The Mysterious Affair at Castaway House (Audible Audio Edition) Stephanie Lam Avita Jay Lee Maxwell Simpson Lamplight Audio Books
Download As PDF : The Mysterious Affair at Castaway House (Audible Audio Edition) Stephanie Lam Avita Jay Lee Maxwell Simpson Lamplight Audio Books
It's 1965 and Rosie Churchill has arrives at run-down Castaway House. But when she uncovers a scandal locked away in the old house, she soon realises that secrets never stay buried for long.
In 1924 fresh-faced Robert Carver comes to Castaway House to spend the summer with his cousin, Alec Bray. But the Brays are a damaged family. As Rosie begins to learn more about Robert, the more their stories, old and new, entwine.
The Mysterious Affair at Castaway House (Audible Audio Edition) Stephanie Lam Avita Jay Lee Maxwell Simpson Lamplight Audio Books
An excellent read very much in the same mold as Kate Morton. I know it probably isn't fair to Ms Lam to compare her work to someone else's but comparisons will be drawn and in my case I meant it as a compliment. The characters are superbly developed regardless of how large or small their role in the story is. I enjoyed the parallels between Robert and Clara, and Rosie and Star, and the similarity in their characters and relationships even though there were 40 years separating them. The period details were very good, too. I adore so-called country house murder mysteries so the title of this book grabbed my attention immediately even though it might be considered by some (of my reading friends) to be too Blyton-esque to be taken seriously - but they have lost out on a wonderful read. I'm looking forward to Ms Lam's next book...Product details
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The Mysterious Affair at Castaway House (Audible Audio Edition) Stephanie Lam Avita Jay Lee Maxwell Simpson Lamplight Audio Books Reviews
"The Mysterious Affair at Castaway House" by Stephanie Lam is an intriguing story spanning 1924 and 1965 and laced with scandal, tragedy and mystery. It begins when Rosie Churchill, running away from a secret, takes a room with two other girls at the dilapidated Castaway House near Helmstone. Struggling to put the past behind her and survive financially, Rosie's curiosity ignites when she finds not only an old pencil drawing of a man with the initials "R.C." but the cryptic phrase "Robert Carver is innocent" gouged under the window sill, discovering a connection between the two. The mystery becomes even more intoxicating when a drifter named Dorkie appears at Castaway House and starts remembering the man and the dark history of the house.
In a flashback to 1924 Robert Carver has been invited to Castaway House by his cousin Alec Bray hoping the sea air will revitalize his health. What Robert quickly comes to realize is that the Bray's marriage is tenuous, both hiding secrets that could tear them apart. Although he loves his cousin, he quickly falls into a web of illicit passion and intrigue that could endanger his life.
Told from the perspective of Rosie Churchill in 1965 and Robert Carver in 1924, the plot traces the history of the house linking past and present, and culminating in a climax that will shock the reader. With vivid description Stephanie Lam juxtaposes the former glory of the luxurious regency style home on Gaunts Cliff with the rundown Castaway House of the present, contrasting the wealth and power of the Brays in their heyday with their fallen fortunes and broken lives. Skilfully the author unveils the deceit and immorality in the Bray family that's hidden behind wealth, decorum and respectability and links it to the broken lives in 1965. Although the connection between the two periods is balanced and fluid, the plot doesn't spark much emotion until more than half way through. It also seems as if Stephanie Lam is trying to provoke more interest in the plot with the lesbian proclivity between Rosie and Star. Unlike Johnny Clarke who hides his homosexuality with quick encounters, theirs is more open which would have been considered offensive in 1965.
In the plot there are wonderful ghostly touches like the whistling and the open chest when Rosie slept in Clara's room, and moments of wry wit and humour. But there are problems in the story like Robert Carver's death. His death in prison is too pat. Where was his family? Why didn't he have a lawyer ? Why were no concessions made because of his health and a lack of evidence? Yet the plot is engaging especially with its dramatic mix of colourful personalities.
The characters are realistic, adding their own brand of power and drama to this story with all their flaws and faults. Rosie Churchill a high achiever at school is haunted by guilt and runs away. She's a trustworthy, loyal and kind eighteen year old with a conscience when she takes a drifter with an envelope full of money under her wing. Dorkie a muddled drunk who suffers from headaches is likeable but riddled with guilt as he determinedly searches for clues to his past while Rosie's friend Star is unreliable, self-obsessed and amusing. Her grandmother Clara Bray has few scruples, is bluntly honest, rude and foul-mouthed, a child of the streets who struggled to gain wealth and respectability through marriage. She's feisty and wilful, but open-minded enough in later years to meet and listen to Dorkie's story. Robert Carver the nineteen year old with a chest ailment is intelligent and good-hearted but is easily duped while his cousin Alec, born into wealth is impetuous, wild, and flighty. Yet for all the cracks in their relationship, Robert and Alec are loyal friends and thoughtful cousins.
For a first novel " The Mysterious Affair at Castaway House" is fascinating and enjoyable to read. I would give it a 3.5.
This debut historical fiction novel uses the recently much overused plot device of two dual time lines – in this case 1924 and 1965. The book revolves around Castaway House, which overlooks the sea in Helmstone. In 1965 it is young Rosie Churchill who has fled her home and education, despite being the most promising pupil in her class and about to take her A Level exams. Castaway House was once a beautiful building which dominated the town, but by the time Rosie arrives, it is a slightly run down boarding house. She spends her time working for Mrs Hale; carrying cups of tea and washing up instead of studying. The other boarders include a new visitor, ‘Dockie’, who says he is returning to the house, but claims he has lost his memory and drinks too much. In her room, she studies the pencil sketch of a young man, R.C. and wonders about the message, “Robert Carver is innocent,” etched into the wall. The old mystery takes her mind off her own troubles as her own life becomes more complicated.
The storyline in 1924 concerns Robert Carver, who arrives at the house to recuperate from a lung problem. The house belongs to his cousin Alec Bray, who inherited it after the death of his mother. However, when Robert arrives, he finds that Alec has married in haste – a young actress called Clara, who insults Robert, labelling him a “poor relation.” However, things are not as simple as they first seem - why does everyone say that Castaway House is full of secrets, why is the maid, Agnes, always crying and is Clara really the cruel and ungrateful wife she appears to be?
As the novel progresses, secrets are uncovered and we discover what Robert was accused of and why Rosie fled her home. The time frame of the novel means that Rosie can meet people from 1924 and makes the storyline more immediate. However, there do seem to be more than a few coincidences along the way and overall the plot is a little predictable. Saying that, it is a pleasant novel and an enjoyable, if easy, read. Lastly, I received a copy of this book from the publishers, via NetGalley, for review.
Rated 3.5
Wonderful all around!
I read this book a while back and loved it.
Interesting story with all the twists and turns. Story/mystery takes place 40 years apart. Family all connected to the seaside home of Castaway House. All ties together in the end.
A good read featuring an old mystery, a new mystery and a fascinating cast of characters in a rundown seaside house.
An excellent read very much in the same mold as Kate Morton. I know it probably isn't fair to Ms Lam to compare her work to someone else's but comparisons will be drawn and in my case I meant it as a compliment. The characters are superbly developed regardless of how large or small their role in the story is. I enjoyed the parallels between Robert and Clara, and Rosie and Star, and the similarity in their characters and relationships even though there were 40 years separating them. The period details were very good, too. I adore so-called country house murder mysteries so the title of this book grabbed my attention immediately even though it might be considered by some (of my reading friends) to be too Blyton-esque to be taken seriously - but they have lost out on a wonderful read. I'm looking forward to Ms Lam's next book...
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