, but the end wrapped up quite oddly. The chemistry between the main characters was also a bit forced, as they had almost no interaction with each other yet ended up miraculously in love by the end. Quick read.

[Cardyn Brooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

1977 original copyright date

[EvilAntie Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery

What a great period piece book. A great mystery with so many plots and twists it lends itself to an enchanting good read.

[Sharon Buxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

B-. fiction, gothic suspense; girl becomes companion to rich old lady; from stash, keep

[Lizabeth Tucker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first NetGalley book, but is not the normal ARC. First, the book was originally published in 1977. Second, this digital repackaging was published on January 26, 2022. It wasn't until I received this ARC that I realized that I had read it once before, probably in 1979 to 1982, when I was gorging on gothic romances. I didn't remember much about it other than I gave it a 3.5 rating at the time.

Stuart is a dab hand at gothics, both historical and contemporary, although I think I prefer her contemporaries as there is so much more scope available to her to twist. I believe that this is the second historical gothic that was published, although I could be wrong. As such, she has kept a much stricter set of tropes common in the books published in the 1960s and 70s. As a side note, I'm glad that this reprint didn't have her running back to the mansion/castle in her nightgown!

Cameron's Landing has given us ambiguous characters, an isolated location beset by pea-soup fog when needed for ambiance, an alpha...anti-hero (?) who alternates between cold and hot-blooded, and a heroine who is sometimes too stupid to live. I honestly liked Lorna, but she also seriously got on my nerves by her jumping to conclusions at the drop of a hat, not to mention being willing to ignore Alex being a serial killer for *love*.

That said, did I like this? Yeah, I did. I wouldn't say I loved it as much as Stuart's later books, but I still had a fun time reading it. It brought back a lot of memories of binge reading gothic romances and hunting them out in drugstore paperback displays when my parents would drive from Florida to Oklahoma and Colorado to visit my paternal grandparents.

Would I recommend this book to others? Yes, with the caveat that all logic and commonsense must be left at the title page. If a potential reader loves "Jane Eyre", "Wuthering Heights", and "Rebecca", if they watch old episodes of the original DARK SHADOWS, if they are fans of Alfred Hitchcock films, they might enjoy this flashback to a much loved sub-genre.

3.5 out of 5

[Kathy Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread

Gothic tale of usual windswept UK cliffs,and a few too many deaths.
I like the Hero and Gothics and so I liked this book,5*
Alex is a Hero in the withdrawn from the h style of Stuart, to die for.The h didn`t seem all that bright thru out the book but Alex was definitly worth reading it for any reason

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a perfect little gothic.

[Celia Scanlon · Rating 5 out of 5]

very first book I ever bought!. I still love it today.

[Crystal Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

My absolute fav...