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Shadow Of A Witch
Julia French sat alone in the reconstructed Brightsea cathedral, awed by the majesty of the architect's conception - and felt the first chill of fear. Someone was there, a very definite presence, watching her....She had come there on a journalistic assignment to interview the elusive architect, Mark Winterton. But Julia had no way of knowing that at her first look into Mark's cold troubled gray eyes, she would fall deeply in love.Their love would involve her in a desperate struggle to disentangle them both from Mark's carefully buried past...and the shadow of danger would reach out and keep them dangling on a slender thread of life.
189 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 5, 1955
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About the author
Dorothy Eden
95 books167 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 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 13, 2014
Ignore the title. There are no witches in this, it refers to the saying, "she's as cold as a witch's heart."
It starts off rather Rebecca-like, the hero even has a similar name, Mr. Winterton. But the story is contemporary (1960s) and doesn't have Daphne Du Maurier's depth or the Gothic atmosphere that the MMP cover suggests.
A young woman marries a widower (his wife died in plane crash that also badly injured him) and his daughter suddenly starts insisting that she's "seen mommy" and even had cakes with her. Is Mr. Winterton's first wife still alive or is there an imposter, and for what reason?
A solid three stars. Its not really spooky but its a good mystery and held my attention throughout. Dorothy Eden rarely disappoints.
CONTENT:
SEX: None shown
VIOLENCE: None
PROFANITY: None
PARANORMAL ELEMENTS: None
MY RATING : G-PG (Some mild thematic issues)
It starts off rather Rebecca-like, the hero even has a similar name, Mr. Winterton. But the story is contemporary (1960s) and doesn't have Daphne Du Maurier's depth or the Gothic atmosphere that the MMP cover suggests.
A young woman marries a widower (his wife died in plane crash that also badly injured him) and his daughter suddenly starts insisting that she's "seen mommy" and even had cakes with her. Is Mr. Winterton's first wife still alive or is there an imposter, and for what reason?
A solid three stars. Its not really spooky but its a good mystery and held my attention throughout. Dorothy Eden rarely disappoints.
CONTENT:
SEX: None shown
VIOLENCE: None
PROFANITY: None
PARANORMAL ELEMENTS: None
MY RATING : G-PG (Some mild thematic issues)
January 31, 2016
Julia French, a young journalist, is assigned to interview Mark Winterton, a rising architect who has recently designed a church that has been rebuilt on the ruins of a 15th century one destroyed by German bombs in World War II. However, getting Mark to talk to her is not as easy as she thought it would be. He lost his wife Eugenie in a plane crash that almost took his life as well. He is still recovering from serious back injuries. He has been left to raise their daughter Flora with the assistance of his older sister Kate and a nanny, Estelle.
Julia is not successful in getting Mark to talk very much, but manages to write her article. However, her editor wants photos of Mark's house. Julia is reluctant at first, but changes her mind after reading a newspaper article about an accident involving 7-year-old Flora, who had been struck by a car. She was not seriously injured, but insisted that she had run into the street because she had seen her mother on the other side of the road. Her mother, who has been dead for two years.
Julia renews her acquaintance with Mark and the two quickly fall in love. After knowing each other just a short period of time, they marry, much to the fury of Estelle, who wants Mark for herself. It soon becomes obvious that the ghost of Eugenie overshadows Julia's new life with Mark and her relationship with Flora. The little girl firmly believes her mother is still alive. She even claims to have had tea with her. Though Kate believes Flora is just trying to cause trouble, Julia begins to wonder - maybe Eugenie is still alive.
Dorothy Eden is a very good romantic suspense writer, though not on the same level as Mary Stewart or Victoria Holt. She does an excellent job of creating sympathetic characters and suspenseful situations. I even felt sorry for Flora and Estelle, who were both initially rather unattractive. Flora is a sad, lonely, deeply unhappy child who simply wants a mother. Estelle has really fallen in love with Mark and is devastated by his marriage to Julia. Her behavior, though not commendable, is perfectly understandable. The whirlwind romance of Julia and Mark is pretty typical for this genre.
This was a quick, entertaining read. This is the third Dorothy Eden book that I've read and it will not be the last. Too bad so many of her books are out of print.
Julia is not successful in getting Mark to talk very much, but manages to write her article. However, her editor wants photos of Mark's house. Julia is reluctant at first, but changes her mind after reading a newspaper article about an accident involving 7-year-old Flora, who had been struck by a car. She was not seriously injured, but insisted that she had run into the street because she had seen her mother on the other side of the road. Her mother, who has been dead for two years.
Julia renews her acquaintance with Mark and the two quickly fall in love. After knowing each other just a short period of time, they marry, much to the fury of Estelle, who wants Mark for herself. It soon becomes obvious that the ghost of Eugenie overshadows Julia's new life with Mark and her relationship with Flora. The little girl firmly believes her mother is still alive. She even claims to have had tea with her. Though Kate believes Flora is just trying to cause trouble, Julia begins to wonder - maybe Eugenie is still alive.
Dorothy Eden is a very good romantic suspense writer, though not on the same level as Mary Stewart or Victoria Holt. She does an excellent job of creating sympathetic characters and suspenseful situations. I even felt sorry for Flora and Estelle, who were both initially rather unattractive. Flora is a sad, lonely, deeply unhappy child who simply wants a mother. Estelle has really fallen in love with Mark and is devastated by his marriage to Julia. Her behavior, though not commendable, is perfectly understandable. The whirlwind romance of Julia and Mark is pretty typical for this genre.
This was a quick, entertaining read. This is the third Dorothy Eden book that I've read and it will not be the last. Too bad so many of her books are out of print.
August 24, 2012
Here's an example of perseverance being worthwhile. I often read beyond 1962 and am immune to outdated aspects but the first several pages annoyed me. They were about encountering a disruptive child, assuming the companion was wife and mother, and making negative judgements of the "wuss" she must be. Then she, a career woman, is attracted to a man and immediately hopes to capture him.
The title is unapt; there's nothing to do with a witch. The story that does entail managed 4 stars because weak, old-fashioned angles morphed into an original approach to gothic novels of that time. Julia does marry quickly but there is real love and the relationship feels concrete. The man's first wife died in a plane but the daughter claims seeing her mother. A new bride wants to know she is legally married and they take the troubled child seriously as well. I like that her reports weren't brushed aside as imagination. This is a much more believable, satisfying story as a result.
Many vintage mysteries have a bizarre trait whereby protagonists don't really leave the house! They fearfully deal with things alone, scarcely telling other housemates or outside sources who may be helpful. Our heroine says "we need to talk" and consults her husband. She boldly moves into a hotel when their marriage is in question! It is a lovely change for a couple to investigate together in a novel, completely breaking clichés. The bride's family is even alive and well, in a genre that usually isolates a protagonist. The action unfolds at numerous locations, including behind scenes perspective of the babysitter. I'm glad I hung on for chapter two.
The title is unapt; there's nothing to do with a witch. The story that does entail managed 4 stars because weak, old-fashioned angles morphed into an original approach to gothic novels of that time. Julia does marry quickly but there is real love and the relationship feels concrete. The man's first wife died in a plane but the daughter claims seeing her mother. A new bride wants to know she is legally married and they take the troubled child seriously as well. I like that her reports weren't brushed aside as imagination. This is a much more believable, satisfying story as a result.
Many vintage mysteries have a bizarre trait whereby protagonists don't really leave the house! They fearfully deal with things alone, scarcely telling other housemates or outside sources who may be helpful. Our heroine says "we need to talk" and consults her husband. She boldly moves into a hotel when their marriage is in question! It is a lovely change for a couple to investigate together in a novel, completely breaking clichés. The bride's family is even alive and well, in a genre that usually isolates a protagonist. The action unfolds at numerous locations, including behind scenes perspective of the babysitter. I'm glad I hung on for chapter two.
January 6, 2017
A 20th century, paperback gothic. Well written, interesting characters, engaging, villains are punished. No editorial error. At 159 pages (pub. ACE STAR gothic), it is a nice, light, fast read. Warning, neither the title nor the cover have anything to do with the novel.
I love reading these older popular novels, especially "women's fiction", for more than their storyline. They give an insight into social norms of the age they were written in, this is no different. Similar to watching Mad Men.
