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Daughter of Deceit
Noelle Tremaston's charmed yet unconventional life as the daughter of the infamous Desiree, darling of the London stage, comes crashing to a halt when her mother takes in a struggling ingenue and disaster strikes. Noelle flees to Paris where, on the eve of World War I, a bizarre twist of fate will lead her into unsolved mysteries -- and the arms of love.
374 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
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599 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Holt
372 books1,377 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Eleanor Alice Burford, Mrs. George Percival Hibbert was a British author of about 200 historical novels, most of them under the pen name Jean Plaidy which had sold 14 million copies by the time of her death. She chose to use various names because of the differences in subject matter between her books; the best-known, apart from Plaidy, are Victoria Holt (56 million) and Philippa Carr (3 million). Lesser known were the novels Hibbert published under her maiden name Eleanor Burford, or the pseudonyms of Elbur Ford, Kathleen Kellow and Ellalice Tate. Many of her readers under one penname never suspected her other identities.
-Wikipedia
Eleanor Alice Burford, Mrs. George Percival Hibbert was a British author of about 200 historical novels, most of them under the pen name Jean Plaidy which had sold 14 million copies by the time of her death. She chose to use various names because of the differences in subject matter between her books; the best-known, apart from Plaidy, are Victoria Holt (56 million) and Philippa Carr (3 million). Lesser known were the novels Hibbert published under her maiden name Eleanor Burford, or the pseudonyms of Elbur Ford, Kathleen Kellow and Ellalice Tate. Many of her readers under one penname never suspected her other identities.
-Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
March 27, 2022
It was an quick and somewhat easy read to relax to. Maybe a little lacking in suspense and mystery but an alright book for when I don't want something quite too complicated
June 23, 2014
Spoilers ahoy. I don't want anyone to waste their time on this.
The blurb:
Noelle Tremaston's charmed yet unconventional life as the daughter of the infamous Desiree, darling of the London stage, comes crashing to a halt when her mother takes in a struggling ingénue and disaster strikes. Noelle flees to Paris where, on the eve of World War I, a bizarre twist of fate will lead her into unsolved mysteries -- and the arms of love.
So, yes the heroine is the daughter of a famous actress and yes, disaster strikes. Yes, Noelle eventually flees to Paris, but that's in the second half of the book. But first, after her mother suffers a sudden and mysterious death (trust me, you'll guess at it right away), Noelle joins the household of one of her mother's greatest friends (Noelle is dumb as a post and never realized said friend was one of her lovers). Noelle falls in love with the son of her mother's friend and dun-dun-dun-dun . Go ahead and click on that spoiler, you'll guess that twist a mile away.
That's when Noelle flees for Paris, but again there's this little problem with the book description. It isn't on "on the eve of World War I", when Noelle is in France Napoleon III is in charge and events are leading up to the Franco-Prussian War.
How a publishing house could get something so wrong, I don't know. SMH.
The latter third of the book takes Noelle to Cornwall after the discovery of some old letters in her mother's desk. Yup, you can guess this one a mile away , but then there's this little problem of a who is also responsible . But then, you would have guessed all of that at the very first of the book.
Recommended for: no one.
The blurb:
Noelle Tremaston's charmed yet unconventional life as the daughter of the infamous Desiree, darling of the London stage, comes crashing to a halt when her mother takes in a struggling ingénue and disaster strikes. Noelle flees to Paris where, on the eve of World War I, a bizarre twist of fate will lead her into unsolved mysteries -- and the arms of love.
So, yes the heroine is the daughter of a famous actress and yes, disaster strikes. Yes, Noelle eventually flees to Paris, but that's in the second half of the book. But first, after her mother suffers a sudden and mysterious death (trust me, you'll guess at it right away), Noelle joins the household of one of her mother's greatest friends (Noelle is dumb as a post and never realized said friend was one of her lovers). Noelle falls in love with the son of her mother's friend and dun-dun-dun-dun . Go ahead and click on that spoiler, you'll guess that twist a mile away.
That's when Noelle flees for Paris, but again there's this little problem with the book description. It isn't on "on the eve of World War I", when Noelle is in France Napoleon III is in charge and events are leading up to the Franco-Prussian War.
How a publishing house could get something so wrong, I don't know. SMH.
The latter third of the book takes Noelle to Cornwall after the discovery of some old letters in her mother's desk. Yup, you can guess this one a mile away , but then there's this little problem of a who is also responsible . But then, you would have guessed all of that at the very first of the book.
Recommended for: no one.
January 13, 2011
Victoria Holt was most assuredly the mistress of what we now think of as "clean" Gothic romance -- which is to say that there is some suspense, some romantic tension, and absolutely no sex.
"Daughter of Deceit" is no exception to the pattern. In this story, Noelle Tremaston is the adult daughter of Desiree -- a famous London actress. Desiree is well-known for taking in the proverbial waifs and strays, so she brings injured Lisa Fennell into her home. Lisa is an aspiring actress and Desiree gets her a job in the chorus. When Desiree dies under suspicious circumstances, Lisa (who had been her understudy) gets the lead in the show.
Noelle has fallen in love with Roderick, the son of one of her mother's friends. There are a number of reasons revealed why the two cannot marry; Roderick marries Lisa. Noelle goes to stay in France with family friends for a time, and then things *really* get complicated.
I enjoyed the book as a sort of "light read." Holt fans are sure to like it.
"Daughter of Deceit" is no exception to the pattern. In this story, Noelle Tremaston is the adult daughter of Desiree -- a famous London actress. Desiree is well-known for taking in the proverbial waifs and strays, so she brings injured Lisa Fennell into her home. Lisa is an aspiring actress and Desiree gets her a job in the chorus. When Desiree dies under suspicious circumstances, Lisa (who had been her understudy) gets the lead in the show.
Noelle has fallen in love with Roderick, the son of one of her mother's friends. There are a number of reasons revealed why the two cannot marry; Roderick marries Lisa. Noelle goes to stay in France with family friends for a time, and then things *really* get complicated.
I enjoyed the book as a sort of "light read." Holt fans are sure to like it.
September 25, 2020
The narrative was okay,some of the characters are likeable or perhaps great (Robert, Charlie,Dolly and Noelle) but everything was too predictable and lack suspense.
July 25, 2008
If you like clean, cheesy, romance novels then you will like anything by Victoria Holt or her pseudonyms.
July 26, 2011
How wonderful it is to find an amazing book by surprise. I am still in awe of this novel. It's a story with so many twists and turns. It is a successful combination of drama, mystery, suspense and romance.
As for the characters, I really felt a close connection with Noelle because she reminds me alot of myself. The others were okay too.
The story kept me engaged most of the time by the dialogues, if not by the development of the story. It's a very good reads.
As for the characters, I really felt a close connection with Noelle because she reminds me alot of myself. The others were okay too.
The story kept me engaged most of the time by the dialogues, if not by the development of the story. It's a very good reads.
April 29, 2012
No idea where the 'on the eve of World War I' bit of the blurb comes from; although almost no dates are given, from references to Napoleon III and the Franco-Prussian War the book is clearly set in the 1860s and 70s.
Its not the most convincing plot, some of the twists and turns are rather predictable, and the dialogue is often stilted. I frankly expected better of a novel from one of Jean Plaidy's pseudonyms.
Its not the most convincing plot, some of the twists and turns are rather predictable, and the dialogue is often stilted. I frankly expected better of a novel from one of Jean Plaidy's pseudonyms.
April 3, 2016
Books written by Victoria Holt are so cheesy, but sometimes that's exactly what you need. I've read a loooot of her books when I was 14/15 years old..that was the last time I've read them. I absolutely loved them at the time. I'm thinking of reading one of her books just for the old times sake! =)
June 1, 2022
This was a really good book hard to put it down. Lots of twists and turns love a good Victoria Holt novel.
July 23, 2007
This is my second Victoria Holt book. This one seems a little more "romance-oriented" than "Seven for a Secret", but it's still mostly a pleasure. It's just that I prefer "skeletons in the closet" to "will the heroine find marital bliss".
Although I'm going to give the author a rest for now, she certainly knows how to spin a good yarn. All loose ends and questions are taken care of, and in a really entertaining fashion. I'll be visiting her again in the not-too-distant future.
Although I'm going to give the author a rest for now, she certainly knows how to spin a good yarn. All loose ends and questions are taken care of, and in a really entertaining fashion. I'll be visiting her again in the not-too-distant future.
July 24, 2011
This is my second book by this author, and I've been disappointed both times. The heroine of this story, Noelle, was a bit "soft", or weak, for my tastes. For a woman who was surrounded by the theater her whole life, she was really quite dense to not detect the lies in a performance of an amateur. I thought the ending was a little weird, and anticlimatic. I wasn't really surprised by anything in the story, and could easily guess what was going to happen.
June 7, 2012
I haven't read a Victoria Holt novel in almost 25+ years. I have probably read over 30 of her books. As a mystery writer, Holt never disappoints. The setting is usually in England and in the late 17th or 18th century. This story is about an actress and her illigetimate daughter, living in England. If you are looking for an easy read with some mystery and a little suspense, this book is for you.
October 15, 2012
Vicotria Holt is a long time favorite when I want an easy historical romance read. This one didn't disappoint but there were no surprised about who killed Desiree and then who killed Lisa. Good, enjoyable read.............
