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The Night My Enemy
- GenresGothic Romance
Paperback
First published January 1, 1976
20 people want to read
About the author
Anne Maybury
56 books19 followersEdith Arundel Buxton
aka Edith Arundel, Anne Maybury & Katherine Troy.
Her maiden surname was Arundel. Her ancestors were said to have come to England with the Norman Conquest and she was proud of the heritage which did seem to imbue her with a perceptive appreciation of history. The love of poetry which remained with her always was inherited from her father, a distinguished poet of his time. Her mother was a musician who died at an early age.
She was a writer of romantic suspense whose novels earned her world-wide acclaim and an enormous following. She was particularly popular in the United States. Her finest gift was for lyrical prose and she used her delight in colour and drama to such effect that the reader was immediately plunged into the story and held enthralled.
Her early novels were written also under the pennames of Edith Arundel and Katherine Troy, but it is as Anne Maybury that she will be remembered. She was a true professional who did not believe in wasting time. A promised deadline was adhered to and all social engagements regretfully cancelled. She developed early in life the profound interest in human behaviour and intrigue which was to prove a valuable asset to her writing. Also in good measure she retained the attribute so necessary to an author, a lively curiosity. She travelled widely and brought a sense of adventure into her books derived often from personal experiences of a bizarre kind. She seemed to attract excitement and used to say that she had met more than one murderer during her travels around the world. As a writer she was stylish, and this quality extended to her personality, which was full of vivid charm, lightened by a sparkling sense of fun.
Generous with her time to aspiring writers, she also loved literary chat with her peers. She was interested in new writing as well as the classics and read widely, keeping up with developments. She was a vice-president of both the Romantic Novelists Association and the Society of Women Writers and Journalists. Almost until his death she regularly attended meetings and gave time and care to helping the members and the causes in which they believe. She was a remarkable writer and a good friend and companion.
aka Edith Arundel, Anne Maybury & Katherine Troy.
Her maiden surname was Arundel. Her ancestors were said to have come to England with the Norman Conquest and she was proud of the heritage which did seem to imbue her with a perceptive appreciation of history. The love of poetry which remained with her always was inherited from her father, a distinguished poet of his time. Her mother was a musician who died at an early age.
She was a writer of romantic suspense whose novels earned her world-wide acclaim and an enormous following. She was particularly popular in the United States. Her finest gift was for lyrical prose and she used her delight in colour and drama to such effect that the reader was immediately plunged into the story and held enthralled.
Her early novels were written also under the pennames of Edith Arundel and Katherine Troy, but it is as Anne Maybury that she will be remembered. She was a true professional who did not believe in wasting time. A promised deadline was adhered to and all social engagements regretfully cancelled. She developed early in life the profound interest in human behaviour and intrigue which was to prove a valuable asset to her writing. Also in good measure she retained the attribute so necessary to an author, a lively curiosity. She travelled widely and brought a sense of adventure into her books derived often from personal experiences of a bizarre kind. She seemed to attract excitement and used to say that she had met more than one murderer during her travels around the world. As a writer she was stylish, and this quality extended to her personality, which was full of vivid charm, lightened by a sparkling sense of fun.
Generous with her time to aspiring writers, she also loved literary chat with her peers. She was interested in new writing as well as the classics and read widely, keeping up with developments. She was a vice-president of both the Romantic Novelists Association and the Society of Women Writers and Journalists. Almost until his death she regularly attended meetings and gave time and care to helping the members and the causes in which they believe. She was a remarkable writer and a good friend and companion.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 20, 2022
“What we find in a soulmate is not something wild to tame, but something wild to run with.” – Robert Brault
It was in Montreal, as they boarded the Trans-Canada Line, that they first spotted each other.
And as the train made its way toward Vancouver, they noticed one another, over and over again, stolen glances in the dining car, eye contact made in a crowded vestibule.