I love reading these older popular novels, especially "women's fiction", for more than their storyline. They give an insight into social norms of the age they were written in, this is no different. Similar to watching Mad Men.
August 31, 2010
Gothic.
June 26, 2017
Shadow of A Witch was a short book that could have done with being even shorter.
I didn't like Julia. I didn't believe that she could have had all those feelings for Mark before their first conversation, and there was no romantic chemistry between the two further into the story.
Once I got to a certain page, it wasn't that hard to start putting some of the mystery together, which I don't mind, but it makes waiting for the characters to do the same a little frustrating.
While I do like Dorothy Eden books, sometimes they are a hard read for me. The women are often clingy and desperate and the men often treat them like babies.
It left a bad taste in my mouth when Mark referred to Julia as little one, and then later Julia called his seven-year-old daughter little one because she was really just a baby. Does that reasoning mean that Mark thinks of his wife as just a baby too? Julia certainly snivelled enough to be thought of as something.
I didn't like Julia. I didn't believe that she could have had all those feelings for Mark before their first conversation, and there was no romantic chemistry between the two further into the story.
Once I got to a certain page, it wasn't that hard to start putting some of the mystery together, which I don't mind, but it makes waiting for the characters to do the same a little frustrating.
While I do like Dorothy Eden books, sometimes they are a hard read for me. The women are often clingy and desperate and the men often treat them like babies.
It left a bad taste in my mouth when Mark referred to Julia as little one, and then later Julia called his seven-year-old daughter little one because she was really just a baby. Does that reasoning mean that Mark thinks of his wife as just a baby too? Julia certainly snivelled enough to be thought of as something.
August 6, 2023
A young woman named Julia meets and marries a wealthy widower, but things get strange when the man's young daughter starts to claim that the dead wife has come back.
As in many of these gothics, the heroine starts the story with a vague "job" that evaporates into thin air once the romance and suspense start taking centre stage. This is quite a short story, but the elements of mystery are quite good, even if the "scheme" being worked out by the villain is a bit far-fetched. And it would have been nicer if the author had given Julia a bit more backbone, instead of having her acting so meek and put-upon about the whole situation. For once I'd like to see one of these heroines fight dirty.
As in many of these gothics, the heroine starts the story with a vague "job" that evaporates into thin air once the romance and suspense start taking centre stage. This is quite a short story, but the elements of mystery are quite good, even if the "scheme" being worked out by the villain is a bit far-fetched. And it would have been nicer if the author had given Julia a bit more backbone, instead of having her acting so meek and put-upon about the whole situation. For once I'd like to see one of these heroines fight dirty.
October 12, 2018
The title still makes me cringe, but no witches were harmed in the making of this book.
It was an interesting read, there were quite a few points I couldn't figure out/didn't expect.
The characters were intriguing, and the relationships worked well.
(Here there be spoilers!)
There was a point when it got rather aggravating and I wished someone would just push Eugenie out a window (hey, the world thought she was already dead...)
But it turns out they still would've had to deal with Gordon, so that wouldn't have solved anything! XD
Anyway, it kept me guessing, so I label it a good read!
It was an interesting read, there were quite a few points I couldn't figure out/didn't expect.
The characters were intriguing, and the relationships worked well.
(Here there be spoilers!)
There was a point when it got rather aggravating and I wished someone would just push Eugenie out a window (hey, the world thought she was already dead...)
But it turns out they still would've had to deal with Gordon, so that wouldn't have solved anything! XD
Anyway, it kept me guessing, so I label it a good read!
May 2, 2021
3.5
After reading a couple book club discussion books back-to-back, it felt good to read something quick for fun. Dorothy Eden is a favorite--especially her historical family sagas--but her contemporary Gothic romances are solid (and better than a lot of the mass produced ones during the Gothic paperback craze). Entertaining, suspenseful read.
After reading a couple book club discussion books back-to-back, it felt good to read something quick for fun. Dorothy Eden is a favorite--especially her historical family sagas--but her contemporary Gothic romances are solid (and better than a lot of the mass produced ones during the Gothic paperback craze). Entertaining, suspenseful read.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews