Tregaron's Daughter

by Madeleine Brent

Excitement, drama and suspense were only part of Cadi Tregaron's new life. It had been a sunny afternoon when she glanced from the cliff where she sat reading and saw below her in the sea a sight that would change her life.

Set in England and Italy in 1910, this is the story of a young English girl who by accident starts to unravel the unknown elements of her grandmother's past and is brought by the mystery to the faraway city of Venice. There among the gondolas and canals, she slowly comes to comprehend the meaning of two strange and puzzling dreams--dreams that seem to hold an eerie and menancing prophecy of the future.

Here is all the grandeur and excitement of the ageless glory of Venice and the handsome beauty of the English countryside combined in the romantic and suspenseful story of a young girl's confrontation with the past.

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

251 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1971

About the author

Madeleine Brent is a pseudonym used by Peter O'Donnell.

Reviews

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars for this romantic suspense novel. Cadi (short for Caterina, her Italian grandmother's name) Tregaron is a fisherman's daughter, living in Cornwall in the early 1900's. When she's 17, she and her father help rescue a gentleman who's been caught in a small sailboat, in a treacherous undertow. Mr. Morton and his handsome nephew, Lucian Farrel, thank Cadi and her father and disappear from their lives for a couple of years. Cadi's got very mixed feelings about Lucian; he reminds her of a man in a mystical, recurring dream that she has of a starlit, palace-like house by the water, a man who sometimes brings her great joy in her dream, and other times terrifies her.



When Cadi's father dies a couple of years later, leaving her alone in the world, Mr. Morton finds out about it and comes back to Cornwall, asking her to come live with his family. Cadi gradually adjusts to a very different, upper-crust sort of life with the Morton family, some of whom can be a little ... odd, but she does have a great relationship with Mr. Morton. She sees Lucian from time to time, and learns that he's in disgrace in society, accused of cowardice in the Boer Wars and cashiered from his regiment.

And then one day a minor accident happens. **slightly spoilerish info follows** It unexpectedly opens up the lost history of Cadi's Italian grandmother, who had been rescued from a drowning attempt by Cadi's sailor grandfather, and had never recovered her memories of her earlier life. The subsequent investigation leads Cadi to Venice and the palace she sees in her dreams, but also into danger, as there are threats to her life. And she's still not sure if Lucian is the evil person of her dreams or the man who will bring her joy.

Tregaron's Daughter isn't as exotic as most of Madeleine Brent historical novels, with only a short part of the story taking place in Italy. The last quarter was exciting, but the story lags in the middle, and I'm always a little irritated with a mystery novel that has two villains working independently; it seems rather unfair to readers trying to solve the mystery.

Overall Tregaron's Daughter struck me as a pretty standard historic gothic suspense read, but it does have its moments and some interesting characters. And portentous dreams. I'd only really recommend this one to those who love that genre. If you're considering a Madeleine Brent novel but haven't read any of hers yet, Golden Urchin is a better place to start.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not nearly as good as Moonraker's Bride, Tregaron's Daughter is still a fine Gothic style romance. The author gives the heroine what you don't usually find in most romance novels: strength of character. That's why I like these works so well. This one is outlandish in it's story of a missing heiress to a fortune, and a countess, but it's still fun and very satisfying.

[Christy Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books to return to when I need something light to read. I love the mystery, the romance, the settings. It's just a sweet little read.

[Sarah Mac · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mild spoilers, maybe? I don't think a HEA is ever truly in doubt when it comes to this genre, but even so. I named no names. ;P

I might have liked this better had Cadi (the heroine) not been such an insufferable goody-two-shoes Mary Sue. This twee 19-yr-old is just so eternally pure & wholesome in her aura of charmingly provincial capabilty; she never has a bad/naughty/unkind/rude thought about anyone, she instantly charms everyone she meets (aside from one or two selfish and/or villainous asshats who are there solely to emphasize her heroic awesometude), & has no concept of money as anything worth fussing over (natch). When this hitherto destitute orphan inherits a fortune, her first thought isn't to be grateful that she'll no longer have to live as an eternal adoptee in the cushy Morton house, or even that she could contribute to her expenses but put money aside as a safety net in case Mr Morton or her Twu Wuv kick the bucket. Nope! Her first plan is to donate her entire inheritance to build orphanages, since her husband-to-be is making perfectly adequate income via his horse-stabling business.