But it wasn’t until they’d traveled through five provinces, and over 2,000 miles, that Nigel Foster and Yvonne “Vonnie” Horne finally spoke to one another. The moment of serendipity occurred at the station in Field, British Columbia. A moment that seemed to permit these two a chance to do what they’d wanted to do all the way back in Montreal. Neither of them had been able to summon the courage to say a simple, "hello," they needed some help to do so, and the source of their help came from one of the most unexpected "heroes."
But now that the introductions were made, Nigel, the English scientist, and Vonnie, the Canadian advertising specialist, spent the remainder of the trip getting to know one another.
By the time the train pulled into the Vancouver station, each of them was secretly falling for one another, planning to spend much more time together in the few remaining days each had off from work. They took walks together, talked excitedly over meals, and soon Nigel tenderly told Vonnie that he loved her, to which she nervously and excitedly told him that she felt the same way.
And almost as soon as they’d declared their love to one another, Nigel left for the Northwest Territories, on one last assignment for the Hamilton based company he had been contracted to for the last nine months. He promised Vonnie he’d call and write while he was away.
But as the days, then weeks passed, it became clear to Vonnie that Nigel was not going to do either of these things. And by the time a few weeks had passed, she’d given up hope that she’d ever hear from Nigel Foster ever again.
She passed these days of discontent, absentmindedly designing advertising layouts at work, and at home she’d brood about, much to the concern of her roommate Myra Ashlyn.
Vonnie and Myra had been friends since they were five years old, they were schoolmates, and they attended the same college. They’d always gone to the same ski parties, both enjoyed swimming as well as sailing days together. Very few people were as close as Vonnie and Myra were to each other.
Interestingly, Myra was doing a bit of brooding herself as she too was holding out to hear from a man who’d previously showed her interest and now was far away, apparently having vanished without a word.
And it was amidst the gloom of this two-woman household that a very unexpected letter arrived for Myra. It was from her Uncle Joss, in London, England. Myra had rarely seen her uncle when she was a very young girl, and after her parents passed, all communication was cut off. Presumably this was because Uncle Joss had become a celebrated artist, and as such had very little time for his faraway Canadian niece.
But as Myra reads her uncle’s letter, she’s surprised to read that he would like for his long-lost niece to make the long trip from western Canada to come stay with him at his home at No. 10 St. John’s Wood. Joss writes that living with him is a longtime renter and his housekeeper. He also mentions that his one other relative, another niece named Fanella, lives nearby and is a regular guest in his home. Joss says he’s been ill and would enjoy her company, a confession that causes Myra to read between the lines, assuming that his days might be numbered and that he’d like to have the company of his very few relatives as he lives out his last days.
Myra grapples with this request. On one hand she feels betrayed by her uncle’s sudden interest in her after years of apathy on his part. On the other hand, she feels for her uncle, and thinks that perhaps a visit would make his life just a little more pleasant as he nears the end. As she goes back and forth, she stalls replying to her uncle’s offer of a one month visit to his home.
And days later, another unexpected event occurs for Myra, it’s a phone call from her mother, informing her that there are a number of family members and friends gathering for a vacation in Mexico. She also lets Myra know that her former admirer, Brad, has asked if she will be coming on the trip, telling Myra’s mother that he’d like to see her.
And upon receiving this call, Myra knows that she must take this trip to Mexico. She is crazy about Brad, and now learns that he is interested in seeing her again. She is so looking forward to going, and as the hours pass, her desire to talk, touch and be with him is so powerful that she cannot think of anything else.
But what about her Uncle Joss’s offer for her to stay with him in London?
Both trips would occur at about the same time, and Myra is desperate to see Brad again, but she also doesn’t want to have the guilt of disappointing her dying uncle as he reaches out to her.
And it’s as she’s pondering her dilemma, that she suddenly comes up with an idea.
She approaches Vonnie, sharing her wild thought that she could go to England in her place, and while she was there, she’d pretend that she was Myra herself. It would work, she tries to convince her friend, after all, her uncle hasn’t seen her since she was a child, and the same was true of her cousin Fanella. All Vonnie would have to do is memorize a few details and she could jet off to England for a month, expense free!
At first Vonnie refuses to consider Myra’s outlandish proposal. But then, as the days pass, she thinks of her own lost love and how heartbreaking it is, and now, her best friend has a chance at true love, shouldn’t she help her? She knows that she could help her friend, while assuaging Myra’s guilt about abandoning her dying uncle at the same time. Finally, she thinks about herself, she’s been pining around the house for weeks now, maybe an adventure in a faraway country might just snap her out of the doldrums.
Finally, against her better judgement, Vonnie gives in and promises to pretend that she is Myra, spending a month in the home of her estranged uncle, and a short time later, Vonnie and Myra are flying in opposite directions, one to London and the other to Mexico City.
And as soon as Vonnie, playing the role of Niece Myra, meets her Uncle Joss and the others, she finds out that another uncle, Felix, Joss’s twin brother had suddenly showed up at 10 St. John Wood just a short time before, and there’s one more thing...
He was murdered in that very home, just two nights before!
And that announcement set of a series of alarming, bewildering and hazardous circumstances for this young woman visiting from Canada…
This story contained so many of the elements I enjoy about the Gothic Mysteries of the 1960’s to 1980’s. In this case, we had the large, very old mansion that held many secrets within its walls. The characters were all suspicious in their own unique way, and the heroine found herself tested to the very limit of her ingenuity!
Also, there were a number of wonderful Canadian vignettes, including “Smoky,” the best fed mutt in Canada, not to mention, tales of bears who hibernate in the verandahs of grand mountain hotels that were closed for the winter. I enjoyed reading about places that are very near me, such as Edmonton’s archrival city, Calgary, and Banff and Jasper National Parks.
One of the other reasons I enjoy this genre of stories is that I’m forever learning new words and phrases. And this one was no exception, my favorite new words including Junoesque, dun clouds, oriel windows, chaffinch, urea derivatives, trestle tables and a textile named Moire.
My sole complaint about this book is that Anne Maybury didn’t spend nearly enough time on the amazing characters she created. For example, there was Rhoda, the stylish, yet elusive woman who was technically a housekeeper, but carried herself with the dignity and class of a renowned hostess…
“Moving with a quiet dignity, holding her curious secret anger on a tight rein…”
The fleeting glimpses I got of Rhoda were tantalizing, but for some reason she was, in my opinion, underrepresented in this story. For me, it was something like finding a $10,000 original set of Reed and Barton French Renaissance silverware for almost nothing at a thrift shop, then brining it home and never polishing it to reveal its amazing ornate patterns.
The potential greatness of this character was never revealed, and I as the reader was poorer for it.
I would’ve also like to get to know “Little Woody,” the elusive cleaning girl with the wooden stare a bit better. There was real potential for an amazing character there as well.
But that was my sole grouse with “The Night My Enemy.” Otherwise, it was a very enjoyable, if very fast reading adventure.
Highly recommend this one!
It was in Montreal, as they boarded the Trans-Canada Line, that they first spotted each other.
And as the train made its way toward Vancouver, they noticed one another, over and over again, stolen glances in the dining car, eye contact made in a crowded vestibule.
But it wasn’t until they’d traveled through five provinces, and over 2,000 miles, that Nigel Foster and Yvonne “Vonnie” Horne finally spoke to one another. The moment of serendipity occurred at the station in Field, British Columbia. A moment that seemed to permit these two a chance to do what they’d wanted to do all the way back in Montreal. Neither of them had been able to summon the courage to say a simple, "hello," they needed some help to do so, and the source of their help came from one of the most unexpected "heroes."
But now that the introductions were made, Nigel, the English scientist, and Vonnie, the Canadian advertising specialist, spent the remainder of the trip getting to know one another.
By the time the train pulled into the Vancouver station, each of them was secretly falling for one another, planning to spend much more time together in the few remaining days each had off from work. They took walks together, talked excitedly over meals, and soon Nigel tenderly told Vonnie that he loved her, to which she nervously and excitedly told him that she felt the same way.
And almost as soon as they’d declared their love to one another, Nigel left for the Northwest Territories, on one last assignment for the Hamilton based company he had been contracted to for the last nine months. He promised Vonnie he’d call and write while he was away.
