Georgette Heyer Fans discussion

Or maybe just one more time!

Warning! There are likely to be open spoilers in this thread, so please only participate if you have read all/most of GH's books or don't mind open spoilers.

For me;
My Lord John Leaden (but the introduction by GH's husband I remember as being very moving!)
Royal Escape Repetitive.
The Great Roxhythe Only funny the first time
GH's final three Regencies (Cousin Kate, Charity Girl & Lady of Quality Not her best work, although LofQ shows signs that if she had survived her illness, GH might have got her spark back.)
& above all Helen That was so awful I couldn't read GH for eight years after that.

Will only read one more time Footsteps in the Dark Mediocre
Barren Corn It's a good book but very depressing.

I’m okay with Charity Girl and Lady of Quality but agree wholeheartedly with all the rest! I also don’t really read the mysteries anymore; I find the Bright Young Things pretty affected and dreary.

very easy to define: the histories & mysteries.

not that I have read all of them once. I couldn't finish the first mystery I tried.

sabagrey wrote: "very easy to define: the histories & mysteries.

not that I have read all of them once. I couldn't finish the first mystery I tried."

GH's mysteries are uneven. You may find you like some but not others. But I know some readers like (Abigail) find The Bright Young Things & the snobbery a bit hard to stomach. :)

The mysteries are a mixed bag for me--there's only one that I will never read again and that's Penhallow. I disliked every character and regret ever spending time with them.
While I like Simon the Coldheart and tolerate An Infamous Army and Spanish Bride, I found Lord John, Royal Escape, and The Conqueror so deadly dull I vowed "never again".
I've not read her contemporary romances, nor do I have any desire to--I've read too many negative reviews!

Royal Escape
The Spanish Bride
Beauvallet
Penhallow - put me off reading her mysteries

I can't quite work myself up to read Infamous Army

On the tail end of that, I don't really like The Convenient Marriage, A Civil Contract or April Lady but that's more my personal taste than a criticism of the books.

I love Cousin Kate, I don't really get the dislike for that

I don't mind Lady of Quality, but I just reread Friday's Child after some years and found it somewhat tedious. Also, domestic abuse! Sherry slaps Hero and boxes her ears when he's annoyed with her. Just no! I don't feel I will ever read it again.

I'm with sabagrey - not into the histories or the mysteries. I would read An Infamous Army again though, but a bit of skimming might happen LOL.

My list is a lot like Carol's, adding in Penhallow and Helen. And maybe Regency Buck--there's a little too much humiliation and the hero is a bit too much of a jackwaagon.

Louise Sparrow wrote: "Penhallow - put me off reading her mysteries"

I don't think you should write off all GH's mysteries on the strength of Penhallow. It's atypical, to put it mildly. Most of them are a lot more fun. I mean, you may try one of the others and decide that's not your cup of tea either, but it would probably be for a different reason!

Sherwood wrote: "My list is a lot like Carol's, adding in Penhallow and Helen. And maybe Regency Buck--there's a little too much humiliation and the hero is a bit too much of a jackwaagon."

Last time I read Regency Buck, I didn't particularly like the hero either. There wasn't that much overt romance in the book either. So, not a fav, but I will probably read that one again anyway.

The historicals don’t interest me, I’ve skipped them based on reviews. I read Regency Buck once, found it humorless and really disliked the hero and heroine. Cousin Kate had a likable heroine, but I really dislike the Gothic style - too melodramatic for my taste. The last read, in 2020, left me feeling very sad for the mentally ill characters.

I skipped the historicals.
I really like Lady of Quality and like Charity Girl.

I'm not a fan of the Gothics and I disliked April Lady so much. I don't wish to read An Infamous Army again either. Mostly though, her worst books are better than most of the junk published today. The library closures during the pandemic forced me to sign up for Kindle Unlimited and "in the tradition of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer" means copying the originals without the skill to make it original and sparkling. I did read a few I liked well enough to read more of but nothing compares to Austen and Heyer.

Oh this is a great thread idea!

For me, it is definitely these titles:
The Spanish Bride
A Blunt Instrument


Probably these:
Envious Casca
Charity Girl



And maybe these:
Cousin Kate
Barren Corn
Regency Buck
The Corinthian


I actually liked Barren Corn, although I don't really want to re-read it. And Penhallow I would like to give one more read through, to see how it goes a second time.

I think the only one I feel really strongly that I would never reread is Penhallow. It's hard to describe what a downer that book was. There are others I tried to read but never finished and I doubt I'll ever try again--those would be The Conqueror, The Spanish Bride and An Infamous Army.

Interesting topic, Carol!

Oh Penhallow is definitely on that list. I hated it. Thank goodness it wasn't the first GH that I read - as I would never have read another!

I don't like the detectives. Once was sufficient!
Like Abigail, I dislike the bright young things. I find the snobbish, class ridden attitudes so overt in the detectives. With the Georgian and Regency books, a couple of hundred years makes it much easier for me to tolerate and I can read them as pure fantasy escapism.

I don't like her historicals because I don't think she gets the right voice and tone. Books like The Great Roxhythe and Royal Escape are a sentimental, biased tribute to her idols. I don't rate her historical research in these books as I do in the Georgian and Regency novels.

I haven't read her all historical fiction and detective novels yet, and only "A Proposal to Cicely" as a contemporary story (I can't find copies of her contemporary novels).

I am slowly (between many other books) rereading her historical romances. So far, I don't feel that one or two times are enough.

I am not planning to reread those detective stories I have read (although most of them I enjoyed). But who knows what the future brings?

I loved "Royal Escape", "The Conqueror" and "Simon the Coldheart", but I am not sure if I will like them so highly also after the second read.

Answering the main question: so far - I don't feel that way about any of her books.

Susan in Perthshire wrote: "Books like The Great Roxhythe and Royal Escape are a sentimental, biased tribute to her idols."

I could not have put it half as well as you did here. detto this:

"With the Georgian and Regency books, a couple of hundred years makes it much easier for me to tolerate and I can read them as pure fantasy escapism."

As soon as GH comes closer to our own times - e.g. in the detective stories - her attitudes become glaring and intolerable. For the Georgian/Regency books, I manage to switch off those alarm bells as long as she doesn't touch on sensitive issues - and she doesn't often do so.

& I forgot what is (for me) GH's worst mystery (but best title) Why Shoot a Butler? I have to say I didn't hate it as much when I read it with this group as I did on my first read. But GH herself said she couldn't follow the plot & I can't stand Frank. Easily GH's most unappealing hero.

I'll never read it again.

sabagrey wrote: "As soon as GH comes closer to our own times - e.g. in the detective stories - her attitudes become glaring and intolerable. "

Maybe that is why I can't stand Frank! 🤣

QNPoohBear wrote: "Mostly though, her worst books are better than most of the junk published today. The library closures during the pandemic forced me to sign up for Kindle Unlimited and "in the tradition of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer" means copying the originals without the skill to make it original and sparkling. I did read a few I liked well enough to read more of but nothing compares to Austen and Heyer. "

Ha ha yes! Well said and so true.

The latest thing seems to be to promote HRs as being like the Bridgerton series. 'If you loved Bridgerton, you'll love this....." Believe it or not, some Heyer kindle books have been advertised this way recently. LOL.

https://www.amazon.com.au/Quiet-Gentl...

I don't mind some of the Bridgerton books actually, but they are not on a par with Heyer. Still, it may bring some new readers to Heyer, I suppose.....

QNPoohBear wrote: "in the tradition of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer"

These words should be enough to tell you it is trash.

There simply cannot be anything in the tradition of Jane Austen AND Georgette Heyer.

sabagrey wrote: "QNPoohBear wrote: "in the tradition of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer"

These words should be enough to tell you it is trash.

There simply cannot be anything in the tradition of Jane Austen AND..."

Alice Chetwynd Ley came pretty close to copying Heyer while still being original but she missed the sparkling wit. 95% of books on Kindle Unlimited are terrible no matter what genre they are.

QNPoohBear wrote: "sabagrey wrote: "QNPoohBear wrote: "in the tradition of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer"

These words should be enough to tell you it is trash.

There simply cannot be anything in the tradition o..."

Gosh what a sweeping generalisation and condemnation of the book s on KU - 95% are terrible are they? That has not been my experience at all.

