Stranger at Plantation Inn

by Jennifer Blake

STRANGER AT PLANTATION INN:

A Jennifer Blake Classic! Romantic gothic suspense set in the Deep South in the late 1800s.


Lillian Newton isn't the only stranger at Plantation Inn. The heavy rains that had flooded the river and forced her to seek refuge at the old stage-stop had driven others to the sanctuary as well.

At first, Lillian pays scant attention to the rest of the group. Soon, however, rumors of an escaped killer -- an outlaw whose vicious deeds have terrorized the countryside -- spread a chill blanket of unease over the charming old house.

Then inexplicable things begin to happen: the stalking shadow glimpsed through the trees, the cat whose throat has been cut, the mysterious crying of an infant... Lillian is suddenly suspicious of everyone. Especially the handsome young Frenchman, Jean Marsh, whose arrogant manner arouses a curious inner fury she can't define.

The killer is one of them. Of that she's certain. But which one? And how long before he strikes again?

Genres: Gothic, Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Gothic Romance, Historical Fiction

157 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1970

About the author

A pseudonym used by Patricia Maxwell.

Jennifer Blake has been called a “pioneer of the romance genre”, and an “icon of the romance industry.” A New York Times and international best selling author since 1977, she is a charter member of Romance Writers of America, member of the RWA Hall of Fame, and recipient of the RWA Lifetime Achievement Rita. She holds numerous other honors, including two “Maggies”, two Holt Medallions, multiple Reviewer’s Choice Awards, the Career Achievement Award from Romantic Times BookReviews Magazine, and the Frank Waters Award for literary excellence. She has written over 60 books with translations in 20 languages and more than 30 million copies in print worldwide.

Jennifer and her husband reside in a lakeside Caribbean-style retreat in North Louisiana where they often entertain family and friends. Always a gardener, she spends much of her time encouraging her garden to bloom with her favorite daylilies and antique roses. She also enjoys walking her two dogs, Buffy and Lucky, and indulging in needlework, painting, and travel.

Reviews

[mark monday · Rating 2 out of 5]

shortly after the Civil War, a "feministic" young woman finds herself stranded with a range of other travelers at the Plantation Inn, waiting for the rains to pass and the river nearby to become passable. also nearby: the vicious scion of a robber clan, on the run with his paramour, and notoriously okay with slashing the throat of any man, woman, child, or cat that gets in his way. but perhaps that villain and his lady are already members of the party, in disguise and ready to slash more throats... cue dramatic music!

there are a couple reviewers that found this to be "excruciatingly boring" and I just have to say that if such reviewers find the recounting of 3 tense days & nights filled with anxiety, paranoia, murdered animals, an intruder dressed as a spectral klansman, a dummy dressed as a murder victim, a lady's finery shredded and smeared with excrement, women screaming in the night, blood smeared throughout the hallway, tales of bayoneted babies (yep), someone at the locked door trying to get in while whispering spring has come, oh and some light flirting... well, if they find a 160-page book full of those sorts of things to be boring, then what exactly do they find to be exciting??

for the most part, this was a fun, page-turning experience and I just had to finish it in one sitting. the writing is mainly pretty good and the setting is ripe with rainy gothic atmosphere. unfortunately, the denouement is the worst kind of corny infodump, the various romances are eyerolling and unconvincing, and when the writing isn't pretty good, it is completely horrible, with some headscratchingly obtuse dialogue and bizarre misuse of words that occasionally gave me the impression that the author wasn't too comfortable with using things like words. and so 1 star docked, despite this being an exciting experience overall.

[Marina · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is kind of ridiculous.

I've been trying to find more romantic books to read and I came across this one and didn't sound that bad.

It's marked as gothic romance and the cover looks like a smutty romance (it's not).

But it's so boring. Plus Lillian feels like a secondary character in her own story. This book would have been way more exciting if Myra was the main character, at least then we'd be in on all the exciting action.

Instead the author makes us believe Lillian is a feminist character and then immediately shoves her into a maternal role. Plus, while she easily spurns George and William, she continuously lets Jean intimidate her. And she is not okay with George and William's behaviors, but somehow she let's Jean's continual intimidation and manhandling slide. His behavior is just as problematic. Especially with how angry he gets when Lillian doesn't react the way he wants to. She admits that she's afraid of him also or that at least that the potential that he may be the killer (and it seemed that in her mind he was the prime suspect). Yet, she falls in love with him. I mean, what, it's been four days?

Ridiculous. Don't need a kiss to prove it.

[Lady Alexandrine · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Stranger At Plantation Inn" by Patricia Maxwell was a fast, entertaining read. It is a Gothic romance novel with an old-school feel. It was first published in the 70s, so it may not satisfy readers expecting more up-to-date style of writing. But, I have always had a soft spot for Gothic novels with dark, brooding heroes and dangerous secrets. The hero of this novel was of Rhett Butler variety with a rough personality, that grated on the heroine's nerves. The heroine Lillian was brave, intelligent and kind. She needed all her wits to survive in the same inn as a dangerous, imbalanced murderer.

To sum up, I had fun reading this novel. I will definitely read more Gothic romances written by Jennifer Blake (aka Patricia Maxwell).

[Regan · Rating 2 out of 5]

So disappointed. I've been a huge Jennifer Blake fan since I "discovered" her and my first read of hers, The Storm and the Splendor. That book got me through law school....when I needed a break from reading case after case and dry black letter law I escaped into that book and re-read it multiple times. I read it again a year or so ago and it was just as wonderful as the first ten or more times I read it. I eagerly anticipated this one because in addition to being a Jennifer Blake fan, I love a good Gothic suspense.

The writing just wasn't what I've read from this author in the past. It felt forced and rambling. I never warmed up to any of the characters and really, gratuitous killing an animal? I'll stick with her older books.

[Dorothy Crocker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jennifer Blake writes an intriguing novel keeping one guessing as to whom the true villain is. Lillian is traveling from her parents home to her Aunt's school to help with the girls and teach, the river between the two is at flood stage and the bridge is swept away so she is forced to stay at the Inn close to the river. The Inn is full because of the flooded river, and there seems to be an vicious outlaw on the loose. Is it possible that he is one of the people at the Inn? Strange things keep happening, will Lillian be able to figure out who the culprit is before something tragic happens?

[L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The river is up and the bridge is washed out, forcing young Lillian to take refuge at Plantation Inn along with the usual suspects. Exposition Sally is also in residence and fills us all in with the ongoing search for a local desperado. Could there be a murderer at Plantation Inn? Well, this wouldn't be much of a gothic if there wasn't.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok so this story was heavy on atmosphere, which was very good but kind of light on everything else - mystery, romance, suspense.

The author tried to make you distrust Jean but there was no reason for it - any more than anyone else in the story - except that he always seemed to be lurking (but so was Lillian so it didn't really work). All the characters seemed too superficial and I think a lot of that was due to having only 150 pages and too many characters.

I hadn't realized I had read another book by this author (the Secret of Mirror House written a year earlier) and it had a lot of the same problems this one had - the biggest one being the entire mystery being resolved and explained in the final chapter. And even when you get the story it doesn't entirely make sense. Why kill the cat? Doesn't make sense? And one guy is part of the gang but no one around him knows? Seems completely unbelievable (can't say more or it would give it away).

So it was interesting enough to keep me reading but the revelations weren't enough of a pay off and the ending just ended. Felt too abrupt given all the buildup. Although I am happy there weren't true love protestations.

So I'm not sure if this is the writer's style or if I just happened to read early books as there is potential here. So I may try another one, written later to find out.

[Jimmy Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Jennifer Blake's thriller-romances, and I always pick up the Gothics written under her own name of Patricia Maxwell.

In "Stranger at Plantation Inn," sensible Lillian finds herself delayed on her journey due to weather and flooding. Compelled to wait the weather out at the Plantation Inn with a number of other travelers, she discovers there is a alert for a psychotic post-war band of thieves - and the leader might be in the area, if not at the Inn itself. She is warned by one of the mysterious guests from walking out alone, as coincidences and fearful events begin to pile up. Amidst the tension, Lillian is forced to rub elbows with a pompous ex-suitor, a potential new suitor working at the inn, and a mysterious arrogant man residing at the inn who appears to be more than friends with the actress sharing her room - perhaps one of them could be the murderous leader.

It's a recipe for romance and terror, and if the characters and the outcome are predictable, perhaps that's because I'm familiar with the author of the cookbook. I find myself lingering over her descriptions of clothing, room decor, weather, and gardens - she brings pictures of old Louisiana alive.

[William · Rating 2 out of 5]

Before she became best-selling romance novelist Jennifer Blake, Patricia Maxwell wrote several gothic under her own name (now reissued under the Blake imprint on Kindle). Like her historical romances, they were set in her native Louisiana and took advantage of her deep knowledge of the state's history. "Stranger at Plantation Inn," the first of these, has a promising set up: a group of travelers is stranded at an inn due to river flooding. Is one of the guests a notorious outlaw responsible for robberies and murders? While the premise is suspenseful and great, Maxwell/Blake was still at this point finding her way as an author, and the novel is rather clunky. It is not unenjoyable; just not as smooth as she would soon become with her next novels.

[Cindy Woods · Rating 1 out of 5]

Extremely confusing!

Normally, I love Jennifer Blake's books. But this one is so confusing. The plot is supposed to be suspenseful and scary, but it comes off as convoluted and a bit ridiculous.

When William blurts out his undying love to a woman he's known less than a week and has maybe spoken two entire sentences to I wanted to put the book down. I finally finished and everything that was explained by the end of the story is too complicated and unsatisfactory. The conclusions are unreasonable.

I have no reason to recommend this one. Obviously a very early attempt by this otherwise good writer.

[Myfanwy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this, not least of which because it’s one of Blake’s books that are the least Weird about the South, but the plot is confused and the characters are too vague for the story to ever pull together to be something satisfying.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

In fairness, I ought to be rating this two stars but despite its flaws (a plot full of holes and immense predictability being just a couple), I still enjoyed it. It’s truly nonsense but as a quick, entertaining read, it has enough spark to keep you involved.

[Mare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very atmospheric and entertaining.

[A.M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oooh a 1970’s gothic romance… bring it.
Huh, amusing, the book is full of endless rain, flooded rivers, and lost bridges, and so is my day… seems apropos.
On her way to help out her feminist aunt who runs a girls’ school, our heroine Lillian has to put up at a an old plantation house, turned inn, for as long as the river remains un-traversable. She is trapped with a party of others: the host Mrs Jenkins, her three children William, Emmeline, and Martin; a married couple with a toddler, Mr & Mrs Wake and Julie; a widow Mrs Bonnet; an actress Myra Martineau and her driver Sam; Jean Marsh the dark and brooding mysterious man; and George Bolt the preacher Lillian was travelling with who dumped her at the inn after she refused his proposal of marriage.
There is a lot of idle gossip that Laws Kimbrell, a local rebel leader and murderer has escaped the execution of his whole group and is travelling incognito. Because of the crowded cast, Lillian has to share a room with Myra. After she attracts more than a few glances from the men at dinner Lillian returns to their shared room to find all of their dresses torn to shreds and doused in perfume and the contents of their chamber pot. (Eww… but I have to say that sounds like a woman’s doing.)
That night Lillian hears someone in the hall and wakes to find a person (in boots) wearing a KKK sheet and dragging a doll dressed in one of Myra’s gowns with its ‘throat’ cut and covered in tomato sauce. The morning finds the house cat in a similar state, but sadly dead.
There is a lot of confusion; is Kimbrell doing this? And if so, why?
The real issue is, no one is sure what he looks like.
Mrs Bonnet keeps remembering tantalising clues about the Kimbrall family… Sam remembers the name from a Civil War event where a man sold their ammunition before the battle… and Jean takes an intriguing interest in the toddler and her clothes.
The next night, it’s blood on the bedroom doors and upstairs hallway from Mrs Jenkins’ best hen.
Lillian kicks over paint in the barn… (the criminals murdered people on the trail to the west, then repainted and sold their wagons and belongings)… gasp. So many clues.

“That’s what happened finally, of course. But altogether the gang, the Clan, or whatever you want to call it, lasted nearly twenty years, part of it before Laws’ time, working on that premise. It had more than one hundred fifty members and covered three states, an operation so vast and slick that a man could ride into the gang territory at dawn and by nightfall his body would be lying in the bottom of a Louisiana well, his horse would be munching hay in a Texas barn, and his saddle might be hanging in a dry goods store in Arkansas.” (Kindle Locations 5164-5168).

Is the house a base for the gang? Gasp… more clues.
George really dislikes being forced to share a house with an actress.

George began with great dignity, “I understand what your feelings must be, and after serious thought I have decided that I owe you an apology for the injury to your sensibilities. But I must still follow my calling, therefore I cannot condone either your way of living or your language.”
“This may come as a distinct shock then, preacher,” Myra answered, “but I believe I will be able to live without your approval.” (Kindle Locations 4752-4755).

Bwahaha, well said, Myra…
When the flood drops, the clues converge and the final murderous rogue is found…
Lillian adds a second and then a third proposal to her list. I’m betting it’s the third time lucky.
3 stars

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Stranger at Plantation Inn was a decent book, but I never felt invested in the characters. The romance was clean but boring, and the mystery was mediocre. I did finish the book but didn't really enjoy it. Jennifer Blake's Classic Gothic Collection books that I've read (Secret of Mirror House and Night of the Candles) are about the same caliber, just so-so writing. Bride of a Stranger was a little better. Her Louisiana Plantation Collection has richer historical detail and better plotting, but they are steamy romances with detailed love scenes, not sweet romances. If you are looking for a simple, clean Gothic book to pass the time, you may enjoy this series, but I prefer Victoria Holt's gothic books for more complex characters and better story lines.

[Hafiza · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read free from a Kindle Unlimited.
A group of strangers get stuck in an Inn due to bad weather.
Mischief, mayhem and some romance ensues.
Excruciatingly boring

[SandraE · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book to be quite odd but still enjoyable.

[Sally Hannoush · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mystery with a love story ending. I'm not sure what my final opinion is on the story. There were some things that I didn't see coming but other things that was easy to guess at.

[Uyen89 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read on a rainy day...

Less romance more mystery type of book but a good read in the rainy day.

What is there more to say.