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False Light
Set in the wild Cornwall countryside, this romantic suspense novel is the best yet from a consummate storyteller whom many regard as the successor to Daphne du Maurier and Mary Stewart. When American researcher Dana Morrow travels to Kerreck Du to further her study of Victorian spiritualist Marianna Hobhouse, she soon suspects that the house has many sinister secrets.
315 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 1996
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 11 reviews
September 13, 2016
Rating Clarification: 2.5 Stars
Least favorite of the 4 Caroline Llewellyn books I've read. Foul language and not much of a storyline.
The Lady Of The Labyrinth is still her best book IMO and comes closest to being like a Mary Stewart novel.
Least favorite of the 4 Caroline Llewellyn books I've read. Foul language and not much of a storyline.
The Lady Of The Labyrinth is still her best book IMO and comes closest to being like a Mary Stewart novel.
August 17, 2019
False Light is about a woman investigating a historical mystery through letters and photographs at a location that is being terrorized by a serial killer. A lot of the characters were one-dimensional and completely unlikeable but overall the book kept my interest.
June 22, 2022
Dana Morrow is literary lecturer who is investigating Marianna, a tragic 19th century medium, for an article. She feels lucky to be invited to the vary house where Marianna lived. The house, an isolated mansion by the English coast, is now owned by Finn, a renowned photographer who has records concerning Marianna's life. Once there, Dana finds herself amid a chaotic collection of guests who have an interest in a coming retrospective of Finn's work.
Dana remains on the edge of the group as she pursues her project. Nevertheless, she is drawn to other fringe characters, including Finn's adult son, Daniel.
Llewellyn develops each character at the mansion, making this something of a literary novel. Likable and unlikable characters have their own problems and blessings as they engage in backbiting, gossip, opinions on photography, and, in passing, mention the Gull, a serial killer haunting the cliffs of the area. He could be any one of the guests.
We follow the background and aims of each character and the relationships they maintain with one another. Consequently, we become invested in each character as we follow developments. The story seems removed from a developing murder mystery, but offhand mentions of the Gull who has claimed a new victim keep us alert. Eventually the Gull encroaches on the lives of our heroes.
From the novel's beginning we get a sense of the ominous. Individuals are vividly portrayed, as is the weather and countryside. Tension is kept alive by the attitudes of the characters as they play out their relationships. Eventually the tension reaches a crescendo as the Gull emerges, and a life and death struggle carries us through the final pages.
Dana remains on the edge of the group as she pursues her project. Nevertheless, she is drawn to other fringe characters, including Finn's adult son, Daniel.
Llewellyn develops each character at the mansion, making this something of a literary novel. Likable and unlikable characters have their own problems and blessings as they engage in backbiting, gossip, opinions on photography, and, in passing, mention the Gull, a serial killer haunting the cliffs of the area. He could be any one of the guests.
We follow the background and aims of each character and the relationships they maintain with one another. Consequently, we become invested in each character as we follow developments. The story seems removed from a developing murder mystery, but offhand mentions of the Gull who has claimed a new victim keep us alert. Eventually the Gull encroaches on the lives of our heroes.
From the novel's beginning we get a sense of the ominous. Individuals are vividly portrayed, as is the weather and countryside. Tension is kept alive by the attitudes of the characters as they play out their relationships. Eventually the tension reaches a crescendo as the Gull emerges, and a life and death struggle carries us through the final pages.
July 10, 2018
I've never read this author before but this was a book that kept me up until 2:30 this morning because I couldn't go to bed without knowing 'whodunnit". The book starts very slowly with many characters who are artists, photographers, and designers with ego problems. Several of the characters have very dark personalities...and likewise dark pasts... which makes for a lot of bickering and 'reasons' to want to kill another. Set in Cornwall, England along the high and dangerous cliffs. Did like the main characters Finn, Daniel and the American researcher, Dana.
June 3, 2019
3.5 stars
September 5, 2007
FALSE LIGHT (Suspense) – G-
Caroline Llewellyn – Standalone
Scribner, 1996 – Hardcover
Victorian spiritualist Marianna Hobhouse is the subject of research by Dana Morrow. While at an auction, Dana meets Daniel Finn, son of Quentin Finn, both photographers who now live in the house, Kerreck Du, once owned by Marianna and her husband, famous photographer Henry. Dana receives an invitation to the house to further her research not knowing of the women who’ve died at the cliffs there.
***The history of photography was fascinating, the light romance was pleasant, the description of the setting was well done, but the level of suspense just wasn’t as present as I’d have liked.
Caroline Llewellyn – Standalone
Scribner, 1996 – Hardcover
Victorian spiritualist Marianna Hobhouse is the subject of research by Dana Morrow. While at an auction, Dana meets Daniel Finn, son of Quentin Finn, both photographers who now live in the house, Kerreck Du, once owned by Marianna and her husband, famous photographer Henry. Dana receives an invitation to the house to further her research not knowing of the women who’ve died at the cliffs there.
***The history of photography was fascinating, the light romance was pleasant, the description of the setting was well done, but the level of suspense just wasn’t as present as I’d have liked.
August 25, 2011
I found this book to be too dark for me. I'm usually a big fan of this type of genre so I was disappointed.
January 12, 2011
very interesting read ... much history of photography, great British scenery
April 18, 2012
This modern gothic tale had just the right mix of elements - a secluded setting, a cast of ecclectic and somewhat bizarre characters and a murder mystery.
February 23, 2013
PG 13 verging on R mystery with sympathetic protagonists surrounded by a lot of very UNsympathetic potential murder victims and suspects. It's more thriller than mystery. It was an ok read.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 11 reviews