...I rest my case. 🙄

The prose itself was otherwise unimpressive -- rather dry & basic & naive, IMO. Holt & Whitney write this style better, & with more believable heroines. But I'll try Brent again, since I already have Merlin's Keep & Stormswift, both of which are highly rec'd. *shrug*

[Carolyn Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Madeleine Brent was one of my favorite authors in the 70's and 80's and Merlin's Keep is an all-time fave I've re-read several times. So I was excited when I stumbled upon a romantic suspense of hers not in our local library that I hadn't read. This was actually the first by Madeleine Brent, a pseudonym for Peter O'Donnell, a British writer most known for his serialized adventure strip and novels about Modesty Blaise. I knew nothing about this when I first read the Madeleine Brent books, and I still have a hard time believing they were written by a man! My confusion is understandable when the author bio in the book elaborates "she married young, has two grown children, has celebrated her silver wedding," etc. and "she and her husband live in a rambling cottage in Kent, and spend some months each year at their villa on the shores of the Mediterranean. . ." Wha??? She's a man? So I suppose the 'husband' is the wife? Is any of this true? Nevertheless, they're great reads in the gothic genre, usually set in the late 19th/early 20th century with intrepid but kind heroines, exotic locales, and a mysterious is-he-good-or-is-he-bad hero. The romance takes second place to the adventure, but it's the destined soul mate kind and not overly sentimental. The heroine usually finds out to her surprise that what she's feeling must be love. Usually there's a bit of the paranormal in Brent's books. In this one it's kept to a repetitive prophetic dream. The action really picks up in the last third of this book, and Mr. O'Donnell's time in the service no doubt helped in creating believable action sequences. The settings of Tregaron's Daughter go from a fishing village in Cornwall to a comfortable manor house in Kent to a palazzo in Venice, all of them well evoked. Brent/O'Donnell also seems to know a good deal about boats and sailing, as well as horses and riding, so everything comes across as believable. Perhaps because I've read Brent's other books or because this was the first one written and not quite as complex as some of the others, I knew from early on how everything would turn out, and there was no great mystery. This is the type of plot construction where the reader recognizes and figures things out before the character does, but you want to keep reading to find out what she'll do when she discovers the truth. I was right on all counts, only one small surprise I didn't anticipate, but, nevertheless, it was a fun ride. I recommend all of Madeleine Brent's books for romantic adventure with highly likable heroines and intriguing settings.

[Ana Lopes Miura · Rating 2 out of 5]

At last! A Madeleine Brent I didn’t love! I despised the heroine, Caddie, who I thought was a know it all, condescending bore and the pacing was sluggish. When the story FINALLY moved to Venice, at maybe 68%, I was too fed up to care. I loved the first third, though, especially the part set in Cornwall, and although our protagonists SUCK, the secondary characters shine. I particularly loved Sarah and Richard, who had a very interesting psychology to him.

[Diane Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book I have read by this author. The author's real name is Peter O'Donnell. It is hard for me to believe this was written by a man.

Cadi Tregaron, a fisherman's daughter, moves from Cornwall to Kent due to circumstances that I don't want to give away. She is a smart, independent, talented sort, no surprise there. Cadi has had a recurring dream all her life, actually two dreams, a good version and a bad version. She is surprised to find out that she has an inheritance, a very large inheritance. Large enough that any number of people might kill for it, unless they could marry her for it! This inheritance brings her to Venice. All kinds of adventure, mystery and suspense happen in Venice. This book has horses, boating, a beautiful palazzo, and an old locket handed down from her Grandmother.

There are many side stories and mysteries that all get wrapped up nicely in the end. I did have the main gist of the story figured out before the end but it was still a lot of fun reading all the details and actually the suspense really made this a fun story. I will certainly be reading more Brent in the future.

[Jannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5

This was a decent story yet also rather disjointed and confusing leading us one way then another. Cadi was, as usual for Brent's heroines, a strong character with her own charms and strengths. I also enjoyed reading of the other related characters too as they grew in their own right. However the more occult aspects of Cadis life seemed to me while useful also inconsistent and not fully explored or explained. And so much foreboding. Jeez take it down a notch.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beginning in 1971, British writer Peter O'Donnell, best-known for his comic strip and novels of action heroine and spy Modesty Blaise, cashed in on the gothic craze by writing a series of novels under the pseudonym Madeleine Brent. "Tregaron's Daughter," the first of them, tells the story of Caterina (Cadi) Tregaron, the daughter of a fisherman in a Cornwall, whose family's past comes to the fore once she becomes involved with the Mortons, Kentish gentry vacationing there. The novel moves from Cornwall to London to Venice in the years 1908-1910. Brent definitely echoes Victoria Holt in this debut, who was ten years into her dominance of the field, particularly in the way the novel is just as much about the heroine's journey into adulthood, from innocence to experience, as it is about the secrets of the past. What is different is the time period--Edwardian gothics are rare--and the very competent, capable heroine. Cadi is not namby-pamby, helpless, dithering, or innocent of the facts of life, which makes for a refreshing change. The secondary characters also have vivid appeal. The only flaw of the novel is its ending--not because it lacks adventure and suspense, but because too much of it winds up being narrated to Cadi rather than experienced, either by her or by the reader. Despite that, it is a solid, extremely enjoyable addition to the golden age of gothics.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book as a tween/teen. I have all of the Madeleine Brent books, which are out of print now. This is one of Brent’s best. Tied for my fave along with Moonraker’s Bride.

I haven’t read this for YEARS, so it almost felt new when I read it aloud to my 12 year old daughter. We both loved it.

You can tell it’s an old book because it has a bit of a slow beginning. Lots of descriptions and setting up for the plot. Once the plot picks up, it’s really great.

The characters are extremely well written and deep.
You know why I love Madeleine Brent books so much? The FMC is always so WONDERFUL. In this book, the FMC is smart, capable, humble, brave, insightful and beautiful inside and out.

So many endearing characters. Even the initially-irritating step mom isn’t a shallow character. As time passes, the FMC learns why she is the way she is, and she loves her despite her personality flaws. She sees the good in her. It’s actually beautiful.

This is the kind of FMC that I can fully admire and root for. I love the found family theme. She deserves all the happiness!

The slow, low burn romance is very gentle. The chemistry is medium.

Clean.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

As I wasn't able to get a copy of this via my library or Paperbackswap .com, I resorted to reading the Reader's Digest condensed version. I expect that my 3 star rating is a reflection of this, as the story wasn't as fluid or compelling as it probably would be in the unabridged version.

Nonetheless, writer Madeleine Brent penned a nicely atmospheric story of a Cornish fisherman's daughter who finds danger and romance in the fabled city of Venice, Italy.

I will certainly be on the lookout for more Brent novels in future - hopefully unabridged.

[Mermarie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found the coast's menu and rough vittles to be more of an interest that anything in this book. XD I don't think this heroine ever opened her eyes long or wide enough, than to blink, in her entire life, until the hero came into town. Yawning myself to extremity.

[UnusualChild{beppy} · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

Cadi is a Cornish fisherman's daughter. One day, she and her father help to save a man's life on the sea. When her father dies, the man that she helped save comes to take her to his home, which is where Cadi's adventures begin.
Cadi has some issues with feeling out of place, and missing the only home that she has ever known, but she tries to make the best of it. The family welcomes her, though, even Lucian, who when she met him while they were trying to save his uncle's life, she thought he didn't really like her. But then mysterious things start happening, and Cadi isn't sure if she can trust Lucian.

*happy sigh* I think that this is my favourite Madeleine Brent. I was a little apprehensive that it wouldn't be as good as I remembered it, because although I used to read it all the time, I haven't read it for about 20 years, give or take a few years. Yes, Cadi has TSTL moments, but they are mitigated by her common sense approach to life, and her efforts to make the best of things. She gets frustrated and sad, especially since her entire family is now dead, but she goes on, as one must, and enjoys the life that she has lucked upon as much as she enjoyed her life in Cornwall.
Cadi is brave, has a strong sense of responsibility and of honour, and tries to live so that her life means something. She is a strong heroine, and while none of the other characters are as clearly drawn, including Lucian, she carries the story.
An added bonus for me is the fact that Cadi has some sort of precognition psychic ability, which just added a little bit of a difference to differentiate it from all the other gothic romances out there.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as Moonraker's Bride, but it kept me entertained. Cadi was a bit too perfect and/or omniscient at times but all the characters were well-developed, and the descriptions of Cornwall and Venice were vivid.

[Daphne Brouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a sucker for a Madeleine Brent book! This one was definitely up to par. Everything came together quickly in the last two chapters, but it was a fun and exciting plot.

[Suzanne Roq · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this so much.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is billed as a “gothic romance,” and the flyleaf says “Madeline Brent is the pseudonym of an English author. This is her first Gothic novel.” I was curious to learn more about Madeline Brent, so I googled her. Come to find out, she’s really a guy: Peter O’Donnell. It’s axiomatic that guys can’t write romances (else why would he give himself a woman’s pen name?) so I was curious to see how this “romance” would develop. The characters are great, and there’s lots of action, mystery, and suspense. But romance? Here’s how the author has his heroine describe her love for the hero: “The ache in my heart was a pain and a pleasure at the same time . . . . Within me I felt a great yearning and softening, a sweet warmth that I had never felt before.“ Excuse me while I gag. You can’t describe love; you can only show it. And romance is way too subtle for words. But the book itself was completely enthralling. I’m sure I’ll be reading it again. Obviously there’s more to a good novel than romance.

[Bree (AnotherLookBook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A historical novel about a woman who lives a quiet life in Cornwall with her fisherman father, until a series of strangers and events lead her to Venice and a possible inheritance. 1971.

Full review at Another look book

Another winner from Madeleine Brent. I didn't love it quite as much as I ADORED Golden Urchin, but it was still very much worth reading. Once again, Brent has also written a female protagonist who is so strong and capable, without falling back on that haughty, arrogant personality type we often find in historical fiction featuring strong women. I get so tired of those beautiful, unkind heroines! Tregaron's Daughter also maintains a nice balance between historical fiction, romance, and a splash of Gothic to top it all off. Also, I read it while in Venice, and about half of the story takes place in Venice! That was a cool tie-in. (And intentional.)

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable, and surfacely compelling though basically predictable, which makes it less suspensful. An easy, fun read for a long summer day. I was a bit annoyed by how often the author foreshadows what is going to happen and constantly tries to manipulate your emotions instead of just letting the story unfold on it's own, but this was a first book and they do get better. Though more sinister in it's themes than "Moonraker's Bride", I once again appreciated how clean the underlying tones were and that alone garners points with me. Unfortunately, it is quite difficult to find novels that do not use vain references to deity and this is no exception so I had to substitute them in my head, but all things considered, a good book.

[Romina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Contrary to what usually happens after reading a book after many years, this one certainly didn't disappoint, quite the opposite, actually, it has definitely stood the test of time.

'Tregaron's Daughter' is an excellently written story about fisherman's daughter who's life abruptly changes after her father passed away in an accident. She is taken into a new world where she finds happiness until the discovery of her real identity puts her life in danger and has her surrounded by people who aren't what they seem. The masterfully used Gothic elements added to the story was not heavy-handed but quite quite believable within this context, which just comes to show what a great storyteller Brent was.

I'm looking forward to reading his other books from this series!

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have really enjoyed these Madeleine Brent/Peter ODonnell books. The writer did a lot of research on the locations and cultures. They are pretty formulaic, but that is kind of what makes them good. They are all adventure stories with a little romance thrown in. They are great light, escape yarns for an afternoon read. They are kind of hard to find because they were originally published in the 70s. Despite some of the lust-in-the-dust covers they are extremely clean and even appropriate for young adults. MOonrakers Bride is my favorite of his books written under the Brent pseudo name.

[Anne Wise Pastore · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Whatever anybody else thought, I knew in my heart that this was a moment for Cadi Tregaron to stand up and be counted.”
Whatever anyone else thinks, I will pick this book up and read it again one day in the not too distant future. Here is a young female character who is drawn with strength and values and yet shows growth throughout. Here also twists and turns abound that flustered and shocked me. And finally, if you like Gothic-ness you’ll love what Brent dishes out. If you aren’t crazy about Gothic romance, you’ll love this one anyway.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked it. Almost really liked it. I’d give it 3.5 stars. I loooove Moonraker’s Bride, though, so I likely set my comparison standards too high. *shrug*

[Vivi Gil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tregaron’s Daughter: A Quick and Fun Romantic Mystery
Reading a book made up of a mix of mystery and romance is a perfect way to escape the troubles of real life. Cadi, a young and courageous protagonist goes through events that she never expected to happen and will change her life forever. You feel like you are right there with her living through an adventure of a lifetime. Mysteries are solved but new ones arise; you are sitting at the edge of your seat. You want to keep reading through Tregaron’s Daughter to uncover the secrets of Cadi’s family past.
Peter O’Donnell, also known as Madeleine Brent, was an English writer during the 1900s. He started as a comic strip writer and later became a famous novelist. He is most commonly known for the Modesty Blaise comics and adventure and romance novels. Using the name Madeleine Brent as his pseudonym, he wrote many novels with strong female protagonists including Tregaron’s Daughter, Moonraker’s Bride, Merlin’s Keep, and Golden Urchin. Many of his novels as Brent are adventure, romances, where the female protagonist prevails in the end.
The fictional, romance, mystery novel, Tregaron’s Daughter, written by Madeleine Brent, takes place in the 20th century in different parts of England and Venice, Italy. The main character, Cadi, lives alone with her father, since her mom and Italian grandmother passed away in an accident, in a small fishing village in England. Her grandmother was from Italy but had lost her memory so did not know anything about her past, not even her last name. A strange repeating dream comes to Cadi often and it comes in the form of the “Good Dream” or the “Bad Dream”. Both dreams consist of her arriving to a large mansion by boat. When she enters the mansion, she sees a man and in the “Good Dream she is filled with joy. In the “Bad Dream” she is filled with fear. One day, a wealthy family comes to visit Cadi’s town, Mawstone. The father of the family, Mr. Morton, got himself into a dangerous situation on a boat. Cadi and her father rescue Mr. Morton with the help of his nephew, Lucian Farrel. The next year, Cadi’s father gets into a boat accident and passes away. When Mr. Morton hears about this tragedy, he comes back to Mawstone to offer Cadi the chance to come live with him and his family since she was all alone now. Through a series of mysterious events, Cadi finds out that she still has living relatives in Italy. The next spring, the Mortons and Cadi visit Venice to meet Cadi’s relatives. Will Cadi like them? How will the Mortons react? What secrets and mysteries will she uncover about her family?
I enjoyed O’Donnell’s style in this novel. People who like day dreaming would appreciate his style. His style is displayed in the way he talks about the setting and through literary devices throughout the whole novel. The author describes the setting very vividly. His style includes literary devices to make sure the reader is able to paint a picture of the setting in their mind. He is able to connect the characters to where they are from and add emphasis to the mood. The small fishing town of Mawstone reflected Cadi’s life as a simple, hardworking girl in a poor village but O’Donnell is able to show the sense of community in the village. “The cobbled street to the end of the village where a track led through hard, tufty grass at the top of a hill… To the left I could look down on the little bay of Mawstone, where the village nestled between granite arms.” (Brent 7). The novel starts off at Mawstone, a small fishing town. This setting represents how small Cadi is compared to the rest of the world. She had never been outside of this town yet it has shaped who she is. Growing up in a small town has taught her to be comfortable talking to anyone and saying whatever is on her mind which she shows when she moves in with Mr. Morton as well. His style shines through in the way he describes how the village lays between “two granite arms,” which gives the village’s image a sort of comforting feel. When the audience reads this, they are able to feel the tranquility in the small village. Also, the way the author outlines Venice in the reader’s mind directly relates to the dark events that go on and the mysteries brought by Uncle Guido. “Among the thousands of carved animals that adorned the city’s piazzas and buildings there were many that seemed the work of men with twisted minds… beasts devouring their prey; a gryphon devouring a rat, a work with a mutilated bird, a whole tangle of entwined beats goring in horrid gluttony…” (Brent 196). By using such strong, horrific images about the setting, the author makes the audience anxious yet scared to find out what secret’s Venice holds. This story has many mood shifts that set the mysterious tone. His style is so descriptive that the reader is able to understand the mystery because of the way he changes moods. Peter O’Donnell is able to use the setting as a way to set the mood and tone of the characters and the story as a whole. Also, he takes his time describing settings and characters. Sometimes times he went on for too long and I got bored and wanted to skip over the rest of the description, but most of the time it was good because I was able to see the images in my mind perfectly. When describing one of the characters, the author says, “those grey eyes were as cold as bitter sea fog of winter that eats into the every bone,” (Brent 165). He is able to include both a simile and personification into one sentence. This description, makes the reader feel the fear that Cadi was feeling when looking into the man’s eyes. When describing Venice’s appearance, O’Donnell includes: “Venice wore her great age with dignity. The weathered stone of her houses and palazzos bore the marks of time, yet this in itself was an enchantment, for the facades carried a regal maturity that newly quartered stone never achieved. I saw the tide was falling, for the ribbon of the damp green an arm’s-length deep showed at water level along the base of the buildings.” (Brent 173). Saying Venice has an age, is personification and it makes the reader envision the setting with old buildings.
Peter O’Donnell builds the characters in a way to make the reader really like them. Cadi is easily likable for her courageous acts and bravery. But not everyone is perfect. When she first moves in, she tells Mr. Morton, “I mean you’ve only seen me on my best behaviour. But I’m impatient, and if I’m in a bad temper I have a spiteful tongue, and I hate it if other people can do things better than I can…” (Brent 52). O’Donnell forms Cadi to be an impatient and envious girl. The reader is able to connect more to her because many of us are impatient and we can relate to the way she feels throughout the novel especially when she is short and annoyed with Sarah. Also, O’Donnell forms Mr. Morton to be a very lovable man. He was always so kind to Cadi and truly saw her as a daughter. This makes the reader like his character because they are drawn to his sweet and caring persona. Throughout the entire novel, Mr. Morton is very accepting of everyone and loves everyone for whom they truly are. He never judges anyone or is ashamed. When Lucian walks into the Morton ball and everyone is disgusted by his presence, Mr. Morton stands up for him when Mrs. Morton makes a rude comment about him being there. The reader is able to feel his kindness and appreciate him throughout Tregaron’s Daughter.
Tregaron’s Daughter is very well written and hard to put down. O’Donnell’s descriptive devices, characters, plot, and style make this book so fun to read. He keeps us wondering and wanting to know more through the mysterious aspects of the plot. It is easy to relate to the characters which makes this novel so easy to keep reading. I strongly recommend that anyone who needs to step back, relax, and enjoy a fun mystery with a hint of romance, definitely read this book. Boy, girl, young, or old, anyone will enjoy this book and will want to find out the truth about Cadi’s family.

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my all-time favorite book.

[Hella · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 ster
alweer een heerlijk smulboek

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't realize this was Madeleine Brent's first novel until I finished reading it and started comparing notes with some other reviews. Interesting...

The general consensus seems to be that Tregaron's Daughter isn't Brent's best work, and I agree. It felt a bit light-- shorter than I was expecting, though when I compare page-counts, it's not particularly short. I suppose it just didn't feel as developed to me, for some reason. Still, if you enjoy the genre, it's a perfectly good book. It has the same style and follows the same basic formula as all of this author's other works under this pseudonym. (I've never read anything he wrote under any other name.) It hits all the same points as his other books-- or at least the ones I've read, which is most of them. There's a touch of mysticism/the supernatural, and some of the coincidences are nothing short of amazing. You have to just accept that these books don't take place in the same mundane reality that the rest of us inhabit. That's part of their charm.

I didn't have a vehement reaction to this novel one way or the other, really. The heroine is strong and admirable (one of Brent's trademarks), but I found her maybe a bit too perfect and popular at times. I have to say, Mr. Morton's family was much more accepting of the addition of such a grown-up young woman into their family home than I would have been. Wasn't she 19 when she moved in with them, and a perfect strange to everyone but Mr. Morton? I don't know... The whole situation's more than a little odd, in my opinion! I don't think I'd be happy, if I were his wife or one of his biological children. I'm not as good as they are, I guess.

Also, the culmination of the romance felt a little awkward to me. Brent can write a good, appealing hero, but too often the interactions between his heroes and heroines feel stilted. This is definitely one of those books where the otherwise intelligent heroine has some strange (and very convenient) blind spots. There are things that are obvious to the reader for the entire book, yet the heroine has to have them literally explained to her in the last chapter or two! Well, that's just the way these things go, I guess.

I'm being picky. It's a decent book, and this should be an enjoyable read for fans of the genre and the author. No big surprises means less chance of disappointment, either! I'd give this 3.5 stars, but am rounding up to 4 stars because I think it's better than 3 stars would suggest.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an oldie but goodie from back in 1971! I didn't discover "Madeleine Brent" (parenthesis because it's a pen name) untill a few years ago, but i have enjoyed these books ever since. They are pretty standard semi-gothic tales that were very popular during the 50's & 60's. I think they declined in readership during the later 71's with the rise of the women's movement and less interest in the typical romantic stories that preceded it. However, this writer seemed to have the pulse of the times better than some of the others: Victoria Holt, Phyllis Whitney, and Phillipa Carr. In this book, there are plenty of hair-raising adventures and close-calls, but the heroine, Cadi Tregaron, gets herself ( and several men) out of some deadly scrapes! She is no shrinking violet and even her adopted sister, Sarah, originally a giggling ninny type, develops into a stronger character.
The book does suffer some of the worn-out, too-familiar elements of those mid-century "romantic suspense" novels, as they were called: an intrepid girl, a family secret, rags-to-riches, a couple of scoundrels, a reluctant hero, a ballroom romance, and of course, an eerie dream, come to life! All of it was entertaining, although much of the reasons given were pretty lame! My biggest complaint is that there weren't enough suspects to confuse us about who had the opportunity to arrange all the attacks!
So it was quite predictable, but still satisfying to be proven right.
Bottom line: a good, old fashioned, comfort read!

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tregaron's Daughter has predictable gothic story line but is an engaging read. Plus, the heroine is not a ninny.

[LeiAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cadi Tregaron grew up a fisherman's daughter in Cornwall. Educated by a tutor and her Italian grandmother, Cadi is far from ordinary and knows she's meant for greater things. When tragedy strikes in her life, Cadi must find a new home. In the process, she learns dangerous secrets about her family's history.

Cadi is such a great heroine. She's honest with herself, courageous, but not too perfect. I love how true to the time period she is. She fits perfectly into that era following Victoria's rule; she knows women are capable of more than they've been allowed in the past, but she's clear about what she doesn't know and her dependency on the men in her life. The other characters in the book are equally well drawn. The mystery is maybe a little predictable, but the way it played out certainly wasn't.