January 1, 2014
this one I figured out quickly because the story was so predictable. So much so I didn't finish it. The characters couldn't keep my interest, thought most of them were ridiculous anyway. Not one of your good ones Holt.
January 15, 2010
Read in the portuguese version - Filha do Engano - translated by Maria Luisa Santos - edition Circulo de Leitores, Portugal Outubro 1993
December 11, 2010
..an exciting book with a lot of twists that will blow your mind.. ..I love it!..
May 13, 2017
Lido há muitos anos, é romance cheio de reviravoltas e de surpresas!
Era uma delícia ler estes livros!
Era uma delícia ler estes livros!
March 23, 2023
3,75 tähteä.
Pitkästä aikaa tuli luettua Victoria Holtia! Tiesin jo etukäteen, mitä odottaa. Petoksen naamion minäkertoja on Noelle, jonka äiti on loistelias ja ihailtu näyttelijätär Désirée. Heidän boheemi mutta miellyttävä arkensa muuttuu, kun Désiréen vaunut ovat vähällä ajaa Lisa Fennellin ylitse. Näyttelijätär päättää ottaa tyttörukan kotiinsa toipumaan, mutta kuolee itse pian tapaturmaisesti.
Noelle kohtaa monia vastoinkäymisiä, kuten kiellettyä rakkautta, joka saa hänet matkustamaan sekä Pariisiin että Cornwalliin. Juonen keskeisimmät yllätykset ovat arvattavissa, mutta tällä kertaa loppu on paremmin pohjustettu kuin Holtin kirjoissa keskimäärin.
Pitkästä aikaa tuli luettua Victoria Holtia! Tiesin jo etukäteen, mitä odottaa. Petoksen naamion minäkertoja on Noelle, jonka äiti on loistelias ja ihailtu näyttelijätär Désirée. Heidän boheemi mutta miellyttävä arkensa muuttuu, kun Désiréen vaunut ovat vähällä ajaa Lisa Fennellin ylitse. Näyttelijätär päättää ottaa tyttörukan kotiinsa toipumaan, mutta kuolee itse pian tapaturmaisesti.
Noelle kohtaa monia vastoinkäymisiä, kuten kiellettyä rakkautta, joka saa hänet matkustamaan sekä Pariisiin että Cornwalliin. Juonen keskeisimmät yllätykset ovat arvattavissa, mutta tällä kertaa loppu on paremmin pohjustettu kuin Holtin kirjoissa keskimäärin.
August 6, 2023
Noelle is the daughter of a famous actress/singer/dancer, everyone loves Desiree and she loves her offspring more than anyone else: hardly a traditional upbringing, she knows only that her father was a good man. Lisa Fennell enters their lives through an accident but we come to learn that every action has an equal and opposite reaction and there are plenty of those. We follow Noelle's life and travel with her through the tosses and turns.
October 30, 2017
I consider “Daughter of Deceit” as one of Ms Holt’s weakest novels. This is owing to predictability, repeating information, and lack of excitement.
One element I expect from a Holt novel – even the lesser ones – is suspense. This is the author’s forte, yet suspense is absent for much of the time in this novel.
A couple of scenes here and there are good, but on the whole it lacks sparkle.
One element I expect from a Holt novel – even the lesser ones – is suspense. This is the author’s forte, yet suspense is absent for much of the time in this novel.
A couple of scenes here and there are good, but on the whole it lacks sparkle.
March 22, 2023
Great reads
I found this book very interest grabbing from the very beginning. I couldn't wait to get back to it each time I had to stop. The plot had a lot of twists and turns. I loved the characters and descriptions.
I found this book very interest grabbing from the very beginning. I couldn't wait to get back to it each time I had to stop. The plot had a lot of twists and turns. I loved the characters and descriptions.
April 14, 2025
I have enjoyed other romance novels by this author, but this one was weak. Good atmosphere, but repetitive like a soap opera on TV dragging it out by having a character repeat the same story practically verbatim to three other characters. Not much of twist at the end.
June 26, 2018
A pleasant read with a couple of plot twists to keep things interesting.
August 24, 2018
I’m a little torn with this book. Some of it was good & some was just there.
May 1, 2019
I didn't think I would like this book but I was surprised. It's a great read!!
December 3, 2019
great book!
April 3, 2020
I read other Victoria Holt books when I was younger, and thought they were a bit more suspenseful than this one. I enjoyed it, and it was an easy read with a little suspense and a little romance.
May 2, 2020
Gothic romance in the old style. Deception, secrets and murder in Victorian England.
May 23, 2020
Not as good as some of her others, and the ending was quickly and (in my opinion) lamely wrapped up.
June 16, 2023
One of my favorites of Victoria Holt so far!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews