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Checkmate
Book by Lofts, Norah
- GenresHistorical Fiction
174 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1975
1 person is currently reading
202 people want to read
About the author
Norah Lofts
108 books311 followersNorah Ethel Robinson Lofts Jorisch (27 August 1904–10 September 1983) was a 20th century best-selling British author. She wrote over fifty books specialising in historical fiction, but she also wrote non-fiction and short stories. Many of her novels, including her Suffolk Trilogy, follow the history of a specific house and the residents that lived in it.
Lofts was born in Shipdham, Norfolk in England. She also published using the pseudonyms Juliet Astley and Peter Curtis. Norah Lofts chose to release her murder-mystery novels under the pen name Peter Curtis because she did not want the readers of her historic fiction to pick up a murder-mystery novel and expect classic Norah Lofts historical fiction. However, the murders still show characteristic Norah Lofts elements. Most of her historical novels fall into two general categories: biographical novels about queens, among them Anne Boleyn, Isabella of Castile, and Catherine of Aragon; and novels set in East Anglia centered around the fictitious town of Baildon (patterned largely on Bury St. Edmunds). Her creation of this fictitious area of England is reminiscent of Thomas Hardy's creation of "Wessex"; and her use of recurring characters such that the protagonist of one novel appears as a secondary character in others is even more reminiscent of William Faulkner's work set in "Yoknapatawpha County," Mississippi. Norah Lofts' work set in East Anglia in the 1930s and 1940s shows great concern with the very poor in society and their inability to change their conditions. Her approach suggests an interest in the social reformism that became a feature of British post-war society.
Several of her novels were turned into films. Jassy was filmed as Jassy (1947) starring Margaret Lockwood and Dennis Price. You're Best Alone was filmed as Guilt is My Shadow (1950). The Devil's Own (also known as The Little Wax Doll and Catch As Catch Can) was filmed as The Witches (1966). The film 7 Women was directed by John Ford and based on the story Chinese Finale by Norah Lofts.
Lofts was born in Shipdham, Norfolk in England. She also published using the pseudonyms Juliet Astley and Peter Curtis. Norah Lofts chose to release her murder-mystery novels under the pen name Peter Curtis because she did not want the readers of her historic fiction to pick up a murder-mystery novel and expect classic Norah Lofts historical fiction. However, the murders still show characteristic Norah Lofts elements. Most of her historical novels fall into two general categories: biographical novels about queens, among them Anne Boleyn, Isabella of Castile, and Catherine of Aragon; and novels set in East Anglia centered around the fictitious town of Baildon (patterned largely on Bury St. Edmunds). Her creation of this fictitious area of England is reminiscent of Thomas Hardy's creation of "Wessex"; and her use of recurring characters such that the protagonist of one novel appears as a secondary character in others is even more reminiscent of William Faulkner's work set in "Yoknapatawpha County," Mississippi. Norah Lofts' work set in East Anglia in the 1930s and 1940s shows great concern with the very poor in society and their inability to change their conditions. Her approach suggests an interest in the social reformism that became a feature of British post-war society.
Several of her novels were turned into films. Jassy was filmed as Jassy (1947) starring Margaret Lockwood and Dennis Price. You're Best Alone was filmed as Guilt is My Shadow (1950). The Devil's Own (also known as The Little Wax Doll and Catch As Catch Can) was filmed as The Witches (1966). The film 7 Women was directed by John Ford and based on the story Chinese Finale by Norah Lofts.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 8, 2020
I really enjoy Checkmate as he takes excellent revenge on the villain. Its so very satisfying! I love it when villains get what they deserve.
Want to read
November 16, 2019Synopsis: his daughter Jenny was 16. She had been assaulted and he felt helpless in his wheelchair. He decided to enforce his own justice.
March 21, 2018
Nothing to say.
February 16, 2023
A well-written thriller with a twist.
Loved the father and his determination to bring the youth assailant to justice no matter the cost or difficulty.
Loved the father and his determination to bring the youth assailant to justice no matter the cost or difficulty.
March 1, 2024
This was an interesting juxtaposition to the previous Norah Lofts book I just read: "A Rose For Virtue." They could hardly be more different; which goes to show how capable and flexible a writer Norah Lofts is!
That said, I much preferred "A Rose For Virtue," a fictional biography of Hortense Beauharnais, step-daughter to Napoleon Bonaparte, chiefly because it is the type of book that Lofts is truly the master of: outstanding historical fiction. But one must applaud her efforts to change up her style and comfort zone by tackling a contemporary suspense novel and if not quite up to her own stratospheric standard, still far ahead of many other writers who specialize in that genre!
The only real downfall here is not the diabolical plot, nor the aforementioned excellent writing, it is the poor character development. I just couldn't reconcile the brutal persona that other characters accused him of, with the young man, Terry, who came across, at worst, as just very spoiled, impatient and definitely lazy! In fact, it is these personality flaws which prove to be his undoing! The other main character in the book, Tom Penfold, righteously indignant father, was too changeable in his stance against Terry to ever be taken seriously. He (Tom) came across as a man with a giant chip-on-his-shoulder as well as being a control freak. So, if he was set-up as a foil against the loser Terry, it didn't work for me, because I couldn't like or side with either of them! And as for the enigmatic daughter, Jenny, who was at the root of the conflict, I definitely couldn't make her out and she just seemed extremely shallow.
An interesting departure for Lofts; not entirely successful, but certainly worth a few hour's reading time.
That said, I much preferred "A Rose For Virtue," a fictional biography of Hortense Beauharnais, step-daughter to Napoleon Bonaparte, chiefly because it is the type of book that Lofts is truly the master of: outstanding historical fiction. But one must applaud her efforts to change up her style and comfort zone by tackling a contemporary suspense novel and if not quite up to her own stratospheric standard, still far ahead of many other writers who specialize in that genre!
The only real downfall here is not the diabolical plot, nor the aforementioned excellent writing, it is the poor character development. I just couldn't reconcile the brutal persona that other characters accused him of, with the young man, Terry, who came across, at worst, as just very spoiled, impatient and definitely lazy! In fact, it is these personality flaws which prove to be his undoing! The other main character in the book, Tom Penfold, righteously indignant father, was too changeable in his stance against Terry to ever be taken seriously. He (Tom) came across as a man with a giant chip-on-his-shoulder as well as being a control freak. So, if he was set-up as a foil against the loser Terry, it didn't work for me, because I couldn't like or side with either of them! And as for the enigmatic daughter, Jenny, who was at the root of the conflict, I definitely couldn't make her out and she just seemed extremely shallow.
An interesting departure for Lofts; not entirely successful, but certainly worth a few hour's reading time.
December 4, 2022
~☆~Autumn♥♥☔ recommended:
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews