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The Shrouded Way
*Original Title - Murder Remote*
For Elizabeth Cranston, it all started when she discovered that the little fishing village of Mourie in the Scottish Highlands was not the peaceful refuge she had expected. A search for sunken treasure off Mourie's beautiful shore had stirred up greed and suspicion and a strange death struck the quiet village. When Elizabeth stumbled across the key to the mystery, she knew with chilling certainty that her own life would be threatened.
Moving quietly behind the scenes was Crane Maclean, wealthy Laird of Mourie House. His bold good looks and penetrating dark eyes disturbed and excited Elizabeth. But could she trust this enigmatic stranger? What secret role did he play in this sinister plot? Was his irresistible charm just a mask of deceit and a trap for betrayal?
Then one day Elizabeth stepped through the door of Mourie House - into a whirlpool of danger - and love.
For Elizabeth Cranston, it all started when she discovered that the little fishing village of Mourie in the Scottish Highlands was not the peaceful refuge she had expected. A search for sunken treasure off Mourie's beautiful shore had stirred up greed and suspicion and a strange death struck the quiet village. When Elizabeth stumbled across the key to the mystery, she knew with chilling certainty that her own life would be threatened.
Moving quietly behind the scenes was Crane Maclean, wealthy Laird of Mourie House. His bold good looks and penetrating dark eyes disturbed and excited Elizabeth. But could she trust this enigmatic stranger? What secret role did he play in this sinister plot? Was his irresistible charm just a mask of deceit and a trap for betrayal?
Then one day Elizabeth stepped through the door of Mourie House - into a whirlpool of danger - and love.
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1973
137 people want to read
About the author
Janet Caird
20 books3 followersJanet Hinshaw Caird was a teacher and a 20th-century writer of Scottish mysteries, poems, and short stories. Daughter of Peter Kirkwood, a missionary, and Janet Kirkwood, she was born in Livingstonia, Malawi, and educated in Scotland. She attended Dollar Academy in Dollar, Clackmannanshire, and the University of Edinburgh, graduating with a master of arts in English literature in 1935 before further study at the University of Grenoble and the Sorbonne in 1935–36.
She married James Bowman Caird in 1938, and they had two daughters. She taught English and Latin at Park School for Girls in Glasgow in 1937–38, at Royal High School, Edinburgh in 1940–41, and at Dollar Academy from 1941 to 1943. After several years at home, she returned to teaching at Dollar Academy in the 1950s before moving to Inverness in 1963.
Her novel for children, Angus the Tartan Partan, was published in 1961, followed by five murder mysteries set in Scotland and an historical novel, The Umbrella Maker's Daughter (1980), set in Dollar. Her three books of poetry appeared between 1977 and 1988. Caird also wrote short stories for publication in periodicals and anthologies, and she wrote reviews and critical articles for Cencrastus, Chapman, Scottish Literary Journal, and other publications.
She married James Bowman Caird in 1938, and they had two daughters. She taught English and Latin at Park School for Girls in Glasgow in 1937–38, at Royal High School, Edinburgh in 1940–41, and at Dollar Academy from 1941 to 1943. After several years at home, she returned to teaching at Dollar Academy in the 1950s before moving to Inverness in 1963.
Her novel for children, Angus the Tartan Partan, was published in 1961, followed by five murder mysteries set in Scotland and an historical novel, The Umbrella Maker's Daughter (1980), set in Dollar. Her three books of poetry appeared between 1977 and 1988. Caird also wrote short stories for publication in periodicals and anthologies, and she wrote reviews and critical articles for Cencrastus, Chapman, Scottish Literary Journal, and other publications.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 1, 2024
2024: re-read after 9 years, and still a favorite gothic!
There is something so comforting about still enjoying a book you loved as a teen, a young woman, a not-so-young woman and now a woman of....ehem....mature years. I guess it's the literary version of a security blanket. It ties me to all my former selves. Not all books we read do that, and so I cherish the books from my collection that do. ❤
ORIGINAL REVIEW
Janet Caird isn't well known in the 1960s/70s gothic novel universe, and in my opinion, two of her other books (In a Glass Darkly and Perturbing Spirit) are pretty dreadful. However, this offering more then makes up for any problems the other two had, and is probably one of my favorite gothics ever.
