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Whistle for the Crows
While staying at an eerie Irish castle, a woman is caught up in a family’s dark secrets, in this suspenseful tale by a New York Times–bestselling author. For Cathleen Lamb, traveling to Dublin to record the history of the mystery-shrouded O’Riordan family is the answer to a prayer. Still grieving over the accident that killed her husband and baby daughter, she hopes to lose herself in other people’s lives. But something sinister is going on at the ancient castle at the edge of the moors . . . something beyond the scandalous skeletons rattling around the O’Riordans’ closets. The former heir was killed three years earlier in a suspicious fall. The same night, the family matriarch suffered a stroke that left her mute. Despite the malice that surrounds her, Cathleen is drawn to the brooding, darkly passionate man who is plotting to control the family. But even he may not be able to protect her when the crimes of the past reach into the present to terrorize the living.
230 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1962
51 people are currently reading
150 people want to read
About the author
Dorothy Eden
93 books165 followersAka 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
October 15, 2018
In the opening pages of the story, Colleen Lamb is waking up to the sunrise of a new day, and for this character, her hopes are that this “new day” will bring sunshine to her life, but literally and figuratively. It was just six months previous that Cathleen lost her husband Jonathan and their eighteen month old daughter Debby in a tragic car crash. Collen rises to face a new day, but her heart is empty, she’s unsure if she will ever find her “footing” in life again, and is uncertain whether or not she wants to try.
Fortunately for Cathleen, her old boss, Ronald Gault, a publisher of some renown as well as her one time employer, takes it upon himself to help this young woman get a fresh start in life. Cathleen worked as an editor for Gault’s firm and it appears that she gained some secretarial skills while working there as well. Gault’s idea of a fresh start is for Cathleen to move to Dublin where she is to be interviewed by a certain “Miss O’Riordan”, and acquaintance of Ronald’s who has a reputation of being a tough employer with a fiery personality.
Colleen just arrived in Dublin the night before and has little time to adjust to her new surroundings due to the face that her interview with Miss Matilda O’Riordan is to take place at eleven that very morning at the nearby Gresham Hotel.
She arrives for the interview and looks upon Matilda for the first time. The older lady proves to be an unexpected sight in every way. The first things she notices is that her interviewer is reclined in her bed, still covered in many blankets! The look Matilda shoots Cathleen gives the younger woman a telling impression of her potential employer. I loved how the author Dorothy Eden put it:
“She made an unforgettable picture, like some old conspiring queen, the kind that would slip poison into a glove, or watch an execution with the air of a connoisseur.”
The job interview itself is a testament to the storytelling excellence we’ve seen over and over again with Dorothy Eden’s work”
“Stand nearer the window where the light’s better” the old, heavily blanketed woman commands from her bed.
Cathleen stands uncomfortably “stock-still” as Dorothy Eden puts it, beside the window as O’Riordan looks her over.
“I thought it was a secretary you wanted!” The younger woman eventually protests.
“Did I say it wasn’t?” Matilda replies crisply, “Did I also add that a certain pleasing appearance is necessary?” She affirms aggressively while her eyes dart back and forth over the candidate.
The old woman continues to stare at Cathleen for an embarrassingly long time, “I believe you’re a widow” she finally says as a way of summing up the woman standing before her.
“Yes, Miss O’Riordan” Cathleen admits, a bit taken aback by the other woman’s powers of deduction.
“I suppose you were in love with your husband” O’Riordan continues, the comment reminding Cathleen how her late husband, Jonathan was a “distant” spouse, one she never really managed to reach on an emotional level.
Matilda then snaps out of her thoughts, “You don’t still brood, I hope. I can’t stand melancholy.”
Just then Cathleen and Matilda are interrupted by Rory, who is Miss O’Riordan’s nephew. I thought this was a unique way for Eden to introduce Rory, since all he does at this point is demand that either his aunt moves a little quicker, or he’ll take the train home and leave her to find her own way. This introduction intrigued me in two ways, one, I liked to see another character with enough confidence to stand up to Matilda. Two, he enters and leaves without even introducing himself to Cathleen, which caused me to wonder how he was going to react to her when they got a chance to better know each other.
Minutes later, Matilda’s niece Kitty makes her appearance. She is portrayed as a shy girl, unsure of herself with her continuous meekly placed “Yes, Aunt Tilly” responses that seem to be her standard when it comes to her aggressive aunt. Interestingly, it is through an offhand comment, Matilda makes to her niece that Cathleen first learns that she’s landed the position, “This is Mrs. Lamb, my secretary” Matilda says to Kitty as a way of introducing Cathleen. Miss O’Riordan then informs Cathleen that there remains one more nephew for her to meet, his name is Liam. Matilda promises her new employee that this nephew will be much more polite and agreeable than his brother Rory.
Miss O’Riordan then orders Cathleen to go back to her hotel, gather her things and meet her back at the Gresham by four in the afternoon. They are to go from there to Longneath Castle straightaway so that they will arrive in time for supper.
I thought that these opening scenes set the stage for a powerful plot. I knew, for example, that Cathleen was hired to be a researcher for Matilda’s new book on the fantastic history of the O”Riordan Family and found it interesting that Cathleen would be living among the descendants of the very people she was researching.
Also, we learn early on that the O’Riordan’s are what could be described as “Impoverished Gentry”, but rather than telling us that straight out, the author shows us instead. The first clue was the way Loughneath Castle is seen through Cathleen’s eyes when they first pull up:
“Loughneath Castle lay a short distance from the little town of Loughneath. Here the country had changed. Grey stone walls surrounded the fields, there were rocky outcrops, gorse, moorland, cloud shadows, and goats tethered on the roadside.
Gateposts topped by crouching leopards and a curving elm-bordered drive lead up to the castle. The parkland and sloping lawns were beautiful, but the castle itself was a great disappointment. Only one crumbling tower remained of the original structure. The rest was Georgian, being little more than a country house built in two wings. It was not even particularly large, although Miss O’Riordan said that one wing was shut up. The tower alone gave the building its right to be called a castle.”
For me, the crumbling “castle” was symbolic of the decline of the family itself. Firstly, the eldest brother Shamus has passed away due to an accident and to add insult to injury, he left a trail of scandal in his wake. Unbeknownst to his family, he was married to one girl while engaged to yet another and even though the eldest brother’s wife has not revealed herself, there is talk that she was pregnant with Shamus’s child at the time of his death. Then there’s Cecilia, the mother to Shamus, Rory, Liam and Kitty who no one bother to mention, resulting in Cathleen “discovering” the bedridden invalid woman by accident. It seems that Matilda will do anything and everything in her power to ensure that Cecilia is medicated and cut off from the outside world, or even her own family for that matter.
