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The Priory
Lisa Stafford could not understand what the fuss was about. The old priory in the quaint English village looked a bit derelict, but she knew it would be the perfect place to write a medieval cookbook. But then the horrors began, and Lisa's beloved priory became a deadly prison.
281 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1989
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 22, 2024
synopsis & moral
if you are a timid American abroad in quaint rural England, looking to buy a home for you and your best friend, make sure not to blow all of your combined savings by buying a grim, gothic priory with a bad reputation plus no electricity - especially if your best friend is a vindictive gaslighting psychopath. remember: safety first!
this was engaging and surprising. great cover too. I put a bit of a spoiler in that synopsis, in a no-doubt failed attempt to encourage people to read this bit of deeply buried treasure. because it deserves wider readership! it doesn't look as if Margaret Wasser wrote anything else, alas.
The Priory's twit of a protagonist gradually becomes more sympathetic. especially after her dreadful "best friend" comes to stay, nearly 80 pages in - the contrast between the two is striking. compared to her friend from back home, Lisa Stafford is an icon of transparency and relatability. it was no small feat for the author to eventually turn Lisa into an enjoyable character, because man oh man she was a trial to read about in the beginning. so many bad decisions! so mousy! and all of her absurd rationalizations! I really wanted to shake some sense into her. but, incredibly, she became someone I was really rooting for. a well-developed heroine, in a book full of well-developed characters.
Wasser's book has atmosphere to die for (literally). the not-so-jolly English village felt so real. same for the not-so-picturesque countryside. and that priory! or rather, the foreboding manse that sits next to the ruins of an ancient priory. the reader can easily imagine how this sinister, gloomy place feels, its drafty rooms, the odd layout, the giant subterranean kitchen and the outdated 'modern' kitchenette, the fireplaces, the strange door with 14 locks, the secret passage to a secret staircase to a secret tunnel leading to the riverside. I'd rent the place for sure. fun! but a bit hard to imagine actually living in this atmospheric dump
the book has a great ending that takes place during a raging storm, when the cold war between Lisa and her worst friend finally reaches a very hot boil and the knives come out (literally). in such situations, a loyal dog and a secret doorway to a secret passage to a secret staircase to a secret tunnel leading to the riverside can come in pretty handy.
3.5 stars
if you are a timid American abroad in quaint rural England, looking to buy a home for you and your best friend, make sure not to blow all of your combined savings by buying a grim, gothic priory with a bad reputation plus no electricity - especially if your best friend is a vindictive gaslighting psychopath. remember: safety first!
this was engaging and surprising. great cover too. I put a bit of a spoiler in that synopsis, in a no-doubt failed attempt to encourage people to read this bit of deeply buried treasure. because it deserves wider readership! it doesn't look as if Margaret Wasser wrote anything else, alas.
The Priory's twit of a protagonist gradually becomes more sympathetic. especially after her dreadful "best friend" comes to stay, nearly 80 pages in - the contrast between the two is striking. compared to her friend from back home, Lisa Stafford is an icon of transparency and relatability. it was no small feat for the author to eventually turn Lisa into an enjoyable character, because man oh man she was a trial to read about in the beginning. so many bad decisions! so mousy! and all of her absurd rationalizations! I really wanted to shake some sense into her. but, incredibly, she became someone I was really rooting for. a well-developed heroine, in a book full of well-developed characters.
Wasser's book has atmosphere to die for (literally). the not-so-jolly English village felt so real. same for the not-so-picturesque countryside. and that priory! or rather, the foreboding manse that sits next to the ruins of an ancient priory. the reader can easily imagine how this sinister, gloomy place feels, its drafty rooms, the odd layout, the giant subterranean kitchen and the outdated 'modern' kitchenette, the fireplaces, the strange door with 14 locks, the secret passage to a secret staircase to a secret tunnel leading to the riverside. I'd rent the place for sure. fun! but a bit hard to imagine actually living in this atmospheric dump
the book has a great ending that takes place during a raging storm, when the cold war between Lisa and her worst friend finally reaches a very hot boil and the knives come out (literally). in such situations, a loyal dog and a secret doorway to a secret passage to a secret staircase to a secret tunnel leading to the riverside can come in pretty handy.
3.5 stars
July 15, 2011
Rating Clarification: 2.75 stars
The Priory was generously donated to me by my GR friend Susan in a mutual bookswap in the hope of validating the old saying: "One Mans Trash is Another Mans Treasure". While I wouldn't consider The Priory pure gothic treasure, I am happy to report that I found it a better read then Susan did, and so I consider this swap a 50% success so far (it remains to be seen if Susan will enjoy my 2 offerings-- I'm not placing any bets-- :D).
Wasser isn't a bad writer, and her novel could have been a decent spooky if she had only had the co-writing assistance of author Barbara Erskine. Erskine routinely delivers on chills and thrills, all of which were sorely lacking in Wasser's story. I kept waiting for something spooky and terrifying to actually happen , but apart from one lackluster accident-that-looked-like-a-murder, nothing did.
This is one of those cases where the writer had the potential to deliver, but failed. However, I wasn't totally displeased, since Wasser was able to push my personal "happy reader" button for a story about a woman in search of her dream house (which just happens to be a 500 year old English priory in the country-- complete with a hidden passage, rumors of a haunting, and a tall, handsome and tweedy neighbor....be still my heart...)
Thank you Susan!
The Priory was generously donated to me by my GR friend Susan in a mutual bookswap in the hope of validating the old saying: "One Mans Trash is Another Mans Treasure". While I wouldn't consider The Priory pure gothic treasure, I am happy to report that I found it a better read then Susan did, and so I consider this swap a 50% success so far (it remains to be seen if Susan will enjoy my 2 offerings-- I'm not placing any bets-- :D).
Wasser isn't a bad writer, and her novel could have been a decent spooky if she had only had the co-writing assistance of author Barbara Erskine. Erskine routinely delivers on chills and thrills, all of which were sorely lacking in Wasser's story. I kept waiting for something spooky and terrifying to actually happen , but apart from one lackluster accident-that-looked-like-a-murder, nothing did.
This is one of those cases where the writer had the potential to deliver, but failed. However, I wasn't totally displeased, since Wasser was able to push my personal "happy reader" button for a story about a woman in search of her dream house (which just happens to be a 500 year old English priory in the country-- complete with a hidden passage, rumors of a haunting, and a tall, handsome and tweedy neighbor....be still my heart...)
Thank you Susan!
April 24, 2010
I picked this one up at a huge annual book sale for a dollar. After finishing it, I realized it was signed by the author - a fun little moment in my day.
First things first. This is not a "board book." It was released by Pocket Books and is billed as "pocket horror." I debate that it is truly horror as well, but it would make a truly disturbing board book nonetheless. I would imagine that kids reading a board book based on this novel would have some particularly bad nightmares.
Second things second, the book is missing a synopsis, so in brief-
Best friends Lisa (young widow) and Casey (recent divorcee) decide to pair up on their second cookbook - one based on Medieval English recipes. To make sure their research is authentic, they decide to buy a place in England for two years while they complete it. Casey has some projects of her own to take care of, so Lisa goes to England to find a place for them. She ends up enamored of a fairly creepy old English house/priory rumored to be cursed and the "horror" unfolds.
And third things third, my thoughts.
If this had been billed as mystery rather than horror, I would have liked it better. My expectations were leaning towards the spine-tingling, so the mild creepiness that ensued was a bit underwhelming. Also, there were several subplots knitted into the story for unknown reasons. That said, I did not dislike the way Wasser wrote the majority of the characters, her description was excellent, and I really enjoyed the fact that she included bits of medieval recipes and herb lore at the beginning of each chapter. I think if I had been expecting something different to begin with, this would have been a more satisfying novel to me. For anyone pondering the possibility of reading of this, think cozy English mystery, not crazy, jaw-dropping horror.
First things first. This is not a "board book." It was released by Pocket Books and is billed as "pocket horror." I debate that it is truly horror as well, but it would make a truly disturbing board book nonetheless. I would imagine that kids reading a board book based on this novel would have some particularly bad nightmares.
Second things second, the book is missing a synopsis, so in brief-
Best friends Lisa (young widow) and Casey (recent divorcee) decide to pair up on their second cookbook - one based on Medieval English recipes. To make sure their research is authentic, they decide to buy a place in England for two years while they complete it. Casey has some projects of her own to take care of, so Lisa goes to England to find a place for them. She ends up enamored of a fairly creepy old English house/priory rumored to be cursed and the "horror" unfolds.
And third things third, my thoughts.
If this had been billed as mystery rather than horror, I would have liked it better. My expectations were leaning towards the spine-tingling, so the mild creepiness that ensued was a bit underwhelming. Also, there were several subplots knitted into the story for unknown reasons. That said, I did not dislike the way Wasser wrote the majority of the characters, her description was excellent, and I really enjoyed the fact that she included bits of medieval recipes and herb lore at the beginning of each chapter. I think if I had been expecting something different to begin with, this would have been a more satisfying novel to me. For anyone pondering the possibility of reading of this, think cozy English mystery, not crazy, jaw-dropping horror.
Read
June 16, 2011Boring, heroine way too naive, no sense of place or atmosphere, unlikeable characters.
Why go on?
Why go on?
June 1, 2014
Had to read this because it's not every day you find a fiction book that features medieval recipes. It's a quick read. Not so much the horror story that it is billed to be, but more like an episode of Jonathan Creek. In fact, almost exactly like that -- a big country house in which strange and possibly supernatural things happen that must be explained.
Some aspects of the book are a little off, perhaps, and the protagonist can drive you nuts sometimes with her cluelessness about a few things. Still, it was a fun read.
Some aspects of the book are a little off, perhaps, and the protagonist can drive you nuts sometimes with her cluelessness about a few things. Still, it was a fun read.
January 31, 2024
I really enjoyed it and surprised by the low ratings. I thought it was a good amount of creepy and mystery, and I did enjoy Lisa although I did question her choices (Like I do agree with Casey on this, I would have been very mad if my best friend spent half of my money without me knowing).
I did like that they kept the ending open, whether the villain is alive or not.
I do think it was a weird choice to have Lisa marry so quickly to Tony, I mean we didn’t even see them date or any affection.
I thought it was quick paced, creepy, mysterious, so it’s enjoyable in my book.
I did like that they kept the ending open, whether the villain is alive or not.
I do think it was a weird choice to have Lisa marry so quickly to Tony, I mean we didn’t even see them date or any affection.
I thought it was quick paced, creepy, mysterious, so it’s enjoyable in my book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2024
This one is sold as "horror" - but really it is best described as "lite-gothic mystery". Even that is a misnomer. It tries to be atmospheric but does not quite get there. There is a bit of a mystery/red herring early on, but then is pretty much pushed to the sidelines. Honestly, the only thing that saved this from a "two star" for me was a decent arc for the main character and a surprisingly effect climax during the final 20 - 30 pages (not including the return-to-just-ok 10 page denouement).
December 28, 2021
Nicely written but I wouldn’t say this is horror. Gothic maybe. Could’ve been a better story if the horror was abandoned or more was added. I kept waiting for something really spooky to happen. Waiting. Waiting. At times this felt a bit laborious to get through but it was a fast read overall, but a bit boring.
September 18, 2022
An easy read. Definitely a different direction than I was expecting it to go, but that’s not all bad. It is nice to have a delightful ending all things considered, too. Since it was such a quick read there are some storylines that I feel like could have been explained better to close them out but this would make a great movie (if it hasn’t already happened)!
March 3, 2021
Warning, this is not a horror novel, despite cover and description. Not much suspense, either.
Fairly good the first half, then the main character turns vapid and overly naive. Adversary is predictable as is the outcome. You can do better than this one.
Fairly good the first half, then the main character turns vapid and overly naive. Adversary is predictable as is the outcome. You can do better than this one.
June 11, 2023
Great writing and setting. Unfortunately, it dragged quite a bit.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews