Voces en un cuarto embrujado/ Voices in a Haunted Room

Daughters of England #11

by Philippa Carr

Raised in the grand chateau of Tourville, lovely young Claudine, with her widowed mother, had fled the solitude of the French countryside as revolution torched it, sparking flames that would forever alter the landscape, their destiny, and the face of history itself.
Warmly ensconced and safe from harm in her mother's ancestral English home, Claudine discovers a new kind of danger; turning ripe and sensuous overnight, she is torn between the love of her new stepbrothers -- David, steady, scholarly, the perfect husband . . . if not the lover of her dreams; and Jonathon, so passionate, so willing to dare, far from the perfect husband, but as her first and foremost love, unsurpassed. Theirs is an amorous triangle that will burn bright through the years when England and all Europe struggle in a tyrant's grasp, till a moment on a rocky beach when one of the two men Claudine adores falls victim to a power beyond destiny.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Fiction, Historical, Gothic, Mystery, Historical Romance

349 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

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, Anna Percival and Ellalice Tate. Many of her readers under one penname never suspected her other identities.
-Wikipedia

Reviews

[ladywallingford · Rating 2 out of 5]

This historical fiction set in England during the French Revolution was not what I expected at all. I wanted a ghost story but instead I received an almost trashy sort of forbidden love triangle. The protagonist whined and ranted about her sin with the forbidden brother every time they met and that really grated on my nerves. Thankfully, that mostly stopped by the middle of the book or I would have just stopped the book. The rest of it, although not bad, was more of a mystery/adventure story with the protagonist and her "lover" trying to find the evil French spies trying to incite riots in England, not a ghost story. I would skip the book if you see it and are intrigued. It really wasn't worth the time although I will say some bits of it did interest me.

[MV · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the previous book, Knave of Hearts (AKA Zipporah's Daughter), and I could see this one probably wasn't going to be as much of a page turner. I was correct. Claudine wasn't the strongest character for me; I got a little tired of her hand-wringing and fretting. The funny thing was that we keep being told by other characters that she is such a passionate person, bla bla, but to me she always felt like a very passive person.

Also, the story keeps pushing that she and one of the dudes are meant to be together and I just didn't feel it. I had to just take the narrator's word for it. I can see they are infatuated with each other but that's about it. Honestly, if you're going to try to make their drama a central part of the story, then I need to be convinced or it's just not as enthralling by a long shot.

The story did pick up a little near the end when the mystery gets going. It takes a while to get there. I wasn't nearly as moved by the denouement as I was supposed to be.

Some minor characters were also introduced and one of them gets on my nerves. That person's behavior is excused in the end which also annoyed me.

I feel a little odd giving this a 4 star rating but I think 3 stars would be too low. Overall, I do care about the storyline and knowing what happens, it just pales compared to the others. I have to wonder if I would be as invested if I hadn't already read the previous 10 books and gotten to know this family.

[Philippa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my favourite book when I was 13! I recently found it again and reread it having not read it in full for a good decade. I remember it being very racy and naughty but now I found it a little...sedate ;) having said that it has lost none of its charm. I just found that I didn't like the heroine as much as I did back then, and the writing does lack vitality and oomph in places. The period it covers (England during the french revolution) is interesting but it was definitely nostalgia for my romantic, idealistic 13 year old self that kept me reading to the end this time.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of a series of mother to daughter generations stories telling the history of England from Henry VIII to WW II. Fabulous to read them all in order. Each one is a gem; each is surprising and well written.

Gothic style romance in every era...

[Regan Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Passionate Story of Betrayal and Love

Sometimes Victoria Holt surprises me. The Demon Lover was one of those books (a bodice ripper!). And this is another, because it deals with the heroine’s adultery. It follows Knave of Hearts, which I loved, and is a part of the Daughters of England series.

Raised in the grand chateau of Tourville in France, young Claudine, with her widowed mother, flees the France as revolution arrives. In England, at her mother's ancestral home, Claudine finds friendship with her stepbrothers, twins David and Jonathan, with whom she is raised. When she turns 17, her parents encourage her to marry one of the brothers. Both want her so she has her choice. But Claudine would have them both.

David is kind, steady and scholarly. They share many interests, but only Jonathan stirs her passion. When Jonathan suddenly goes off to France with Claudine’s brother to rescue a relative, Claudine marries David, thinking she is safe. But that doesn’t stop Jonathan from pursuing her. Nor does it stop her passion from responding.

It's storytelling at its best. I was in suspense for most of the book wondering how it would end (the cover tells you much since Jonathan has fair hair). It’s a sad one but very well done.

Daughters of England Series
1. The Miracle at St. Bruno's (1972)
2. The Lion Triumphant (1974)
3. The Witch from the Sea (1975)
4. Saraband for Two Sisters (1976)
5. Lament for a Lost Lover (1977)
6. The Love Child (1978)
7. The Song of the Siren (1980)
8. The Drop of the Dice (1981) later renamed "Will You Love Me in September"
9. The Adulteress (1982)
10. Knave of Hearts (1983) originally titled Zipporah's Daughter
11. Voices in A Haunted Room (1984)
12. The Return of the Gypsy (1985)
13. Midsummer's Eve (1986)
14. The Pool of St. Branok (1987)
15. The Changeling (1989)
16. The Black Swan (1990)
17. A Time for Silence (1991)
18. The Gossamer Cord (1992)
19. We'll Meet Again (1993)
20. Daughters of England (1995)

[Phil Syphe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like the previous book in the series, we have a plodding narrative with little action and lots of repetition. The repetition in this case occurs between Claudine – the narrator – and Jonathon, who’s Claudine’s step-brother, brother-in-law, and lover all rolled into one. They have the same type of conversation every time they meet, which grows more annoying each time.

I also feel that certain themes from this story – adultery and the heroine not marrying the man she desires most – are repeated from the previous two books. This shows a lack of originality.

Some quality scenes emerge in places, though they often wind-up too quickly. Without giving the ending away, I’ll just state that I liked it, but the ‘danger’ element was over too quickly, as it is in every other book I’ve read by this author, be it as Carr, Holt, or Plaidy.

Of the characters, I rate Dickon as the strongest creation. He stars in the previous two books, but unfortunately, he isn’t featured as prominently in this one.

In short, this is an average volume in the Daughters of England series.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 2nd favorite of this series! Still gives me the goose bumps when I think of certain scenes - the haunting English manors that drew me in long before I ever heard of Jane Austen or fell in love with her work.

This author does such an excellent job of 'setting the scene' and I adore authors that give so much details - I honestly believe it's why I still love that aspect of reading even to this day.

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I guess I liked the story, kind of like a spy novel, but you don't know that at first. It was more of a love triangle between the heroine and her 2 suitors who happened to be twins but of totally different natures. It did hold my interest although it lagged in a few places, but I enjoyed the read.

[Jeanette · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's just ok. Wordy and IMHO an almost ridiculous and rather unbelievable home situation at 17 for this protagonist. Contrived, very, for that period in history to have such a combined family with twin brothers both available as prospective mates. But that wasn't why the 2 star and not a 3. It just got way too bodice ripper over plot for me.

[Yang Shu-yuan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kurzbeschreibung
Die junge Französin Claudine zieht zu Verwandten auf deren englischen Landsitz. Doch schon bald befindet sie sich im Widerstreit ihrer Gefühle: Sie kann sich nicht zwischen ihren beiden Stiefbrüdern entscheiden. Ein fatales Dreiecksverhältnis entsteht

[Mercy Luther · Rating 3 out of 5]

The most interesting idea of this book is the use of suspense which is the key factor in making the reader turn up the next page....it was really heart catching even though my actor didnt make it through the very end of the novel. Why did Jonathan have to die and worst of all a cheap death.

[Tammie Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

book 11

[Marlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another book in Philippa Carr's Daughters of England series. With each book I read, I understand the family better and like each book better than the other.

[Hafiza · Rating 2 out of 5]

Flat and boring
Entire series now available as ebook

[Gary Branson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting spy element in this one. Would have liked a bit more about English politics during this period.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending was a total disappointment to an otherwise entertaining story.

[Dorothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've had this book on my shelf for some time but finally decided to read it. I thought it fair but very slow in action. It is the story of a French family that must leave due to the revolution and are now living in England. The dad had died and the mom marries Dickon. Mom has three children, 2 boys and Claudine who is telling the story. Dickon has twin sons, Jonathan and David. Of course there is a twisted love story, a mystery, and intrigue.

[Marie Burton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of the best by far. It ended with a grand flourish yet left some things unfinished. I miss the WTF Holy Cow moments that the previous books have in this Daughters of England series. It also was reminiscent (boring) of the storyline of The Adulteress. This book should have been titled Obsessive Guilt.

[Alison Hodgson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am finding the stories a little repetitive. The heroine is always the fiesty one who is attracted to the roguish man but tussles with herself and her desire for this man.

Once they get going they become absorbing and I enjoyed the second half of this book and the supporting characters much more than the main ones.

[Hendrix Eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the immortal lyrics of the GAP Band, "It's a Love Triangle, It's A Love Triangle, It's A Love Triangle, IT'S A LOVE TRIANGLE".

Sadly, no actual hauntings. Speaking tubes may be equally creepy if I'm honest.

[Candy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story and the historical content included.

[Lynn Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much focus on an affair - not enough on the gist of the story.

[Chrystal · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

My least favorite of the series so far. So much repetition...even the plots are being recycled.

[Daniela Contreras · Rating 2 out of 5]

Me gustó la ambientación pero es un libro muy cringe y predecible, lo mejor ocurrió en las últimas 15 páginas.

[BELEN GC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un libro de los románticos de antes.

[Kili · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historically interesting

[Melissa Salsgiver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have yet to read a Philippa Carr/Victoria Holt novel that didn't have twists and turns. This held my interest. What a prolific writer. Certainly enjoyed the read.

[Catisha Scavairello · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book can be summarized in a few words: adultery is bad. Still, not a bad read.