Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

This is the thread for the September 2026 Buddy Read of Wildfire at Midnight by Mary Stewart

Thank you , Sara ! Will you , by any chance , join in ?
I've downloaded the book , and will be starting on the 1st . Looking very much forward to reading another thrilling Mary Stewart 😊 .

Thank you Sara. Welcome Savita. I'm not sure whether I'll be able to start exactly on the 1st, but I have my copy and will start the first week of September. I'm looking forward to it too :)

I'm not sure if I can fit it in, but I have it on the list. I am still working on August reads! I always feel a little guilty about reading books I have already read when I have commitments to books I haven't read. Teri-K will tell me that is nonsense. 😉

I checked my Kindle library today to make sure that I actually had a copy -- I do! Like Sara, I'm finishing up my August books, but I think I can sneak in a few pages on the 1st ;)
I'm looking forward to it!

Wobbley wrote: "Thank you Sara. Welcome Savita. I'm not sure whether I'll be able to start exactly on the 1st, but I have my copy and will start the first week of September. I'm looking forward to it too :)"

Hi , Wobbley ! Since your reading speed is good , even if you begin a little later , you'll soon catch up and go right ahead 😊 .

Sara wrote: "I'm not sure if I can fit it in, but I have it on the list. I am still working on August reads! I always feel a little guilty about reading books I have already read when I have commitments to book..."

Yes , can't crowd too many books into a limited space , then none of them make sense . Once , I remember, April said she was reading 7 books together ! I had to smile . I wouldn't remember which character belonged to which novel 😄 !

Terris wrote: "I checked my Kindle library today to make sure that I actually had a copy -- I do! Like Sara, I'm finishing up my August books, but I think I can sneak in a few pages on the 1st ;)
I'm looking forw..."

Yay , Terris , welcome 😊 !
Let's see how far I get before you and Wobbley catch up with me 😊 . ... and then march right ahead 😉

I don't think I'm very far ahead! I only just started the second chapter and I like it already :)
I'm glad for Gianetta to visit the Isle of Skye! I looked it up on the map and found the little village of Elgol where she got on the boat. I feel like I'm travelling vicariously through her, and I love Scotland! So I'll be happy just feeling like I'm there, and I'm sure that Mary Stewart has an interesting story ready for us ;)

I had forgotten this one is in Scotland. Mary Stewart knows Scotland! She lived there most of her married life. I always feel like I am "traveling with her", Terris. I might have to toss up everything else and just have a little fun reading this.

Sara wrote: "I had forgotten this one is in Scotland. Mary Stewart knows Scotland! She lived there most of her married life. I always feel like I am "traveling with her", Terris. I might have to toss up everyth..."

I really think you should!! ;)

Ooh, I didn't realize this was was in Scotland! I've never done the boat trip from Elgol, but Scotland is my favourite place I've visited, and Skye was my favourite part of Scotland, just so beautiful. I'm excited to get to this one! I hope I'll be able to start sometime on the weekend.

I hope you can join us Sara! :)

Terris wrote: "I don't think I'm very far ahead! I only just started the second chapter and I like it already :)
I'm glad for Gianetta to visit the Isle of Skye! I looked it up on the map and found the little vil..."

I have just finished chapter 1 and love the descriptions of nature as they are approaching Skye : And locked in the great arms of the mountains , the water lay quiet as a burnished shield , reflecting in the deeper blue and the deeper gold the paegentry of hill and sky . One thin gleaming line , as bright as a rapier , quivered between the world of reality and the water world below . How perfect are her descriptions.. leaves you sighing happily. You're right , Terris , it'll be lovely traveling vicariously with her .. only thing , a murder mystery is coming up , too 🫣😳 .. but also some good romance ...

Sara wrote: "I had forgotten this one is in Scotland. Mary Stewart knows Scotland! She lived there most of her married life. I always feel like I am "traveling with her", Terris. I might have to toss up everyth..."


Oh yes , do join us if possible , Sara ... it'll be great to have you with us ! In case you've already read this , you'll be able to finish quickly.

Sara wrote: I'm not sure if I can fit it in, but I have it on the list. I am still working on August reads! I always feel a little guilty about reading books I have already read when I have commitments to books I haven't read. Teri-K will tell me that is nonsense. 😉"

Oh, dear, am I becoming the local rereading nag? lol You should read in whatever way makes you happiest, Sara. But I hope it allows the time for you to squeeze in a trip to the Isle of Skye soon. :)

I just realized it's September and there are several new buddy and group reads starting for me. My only excuse is that school just started here and the youngest grandsons' bus schedule means I'm getting up 90 minutes earlier than I did this summer and being busy for several hours before everyone takes off.

So I've been a bit draggy lately. Which perhaps accounts for the fact that I spend ten minutes searching my shelves for this book, only to find I'd already set it aside some time earlier. But even my sleep-deprived brain will be able to enjoy Stewart's writing, I'm sure. I can't wait to dive in again.

Wobbley wrote: "Ooh, I didn't realize this was was in Scotland! I've never done the boat trip from Elgol, but Scotland is my favourite place I've visited, and Skye was my favourite part of Scotland, just so beauti..."

Oh , you've actually been to Scotland and seen Skye .. how exciting to read a novel set in a place you've actually been to 👌. I have begun the novel and greatly enjoying the descriptions of nature in the first chapter. Perhaps you could add some comments on your own experience of the place . Am I right , Scotland is know for it's many castles ?

I also think it is would be marvelous to have been to the place you are reading about, Wobbley. Always adds a tiny bit more to the read.

Teri-K...I am laughing at your post. Sounds so much like me lately, especially the part about looking for the book.

Thanks to everyone for the welcome. I found my copy.

Teri-K wrote: "Sara wrote: I'm not sure if I can fit it in, but I have it on the list. I am still working on August reads! I always feel a little guilty about reading books I have already read when I have commitm..."

That was rather cute about the book , Teri ! But , honestly, your schedule sounds very busy .. but , don't feel harassed, have no tensions... take up Wildfire at Midnight when you're feeling relaxed and likely to enjoy the book . As you know , we're all here till the last one finishes. 👍

Savita wrote: "Am I right , Scotland is know for it's many castles ?"

Yes Savita, Scotland has a lot of castles, though they are often smaller and less elaborate than what you might typically envision as a castle. A lot of them are still intact, and a lot of them are crumbling to pieces, which has its own kind of windswept appeal.

I recommend you look up photos of Eileen Donan Castle. It's on the mainland, but just by the bridge to Skye, with a backdrop of water and low mountains; it's very picturesque. The bridge was only built in the 1990s, so I'm expecting that in this book the island will only be accessible by boat.

Savita wrote: "Oh , you've actually been to Scotland and seen Skye ... Perhaps you could add some comments on your own experience of the place ."

I have been to Skye twice, once in summer and once in fall. First, there are hardly any trees. Apart from the rocky mountains near the middle of the island, it's mainly hilly moorland, which has grasses, moss, ferns, low shrubs, rocks, lots of heather, and is often quite damp or peaty. There are often sheep grazing on the open moorlands. In the fall there is green, but also different browns, oranges and dark reds. In summer there is a lot of green everywhere, and it looks quite velvety in texture, like a fairy tale land (for example, do a search for images of "the Quiraing" -- this is my favourite place on Skye).

On the side road that goes from the main road to Elgol, you pass through the Red Cuillins; these are gentler more rounded mountains, a mix of green (grass, moss, etc.) and rock. When I was there, the colour of the rocks was a mix of peach and purple and light grey. North of Elgol (at Camasunary, for instance) you're in the Black Cuillins; these mountains are much more rugged and steep and difficult to climb with dramatic crevices, and the rock is dark grey or black. They are steep enough that in many areas the green doesn't get up very high on them.

And you're never far from water. Skye is an island, but it's not a round island. It's got peninsulas sticking out every which way. The shoreline is rocky, and in some places there are cliffs at the shore. It's often rainy or foggy, in every season but I found more so in fall than summer. It's very windy; I've had to wear a winter hat even when the sun is hot in summer, because my ears get so cold from the wind. Sometimes it's so windy that long hair blows not only sideways but sort of upwards.

It's definitely one of the most beautiful places I've ever been.

I started the book this evening, and this post has spoilers through chapter 2.

Well, I'm very happy to be back in Mary Stewart's world. In general, I enjoyed these chapters.

Chapter 1 had some lovely descriptions of the scenery, introduced a few characters, and hinted at a mystery with people not wanting her to go walking alone (though that may just be a safety issue, because it's easy to go wrong in the fog if you're in the hills). The only thing I didn't like was how jarring it was how much everyone smokes and litters, but that's not a fault with the book, just a difference between that time and my time.

Chapter 2 adds a bit more weight to the mystery, which probably has something to do with the mountain closest to the hotel. This chapter surprised me. I wasn't expecting the hotel to be full of celebrities, and I think that changes what they can do with the story quite a bit from my original expectations. At first I thought the man she met in the boat (Mr. Grant) might be the book's love interest. When the famous actress mentioned that someone arrived the previous night whose name she doesn't know, my first reaction was that I had been wrong and this new person would be the love interest. But then I noticed he was a writer, and started wondering whether he would be her ex. At the end of the chapter, we find out that's true. But I still think he'll be the love interest (they'll get back together, which will solve her problem with her mother), and this doesn't make me very happy, because honestly, he cheated on her and doesn't deserve to get her back. I'd rather she find happiness with someone who won't cheat on her. But I trust Mary Stewart, and I'll go along and see what she has in mind, and how she'll pull it off.

I'm looking forward to getting back to this tomorrow. I've been at a bit of a slower point in my reading, and Mary Stewart feels like a breath of fresh air.

Wobbley wrote: "Savita wrote: "Am I right , Scotland is know for it's many castles ?"

Yes Savita, Scotland has a lot of castles, though they are often smaller and less elaborate than what you might typically envi..."

Thank you for your suggestion , Wobbley! In the pictures of the Eileen Donan castle , it looks quite well preserved , though it was made in the 13th century! Only pictures from the outside were shown , but none from the interior.

Wobbley wrote: "Savita wrote: "Oh , you've actually been to Scotland and seen Skye ... Perhaps you could add some comments on your own experience of the place ."

I have been to Skye twice, once in summer and once..."

Lovely description of Skye and its neighborhood, Wobbley 👌! I'll look up Quiraing tomorrow.
Thanks for sharing! 🙏

Wobbley wrote: "I started the book this evening, and this post has spoilers through chapter 2.

Well, I'm very happy to be back in Mary Stewart's world. In general, I enjoyed these chapters.

Chapter 1 had some lo..."


I've finished chapter 1 and enjoyed it thoroughly 😊. Now , onto chapter 2

I have now read through Chapter Four and invested in the story in the way only Mary Stewart seems to have with me. I find it amazing that I can have read these books so many times and remember so few details. The upside of that is that it is like reading it for the first time again. I loved the back story of way she got her name and I'm guessing some of the spunkiness of great-grandmama has made its way down to her.

I was also surprised that the hotel was full of celebrities and people she knew or knew of, but that makes it easier to believe the interactions. For instance, I don't think Marcia would have begun sharing stories with her if she had just been another stranger at the hotel, but having seen her before and knowing she is in the entertainment industry makes it natural that they would "gossip" a bit.

Of course, I know much will be brewing with Mr. Grant and the forbidden mountain (don't yet know why). And, I am appropriately swept off my feet by Nicholas already and feeling the approaching rain and the dangers of the terrain they are about to step into.

Love you descriptions of Skye, Wobbley. I've been to Mull which is also quite beautiful and I am enjoying the specificity of the time at which the book is set - the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. I'm up to Chapter 4, it's a quick read. It feels like a bit of an attempt at the classic countryhouse mystery with a twist. Look forward to you thoughts, Savita.

Wobbley, I had meant to say the same as Carolien...your descriptions are beautiful. When Mary Stewart is taking us into Skye on the boat, I could just feel the air and see the colors, and then your descriptions of the different colors of the different levels of the mountains reinforced the image I have in my head.

The two of you are lucky to have been there!

Sara wrote: "The two of you are lucky to have been there!"

Yes Sara, you are so right about that!

I'm glad everyone is enjoying it so far.

This post has spoilers through chapter 9.

I'm finding this very engaging and easy to read. I think Nicholas will be a good guy in the end, but unlike Sara I'm not feeling swept away by him yet. (Glad you decided to join us Sara!) I had been thinking that if Mary Stewart decided to get them back together, that somehow Nicholas wouldn't have cheated on her after all, and it would all have been a misunderstanding. But a couple of times now she's gone for the "if you want to keep your husband just put up with whatever he does" speech, that makes me cringe. It's just really different from my own values, in which marriage is an equal partnership. This may just be a sign of the different times in which the author and I live, but it also means I'm no longer confident that Nicholas won't have cheated on her, and she'll take him back anyway. I actually find myself hoping that there won't be a romance in this book, and it will be about her finding peace for herself, but that's probably not realistic of me.

So, who is the bad guy? I have two suspects so far: Mr. Grant and Marcia (who may have been helped by her chauffeur). Mr. Grant I suspect because he still seems like the most obvious potential love interest, but I think she'll end up with nobody or with her ex, so there will need to be a reason to ditch Grant (him being a murderer is a pretty good reason). I only started suspecting Marcia when they went into her room and saw the staged doll on her bed; her reaction seemed very much like an actress making a good show of it (plus, she happened to invite Janet to her room that one time, giving her an audience). The fact that Marcia left the next morning puts a bit of a damper on my suspicions, but I think it's too soon to abandon them. (Also, if she is part of the bad-guy team, Nicholas kissing her may have had nothing to do with attraction; he may have been trying to get close to her to find something out.) In any case, my reasons for suspecting both of them are pretty thin.

Also, chapter 9, in which they are out looking for the lost climbers, really reminded me of my own travels in Britain. I have absolutely gotten myself up a hill in the rain by clinging onto heather, only to find myself facing a treacherous field of scree. :)

I'm still enjoying this, finding it fun and easy to keep reading.

Like Carolien, I just finished Ch 3 and am anxious to get into Ch 4!

Yes, I love all the beautiful descriptions, and I'm very interested to see where this story is going -- with Gianetta just showing up, out of the blue, at the same location where her ex-husband just happens to be visiting! What?! And I'm kind of like Wobbley, I don't think I want her to end up with her ex. We'll have to see what happens there ;)

Wobbley, thanks so much for giving us information about which places to look up -- the Eileen Donal Castle is beautiful! And I also looked up Quiraing. I liked the photo so much that I saved it for my wallpaper on my iPad! Now I get to see it every time I start to read! Happy Reading, everyone :)

Terris wrote: "Wobbley, thanks so much for giving us information about which places to look up -- the Eileen Donal Castle is beautiful! And I also looked up Quiraing. I liked the photo so much that I saved it for my wallpaper on my iPad! Now I get to see it every time I start to read!"

Yay, this makes me so happy! It really is just stunningly beautiful.

This post has spoilers through chapter 15.

Well, things are certainly moving along at quite a pace now, and it's getting hard to put the book down. They've found both the missing women, and there's been another unrelated murder, that continues the idea of a ritual killing.

Here is my status on suspects. I'm more suspicious of Mr. Grant than ever. His behaviour when they found Roberta was suspicious, trying to get Janet to leave (which would have left him alone with the unconscious girl). Janet is going back upstairs to watch over Roberta for the night, and they casually mentioned that Mr. Grant gave her a drink, and I half wonder whether it's drugged so she'll fall asleep. Marcia hasn't returned yet, and I'm reserving judgement on her. I have two new suspects: Alastair Blaine and Hubert Hay. Alastair just always seems to be right on the periphery at important moments. With Hay, Janet specifically thinks to herself that he can't have killed Marion Bradford, because he was taking photos with her at at the time; for some reason, her carefully reminding us of this made me suspicious of Hay. So, my suspect pool is increasing, and my reasons for suspecting them remain tenuous. Mr. Grant is the most obvious suspect at the moment, so he's probably innocent.

And I now very firmly don't want Janet to get back together with Nicholas. Honestly, he's being a complete jerk to her. But I still sort of suspect they might end up together anyway.

So, I'm very much invested in the story, and very keen to continue. Janet is just about to watch over the unconscious Roberta for the night with the policeman, and chances are someone will try to intervene during the night. I expect it to matter that they turn off the power in the hotel at midnight every night. It will probably also matter that the overnight sky never gets truly dark at this time of year.

This post has spoilers through chapter 18.

Well, I was right that the murderer tried to attack during the night, but that one's obvious enough that I don't get bonus points. I was wrong about:
- her drink being drugged
- the lack of power overnight being a factor (they left the power on)
- the non-dark nights being a factor

So, I'm not batting that high right now.

There is new intrigue: her father wrote to Nicholas at this hotel. So her father knew her ex was here when he gave her the address.

Also, she's learned about the traditional island rituals that are similar to some of the murders, and she thinks the mountain accidents earlier in the year are also murders. If I were them, I'd check who had been around for all the accidents too (and maybe the inspector has done that). Instead, she assumes because this is Nicholas's book that he's the murderer; I still think he'll end up being innocent. Time will tell...

from chapter 19:

The mist that, earlier that morning, had blanketed the glen, had now lifted and rolled back, to lie in long vapour-veils on the lower slopes to Blaven and Sgurr na Stri. Just beside us, An't Sron was all but invisible in its shroud, and from its feet the loch stretched northwards, pale-glimmering, to merge with the mist above it in a shifting opalescent haze. ... The river, sliding out of the loch in a great slithering fan of silver, narrowed where we stood in a deeper channel, wrangling and glittering among boulders that broke it into foam or shouldered it up in glossy curves for all the world like the backs of leaping salmon.

Her descriptions of setting are always wonderful.

This post has spoilers through the end of the book.

Well, I just ripped through this one. Obviously I found it very engaging, it was very exciting and I didn't want to stop reading.

My only complaint is the romance. I think the book would have been better without it. It's the one I expected all along while reading, but still. He cheated on her. They meet again after 4 years, and he's a complete jerk to her, and says such nasty things. He says he wants her back, but he's not being very convincing about that: he spent her first evening there snogging Marcia. Sure, he helped to save her from the bad guy, which is definitely a point in his favour, but so did lots of other people. I just don't think a single conversation in the last few pages of the book makes up for everything, and allows this to be a satisfying ending. I mentioned before how much I disliked her attitude of "if you want to keep your husband don't complain about anything he does". I was hoping she would outgrow that and develop a sense of self worth. Instead, at the end, she just tells him never to leave her again; she doesn't tell him never to betray her again.

So that's a long paragraph about a few pages I found unsatisfying. On the whole, I thought this was a terrific adventure/thriller. I'm glad we read it!

Starting my reread of this book - no spoilers yet.

As usual I looked up the epigraph. Stewart was offered places at Oxford, Cambridge, and Durham universities. She went to Durham and graduated with first-class honors in English, and I've found her literary references always meaningful.

"Wildfire at midnight. In his heedless fury
He may show violence to cross himself.
I'll follow the events."
From a Jacobean era play "The Revenger's Tragedy" by T Middleton.

Apparently the quote begins "There's gunpowder i' th' court, Wildfire...: The speaker is describing tensions in the palace. The person being described is so out of control that in his rage he might do something that seems good, like crossing himself for protection, but end up destroying himself or others. It's a very volatile situation that could explode at any time, and the observer is going to watch and see what happens.

I remember very little of this book, so I'm wondering if revenge will play a role in it? Or is the story more focused on the violent, uncontrolled actions of the baddie? Are innocent people going to be hurt? And does the idea of religion or some kind of action taken for protection that backfires come into the story? I'll be watching as I read. Enquiring minds want to know. :)

Thank you for explaining the epigraph Teri-K! Having just finished the book, it's interesting to look back through that lens.

I'm glad you're able to start now. You already know this, but you're in for a treat!

I also sped through this once I got going.
Spoilers through end of book
Like Wobbley, I think this is one of Mary Stewart's weakest romance threads. I think the fast pace and the mystery make up for that. When I am reading, I never dissect the people or the plot, but afterward, I cannot help thinking about incongruent elements. Despite what occurred between Nicholas and Gianetta in the marriage, shouldn't she know him well enough not to ever suspect him of being a murderer? And with so little evidence to back up her suspicions? I am going to give him a pass on being nasty to her in the hallway, since she made it clear she might suspect him of murder and she is all over this guy she just met.

Nicholas' explanation of kissing Marcia was a hoot. He was more "kissed than kissing". Oh seriously, I'm buying that one. At least it wasn't him in with her for the night.

And, of course, why would she keep going off with these men she has only known a few days when there is a serial murderer on the prowl? I would only want to be in groups!

But, my logic would ruin a good story. Besides the excessive smoking--as much a part of a Mary Stewart novel as the bountiful descriptions--this one really does have a lot of elements that date it, particularly the relationships between the men and women. We've come a long way in my lifetime. Still rollicking fun, 4.5-stars and I kept my 5-star rating.

spoilers through the end of the book

Sara wrote: "I also sped through this once I got going.
Like Wobbley, I think this is one of Mary Stewart's weakest romance threads. I think the fast pace and the mystery make up f..."

Yes, I agree with all of this Sara. The relationship was frustrating in just about every way, but I thought the pacing of the main plot was so tight. In that sense, the adventure/thriller part of this was one of the best I've read from her, but yeah, the romance was probably my worst from her so far. I thought about giving it 4 stars, but in the end decided to be a bit more merciful about the romance (which, after all, didn't take up that much of the book), and settled on 4.5.

I'm so glad you were able to fit this in after all, and that you enjoyed it so much.

Slight spoilers for Chapters 1-6

Chapter 1 -
I appreciated how quickly Stewart moved us to Skye. Who wants to spend a chapter or two on the trip when you can be dropped onto that lovely water between the hills and mountains? And we've met a likable, capable young man, plus someone who's created a bit of mystery. What a good start!

There's a painting called My Lady Greensleeves by Rosetti. It looks like the inspiration for the painting Stewart created for the imaginary Zollner.

Chapter 2 -
I confess I enjoy a book that finds a way to describe all the important characters in one place. I often bookmark it in case I need to check back to keep them straight.

Chapter 6 -
Scary with Gianetta feeling her way through the dark hotel after hearing about the murder. I'd have stayed in my room and suffered the headache!

In the dark Gianetta grabbed 2 novels by Scottish writers which makes sense for the hotel. But why did Stewart choose these two?

Bride of Lammermore by Walter Scott: I like Scott but haven't read this story of a young couple who fall in love. She's tricked into marriage to another man, stabs him and goes insane. Her lover dies in quicksand.

The Golden Bough by J G Frazer: It's described as " a wide-ranging, comparative study of mythology and religion." Including "fertility rites, human sacrifice, the dying god, the scapegoat, and many other symbols and practices..."

I'm pretty sure Stewart is trying to tell us something here. :)

Absolutely, Teri-K, I love the story started with a bang.
Stewart is a wizard at dropping clues that nobody notices. Good for you on noticing the books.

The Rosetti is beautiful (I went searching as well) and I think you are right, since Gianetta has auburn hair.

spoilers through chapter 6

Teri-K wrote: "In the dark Gianetta grabbed 2 novels by Scottish writers which makes sense for the hotel. But why did Stewart choose these two? ..."

You're so good at this Teri-K! When I was reading, it honestly didn't occur to me that the books might have a hidden meaning. I think I just glossed right over which books they were.

Teri-K wrote: "Chapter 2 - I confess I enjoy a book that finds a way to describe all the important characters in one place. I often bookmark it in case I need to check back to keep them straight."

Haha, yes! I went back to this section a few times while I was figuring out who everyone was.

Wobbley wrote: "You're so good at this Teri-K! When I was reading, it honestly didn't occur to me that the books might have a hidden meaning. I think I just glossed right over which books they were.

Haha, yes! I went back to this section a few times while I was figuring out who everyone was..."

I'm glad I'm not the only one who uses those "Let's meet all the characters" sections that way! As for the literary references, I've decided that Stewart's use of them pretty much always bears digging into. You don't need them to enjoy the story, but they feel like little Easter eggs I can savor as I read.

Wobbley wrote: "I started the book this evening, and this post has spoilers through chapter 2.

Well, I'm very happy to be back in Mary Stewart's world. In general, I enjoyed these chapters.

Chapter 1 had some lo..."

Spoilers through chapter 2

I was wondering whether Roderick Grant will prove to be her love interest . I just don't like her ex at all .. he's such a casanova 🤔.

Sara wrote: "I have now read through Chapter Four and invested in the story in the way only Mary Stewart seems to have with me. I find it amazing that I can have read these books so many times and remember so f..."

Yes , even for Agatha Christie 's books , I , too , have only a short term memory for the mysteries and the characters involved .
Spoilers through chapter 2 :
OMG , Sara , do you mean that you like Nicholas 😳 ? I was concluding that he may be the villain in whatever mystery is shaping up .
Another character I just don't like is Marion ... so rude to everyone without apparent reason . Maybe there's a reason which will become clear later on 🤔 . Her friend, Roberta , is such a sweet girl .
One thing , a great many characters have been introduced. I had to make a list . But , the story, otherwise, is a very easy read, and highly enjoyable.

Carolien wrote: "Love you descriptions of Skye, Wobbley. I've been to Mull which is also quite beautiful and I am enjoying the specificity of the time at which the book is set - the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II..."

I've finished chapter 4 just today , and thoroughly enjoying the story ! Where have you reached so far Carolien?

Terris wrote: "Like Carolien, I just finished Ch 3 and am anxious to get into Ch 4!

Yes, I love all the beautiful descriptions, and I'm very interested to see where this story is going -- with Gianetta just show..."

@ Terris and Wobbley : I , too , looked up Quiraing . It's like a natural terracing of the mountain slope ... very curious ! The tops , of the terraced parts , are a vivid yellow or green , while the vertical portions are rocky , and colored black , and those at a distance, look a deep blue ( ? photograph effect) . All in all it looks like a stunning oil painting... beautiful 😍!
Thanks, Wobbley, for the reference!

Teri-K wrote: "Slight spoilers for Chapters 1-6

Chapter 1 -
I appreciated how quickly Stewart moved us to Skye. Who wants to spend a chapter or two on the trip when you can be dropped onto that lovely water betw..."

I only read spoilers upto chapter 2 . I agree .. it's easier when all the important characters are mentioned in one place . I have made a handy list .

Savita wrote: "Sara wrote: "I have now read through Chapter Four and invested in the story in the way only Mary Stewart seems to have with me. I find it amazing that I can have read these books so many times and ..."

😄 I have read enough of Mary Stewart to like the brooding men she creates better than the charming ones, I guess. (A kind of Maxim de Winter element to him--things brewing beneath the surface. Lots of people don't like Maxim either, but I did). Gianetta is still a bit obsessed with him and they have been divorced for 4 years, so there is that. The initial description is "dark and damn-your-eyes", so physically an Aidan Turner type. I have now finished, so that post was a first impression. I'll revisit him with you when you have read a bit more.

I also think it adds to the mystery to have a character that you can't quite put a finger on. Good? Bad? As bad as he seems at times? Misunderstood?

When you have finished reading, if you would like to see how beautifully Mary Stewart laid out her clues and red herrings, you might enjoy this. I did.

https://archive.org/details/SaturdayN...