Within the first 5 pages, The Shrouded Way takes the reader on a harrowing ride along the misty Scottish Highland mountain passes, and into murder. Elizabeth Cranston has left her Peace-Corp-like volunteer work in India, and is on her way to visit her favorite aunt Jenny in the small village of Mourie. Elizabeth's final leg of the journey finds her stopped at the top of a foggy mountain pass. A road roller is along the road side. The deep silence is cut by a cry, and when Elizabeth goes to investigate, she finds the very fresh dead body of a young red headed man inside the road roller. Footsteps nearby announce the murderer's presence. Can Elizabeth make it back through the fog to her car in time?
Well, of course she does, and the next 200 pages are a very intriguing blend of gothic suspense, evocative scenery, and a touch of romance. There's a hidden treasure (or two), murder, kidnapping, a wise woman who knows too much, village secrets, a seige, and a great coming together of the residents to save their beloved village of Mourie.
Caird uses a deft hand to write about the Scottish Highlands, and there's some pretty broad Scots dialect from the itinerent tinker clan to sort through. The pace is even, the plotline is intriguing, and the chills are definitely there.
This book, first read by me back in the late 1970s, still entertains 30+ years later.
There is something so comforting about still enjoying a book you loved as a teen, a young woman, a not-so-young woman and now a woman of....ehem....mature years. I guess it's the literary version of a security blanket. It ties me to all my former selves. Not all books we read do that, and so I cherish the books from my collection that do. ❤
ORIGINAL REVIEW
Janet Caird isn't well known in the 1960s/70s gothic novel universe, and in my opinion, two of her other books (In a Glass Darkly and Perturbing Spirit) are pretty dreadful. However, this offering more then makes up for any problems the other two had, and is probably one of my favorite gothics ever.
Within the first 5 pages, The Shrouded Way takes the reader on a harrowing ride along the misty Scottish Highland mountain passes, and into murder. Elizabeth Cranston has left her Peace-Corp-like volunteer work in India, and is on her way to visit her favorite aunt Jenny in the small village of Mourie. Elizabeth's final leg of the journey finds her stopped at the top of a foggy mountain pass. A road roller is along the road side. The deep silence is cut by a cry, and when Elizabeth goes to investigate, she finds the very fresh dead body of a young red headed man inside the road roller. Footsteps nearby announce the murderer's presence. Can Elizabeth make it back through the fog to her car in time?
Well, of course she does, and the next 200 pages are a very intriguing blend of gothic suspense, evocative scenery, and a touch of romance. There's a hidden treasure (or two), murder, kidnapping, a wise woman who knows too much, village secrets, a seige, and a great coming together of the residents to save their beloved village of Mourie.
Caird uses a deft hand to write about the Scottish Highlands, and there's some pretty broad Scots dialect from the itinerent tinker clan to sort through. The pace is even, the plotline is intriguing, and the chills are definitely there.
This book, first read by me back in the late 1970s, still entertains 30+ years later.
November 25, 2013
For me, this book has it all.
Its based in Scotland (which I loooove) so you have the atmosphere. Think fog and craggy seaside cliffs, a small village where everyone knows everything about everyone and everything, ha! And throw in an old churchyard, a crazy old woman, itinerant gypsies, lost treasure and sunken ships..
oh and don't forget the old house, a murder or two, kidnapping, cave passages and old wells...
you would THINK that it would all be just TOO MUCH going on but it's not. Somehow, the author works it out and it seems perfectly reasonable.
Then there's two or three love interests, but if you think this book is going to get sidetracked into ponderous snogging you're mistaken. I think I counted two kisses.
Which is WHY (yes i need to vent..) I am most disappointed in my cover art!! This delightful cover you see here on GR is NOT the hideous monstrocity I got saddled with thanks to buying used books online. Mine is a red cover with two people smooching. Looks like a really cheesy harlequin and if I saw it in a shop I wouldn't even have picked it up. Thankfully I knew differently and didn't let it deter me. Because the story is excellent!!!
One puzzlement to me is that the gypsies spoke in broad Scots dialect (which to me is a delight to read) but the villagers spoke the voice of the narrator. And yet all were Scottish. And all should have spoken pretty thickly. The gypsies were Glascwegians and the village/ers up by Eige and Mull. Just a puzzle. My guess is that it would be too tiring for the reader (or the author) to have a whole book full of dialect.
CONTENT :
SEX : None.
PROFANITY : Two or three mild cusses
VIOLENCE : There are a couple of murders. Nothing graphic.
PARANORMAL ELEMENTS : An old woman is whispered to have second sight. Shes just an old woman.
MY RATING : Mild PG. Suitable for YA
Its based in Scotland (which I loooove) so you have the atmosphere. Think fog and craggy seaside cliffs, a small village where everyone knows everything about everyone and everything, ha! And throw in an old churchyard, a crazy old woman, itinerant gypsies, lost treasure and sunken ships..
oh and don't forget the old house, a murder or two, kidnapping, cave passages and old wells...
you would THINK that it would all be just TOO MUCH going on but it's not. Somehow, the author works it out and it seems perfectly reasonable.
Then there's two or three love interests, but if you think this book is going to get sidetracked into ponderous snogging you're mistaken. I think I counted two kisses.
Which is WHY (yes i need to vent..) I am most disappointed in my cover art!! This delightful cover you see here on GR is NOT the hideous monstrocity I got saddled with thanks to buying used books online. Mine is a red cover with two people smooching. Looks like a really cheesy harlequin and if I saw it in a shop I wouldn't even have picked it up. Thankfully I knew differently and didn't let it deter me. Because the story is excellent!!!
One puzzlement to me is that the gypsies spoke in broad Scots dialect (which to me is a delight to read) but the villagers spoke the voice of the narrator. And yet all were Scottish. And all should have spoken pretty thickly. The gypsies were Glascwegians and the village/ers up by Eige and Mull. Just a puzzle. My guess is that it would be too tiring for the reader (or the author) to have a whole book full of dialect.
CONTENT :
SEX : None.
PROFANITY : Two or three mild cusses
VIOLENCE : There are a couple of murders. Nothing graphic.
PARANORMAL ELEMENTS : An old woman is whispered to have second sight. Shes just an old woman.
MY RATING : Mild PG. Suitable for YA
March 24, 2015
Five stars easy!
Now, how can I review this without giving it all away?
Think Nancy Drew for adults. What can be a better place for a holiday than a visit to her auntie in a remote, lazy town? Elizabeth, is all set for a cozy vacation, until she is just pulling into the outskirts of the village and a deep fog sets in. Stopping by the road side she finds a body of a man with red hair… dead.
Soon she's on the run from a murderer, who's somewhere hidden in the fog, and the worst of it is, it could be anyone. Elizabeth doesn't know who to trust, should she look to the school master for help? Her aunt trusts him, but does she, Elizabeth? Then there's Crane, a dangerous stranger who none of the town trusts, and he gives them little reason to trust him. Instead choosing to be secretive.
As the danger mounts, and the fog thickens, Who, will she trust, who can she? Will she find the murderer, or will she only just escape with her life?
This was one of the most page gripping Gothic/Thriller books I have ever read. As good as The Lock was, this was way better. I can see myself rereading this again and again.
Although there is murder in here it's never detail in a gory way. It's perfectly clean, and has maybe one swear. I'd give it a G
Now, how can I review this without giving it all away?
Think Nancy Drew for adults. What can be a better place for a holiday than a visit to her auntie in a remote, lazy town? Elizabeth, is all set for a cozy vacation, until she is just pulling into the outskirts of the village and a deep fog sets in. Stopping by the road side she finds a body of a man with red hair… dead.
Soon she's on the run from a murderer, who's somewhere hidden in the fog, and the worst of it is, it could be anyone. Elizabeth doesn't know who to trust, should she look to the school master for help? Her aunt trusts him, but does she, Elizabeth? Then there's Crane, a dangerous stranger who none of the town trusts, and he gives them little reason to trust him. Instead choosing to be secretive.
As the danger mounts, and the fog thickens, Who, will she trust, who can she? Will she find the murderer, or will she only just escape with her life?
This was one of the most page gripping Gothic/Thriller books I have ever read. As good as The Lock was, this was way better. I can see myself rereading this again and again.
Although there is murder in here it's never detail in a gory way. It's perfectly clean, and has maybe one swear. I'd give it a G
June 7, 2018
The main character was rather annoying and the romance was silly.
December 2, 2023
4.5 Stars. This book is loaded with action and suspense! Mysterious helicopter sightings, treasure hunts, dead bodies showing up in unexpected places. The heroine is both brave and competent, things I greatly appreciate in a gothic novel. I dropped a half star because there wasn't a great romance. There was a slight love triangle (a trope I have always hated), though this one wasn't present enough to really bother me. The true love interest wasn't really compelling for me, and a lot of conflict could have been avoided if the characters would just TALK TO EACH OTHER ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE DOING. However, the amount of action and suspense scenes made up for what was lacking in romance and I am thrilled to have found another great gothic romance author.
February 22, 2015
Points for well done suspense, but the body count ended up being too high for me. I prefer stories with villains whose bark is worse than their bite, so this story felt pretty bleak to me.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews