Spindrift

by Phyllis A. Whitney

Christy Moreland, returned to the Moreland's palatial Newport estate to discover the reason for her father's death, confronts her domineering mother-in-law in a struggle for her son's freedom and her own life

Genres: Mystery, Gothic, Fiction, Romance, Gothic Romance, Romantic Suspense, Suspense

301 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Phyllis Ayame Whitney (1903 – 2008) was an American mystery writer. Rare for her genre, she wrote mysteries for both the juvenile and the adult markets, many of which feature exotic locations. A review in The New York Times once dubbed her "The Queen of the American Gothics".

She was born in Japan to American parents and spent her early years in Asia. Whitney wrote more than seventy novels. In 1961, her book The Mystery of the Haunted Pool won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best Juvenile novel, and she duplicated the honor in 1964, for The Mystery of the Hidden Hand. In 1988, the MWA gave her a Grand Master Award for lifetime achievement. Whitney died of pneumonia on February 8, 2008, aged 104.

Reviews

[Carla Remy · Rating 3 out of 5]

03/2023

From 1975
I would have given this 4 stars, but it is so very long I had to skim. Skimming bumps it down to a 3. No complaints about quality, just length.
Spindrift is the name of the house. You know it's a Gothic when houses are named.
Phyllis Whitney has great detail of plot and art and antiques. This is set in modern times (there are airplanes) but themes of the plot come from old books.
To take her child from her, is someone trying to convince the main character, Christy, that she is insane and sick? Shades of Gaslight and the Yellow Wallpaper.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I first gave this four stars, I think I was applying a liberal nostalgia filter. Figure I haven't read this since middle school.

But the story? Eh, I found myself rooting for the house burning down about a third of the way through.

The main character mainly moves the action forward by annoying other people into doing stuff. Near as I can tell, she moved the timetable up by irritating other people into action but other than that didn't affect how things would've turned out.

And she's, well, consider the following. She's been out of the hospital for a few weeks; still emotionally unstable at times. Okay, with you so far. Wants to divorce her husband. Sad but that happens I suppose. Decides that she will have custody of the kid in spite of being unemployed and not having a home. What?

You know what would have made this book really interesting though? If we had learned that Adam Keene actually did kill himself. There's no evidence given until the last minute that he actually was murdered besides Christy's conviction that he wouldn't do it. Could've been interesting to come to grips with the knowledge that sometimes people commit suicide.

[William · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Spindrift" is notable both for being the only novel Phyllis A. Whitney wrote without visiting its setting and for possessing the most annoying heroine she ever created to date. The reason for the first is because the author was apparently recovering from surgery; the reason for the second is less explainable. Perhaps Whitney just had a bad moment. Christy Moreland is quite simply annoying. She has been raised within a newspaper dynasty. Her father, a long-time editor, is her idol and she has married the son of the publisher. After her father's mysterious death, Christy has a complete breakdown and spends the entirety of "Spindrift" ranting at every character, determined to prove her father's death wasn't a suicide. That's fine, but she's unpleasant, irrational, unsympathetic, wishy-washy, stubborn and just plain unlikeable. Although it's clear her in-laws—particularly her selfish and malevolent mother in law—dislike her, are cruel to her and are likely trying to drive her into another breakdown—Christy doesn't do herself any favors. Whitney's beloved secondary characters of ominous matriarchs and difficult children also have their volume turned up to 11 here. This is a chore of a reading experience and the less said about the heroine's flip-flopping between potential love interests, the better. Just no fun at all and a major disappointment by an author who normally was at the top of her game.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember reading Phyllis Whitney mysteries in high school. I thought they were awesome. Perhaps I will go to the library and reread some of her stuff soon...

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was ok, took forever for the plot to get to where it needed to go and finish up.

[Laura L. Van Dam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cuando estaba en la secundaria, había una librería de usados cerca de mi casa que vendía libros baratísimos y además te regalaba con la compra unos señaladores de cartón con frases geniales (*).
Este libro me lo compró mi mamá en esa librería sabiendo que yo compraba casi todas las semanas, pensando que me iba a gustar. La verdad, es una novelita sentimentaloide de poco vuelo, para nada lo que suelo leer. Al menos sirvió para despejar la cabeza en época de exámenes, a la manera de las novelitas baratas de Harlequin o los fanfictions. Debería releerla para darle una puntuación realista.

(*) Ejemplos: "Hay dos clases de idiotas: los que prestan libros y los que los devuelven"; "No presto los libros ni los devuelvo: así me hice una biblioteca" etc...

[WhatShouldIRead]

I give up. After plodding along, and I mean literally plodding, I am going to put this on on the did not finish pile. The story moved beyond slow and all the characters were unlikeable in their own nasty way, whether it be indifferent, domineering, standoffish or whatever. And I didn't even get a good sense of place with this story. I had high hopes but this book let me down.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

The characters unfolded themselves slowly. Some suspicions I had were true and some weren't. It kept me guessing until the end. The main character was at times pitiable, powerful, annoying, and lovable. I am amazed that Ms. Whitney was able to fit it all in the book.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read all of her books in High School and still remember them all. Think this is why I love mysteries along with all of Nancy Drew's books.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

My very first favorite author - I have all her books -- been reading these for years

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Revisited this book after 44 years. I read this in 8th grade and gave an oral report on it!

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The main character is annoying, stupid, petty, childish, and cowardly. The book slogs along with her flightiness and tantrums then gets going a little toward the end. But the ending is awful. The only saving grace it has is that the horrible characters are stuck with one another. Huzzah.

Whitney can write and there's a nice atmosphere. That's not enough to save it, but it made it bearable for me.

[Elliott · Rating 2 out of 5]

In Spindrift, the heroine (Christy) is married, with a child. She has become estranged from her husband following her father's suspicious death, and after spending some amount of time in a psychiatric hospital, she's finally returned to her old life with the goal of solving her father's murder and spending more time with her son.

I can't stand kids, so son Peter just irritated me. I think he was necessary to keep Christy trapped in this house with so many awful people. Lots of intrigue and conspiracies against her, bodies found in armor etc. It should have been a lot darker and more suspenseful, but Christy is just so boring and stupid. There's a kind of neat twist at the end, but it doesn't make up for the plodding narrative, dull conversations, and almost total lack of action.

Disappointed!

[brightredglow · Rating 3 out of 5]

These types of books are definitely "of a certain time" so some of the content requires some squinting to blur it out. That said, I do admire how Phyllis Whitney (and Mary Stewart, Victoria Holt and Dorothy Eden, who I've read nearly in a row) can write main characters who wear their flakiness out for all to see and it is just part of pushing the plot forward.

As for "Spindrift" specifically, there aren't very many likable characters. Christy is annoying, Peter is a brat, Theo is a piece of work, and Joel is spineless until he suddenly isn't. All in all, it was a quick read and it passed the time but I think I'll have to pass on reading more Whitneys.

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christy Moreland has never believed that her father committed suicide and further she was certain that he was murdered. She was also fairly certain her rich and powerful mother-in-law knew something about it.

Now she is invited back to the old mansion in Newport and is determined to find out the truth. Will she maintain her sanity in the search of the truth?

This was a slow and plodding mystery

[Marian · Rating 2 out of 5]

A not very well written light read that works well if you have a cold and need something to read while you are wrapped up in blankets and drinking cups of hot tea! It was obvious who the bad guy was but it has been eons since junior high and a book like this would have been "exciting"! Short and quick!

[Maddie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe this is not one of her best works. I found it boring, it did not hold my interest. I will read more of her work because I do remember reading Phyllis Whitney in High School eons ago and really enjoying her stories.

[Cws]

F Whi

[Susan Kemp Maldonado · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this suspenseful mystery about the mansion of a Press Empire, The Morelands, the people in the family and those close to them. Surprise ending. Very well done.

[Beka · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a feeling I might not enjoy her books so much now, but these were a lot of fun in junior high. I still get a twinge of nostalgia when I see one of her titles at a thrift store or garage sale.

[Lori Nemitz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read between January & June 1983.

Original notes on book from 1983: Good mystery, love story.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of the best Whitney novels. The heroine is not very likable, nor are any of them. Still, it held my attention and I was racing towards the finish.

[Tina Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was obsessed with Phyllis Whitney books in high school, and this was my favorite.

[Christina Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the authors Mary Stewart, Susanna Kearsley, Madeline Brent ,and Georgette Heyer. I heard Phyllis Whitney compared and was so excited to find a new pile of books to read! I jumped in with high hopes, and for the most part was not disappointed. I thought Spindrift was a well written, engaging story that kept me interested, kept me guessing, and had no holes in the plot. She does a great job of putting you in the setting without wasting tons of time describing it. The character development was superb, and the era and location brilliantly portrayed. I was so happy to find such a talented writer with tons of books out there! But then . . . dun dun dun . . . I gave it 3 stars because I am always disappointed in a writer that has married characters falling for someone other than their spouse. Boo! At least there were no hot and heavy scenes or I would have thrown it out for sure. I hope she doesn't always stoop to this unimpressive level when it comes to love interests. Fingers crossed!

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My mom used to buy every single book written by Phyllis. She would read it and pass it along to me. After she passed away and got rid of the books. Then a few years later I was sad that I hadn't kept a few to remember her by and to remind me of our reading adventures. One day under the abyss of my bed I found not one but two that I had missed. I was so excited and felt my mom very near. Well I finally re-read this one. I loved it. I am sure you all heard me yelling at Christy to do this or do that. I would hit my forehead when she would do something obviously stupid. I didn't figure it out til near the end. My only wish was that the "wrap up" was more than a few pages. I wanted and needed more. I just love books like this that I would call a "cozy mystery" and can't wait to read the other that I had found.

[Connie Ciampanelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know what you're getting when you read Phyllis Whitney, old fashioned writing and a formula: Beautiful, wealthy young woman, married to an unsuitable man, attracted to another, strong, better man, and someone out to "get" her. Almost invariably she is on some level stupid.

Spindrift kept my attention with some decent writing and description of Newport. As a lifelong Rhode Islander, it was a treat to read of and recognize familiar spots: the mansions, Cliff Walk, Bellevue Avenue and Thames Street, Bowen and Banister wharves. The mystery here was nominally better than most and kept my interest until the ridiculous ending, so I raise my rating from 2 starts to three.

Why do I keep reading Whitney? I was a big fan in my youth and, as bad as it is, it's rather fun revisiting.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spindrift

I started reading Phyllis Whitney when I was 11 or 12, and read every book of hers that the school and public libraries had. I hadn't read any for years, but finding them on Kindle peaked my interest again. I loved this one just like all the others when I read them 50 years ago. Great mystery. The tension between the characters was magnificent. Scary, romantic, sad, and emotional all at the same time. No one beats Whitney on the descriptions of her characters and the settings. Now to decide which of her boot to read next. Maybe Collumbella, it was always my favorite.

[Barb · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've given this book two stars for the depiction of Newport where I grew up, but I was not impressed with the rest of the story. I didn't care for the gaslighting by the MIL of the heroine and all the people who were willing to help her and the heroine's husband was just too wishy-washy for me. I just can't get on board with someone who would contrive to keep a mother from her son and attempt to poison the son against her.

[Sarah Coller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whitney pulls out every known gothic trope in this not-super-deep but still satisfyingly-ended story. While she abhorred the term "gothic" applied to her writing, (preferring instead "romantic suspense") she really is one of a few queens of mid-century gothic fiction. Her heroines are known for being a little too straight-laced and that's just fine with me.

[Cricket Muse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading Spindrift reminded me of my afternoons in high school watching All My Children. Such wild drama and absurd plots!
And yet, for what it is, a modern Gothic, it works. Whitney does know how to spin a tale of romance and intrigue.