Mignonette

by Marjorie Bowen, Joseph Shearing

"Mignonette" is a novel by the prolific British writer Marjorie Bowen, nee Margaret Gabrielle Vere Long. "Mignonette is one of her last novels, published in 1949 under the pen name Joseph Shearing. This work concludes the author's years-long experience in writing and is one of the highest achievements in her oeuvre.

246 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1948

About the author

Marjorie Bowen (pseudonym of Mrs Gabrielle Margaret V[ere] Long née Campbell), was a British author who wrote historical romances, supernatural horror stories, popular history and biography. Her total output numbers over 150 volumes with the bulk of her work under the 'Bowen' pseudonym. She also wrote under the names Joseph Shearing, George R. Preedy, John Winch, Robert Paye, and Margaret Campbell. As Joseph Shearing, she wrote several sinister gothic romances full of terror and mystery. Many of these stories were published as Berkley Medallion Books. Several of her books were adapted as films. Her books are much sought after by aficionados of gothic horror and received praise from critics.

Bowen's alcoholic father left the family at an early age and was eventually found dead on a London street. After this, Bowen's prolific writings were the chief financial support for her family. She was married twice: first, from 1912-16, to a Sicilian named Zefferino Emilio Constanza, who died of tuberculosis, and then to one Arthur L. Long. Her first novel was The Viper of Milan (1906), after which she produced a steady stream of writings until the day of her death on 23rd December 1952. Her last, posthumous, novel was The Man with the Scales (1954).

Reviews

[Fishface · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was enthralled by this book and its brain-rattling plot twists. They were only as twisty as they were because the protagonist was utterly clueless and never saw anything coming before it was too late. All Shearing's novels are based on famous crimes but this is a case I don't begin to recognize. I will have to look it up in Blood and Ink: An International Guide to Fact-Based Crime Literature and see if the true story was this convoluted! I love the way this book is written, full of portent and magical moments. This should go down as a "terror in daylight" classic.

[Pamela · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have never encountered a protagonist with less of a sense of self-preservation.