As we read, we come to understand that the main point of conflict is between Rory, the enterprising nephew who’s trying to bring the estate back to solvency and his aunt Matilda who has a penchant for spending money faster than it can be earned. Rory’s business acumen and Matilda’s unrealistic “aristocratic” tastes and tendencies.
Cathleen is in the middle of all this family drama, while at the same time her research reveals that this kind of “O’Riordan drama” has been going on for generations. As the story progresses, one mysterious situation after another arises, each throwing me off the trail of guessing what was behind the rumors of the “lost O’Riordan heir” and what skullduggery may have taken place to ensure that the as yet unconfirmed heir remains an enigma.
“Whistle for the Crows” was an achievement in Gothic Romance storytelling! I highly recommend it.
Fortunately for Cathleen, her old boss, Ronald Gault, a publisher of some renown as well as her one time employer, takes it upon himself to help this young woman get a fresh start in life. Cathleen worked as an editor for Gault’s firm and it appears that she gained some secretarial skills while working there as well. Gault’s idea of a fresh start is for Cathleen to move to Dublin where she is to be interviewed by a certain “Miss O’Riordan”, and acquaintance of Ronald’s who has a reputation of being a tough employer with a fiery personality.
Colleen just arrived in Dublin the night before and has little time to adjust to her new surroundings due to the face that her interview with Miss Matilda O’Riordan is to take place at eleven that very morning at the nearby Gresham Hotel.
She arrives for the interview and looks upon Matilda for the first time. The older lady proves to be an unexpected sight in every way. The first things she notices is that her interviewer is reclined in her bed, still covered in many blankets! The look Matilda shoots Cathleen gives the younger woman a telling impression of her potential employer. I loved how the author Dorothy Eden put it:
“She made an unforgettable picture, like some old conspiring queen, the kind that would slip poison into a glove, or watch an execution with the air of a connoisseur.”
The job interview itself is a testament to the storytelling excellence we’ve seen over and over again with Dorothy Eden’s work”
“Stand nearer the window where the light’s better” the old, heavily blanketed woman commands from her bed.
Cathleen stands uncomfortably “stock-still” as Dorothy Eden puts it, beside the window as O’Riordan looks her over.
“I thought it was a secretary you wanted!” The younger woman eventually protests.
“Did I say it wasn’t?” Matilda replies crisply, “Did I also add that a certain pleasing appearance is necessary?” She affirms aggressively while her eyes dart back and forth over the candidate.
The old woman continues to stare at Cathleen for an embarrassingly long time, “I believe you’re a widow” she finally says as a way of summing up the woman standing before her.
“Yes, Miss O’Riordan” Cathleen admits, a bit taken aback by the other woman’s powers of deduction.
“I suppose you were in love with your husband” O’Riordan continues, the comment reminding Cathleen how her late husband, Jonathan was a “distant” spouse, one she never really managed to reach on an emotional level.
Matilda then snaps out of her thoughts, “You don’t still brood, I hope. I can’t stand melancholy.”
Just then Cathleen and Matilda are interrupted by Rory, who is Miss O’Riordan’s nephew. I thought this was a unique way for Eden to introduce Rory, since all he does at this point is demand that either his aunt moves a little quicker, or he’ll take the train home and leave her to find her own way. This introduction intrigued me in two ways, one, I liked to see another character with enough confidence to stand up to Matilda. Two, he enters and leaves without even introducing himself to Cathleen, which caused me to wonder how he was going to react to her when they got a chance to better know each other.
Minutes later, Matilda’s niece Kitty makes her appearance. She is portrayed as a shy girl, unsure of herself with her continuous meekly placed “Yes, Aunt Tilly” responses that seem to be her standard when it comes to her aggressive aunt. Interestingly, it is through an offhand comment, Matilda makes to her niece that Cathleen first learns that she’s landed the position, “This is Mrs. Lamb, my secretary” Matilda says to Kitty as a way of introducing Cathleen. Miss O’Riordan then informs Cathleen that there remains one more nephew for her to meet, his name is Liam. Matilda promises her new employee that this nephew will be much more polite and agreeable than his brother Rory.
Miss O’Riordan then orders Cathleen to go back to her hotel, gather her things and meet her back at the Gresham by four in the afternoon. They are to go from there to Longneath Castle straightaway so that they will arrive in time for supper.
I thought that these opening scenes set the stage for a powerful plot. I knew, for example, that Cathleen was hired to be a researcher for Matilda’s new book on the fantastic history of the O”Riordan Family and found it interesting that Cathleen would be living among the descendants of the very people she was researching.
Also, we learn early on that the O’Riordan’s are what could be described as “Impoverished Gentry”, but rather than telling us that straight out, the author shows us instead. The first clue was the way Loughneath Castle is seen through Cathleen’s eyes when they first pull up:
“Loughneath Castle lay a short distance from the little town of Loughneath. Here the country had changed. Grey stone walls surrounded the fields, there were rocky outcrops, gorse, moorland, cloud shadows, and goats tethered on the roadside.
Gateposts topped by crouching leopards and a curving elm-bordered drive lead up to the castle. The parkland and sloping lawns were beautiful, but the castle itself was a great disappointment. Only one crumbling tower remained of the original structure. The rest was Georgian, being little more than a country house built in two wings. It was not even particularly large, although Miss O’Riordan said that one wing was shut up. The tower alone gave the building its right to be called a castle.”
For me, the crumbling “castle” was symbolic of the decline of the family itself. Firstly, the eldest brother Shamus has passed away due to an accident and to add insult to injury, he left a trail of scandal in his wake. Unbeknownst to his family, he was married to one girl while engaged to yet another and even though the eldest brother’s wife has not revealed herself, there is talk that she was pregnant with Shamus’s child at the time of his death. Then there’s Cecilia, the mother to Shamus, Rory, Liam and Kitty who no one bother to mention, resulting in Cathleen “discovering” the bedridden invalid woman by accident. It seems that Matilda will do anything and everything in her power to ensure that Cecilia is medicated and cut off from the outside world, or even her own family for that matter.
As we read, we come to understand that the main point of conflict is between Rory, the enterprising nephew who’s trying to bring the estate back to solvency and his aunt Matilda who has a penchant for spending money faster than it can be earned. Rory’s business acumen and Matilda’s unrealistic “aristocratic” tastes and tendencies.
Cathleen is in the middle of all this family drama, while at the same time her research reveals that this kind of “O’Riordan drama” has been going on for generations. As the story progresses, one mysterious situation after another arises, each throwing me off the trail of guessing what was behind the rumors of the “lost O’Riordan heir” and what skullduggery may have taken place to ensure that the as yet unconfirmed heir remains an enigma.
“Whistle for the Crows” was an achievement in Gothic Romance storytelling! I highly recommend it.
January 14, 2024
I really enjoyed this gothic romance. It has immaculate gothic vibes, an excellent cast of characters, sympathetic heroine, good jump scares, and it's very well-written. ONE STAR OFF because it definitely needed one more murder.
March 15, 2014
Whistle for the Crows by Dorothy Eden is a 2013 Open Road Media publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Cathleen Lamb arrives at the spooky run down castle in Dublin to record the family history of the O'Riordan family. It appears the family would like it very much if Cathleen would only dig into the facts they want represented and not the entire history of the family since it would seem there are quite a few secrets the family would rather the world not know about.
Aunt Tilly, the acting matriarch of the family is Cathleen's employer, a stern woman with an interest in orphaned children. Her two nephews, Rory and Liam and her niece Kitty all reside in the castle. Cathleen is stunned to learn that the trio is harboring their mother as well, who suffered a stroke and can not communicate.
After having lost her husband and child, Cathleen is hyper-sensitive to children . When she continues to hear a baby's cries she is convinced there is a child being mistreated and she will not stand by and ignore it. So, as she studies the history of the family, she learns that Rory, Kitty, and Liam had a brother who died at an early age. This brother was perhaps involved in a scandal that included two women- one he was alledgedly married to and another he has asked to marry him! The rumors are that the girl he married had a child and Aunt Tilly's charity work with orphans may have an ulterior motive. Whatever is going on in that house, someone wants Cathleen out of the picture and she finds herself in serious danger.
Dorothy Eden is one of my favorite Gothic mystery/romance authors of all time. She wrote many books that were well loved in the 1960's and 70's. This book has been reissued by Open Road Integrated Media in digital format. I am glad to know these books, which can be hard to come by are now available to a new audience and I hope you will give them a try.
This book taps into the classic Gothic outline of the gloomy castle, the odd family full of secrets, the damsel in distress, and a love interest who is dark and brooding. In this case the damsel in distress is Cathleen, and she is not one of those silly innocent naive helpless females. Cathleen has a backbone and stands up to these intimidating people she finds herself surrounded by. While the family attempts to manipulate and frighten her, she continues to work at finding out what is behind the cries of a child she knows she is hearing. One of the classic plot lines is to have the herione unsure who to trust and in this case Cathleen is sandwiched between Rory and Liam. Both have given her reason to be suspicious of them. The diabolical twist that is revealed is a shocker. Only Dorothy Eden could have thought up such a story line. While this was not the all time best example of Dorothy Eden's work, it was still a very solid story that will give you the creeps at times. The romance was a bit understated and that is usual in the books published in this genre, so even your teenage daughter could read this book since there is no sexual content or graphic violence. Overall I have to give this one an A.
Cathleen Lamb arrives at the spooky run down castle in Dublin to record the family history of the O'Riordan family. It appears the family would like it very much if Cathleen would only dig into the facts they want represented and not the entire history of the family since it would seem there are quite a few secrets the family would rather the world not know about.
Aunt Tilly, the acting matriarch of the family is Cathleen's employer, a stern woman with an interest in orphaned children. Her two nephews, Rory and Liam and her niece Kitty all reside in the castle. Cathleen is stunned to learn that the trio is harboring their mother as well, who suffered a stroke and can not communicate.
After having lost her husband and child, Cathleen is hyper-sensitive to children . When she continues to hear a baby's cries she is convinced there is a child being mistreated and she will not stand by and ignore it. So, as she studies the history of the family, she learns that Rory, Kitty, and Liam had a brother who died at an early age. This brother was perhaps involved in a scandal that included two women- one he was alledgedly married to and another he has asked to marry him! The rumors are that the girl he married had a child and Aunt Tilly's charity work with orphans may have an ulterior motive. Whatever is going on in that house, someone wants Cathleen out of the picture and she finds herself in serious danger.
Dorothy Eden is one of my favorite Gothic mystery/romance authors of all time. She wrote many books that were well loved in the 1960's and 70's. This book has been reissued by Open Road Integrated Media in digital format. I am glad to know these books, which can be hard to come by are now available to a new audience and I hope you will give them a try.
This book taps into the classic Gothic outline of the gloomy castle, the odd family full of secrets, the damsel in distress, and a love interest who is dark and brooding. In this case the damsel in distress is Cathleen, and she is not one of those silly innocent naive helpless females. Cathleen has a backbone and stands up to these intimidating people she finds herself surrounded by. While the family attempts to manipulate and frighten her, she continues to work at finding out what is behind the cries of a child she knows she is hearing. One of the classic plot lines is to have the herione unsure who to trust and in this case Cathleen is sandwiched between Rory and Liam. Both have given her reason to be suspicious of them. The diabolical twist that is revealed is a shocker. Only Dorothy Eden could have thought up such a story line. While this was not the all time best example of Dorothy Eden's work, it was still a very solid story that will give you the creeps at times. The romance was a bit understated and that is usual in the books published in this genre, so even your teenage daughter could read this book since there is no sexual content or graphic violence. Overall I have to give this one an A.
October 31, 2020
1962
Dorothy Eden is a good writer. And I am interested in gothic romance, in general and specifically the paperbacks put out as a "women's genre." There were good things in this and I probably should have kept reading but I was bored.
Dorothy Eden is a good writer. And I am interested in gothic romance, in general and specifically the paperbacks put out as a "women's genre." There were good things in this and I probably should have kept reading but I was bored.
March 31, 2022
Whistle for the Crows, Dorothy Eden, 1962
(MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS)
My favorite quote: “It only took the forlorn sound of the baby crying to complete her loss of morale.” (I really identified with this because I, too, have felt much loss of morale at the sounds of shrieking babies -- especially at Walmart when my spirits are already at their most vulnerable)
Most interesting characters: Cathleen Lamb, a grieving widow looking for a new life, Liam and Rory O'Riordan, two brothers who both desire her -- and one of which may or may not be a dastardly villain (it is a Gothic romance, after all …)
Opening scene: Cathleen wakes up to the very unmusical sounds of that damned crying baby (and right away, Dorothy Eden sucks me into the story because I, too, have been rudely awakened many times by the sounds of inconsiderate babies while trying to nap. At Walmart
The gist: A grieving young widow (that would be Cathleen Lamb) is hired by nasty old biddy, Tilly O’Riordan, who wants Cathleen to help her research and write the O’Riordan family history. They live in a castle at the edge of the moors, of course, because unbeknownst to them, they exist in a Gothic romance novel, a fact that completely flies over their heads even though the previous heir was killed in a suspicious fall three years earlier (side note: I fall all the time and don’t die -- people in Gothic Romance novels are such feeble creatures)
Greatest strengths: Even though no one in Whistle for the Crows seems to realize they’re living in a Gothic romance novel, I like them. I mean, sure, they’re kind of dense (if I took a job in an Irish castle for some rich people with sinister family secrets and was immediately advanced upon by two darkly handsome brothers rivaling for my attentions, I would have to at least consider the possibility that I MIGHT be in a Gothic romance novel) but they’re otherwise well-developed and interesting characters. I think that’s Dorothy Eden’s strong suit
Standout achievements: In Whistle for the Crows, Dorothy Eden manages to cram in all the expected Gothic romance novel tropes without it feeling tired and stale. Instead, it feels fresh and new somehow and I thoroughly enjoyed it. That said, I’m a bit disappointed that I haven’t found at least one edition that features a woman in a nightgown running away from a house on the cover. That kinda pisses me off, but otherwise I dig it
Fun Facts: Dorothy Eden’s middle name was Enid. Heh. Dorothy Enid Eden. That would be like if my middle name was Baluster. Alistair Baluster Cross. Okay, so it’s not exactly the same thing, but my point still stands
Other media: None, but I have half a mind to make Whistle for the Crows into a trilogy myself and hit Netflix up for a series. Books two and three (I’ve already picked out their titles: Scream at the Pigeons and Whisper to the Red-Bellied Woodpecker) would be a little more action-oriented. I’m thinking zombies. I mean, who wouldn’t love a bunch of walking corpses ambling around in a big Irish castle whilst a bunch of rich folks have secret affairs and squabble over the family fortune? With the advent of zombies, at least then there would be some kind of explanation for all the strange sounds coming from the basement. And hoo-boy, you thought that baby was a nuisance before the arrival of the walking dead? Just wait till that little brat gets a load of Dead Ethel (she’s the leader of the zombies, and it just so happens she loves babies). Anyway, I think Netflix is going to love it
Additional thoughts: I never did understand the title. I mean, what does Dorothy Eden mean by “Whistle for the Crows?” Why not just call it “Go Stand Over There” or “Look at my Foot?”
Hit or Miss: Hit. I love Dorothy Eden
Haunt me: alistaircross.com
Read Whistle for the Crows by Dorothy Eden: https://tinyurl.com/62n4ubu4
(MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS)
My favorite quote: “It only took the forlorn sound of the baby crying to complete her loss of morale.” (I really identified with this because I, too, have felt much loss of morale at the sounds of shrieking babies -- especially at Walmart when my spirits are already at their most vulnerable)
Most interesting characters: Cathleen Lamb, a grieving widow looking for a new life, Liam and Rory O'Riordan, two brothers who both desire her -- and one of which may or may not be a dastardly villain (it is a Gothic romance, after all …)
Opening scene: Cathleen wakes up to the very unmusical sounds of that damned crying baby (and right away, Dorothy Eden sucks me into the story because I, too, have been rudely awakened many times by the sounds of inconsiderate babies while trying to nap. At Walmart
The gist: A grieving young widow (that would be Cathleen Lamb) is hired by nasty old biddy, Tilly O’Riordan, who wants Cathleen to help her research and write the O’Riordan family history. They live in a castle at the edge of the moors, of course, because unbeknownst to them, they exist in a Gothic romance novel, a fact that completely flies over their heads even though the previous heir was killed in a suspicious fall three years earlier (side note: I fall all the time and don’t die -- people in Gothic Romance novels are such feeble creatures)
Greatest strengths: Even though no one in Whistle for the Crows seems to realize they’re living in a Gothic romance novel, I like them. I mean, sure, they’re kind of dense (if I took a job in an Irish castle for some rich people with sinister family secrets and was immediately advanced upon by two darkly handsome brothers rivaling for my attentions, I would have to at least consider the possibility that I MIGHT be in a Gothic romance novel) but they’re otherwise well-developed and interesting characters. I think that’s Dorothy Eden’s strong suit
Standout achievements: In Whistle for the Crows, Dorothy Eden manages to cram in all the expected Gothic romance novel tropes without it feeling tired and stale. Instead, it feels fresh and new somehow and I thoroughly enjoyed it. That said, I’m a bit disappointed that I haven’t found at least one edition that features a woman in a nightgown running away from a house on the cover. That kinda pisses me off, but otherwise I dig it
Fun Facts: Dorothy Eden’s middle name was Enid. Heh. Dorothy Enid Eden. That would be like if my middle name was Baluster. Alistair Baluster Cross. Okay, so it’s not exactly the same thing, but my point still stands
Other media: None, but I have half a mind to make Whistle for the Crows into a trilogy myself and hit Netflix up for a series. Books two and three (I’ve already picked out their titles: Scream at the Pigeons and Whisper to the Red-Bellied Woodpecker) would be a little more action-oriented. I’m thinking zombies. I mean, who wouldn’t love a bunch of walking corpses ambling around in a big Irish castle whilst a bunch of rich folks have secret affairs and squabble over the family fortune? With the advent of zombies, at least then there would be some kind of explanation for all the strange sounds coming from the basement. And hoo-boy, you thought that baby was a nuisance before the arrival of the walking dead? Just wait till that little brat gets a load of Dead Ethel (she’s the leader of the zombies, and it just so happens she loves babies). Anyway, I think Netflix is going to love it
Additional thoughts: I never did understand the title. I mean, what does Dorothy Eden mean by “Whistle for the Crows?” Why not just call it “Go Stand Over There” or “Look at my Foot?”
Hit or Miss: Hit. I love Dorothy Eden
Haunt me: alistaircross.com
Read Whistle for the Crows by Dorothy Eden: https://tinyurl.com/62n4ubu4
January 9, 2018
Whenever I want a comfort read, I'll pick up a romantic suspense or a Gothic written back in the day by Victoria Holt, Mary Stewart or Dorothy Eden. My favorite Gothics by Eden are the ones set in the late Victorian period. This one, however, was written in 1962 and was a contemporary setting when it was written. A little dated now, but I remember the 1960s so that's OK.
In this our heroine, Englishwoman Cathleen Lamb, grieving the deaths of her husband and baby daughter, takes a job in Ireland with crusty older woman Tilly O'Riordan, aunt in the O'Riordan family, to help her do research and write a family history.
Naturally, since this is a Gothic, the family lives in an old castle which has seen better days, as have the family's finances. Also, naturally, there are two handsome O'Riordan brothers, personable Liam and somewhat moody Rory. And there is an O'Riordan sister, insecure and withdrawn, who seems overly dependent on brother Liam.
Almost forgot the O'Riordan siblings' mother, who suffered a stroke on the same day that oldest sibling Shamus died a few years ago. A mysterious death, BTW, and the only witness, apparently, is the mother, who now is bed-ridden and unable to communicate.
The family has lots of secrets. Possible secret marriages, perhaps out-of-wedlock children, mysterious appearances and disappearances of people who may be connected to all these secrets. And, of course, the strange noises at night. And possible danger to the heroine? All this with a low-key romance. Is it Rory or Liam that Cathleen is drawn to? (Remember which one is moody and brooding, if you want the answer to that question.)
So I enjoyed this. The way I enjoy toasted cheese sandwiches and tomato soup. It was predictable and comforting.
In this our heroine, Englishwoman Cathleen Lamb, grieving the deaths of her husband and baby daughter, takes a job in Ireland with crusty older woman Tilly O'Riordan, aunt in the O'Riordan family, to help her do research and write a family history.
Naturally, since this is a Gothic, the family lives in an old castle which has seen better days, as have the family's finances. Also, naturally, there are two handsome O'Riordan brothers, personable Liam and somewhat moody Rory. And there is an O'Riordan sister, insecure and withdrawn, who seems overly dependent on brother Liam.
Almost forgot the O'Riordan siblings' mother, who suffered a stroke on the same day that oldest sibling Shamus died a few years ago. A mysterious death, BTW, and the only witness, apparently, is the mother, who now is bed-ridden and unable to communicate.
The family has lots of secrets. Possible secret marriages, perhaps out-of-wedlock children, mysterious appearances and disappearances of people who may be connected to all these secrets. And, of course, the strange noises at night. And possible danger to the heroine? All this with a low-key romance. Is it Rory or Liam that Cathleen is drawn to? (Remember which one is moody and brooding, if you want the answer to that question.)
So I enjoyed this. The way I enjoy toasted cheese sandwiches and tomato soup. It was predictable and comforting.
March 31, 2014
In July, as part of Open Road Media's Retro Reader program, I read a collection of Dorothy Eden's novellas, called Sinister Weddings: Bride by Candlelight, Cat's Prey, and Bridge of Fear. Because some delightfully macabre person at Open Road Media thought it was a great way to celebrate wedding season. I couldn't have agreed more. So, for St. Patrick's Day, we were asked to read Sinister Irish Castles. Or, more accurately, Whistle for the Crows.
I was so excited. I ADORED Sinister Weddings. The stories in it were written in the 50s and 60s, but they were still fresh and intriguing. All three stories were witty and creepy and full of delightful characters, including strong female protagonists. Whistle for the Crows shares those traits (and their age -- it was originally published in 1962), but it does suffer from a lack of romance. Or maybe not a lack. Maybe just a half-hearted attempt at it.
Cathleen's husband and 18-month-old daughter died in a car accident. Six months later, it's time to pick up the pieces, she's told, so she's sent off to rural Ireland to help an eccentric old woman in a crumbling castle write her family's memoirs. Just the thing to cheer her up.
The eccentric old woman at least lives with family close to Cathleen's age: her nephews Rory and Liam and her niece Kitty. Rory, the heir, is handsome, but snubs Cathleen. Liam is equally handsome but much more charming from the start. Kitty is a nervous wreck bizarrely attached to Liam.
Right away Cathleen senses something's not right.
In the middle of the night she hears a baby crying, but Aunt Tilly chalks it up to hysteria brought on by Cathleen's loss. Cathleen's not so sure, and she pries and snoops and questions every chance she gets. I'm sorry to use such unflattering words, but it's rather remarkable how much the family, which you would think would be rather more secretive and protective, given the circumstances that are revealed, than they actually are, lets her get away with so much. Maybe I'm used to more sinister thrillers, or maybe it was just that they were all so desperate for a new face around the house that they'd put up with a lot.
There were some delightful Gothic twists, but the romance was rather contrived. I didn't actually realize Cathleen was half serious about either of the brothers until close to the end, especially since she knew from almost the start that she couldn't trust them. As for the men, any attention they paid to her seemed like either play or manipulation.
What dated it for me (besides the fact that six months was plenty of time to grieve the loss of your entire family) was the romantic angle. Because Cathleen's newly single, everyone just seems to assume she'll want to get hooked up as soon as. And even though there's no real passion with either of them, she also just seems to assume she'll end up with Liam or Rory. Or that's what I felt -- that there was no real romance, but because of their situations, it just made sense that she would marry someone, and it didn't really matter who.
But I loved the suspense aspect of the story. I didn't think it was written as well as the Sinister stories -- I doubted some reactions and was a bit confused now and then -- but it was still great fun to read. It was witty at times, creepy at others, and steered by a heroine who was strong and level-headed despite her tragic past. Much more strong than everyone gives her credit for, and very clear-headed about that tragedy. But not exactly subtle at times, perhaps.
Lila
Reviewed from ARC. Re-released by Open Road Media July 9, 2013.
Full review at nomdeplumepress.wordpress.com.
I was so excited. I ADORED Sinister Weddings. The stories in it were written in the 50s and 60s, but they were still fresh and intriguing. All three stories were witty and creepy and full of delightful characters, including strong female protagonists. Whistle for the Crows shares those traits (and their age -- it was originally published in 1962), but it does suffer from a lack of romance. Or maybe not a lack. Maybe just a half-hearted attempt at it.
Cathleen's husband and 18-month-old daughter died in a car accident. Six months later, it's time to pick up the pieces, she's told, so she's sent off to rural Ireland to help an eccentric old woman in a crumbling castle write her family's memoirs. Just the thing to cheer her up.
The eccentric old woman at least lives with family close to Cathleen's age: her nephews Rory and Liam and her niece Kitty. Rory, the heir, is handsome, but snubs Cathleen. Liam is equally handsome but much more charming from the start. Kitty is a nervous wreck bizarrely attached to Liam.
Right away Cathleen senses something's not right.
In the middle of the night she hears a baby crying, but Aunt Tilly chalks it up to hysteria brought on by Cathleen's loss. Cathleen's not so sure, and she pries and snoops and questions every chance she gets. I'm sorry to use such unflattering words, but it's rather remarkable how much the family, which you would think would be rather more secretive and protective, given the circumstances that are revealed, than they actually are, lets her get away with so much. Maybe I'm used to more sinister thrillers, or maybe it was just that they were all so desperate for a new face around the house that they'd put up with a lot.
There were some delightful Gothic twists, but the romance was rather contrived. I didn't actually realize Cathleen was half serious about either of the brothers until close to the end, especially since she knew from almost the start that she couldn't trust them. As for the men, any attention they paid to her seemed like either play or manipulation.
What dated it for me (besides the fact that six months was plenty of time to grieve the loss of your entire family) was the romantic angle. Because Cathleen's newly single, everyone just seems to assume she'll want to get hooked up as soon as. And even though there's no real passion with either of them, she also just seems to assume she'll end up with Liam or Rory. Or that's what I felt -- that there was no real romance, but because of their situations, it just made sense that she would marry someone, and it didn't really matter who.
But I loved the suspense aspect of the story. I didn't think it was written as well as the Sinister stories -- I doubted some reactions and was a bit confused now and then -- but it was still great fun to read. It was witty at times, creepy at others, and steered by a heroine who was strong and level-headed despite her tragic past. Much more strong than everyone gives her credit for, and very clear-headed about that tragedy. But not exactly subtle at times, perhaps.
Lila
Reviewed from ARC. Re-released by Open Road Media July 9, 2013.
Full review at nomdeplumepress.wordpress.com.
July 14, 2015
I tried desperately not to toss this book across the room because I paid for it, but I just couldn't hang on.
I've read three Dorothy Eden books so far, and this was nowhere near as good as those, though I can't say the other two were amazing.
I hope that she never has anymore dark-skinned characters in her book. I got so sick of reading about some dirty dark-faced tinker every time I turned a page. I couldn't tell if being dark in general was bad, or if just being a dark tinker was bad.
Maybe if the story had actually been worth my time I could have overlooked such things, but it wasn't. Cathleen and her ramblings about babies were just too much.
I've read three Dorothy Eden books so far, and this was nowhere near as good as those, though I can't say the other two were amazing.
I hope that she never has anymore dark-skinned characters in her book. I got so sick of reading about some dirty dark-faced tinker every time I turned a page. I couldn't tell if being dark in general was bad, or if just being a dark tinker was bad.
Maybe if the story had actually been worth my time I could have overlooked such things, but it wasn't. Cathleen and her ramblings about babies were just too much.
February 1, 2019
Another solid Gothic Romance from Dorothy Eden.
March 27, 2025
3 stars
new gothic novel trope unlocked: weird ideas about the Irish!
☘️
(and expectations that people get over grieving for spouses/children as swiftly as possible—OBVIOUSLY stop groveling! yikes!)
-this was a good and bad mix…
-some lovely romantic gothic imagery, and romance forward which i prefer!
-similarly to my other takes on the book, however, the romance was up and down due to some time-period-sketchiness on the man’s part(s) ((—brother trope featured))
-mystery was intriguing for first 1/4th then became easy to predict :-/ then was resolved in a strange, convoluted manner :-(
-interested to read more dorothy eden since she’s so prolific!
-unfortunately this novel was confusing in terms of characterization, plot/timeline, and the story felt hurried in the last 3rd.
-Matilda O’Riordan was very easy to imagine, described with great skill, and an interesting character, so props for that!
-despite my critiques it was a quick read and the writing was good quality.
I have some others i have found by Eden to read soon..hopefully this isn’t one of her best!
new gothic novel trope unlocked: weird ideas about the Irish!
☘️
(and expectations that people get over grieving for spouses/children as swiftly as possible—OBVIOUSLY stop groveling! yikes!)
-this was a good and bad mix…
-some lovely romantic gothic imagery, and romance forward which i prefer!
-similarly to my other takes on the book, however, the romance was up and down due to some time-period-sketchiness on the man’s part(s) ((—brother trope featured))
-mystery was intriguing for first 1/4th then became easy to predict :-/ then was resolved in a strange, convoluted manner :-(
-interested to read more dorothy eden since she’s so prolific!
-unfortunately this novel was confusing in terms of characterization, plot/timeline, and the story felt hurried in the last 3rd.
-Matilda O’Riordan was very easy to imagine, described with great skill, and an interesting character, so props for that!
-despite my critiques it was a quick read and the writing was good quality.
I have some others i have found by Eden to read soon..hopefully this isn’t one of her best!
November 14, 2023
A young woman named Cathleen takes a job for a large wealthy family, who live in a large isolated castle. Soon she begins to uncover secrets from the family past.
I have read a few Dorothy Eden novels and I think she has done better than this. Everything here is a cliche. Cathleen has a pointless, 'busy-work" job that only exists to keep her in the house. She hears strange noises at night. People whisper and refuse to discuss certain subjects. Servants drop portentous hints. And of course there are two handsome and eligible brothers in the house, both of whom are soon declaring love for Cathleen when they barely know her. I couldn't see any difference between the brothers in character or temperament, so it didn't really matter which one Cathleen might end up with. More annoyingly, Cathleen is employed to do a straightforward job, but she sticks her nose into the family's business over and over again, and makes many poor decisions. Not recommended.
I have read a few Dorothy Eden novels and I think she has done better than this. Everything here is a cliche. Cathleen has a pointless, 'busy-work" job that only exists to keep her in the house. She hears strange noises at night. People whisper and refuse to discuss certain subjects. Servants drop portentous hints. And of course there are two handsome and eligible brothers in the house, both of whom are soon declaring love for Cathleen when they barely know her. I couldn't see any difference between the brothers in character or temperament, so it didn't really matter which one Cathleen might end up with. More annoyingly, Cathleen is employed to do a straightforward job, but she sticks her nose into the family's business over and over again, and makes many poor decisions. Not recommended.
October 29, 2019
Honestly, there wasn't great character development. But it was a fun gothic!
October 16, 2023
Nothing new in this gothic. More here: https://ahotcupofpleasureagain.wordpr...
June 20, 2024
Not good, but not bad. Every book seems fine after reading Colleen Hoover.
December 1, 2025
A gothic thriller/mystery that, while not fully believable, was still engrossing and entertaining.
January 19, 2017
Interesting premise with an Irish castle setting but not engrossing enough.
December 6, 2018
زني جوان به نام "كاتلين" كه به تازگي همسر و فرزندش را از دست داده، پرستار و منشي خانم "ماتيلدا" ميشود كه در قلعهاي قديمي كه زماني قصر بوده به سر ميبرد. ساكنان آن خانه افرادي عجيب و غريب هستند. در دهكده دربارهي آن خانه و افرادش شايعات بسياري بر سر زبانهاست "ماتيلدا" زن جوان را استخدام كرده تا سرگذشت خانوادگي آنها را بنويسد و آن را در قالب كتاب به فروش برساند. "كاتلين" در حين نوشتن كتاب به ماجراهاي تكان دهنده و جنايتي ...پي ميبرد. اما او از طرف افراد ناشناس مدام تهديد ميشود و
March 10, 2017
Good gothic mystery.
March 29, 2014
I quite enjoyed this book. It was a relatively straightforward read that was easy to immerse oneself in. The setting was perfect for the story that evolved, particularly the gloomy, half ruined castle on the moors in rural Ireland. The author painted an excellent picture of the location with many great descriptive passages.
The story was a nice mix of a number of different elements. It was filled with family history, scandal, investigation, suspense, although I thought that it was a little short on the actual romance.
I enjoyed the interaction between Cathleen and the members of the O’Riordan family, especially Liam and Rory. The rivalry between the brothers for Cathleen’s attention was interestingly handled, and gave great insights into the characters of these men.
I enjoyed the authors skill at character building. She gave us a number of well-rounded characters that were interesting and deep. It was easy to invest in the characters and their lives.
The plot was interesting and moderately paced, although a little slow in places.
The introduction of snippets of back story and the revelation of more and more skeletons from the close to bursting closet of the O’Riordans was cleverly done.
I enjoyed the conclusion of the story and found it interesting and somewhat different to how I had expected.
I would certainly recommend this book to those interested in an eerie mystery story, but would be more reluctant in recommending it as a romance, as this element seemed to be very understated.
This review was based upon a complimentary copy provided by Netgalley and the publisher Open Road Media as part of the Retro reads program.
The story was a nice mix of a number of different elements. It was filled with family history, scandal, investigation, suspense, although I thought that it was a little short on the actual romance.
I enjoyed the interaction between Cathleen and the members of the O’Riordan family, especially Liam and Rory. The rivalry between the brothers for Cathleen’s attention was interestingly handled, and gave great insights into the characters of these men.
I enjoyed the authors skill at character building. She gave us a number of well-rounded characters that were interesting and deep. It was easy to invest in the characters and their lives.
The plot was interesting and moderately paced, although a little slow in places.
The introduction of snippets of back story and the revelation of more and more skeletons from the close to bursting closet of the O’Riordans was cleverly done.
I enjoyed the conclusion of the story and found it interesting and somewhat different to how I had expected.
I would certainly recommend this book to those interested in an eerie mystery story, but would be more reluctant in recommending it as a romance, as this element seemed to be very understated.
This review was based upon a complimentary copy provided by Netgalley and the publisher Open Road Media as part of the Retro reads program.
December 23, 2015
Whistle for the Crows was a very easy read that quickly took my attention and held it until I could not put the book down. Gothics are generally predictable, and although I don't think this one proved much differently, the characters and plot were interesting, plus I liked that it was a contemporary set in the sixties instead of further back.
Cathleen Lamb is the English protagonist who takes a job as a secretary and researcher to an elderly woman at an Irish castle. Six months previously she had lost her husband and infant daughter to a car accident, so she's looking for a change that will help ease the pain. Living in the castle with the woman's grown niece and nephews, all of whom are a strange and mysterious bunch who seem to be hiding the truth of the eldest son's death. Cathleen hears a strange cry one night and investigates, the beginning of the mystery she is soon drawn into. Without giving anything away, of course she finds herself in the midst of a love triangle with the two brothers, which was done in a way that was believable to the situation and didn't overwhelm the plot. The story was well-constructed and paced, so nothing felt unnecessary or out of place. I had great fun with the book, excepting the gypsy bashing that went on, and would recommend it to those who like Gothics and mysteries.
3.5 to 4 stars
Cathleen Lamb is the English protagonist who takes a job as a secretary and researcher to an elderly woman at an Irish castle. Six months previously she had lost her husband and infant daughter to a car accident, so she's looking for a change that will help ease the pain. Living in the castle with the woman's grown niece and nephews, all of whom are a strange and mysterious bunch who seem to be hiding the truth of the eldest son's death. Cathleen hears a strange cry one night and investigates, the beginning of the mystery she is soon drawn into. Without giving anything away, of course she finds herself in the midst of a love triangle with the two brothers, which was done in a way that was believable to the situation and didn't overwhelm the plot. The story was well-constructed and paced, so nothing felt unnecessary or out of place. I had great fun with the book, excepting the gypsy bashing that went on, and would recommend it to those who like Gothics and mysteries.
3.5 to 4 stars
January 2, 2015
A typical Gothic, Whistle for the Crows is about a young widow who accepts a job as a secretary to the dominating aunt of old Irish family. Right after she arrives at the "castle," she thinks she hears a baby crying, and becomes worried about rumors of blackmail, secret marriages and inconvenient offspring, and untoward "accidents." Everyone tells her she's being silly, but having recently lost a child as well as her husband, she cannot ignore even the hint of a baby in danger.
My verdict: silly and predictable. For example, if you're a heroine in a Gothic romance, and you meet two available young me, which one will you end up with? And which one will turn out to be the dastardly villain? The one who is friendly and flirtatious, or the one who seems haughty and disdainful? Any guesses?? That's right, in a book like this, you know from the get-go how it will turn out. So the novel needs something else to make it memorable. Crows isn't terrible--for its genre--but there's nothing special, unlike another Eden novel I read recently, The Bird in the Chimney, which is what got me back on this Gothic kick to begin with.
My verdict: silly and predictable. For example, if you're a heroine in a Gothic romance, and you meet two available young me, which one will you end up with? And which one will turn out to be the dastardly villain? The one who is friendly and flirtatious, or the one who seems haughty and disdainful? Any guesses?? That's right, in a book like this, you know from the get-go how it will turn out. So the novel needs something else to make it memorable. Crows isn't terrible--for its genre--but there's nothing special, unlike another Eden novel I read recently, The Bird in the Chimney, which is what got me back on this Gothic kick to begin with.
April 1, 2014
I did not love this book with a passion, but I loved one of the characters enough that I was still happy I read it. I found the first two thirds of this story rather slow, but in the end was happy with the way the story ultimately went.
Cathleen is a wonderful female protagonist. All of the expected Gothic elements were here (creepy castle and mysterious love interest etc.)Not much to set this book apart from other Dorothy Eden novels, but I did like that Cathleen was strong and independent and did not fulfill the expected role of brainless woman that needs rescuing every other page.
This was an intriguing novel with many interesting facets once one got beyond the set up for the story. I liked the relationships that developed along the course of the story and the way the author chose to end the book.
The setting was different than I would have expected (for once it did not revolve all around London) and that was a nice change.
If you are a fan of Gothic mysteries, this book will not disappoint you.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from Open Road Media and Netgalley as part of the Retro Reads Program. All opinions are my own.
Cathleen is a wonderful female protagonist. All of the expected Gothic elements were here (creepy castle and mysterious love interest etc.)Not much to set this book apart from other Dorothy Eden novels, but I did like that Cathleen was strong and independent and did not fulfill the expected role of brainless woman that needs rescuing every other page.
This was an intriguing novel with many interesting facets once one got beyond the set up for the story. I liked the relationships that developed along the course of the story and the way the author chose to end the book.
The setting was different than I would have expected (for once it did not revolve all around London) and that was a nice change.
If you are a fan of Gothic mysteries, this book will not disappoint you.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from Open Road Media and Netgalley as part of the Retro Reads Program. All opinions are my own.
June 4, 2014
Dorothy Eden has somewhat fallen out of fashion since her heyday so it’s good to see that she is still published now and again. However I didn’t feel that this one shows her at her best. Something was lacking for me, and I didn’t manage to get invested in the heroine and feel involved in her fate. Nevertheless, it’s a good standard Gothic romance of the kind Eden is well known for, and overall I quite enjoyed it. It’s the story of Cathleen Lamb (to the slaughter?) who is attempting to rebuild her life after the death of her husband and baby daughter. (After all, she has grieved for 6 months already – quite time enough!) She obtains a post as secretary to the matriarch of the O’Riordan family to help her compile a family history. But all is not peaceful in the ancestral castle – there are family secrets, family skeletons, family rivalries, all of which make Cathleen’s job much more fraught than she could ever have expected.
It’s a fairly conventional thriller, but it’s all told with a certain verve and the mystery is intriguing enough to keep the reader interested. And with a bit of romance thrown in, lots of atmosphere and expert pacing, it’s a fun, if not a great, read.
It’s a fairly conventional thriller, but it’s all told with a certain verve and the mystery is intriguing enough to keep the reader interested. And with a bit of romance thrown in, lots of atmosphere and expert pacing, it’s a fun, if not a great, read.
April 24, 2014
I went into this book with an open mind and high hopes, however this story was not a good fit for me. There were no overt grammatical or structural problems with the story that disallowed a connection; the story just did not engage me at all. There was no moment of disgust or negative impact that turned me off of this story. The story just never grabbed me. I never became invested in the characters or story. I found the story somewhat dry and I did not feel any connection whatsoever with any of the characters. I didn't like or dislike the character and didn't really care to see where the story was going to take me. I was promised a "thrilling tale" and that promise was woefully unfulfilled. It took great effort, discipline, and tenacity on my part to finish this book and I am just glad that the experience is now behind me. I don't hate the book I just hate the loss of reading time that I invested in it.
I received a complimentary copy through Open Road Media and Netgalley as part of the Retro Reads Program in exchange for an honest review.
I received a complimentary copy through Open Road Media and Netgalley as part of the Retro Reads Program in exchange for an honest review.
June 28, 2012
SINOPSIS:
Para Cathleen todo parecía irreal. Ella decididamente no creía en historias de fantasmas o de aparecidos. A ella lo único que le interesaba era ocuparse de la vida actual de esa familia. No obstante, a cada paso, surgían antiguas sombras del pasado que se interponían en su camino. ¿Cuál era el misterio que rodeaba la muerte del hijo mayor? ¿Y qué había de verdad en esos terribles rumores que se corrían acerca de su mujer y de su hijo? Cuando ella quiso investigar por qué lloraba una criatura en plena noche, al regresar a su habitación recibió una amenaza. Cathleen estaba sola en el mundo. Después de las trágicas muertes de su marido y de su hijita, había venido a Irlanda con el propósito de hacerse una nueva vida. Ella nada sospechaba de los ocultos peligros que la aguardaban en el castillo de Loughneath.
POR LA SINOPSIS ESPERABA UN POCO MAS, ES UNA BUENA HISTORIA QUE ENTRETIENE Y EL MISTERIO ES BUENO PERO LE FALTP ENGANCHARME.
Para Cathleen todo parecía irreal. Ella decididamente no creía en historias de fantasmas o de aparecidos. A ella lo único que le interesaba era ocuparse de la vida actual de esa familia. No obstante, a cada paso, surgían antiguas sombras del pasado que se interponían en su camino. ¿Cuál era el misterio que rodeaba la muerte del hijo mayor? ¿Y qué había de verdad en esos terribles rumores que se corrían acerca de su mujer y de su hijo? Cuando ella quiso investigar por qué lloraba una criatura en plena noche, al regresar a su habitación recibió una amenaza. Cathleen estaba sola en el mundo. Después de las trágicas muertes de su marido y de su hijita, había venido a Irlanda con el propósito de hacerse una nueva vida. Ella nada sospechaba de los ocultos peligros que la aguardaban en el castillo de Loughneath.
POR LA SINOPSIS ESPERABA UN POCO MAS, ES UNA BUENA HISTORIA QUE ENTRETIENE Y EL MISTERIO ES BUENO PERO LE FALTP ENGANCHARME.
July 26, 2016
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I love suspense and drama yet felt in this book it was missing. I felt like in a way I was reading suspense but lacked the suspense seemed too predictable. Cathleen I just couldn’t warm up to even though I read this book twice I still couldn’t. I was intrigued about the blurb and the O’Riordans but felt there should have been more to reader. All in all wanted more and it lacked for me.
I love suspense and drama yet felt in this book it was missing. I felt like in a way I was reading suspense but lacked the suspense seemed too predictable. Cathleen I just couldn’t warm up to even though I read this book twice I still couldn’t. I was intrigued about the blurb and the O’Riordans but felt there should have been more to reader. All in all wanted more and it lacked for me.
August 6, 2010
This Gothic spoke to me on so many levels. I love Ireland and who could resist a manor house there. The mysteries and suspicious incidents began right from the start and kept a steady pace right to the end. I look forward to more of Ms. Eden's books.
May 5, 2008
It's got a castle. On the edge of the moor. There's a lovely heroine. A family skeleton. Intrigue. Past mayhem. Possibly murder? A fun and creepy gothic.
May 27, 2013
Cassettes.
December 20, 2013
A good spooky read with an actual castle, a bossy harridan of a woman, a nice heroine in need of a job, and two handsome men. Who is the villain. Good read.
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