I love Kindle Unlimited. I have read hundreds of books from KU and discovered some fabulous writers.

Interestingly, I discovered books by Alice Chetwynd Ley on there. It seems to be a regular tactic by publishers attempting to find new readers of old writers to put them on KU. A great idea in my opinion.

I’ve discovered writers who were not to my taste, and yes, I’ve also found writers whose book I thought was rubbish - but they certainly don’t constitute 95% of my reading.

Overall, my experience of KU has been incredibly positive. I have discovered writers in many different genres whose books I liked so much, I went on to buy more.

I would hate prospective KU readers to believe that 95% of their content was ‘terrible’, as that has definitely not been my experience. We must agree to disagree on the benefits of Kindle Unlimited.

Susan in Perthshire wrote: "Gosh what a sweeping generalisation and condemnation of the book s on KU - 95% are terrible are they? That has not been my experience at all. ."

It's not a condemnation of books on KU (don't know anything about it) - it's a condemnation of lumping these two authors together. What good can come out of that?

I know it's done all the time, in complete ignorance of time, background, and goal of their writing.

sabagrey wrote: "Susan in Perthshire wrote: "Gosh what a sweeping generalisation and condemnation of the book s on KU - 95% are terrible are they? That has not been my experience at all. ."

It's not a condemnation..."

My post was in response to QNPoohBear’s comment condemning KU - she said 95% of KU was terrible. It was not in response to your, or her comments about Jane Austen etc.

Susan in Perthshire wrote: "My post was in response to QNPoohBear’s comment condemning KU "

so sorry, I have mixed up the thread, obviously. The pieces of quotes that one gets pasted in when replying are sometimes really confusing.

sabagrey wrote: "Susan in Perthshire wrote: "My post was in response to QNPoohBear’s comment condemning KU "

so sorry, I have mixed up the thread, obviously. The pieces of quotes that one gets pasted in when reply..."

It’s okay - I find it a problem too!

Occasionally I think about re-reading Penhallow, but then I remember that although I really like the set-up, none of the characters is likeable and why depress myself? But I like most of her other mysteries and re-read some of them a lot (I enjoy A Blunt Instrument a lot, though I know it's not popular). I haven't read any of Heyer's contemporaries, though.

Decades ago, I disliked all the mysteries but since then have come to appreciate all of them except Penhallow.

I would absolutely agree that the The Bright Young Things tend to be unlikeable, especially if you contrast them with characters in the romances. At some point I was able to get past that and enjoy each mystery for the good parts. (I especially enjoy The Unfinished Clue, Behold Here's Poison, and Envious Casca.)

I also disliked Cousin Kate initially but over time have come to enjoy Kate's interaction with Sarah and her family. I have come to like all the romances to some extent.

I recently read The Spanish Bride with the group and have no desire to ever read it again.

I am still at the stage of discovering GH, but I am not at all interested in her detective fiction, her "contemporary" books or her historical books before the Regency.

Maybe the biography I read about her is partly to blame, but I have no regrets about reading it and having some kind of foreknowledge of these books. It spares me wasting time and money (in Hungary, only a 7 of her "romance" books got translated altogether or can be borrowed from the library).

Melindam wrote: "I am still at the stage of discovering GH, but I am not at all interested in her detective fiction, her "contemporary" books or her historical books before the Regency.

Maybe the biography I read ..."

My top ten Heyer’s are all set in either the Georgian or Regency period. I think this is the genre she created and made her own and the one which showcases her multiple talents, the best.

Georgian/Regency periods were her real niche. :)

Louise Sparrow wrote: "Royal Escape
The Spanish Bride
Beauvallet
Penhallow - put me off reading her mysteries

I can't quite work myself up to read Infamous Army

On the tail end of that, I don't really like The Convenie..."


I agree with you about "Cousin Kate". It is definitely a lot darker than Heyer's other romances but I really enjoyed it and would recommend.

Sherwood wrote: "My list is a lot like Carol's, adding in Penhallow and Helen. And maybe Regency Buck--there's a little too much humiliation and the hero is a bit too much of a jackwaagon."

My list included Helen. :) I think it is her worst book.

Apparently GH herself thought The Great Roxhythe was.

Susan in Perthshire wrote: "My top ten Heyer’s are all set in either the Georgian or Regency period. I think this is the genre she created and made her own and the one which showcases her multiple talents, the best."

I agree, Susan! My top ten are also in that era.

Melindam wrote: "Georgian/Regency periods were her real niche. :)"

If she wanted to write mystery, it would have been better to set them in that period, too. She was good at integrating such elements (e.g. Tollgate, Talisman Ring, Reluctant Widow), and could have pioneered yet another genre, the Regency Mystery. Sometimes I imagine that a couple like Tristram/Sarah deserved a series and should have gone on to solve a few more cases.

sabagrey wrote: "Melindam wrote: "Georgian/Regency periods were her real niche. :)"

If she wanted to write mystery, it would have been better to set them in that period, too. She was good at integrating such eleme..."

Oh, I love historical mysteries, that would have been great fun!

Yes I love The Reluctant Widow, Toll-gate and The Quiet Gentleman - so more would have been lovely!

I think of Penhallow as being a GH contemporary & it is unfortunate that it is grouped with her mysteries. I guess it was easier for the publishers/publicists to market them that way.

I will read again but it certainly isn't on high rotate. I don't read GH to be depressed.

Susan in Perthshire said "......I dislike the bright young things. I find the snobbish, class ridden attitudes so overt in the detectives. (and I would add that it's far worse in the families under investigation ) With the Georgian and Regency books, a couple of hundred years makes it much easier for me to tolerate and I can read them as pure fantasy escapism"

Exactly. However I do like Penhallow, well, like is perhaps the wrong word , appreciate maybe. Helen and Barren Corn , no won't read again , nor My Lord John nor Simon the Coldheart .

I won't read The Great Roxhythe again ... and I just noticed it's being released for audiobook in May, which surprised me. How could it be popular enough for that?

https://www.audible.ca/pd/The-Great-R...

Julia wrote: "I won't read The Great Roxhythe again ... and I just noticed it's being released for audiobook in May, which surprised me. How could it be popular enough for that?

https://www.audible.ca/pd/The-Gr..."

Maybe it is out of copyright? It is a very early title.

Ugh, I can't imagine listening to Christopher's fawning - it was bad enough reading it!

The Great Roxhythe was awful but I don’t like Faro’s Daughter or Regency Buck. The characters in them are dreadful although I don’t mind Judith and Worth in An Infamous Army which I really like.

Anne wrote: "The Great Roxhythe was awful but I don’t like Faro’s Daughter or Regency Buck. The characters in them are dreadful although I don’t mind Judith and Worth in An Infamous Army which I really like."

... I guess that, based on your preference of characters, you can't like 'Bath Tangle' either. Am I right?

I enjoy Bath Tangle but don’t revisit very often as there are others that I like much more.

For me, I would say "Venetia" and "Friday's Child." I didn't like the heroes in both books and "Friday's Child" I found to be very tedious reading.

I know I'm likely in a minority, but it is "These Old Shades" for me. I understand it's one of her earliest efforts and and and, but I simply cannot dredge up any sympathy or liking for any of the characters, and the whole "blood will tell" theme is cringe-worthy a hundred years later.

I've only read a couple of the mysteries, and was unimpressed. Life's too short to try reading books for pleasure that likely won't be pleasurable!

Not a fan of TOS either but I've read it a few times. It's funnier on audio but like Marissa, I'm not a fan of that theme.

Lauren wrote: "For me, I would say "Venetia" and "Friday's Child." I didn't like the heroes in both books and "Friday's Child" I found to be very tedious reading."

Well I still love Venetia, (and Damerel!) but I'm with you on Friday's Child. I reread it not that long ago after some years, and found it to be hard going. I don't think I'll ever read it again.

Marissa wrote: "I know I'm likely in a minority, but it is "These Old Shades" for me. I understand it's one of her earliest efforts and and and, but I simply cannot dredge up any sympathy or liking for any of the ..."

What a shame, Marissa, but I do understand. I'm still a fan of These Old Shades, however. I still love Justin and Leonie after many rereads. It's a little old-fashioned now, yes, but for me their love story is still a thing of beauty.

Like you, I've never been a fan of the mysteries though. Not my cup of tea.