But as the days, then weeks passed, it became clear to Vonnie that Nigel was not going to do either of these things. And by the time a few weeks had passed, she’d given up hope that she’d ever hear from Nigel Foster ever again.
She passed these days of discontent, absentmindedly designing advertising layouts at work, and at home she’d brood about, much to the concern of her roommate Myra Ashlyn.
Vonnie and Myra had been friends since they were five years old, they were schoolmates, and they attended the same college. They’d always gone to the same ski parties, both enjoyed swimming as well as sailing days together. Very few people were as close as Vonnie and Myra were to each other.
Interestingly, Myra was doing a bit of brooding herself as she too was holding out to hear from a man who’d previously showed her interest and now was far away, apparently having vanished without a word.
And it was amidst the gloom of this two-woman household that a very unexpected letter arrived for Myra. It was from her Uncle Joss, in London, England. Myra had rarely seen her uncle when she was a very young girl, and after her parents passed, all communication was cut off. Presumably this was because Uncle Joss had become a celebrated artist, and as such had very little time for his faraway Canadian niece.
But as Myra reads her uncle’s letter, she’s surprised to read that he would like for his long-lost niece to make the long trip from western Canada to come stay with him at his home at No. 10 St. John’s Wood. Joss writes that living with him is a longtime renter and his housekeeper. He also mentions that his one other relative, another niece named Fanella, lives nearby and is a regular guest in his home. Joss says he’s been ill and would enjoy her company, a confession that causes Myra to read between the lines, assuming that his days might be numbered and that he’d like to have the company of his very few relatives as he lives out his last days.
Myra grapples with this request. On one hand she feels betrayed by her uncle’s sudden interest in her after years of apathy on his part. On the other hand, she feels for her uncle, and thinks that perhaps a visit would make his life just a little more pleasant as he nears the end. As she goes back and forth, she stalls replying to her uncle’s offer of a one month visit to his home.
And days later, another unexpected event occurs for Myra, it’s a phone call from her mother, informing her that there are a number of family members and friends gathering for a vacation in Mexico. She also lets Myra know that her former admirer, Brad, has asked if she will be coming on the trip, telling Myra’s mother that he’d like to see her.
And upon receiving this call, Myra knows that she must take this trip to Mexico. She is crazy about Brad, and now learns that he is interested in seeing her again. She is so looking forward to going, and as the hours pass, her desire to talk, touch and be with him is so powerful that she cannot think of anything else.
But what about her Uncle Joss’s offer for her to stay with him in London?
Both trips would occur at about the same time, and Myra is desperate to see Brad again, but she also doesn’t want to have the guilt of disappointing her dying uncle as he reaches out to her.
And it’s as she’s pondering her dilemma, that she suddenly comes up with an idea.
She approaches Vonnie, sharing her wild thought that she could go to England in her place, and while she was there, she’d pretend that she was Myra herself. It would work, she tries to convince her friend, after all, her uncle hasn’t seen her since she was a child, and the same was true of her cousin Fanella. All Vonnie would have to do is memorize a few details and she could jet off to England for a month, expense free!
At first Vonnie refuses to consider Myra’s outlandish proposal. But then, as the days pass, she thinks of her own lost love and how heartbreaking it is, and now, her best friend has a chance at true love, shouldn’t she help her? She knows that she could help her friend, while assuaging Myra’s guilt about abandoning her dying uncle at the same time. Finally, she thinks about herself, she’s been pining around the house for weeks now, maybe an adventure in a faraway country might just snap her out of the doldrums.
Finally, against her better judgement, Vonnie gives in and promises to pretend that she is Myra, spending a month in the home of her estranged uncle, and a short time later, Vonnie and Myra are flying in opposite directions, one to London and the other to Mexico City.
And as soon as Vonnie, playing the role of Niece Myra, meets her Uncle Joss and the others, she finds out that another uncle, Felix, Joss’s twin brother had suddenly showed up at 10 St. John Wood just a short time before, and there’s one more thing...
He was murdered in that very home, just two nights before!
And that announcement set of a series of alarming, bewildering and hazardous circumstances for this young woman visiting from Canada…
This story contained so many of the elements I enjoy about the Gothic Mysteries of the 1960’s to 1980’s. In this case, we had the large, very old mansion that held many secrets within its walls. The characters were all suspicious in their own unique way, and the heroine found herself tested to the very limit of her ingenuity!
Also, there were a number of wonderful Canadian vignettes, including “Smoky,” the best fed mutt in Canada, not to mention, tales of bears who hibernate in the verandahs of grand mountain hotels that were closed for the winter. I enjoyed reading about places that are very near me, such as Edmonton’s archrival city, Calgary, and Banff and Jasper National Parks.
One of the other reasons I enjoy this genre of stories is that I’m forever learning new words and phrases. And this one was no exception, my favorite new words including Junoesque, dun clouds, oriel windows, chaffinch, urea derivatives, trestle tables and a textile named Moire.
My sole complaint about this book is that Anne Maybury didn’t spend nearly enough time on the amazing characters she created. For example, there was Rhoda, the stylish, yet elusive woman who was technically a housekeeper, but carried herself with the dignity and class of a renowned hostess…
“Moving with a quiet dignity, holding her curious secret anger on a tight rein…”
The fleeting glimpses I got of Rhoda were tantalizing, but for some reason she was, in my opinion, underrepresented in this story. For me, it was something like finding a $10,000 original set of Reed and Barton French Renaissance silverware for almost nothing at a thrift shop, then brining it home and never polishing it to reveal its amazing ornate patterns.
The potential greatness of this character was never revealed, and I as the reader was poorer for it.
I would’ve also like to get to know “Little Woody,” the elusive cleaning girl with the wooden stare a bit better. There was real potential for an amazing character there as well.
But that was my sole grouse with “The Night My Enemy.” Otherwise, it was a very enjoyable, if very fast reading adventure.
Highly recommend this one!
April 17, 2022
More of a mystery than a Gothic, this early 60s novel features Vonnie, a young Vancouver girl getting involved in murder when she agrees to impersonate her roommate on a trip to England. The mystery itself and its solution are fairly rushed, but as always with Maybury, the atmosphere she creates of tension is the rewarding thing for the reader, combined with an interest in detail that brings alive the environments, the meals, the clothing, as well as the adult dialogue. At the end of the novel, like all Maybury's novels, the reader feels as if they've spent time with a group of vividly delineated people.
March 2, 2025
It’s no great mystery and not much of a gothic but it is still very readable. Maybury has a way of creating female leads who feel very relatable, even as they make terrible choices. I loved how the MC was absolutely terrible at thinking on her feet. The author is also great at creating a very lived in feel with details on clothes/locations/food that almost rise to the level of cosy while still remaining grounded. Parts of this are a little repetitive but still I enjoyed it.
June 29, 2012
Not my favorite. You can tell by the run on sentences on the back of the book:
THERE WAS SOMETHING DREADFULLY WRONG AT NO. 10 ST. JOHN'S WOOD...
Vonnie had hoped that taking her friend's place at a family conclave would be the perfect way to forget a broken romance with Nigel Foster. But she could not know that evil was lurking in every shadow of the old house at St. John's Wood, or that she would become the obsession of a madman who saw her as a living threat - the dangerously innocent betrayer of a past crime.
And then, unexpectedly, Nigel turned up. Was his presence just a coincidence, or was he, too part of a hideous master plan...?
THERE WAS SOMETHING DREADFULLY WRONG AT NO. 10 ST. JOHN'S WOOD...
Vonnie had hoped that taking her friend's place at a family conclave would be the perfect way to forget a broken romance with Nigel Foster. But she could not know that evil was lurking in every shadow of the old house at St. John's Wood, or that she would become the obsession of a madman who saw her as a living threat - the dangerously innocent betrayer of a past crime.
And then, unexpectedly, Nigel turned up. Was his presence just a coincidence, or was he, too part of a hideous master plan...?
September 12, 2010
I'm liking this one so far. Besides, the heroine lives in Vancouver! :)
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews