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Night Of The Letter
Aka Darling ClementineAfter Brigit Gaye meets with a strange accident that lands her helpless in her bed, she becomes curious about the mysterious girl her husband brings into their home to help.
189 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1955
3 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
About the author
Dorothy Eden
93 books165 followersAka Mary Paradise.
Dorothy Eden was born in 1912 in New Zealand and died in 1982. She moved to England in 1954 after taking a trip around the world and falling in love with the country. She was best known for her many mystery and romance books as well as short stories that were published in periodicals. As a novelist, Dorothy Eden was renowned for her ability to create fear and suspense. This earned her many devoted readers throughout her lifetime.
Dorothy Eden was born in 1912 in New Zealand and died in 1982. She moved to England in 1954 after taking a trip around the world and falling in love with the country. She was best known for her many mystery and romance books as well as short stories that were published in periodicals. As a novelist, Dorothy Eden was renowned for her ability to create fear and suspense. This earned her many devoted readers throughout her lifetime.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 11, 2019
To the casual observer, the life of Brigit Templar Gaye would appear happy and delightful. After all, she’s married to a handsome man named Fergus who holds down a good job as an airline pilot. He is attentive and sensitive to Brigit as of the opening of the story, they’ve enjoyed six good years of marriage.
Added to Brigit’s blessings are her two wonderful children, Nicky, a fair and sweet six-year-old and Sarah, a lovely, innocent little girl of three. We also learn, very early on, that Brigit is expecting their third child.
And if all that weren’t enough, Brigit comes from a wealthy family, the Templars, who are well known, (if somewhat infamous) in the region.
But these would only be the observations of an outsider, seen as they were from a distance.
But the truth is something different.
For example, one may not have noticed that Brigit hasn’t been seen much in the last few weeks, and that’s because she’s been confined to her bed all this time, due to injuries she sustained in a strange horseback riding accident. As the days and weeks go by, Brigit begins to wonder if she’ll ever walk again…
The casual observer might have also missed the fact that one month before the accident, Brigit’s husband surprised her with a very unique birthday gift, a young lady who was to serve the household as Nicky and Sarah’s childcare giver.
Her name is Priscilla “Prissie” Hawke, a rather mysterious young lady who, to the casual observer would appear to be little more than a child herself,
“Her hair was dark and straight, which she wore cut short, with a brief fringe that shortened the height of her forehead and balanced her face. It was a small face, quite colorless and slightly hollow-cheeked. The dark brows over the wide eager eyes were slanted slightly, giving the girl an elfin look. Her figure was elfin too. On the surface she looked like a twelve-year-old…”
But if one were to look a little more closely, at certain odd moments, you might catch a rather disturbing flash of maturity that didn’t quite fit with the eager, naïve image the girl wished to portray. From the beginning, the girl made Brigit uncomfortable…
Prissie met Brigit’s husband at work as she was an air hostess on many of his flights. Over time Prissie came to learn quite a bit about the handsome pilot and his family. It also turned out that Priscilla was averse to the job of flight attendant because she became sick when the airplane encountered turbulence.
Aside from being confined to her bed with a young woman taking a power position in her home, Brigit was also ashamed of the legacy of her family’s wealth. Now she has plenty of time to think about things…hours and hours of laying in bed has reminded her of the ways and means by which her ancestors accumulated their money.
In her long seclusion, Brigit begins to wonder if she’s really deserving of happiness at all…perhaps the “karma” from her family’s past deeds has been foisted upon her own future, and maybe her six years of family happiness are but a brief reprieve from the cosmic payback coming to her for all the evil of the past.
But what about her strange accident?
She thinks back to the moment itself:
“She could remember only the brilliantly colored scarf on the stick poking at her suddenly from the thick hawthorn hedge, and Polly, the horse, rearing sideways in fright…”
Who was hidden inside the hawthorn hedge?
These thoughts plague this young woman who appears to have everything life could offer.
The opening of this story gripped me and as I continued, there were ghostlike prowlers, a spendthrift uncle who plays games of stashing the household funds, a house plagued with frightening unexplained voices and a dramatic finish!
I enjoyed reading Dorothy Eden’s “Night of the Letter.”
Added to Brigit’s blessings are her two wonderful children, Nicky, a fair and sweet six-year-old and Sarah, a lovely, innocent little girl of three. We also learn, very early on, that Brigit is expecting their third child.
And if all that weren’t enough, Brigit comes from a wealthy family, the Templars, who are well known, (if somewhat infamous) in the region.
But these would only be the observations of an outsider, seen as they were from a distance.
But the truth is something different.
For example, one may not have noticed that Brigit hasn’t been seen much in the last few weeks, and that’s because she’s been confined to her bed all this time, due to injuries she sustained in a strange horseback riding accident. As the days and weeks go by, Brigit begins to wonder if she’ll ever walk again…
The casual observer might have also missed the fact that one month before the accident, Brigit’s husband surprised her with a very unique birthday gift, a young lady who was to serve the household as Nicky and Sarah’s childcare giver.
Her name is Priscilla “Prissie” Hawke, a rather mysterious young lady who, to the casual observer would appear to be little more than a child herself,
“Her hair was dark and straight, which she wore cut short, with a brief fringe that shortened the height of her forehead and balanced her face. It was a small face, quite colorless and slightly hollow-cheeked. The dark brows over the wide eager eyes were slanted slightly, giving the girl an elfin look. Her figure was elfin too. On the surface she looked like a twelve-year-old…”
But if one were to look a little more closely, at certain odd moments, you might catch a rather disturbing flash of maturity that didn’t quite fit with the eager, naïve image the girl wished to portray. From the beginning, the girl made Brigit uncomfortable…
Prissie met Brigit’s husband at work as she was an air hostess on many of his flights. Over time Prissie came to learn quite a bit about the handsome pilot and his family. It also turned out that Priscilla was averse to the job of flight attendant because she became sick when the airplane encountered turbulence.
Aside from being confined to her bed with a young woman taking a power position in her home, Brigit was also ashamed of the legacy of her family’s wealth. Now she has plenty of time to think about things…hours and hours of laying in bed has reminded her of the ways and means by which her ancestors accumulated their money.
In her long seclusion, Brigit begins to wonder if she’s really deserving of happiness at all…perhaps the “karma” from her family’s past deeds has been foisted upon her own future, and maybe her six years of family happiness are but a brief reprieve from the cosmic payback coming to her for all the evil of the past.
But what about her strange accident?
She thinks back to the moment itself:
“She could remember only the brilliantly colored scarf on the stick poking at her suddenly from the thick hawthorn hedge, and Polly, the horse, rearing sideways in fright…”
Who was hidden inside the hawthorn hedge?
These thoughts plague this young woman who appears to have everything life could offer.
The opening of this story gripped me and as I continued, there were ghostlike prowlers, a spendthrift uncle who plays games of stashing the household funds, a house plagued with frightening unexplained voices and a dramatic finish!
I enjoyed reading Dorothy Eden’s “Night of the Letter.”
August 11, 2015
I would enjoy giving Night of the Letter 1 star, but since it was good I have to be fair, but this book is one of the most insufferable books I have ever come across.
Brigit Templar Gaye has been happily married to her husband for six years. Fergus is a pilot and is incredibly handsome, Brigit believes she is so lucky to have him, and wonders if every woman still gets giddy at the sight of her husband after so many years. Fergus dotes on his wife, and just being in her husband's arms is enough to make Brigit's day better.
It actually sounded like Brigit and Fergus had a nice marriage, but it didn't play like that. Brigit was quite pathetic in the way she clung to Fergus, and in how she desperately needed to be in his arms if anything upset her. Brigit would literally run to Fergus with her arms outstretched like their toddler might, and she would sniffle until Fergus made it all better. UGH!
Brigit spent most of the book on the edge of hysteria. One of her many problems was that she hated being a Templar. The Templar family had been a wealthy family, but had also been a pack of sadistic and neurotic lunatics. Brigit sat around bemoaning her mother's bloodline, and being grateful that her two children hadn't yet exhibited any signs of being tainted by the Templar side of their family, apparently their grandfather's side didn't count for much.
Brigit also whined about money, she preferred NOT to have much. She preferred to just live on Fergus' salary and not take a single dime from her uncle, who was one of the twisted Templar bunch. If her uncle's wife bought her kids a new outfit, Brigit would practically throw a hissy fit, they didn't need extras, whatever Fergus could afford was well enough. The kids could walk around with their clothes falling off their backs and Brigit would turn her nose up at any type of money from a Templar.
One day, Brigit's birthday to be exact, the family was waiting for Fergus to return home after a flight, but when he did, he was not alone, with him was Priscilla Hawke, a flight attendant that was in dire need of a new position due to air sickness. Fergus, always being a gentleman, invited Prissie to live with his family as a nanny to the children. He presented Prissie as a birthday present to his wife. Brigit was shocked, but didn't let on. She convinced herself that Fergus was the sweetest man to have been so considerate to think of getting help for her with the children.
The description of Prissie was hard to stomach, I think I may have barfed out the window a couple times.
Prissie had chin-length black hair, wide eyes, and was just the most adorable thing that you ever did see. She was absolutely child-like with her slender arms and tiny body and itty bitty little fingers. Brigit had no idea how Prissie was going to help with the children, when she looked like no more than a child herself. Even though Brigit and everyone else is aware that Prissie is at least 26, they saw her as a child because she was just so darned little and precious. Brigit declared that Prissie was barely bigger than her son Nicky...
I should mention that Brigit's son is five years old...if a grown woman with no medical conditions is barely bigger than a five year old, she might want to consider seeing someone about that...
Prissie's appearance was discussed in detail from page 18 to page 191. I kid you not, every single page managed to include something about how small she was, how little she was, and how darling she was. She was such an intriguing little creature, she was such a lively little monkey, her fingers were just so thin and dainty, her face was the smallest face ever. Erm, who goes around calling an adult a little monkey?
It got worse when Brigit had an accident after arguing with her uncle. Her uncle had been making rather insidious comments about Fergus and Prissie, and Brigit took off like a fool and got herself paralyzed.
Brigit's family along with Prissie moved in with her uncle and his wife at their mansion after the accident because Fergus didn't think it was wise for them to stay out in the country with him gone so much for work. This suited Prissie just fine, she loved being in the mansion with all the fancy and luxurious things, which were not present at Fergus' home.
Brigit hated it, of course. She hated living on Templar property, she hated having a nice large room and an expensive bed to heal in, she would have much rather had a dusty hole with a dirty mattress in the corner, based on the way she complained about having it so good.
There's a lot to the story, and I haven't the energy to get into the bulk of it. I will mention that both Brigit and her son start hearing voices, expensive things start going missing, and strange men pop up in the house at night.
Brigit's son is convinced that it's someone named Clementine who is responsible for the voices, but nobody believes him, and stupid Brigit is busy being too stupid for her own good. She's also busy being convinced that Fergus and the sweet little elfin named Prissie are falling in love, even though Prissie is getting closer to Brigit's overly-nervous brother, Guy.
Prissie begins to act more like a mother to the children than Brigit is comfortable with, but since Brigit has declared herself to be no more than a dried up invalid, she could hardly think it would be fair to tell Prissie to back off, and after all, wasn't Prissie just the dearest little creature? She was much too innocent and wide-eyed to actually be up to any wrongdoings with Fergus or the children, or anybody.
I had no idea what was really going on, between Brigit's son sniveling about Clementine tormenting him at the park, Brigit hearing voices cackling about how she'll never walk again, in the chimney, Fergus flirting with Prissie, and Prissie sneaking off to write numerous letters to her supposed aunt about Brigit and her family; I couldn't tell if everybody was simply nuts.
The truth is twisted enough to where you can't possibly figure most of it out, it's obvious that there were plenty red herrings along the way, but those things meant nothing to me until I was thankfully done reading.
It's a good book, but I only suggest it to those who have a high tolerance for being annoyed. I would never give this book to someone like my sister, because she would probably use it as a flyswatter or something after a few chapters.
Brigit Templar Gaye has been happily married to her husband for six years. Fergus is a pilot and is incredibly handsome, Brigit believes she is so lucky to have him, and wonders if every woman still gets giddy at the sight of her husband after so many years. Fergus dotes on his wife, and just being in her husband's arms is enough to make Brigit's day better.
It actually sounded like Brigit and Fergus had a nice marriage, but it didn't play like that. Brigit was quite pathetic in the way she clung to Fergus, and in how she desperately needed to be in his arms if anything upset her. Brigit would literally run to Fergus with her arms outstretched like their toddler might, and she would sniffle until Fergus made it all better. UGH!
Brigit spent most of the book on the edge of hysteria. One of her many problems was that she hated being a Templar. The Templar family had been a wealthy family, but had also been a pack of sadistic and neurotic lunatics. Brigit sat around bemoaning her mother's bloodline, and being grateful that her two children hadn't yet exhibited any signs of being tainted by the Templar side of their family, apparently their grandfather's side didn't count for much.
Brigit also whined about money, she preferred NOT to have much. She preferred to just live on Fergus' salary and not take a single dime from her uncle, who was one of the twisted Templar bunch. If her uncle's wife bought her kids a new outfit, Brigit would practically throw a hissy fit, they didn't need extras, whatever Fergus could afford was well enough. The kids could walk around with their clothes falling off their backs and Brigit would turn her nose up at any type of money from a Templar.
One day, Brigit's birthday to be exact, the family was waiting for Fergus to return home after a flight, but when he did, he was not alone, with him was Priscilla Hawke, a flight attendant that was in dire need of a new position due to air sickness. Fergus, always being a gentleman, invited Prissie to live with his family as a nanny to the children. He presented Prissie as a birthday present to his wife. Brigit was shocked, but didn't let on. She convinced herself that Fergus was the sweetest man to have been so considerate to think of getting help for her with the children.
The description of Prissie was hard to stomach, I think I may have barfed out the window a couple times.
Prissie had chin-length black hair, wide eyes, and was just the most adorable thing that you ever did see. She was absolutely child-like with her slender arms and tiny body and itty bitty little fingers. Brigit had no idea how Prissie was going to help with the children, when she looked like no more than a child herself. Even though Brigit and everyone else is aware that Prissie is at least 26, they saw her as a child because she was just so darned little and precious. Brigit declared that Prissie was barely bigger than her son Nicky...
I should mention that Brigit's son is five years old...if a grown woman with no medical conditions is barely bigger than a five year old, she might want to consider seeing someone about that...
Prissie's appearance was discussed in detail from page 18 to page 191. I kid you not, every single page managed to include something about how small she was, how little she was, and how darling she was. She was such an intriguing little creature, she was such a lively little monkey, her fingers were just so thin and dainty, her face was the smallest face ever. Erm, who goes around calling an adult a little monkey?
It got worse when Brigit had an accident after arguing with her uncle. Her uncle had been making rather insidious comments about Fergus and Prissie, and Brigit took off like a fool and got herself paralyzed.
Brigit's family along with Prissie moved in with her uncle and his wife at their mansion after the accident because Fergus didn't think it was wise for them to stay out in the country with him gone so much for work. This suited Prissie just fine, she loved being in the mansion with all the fancy and luxurious things, which were not present at Fergus' home.
Brigit hated it, of course. She hated living on Templar property, she hated having a nice large room and an expensive bed to heal in, she would have much rather had a dusty hole with a dirty mattress in the corner, based on the way she complained about having it so good.
There's a lot to the story, and I haven't the energy to get into the bulk of it. I will mention that both Brigit and her son start hearing voices, expensive things start going missing, and strange men pop up in the house at night.
Brigit's son is convinced that it's someone named Clementine who is responsible for the voices, but nobody believes him, and stupid Brigit is busy being too stupid for her own good. She's also busy being convinced that Fergus and the sweet little elfin named Prissie are falling in love, even though Prissie is getting closer to Brigit's overly-nervous brother, Guy.
Prissie begins to act more like a mother to the children than Brigit is comfortable with, but since Brigit has declared herself to be no more than a dried up invalid, she could hardly think it would be fair to tell Prissie to back off, and after all, wasn't Prissie just the dearest little creature? She was much too innocent and wide-eyed to actually be up to any wrongdoings with Fergus or the children, or anybody.
I had no idea what was really going on, between Brigit's son sniveling about Clementine tormenting him at the park, Brigit hearing voices cackling about how she'll never walk again, in the chimney, Fergus flirting with Prissie, and Prissie sneaking off to write numerous letters to her supposed aunt about Brigit and her family; I couldn't tell if everybody was simply nuts.
The truth is twisted enough to where you can't possibly figure most of it out, it's obvious that there were plenty red herrings along the way, but those things meant nothing to me until I was thankfully done reading.
It's a good book, but I only suggest it to those who have a high tolerance for being annoyed. I would never give this book to someone like my sister, because she would probably use it as a flyswatter or something after a few chapters.
August 31, 2010
Gothic.
July 22, 2016
Old school, predictable mystery involving a nanny with a secret past.
August 25, 2019
It took forever for me to get into, but then I ended up staying up until 6 am to finish it. so, I guess it was a good book, if a bit silly at times.
July 5, 2025
I love Dorothy Eden's gothic mystery / thriller books. This one was pretty good in my opinion, too, but it could have been better. It wasn't as immersive to me as her other books that I've read. For context, I don't much care for her historical romance books, and instead I more enjoy these gothic / thriller ones she wrote.
This would have been a 4 or 5 star read if it was a little less predictable and a little more subtle in the foreshadowing. I felt the foreshadowing was much too strong and easy to see coming. To be fair, there is a twist to it, don't get me wrong, but it's not as clouded in mystery as her other books that I've read.
I think the description of the nanny was odd, as others have mentioned.
I still enjoyed the book, though, so I'm giving it 3 stars.
This would have been a 4 or 5 star read if it was a little less predictable and a little more subtle in the foreshadowing. I felt the foreshadowing was much too strong and easy to see coming. To be fair, there is a twist to it, don't get me wrong, but it's not as clouded in mystery as her other books that I've read.
I think the description of the nanny was odd, as others have mentioned.
I still enjoyed the book, though, so I'm giving it 3 stars.
November 6, 2017
This book got under my skin. Awful cover, but it's what edition the local library has. A "modern" (written in the 1950s) Gothic. The young wife/mother, Brigit, has an accident and is in bedridden. The creepy voices, an alluring mother's helper with designs on the woman's husband, children used as pawns, and greedy family members all added up to horrific possibilities. Gave it 4 rather than 3 stars because it increased my heart rate feeling the dread of Brigit being helpless (she does do her best--isn't a complete damsel in distress) though it was more of a "love to hate" situation for this reader.
March 1, 2021
A little old fashioned but it was written in 1955 still a good story with lots of mystery. Enjoyed it
March 26, 2024
Could not finish!
August 27, 2025
The first read on my “Vintage Road to spooky season”
I absolutely adore Dorothy Eden, the autumnal cosy vibes in this book deliver!
I absolutely adore Dorothy Eden, the autumnal cosy vibes in this book deliver!
April 22, 2024
I enjoyed this book more than I expected to after reading two other Dorothy Eden books recently. I find that I enjoy her historical gothic novels more than her modern day ones. I liked the amount of red herrings that were in the book and the fact that while I kind of knew who the bad guy was, I also kept second guessing myself. I did not like Brigit's husband at all. As always, I enjoy reading her books even if a lot of them are unclear.
Read
February 11, 2018Intolerable. Waste of time.
August 30, 2024
Read years ago…..
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews