Pure frothy, frivolous fun!
|
This is the first of Heyer's non-romances I have read and while I wasn't completely sure about it in the first chapter, the book improves enormously once all the preliminaries are out of the way.
Elinor gets into the wrong chaise and instead of arriving at her new governess job, she instead finds herself in a gothic and run-down mansion where a well-dressed and spoken gentleman persuades her to marry his dying cousin so that Carlyon himself cannot be accused of wanting him dead to inherit his estate. Elinor does it (without quite knowing why) and by morning finds herself a widow with an old house and an estate.
It's from here that the plot really takes off: Carlyon's university-age brother Nicky (who accidently murdered Elinor's husband!) discovers a secret staircase into the house and a nest of French spies desperate to find a hidden memo detailing the Duke of Wellington's battle plan and romps in to solve the mystery adopting Elinor as cousin along the route while protecting her with his large and very disobediant dog.
Carlyon and his brother John also take it upon themselves to find the document, while Elinor and her game old nurse Beccy act suitably female alternating between scolding the men and articulating their fear. The arrival of Francis Cheviot, another cousin, who might, despite his fear of colds and care of his clothes, be involved in the French plot only adds to Elinor's problems.
The plot romps along merrily with assorted spies, murders, people being hit over the head, hidden letters and hiding places with a bit of romance thrown in too and an obligatory happy ending. This won't surprise you or win any prizes but it will make you giggle on a wet Sunday afternoon with a feel-good, old-fashioned and yet still funny story.
|
|
Enjoyable.
|
'Reluctant Widow' is the first novel I have read by Georgette Heyer. Whilst I found the plot and ending disappointing, the novel was very readable, and certainly encourages one to seek more books out by this author. Whilst the hero and heroine of the story were less impressive, I found the character 'Nicky' more than witty and amusing in his fumbling adventurous child-like behaviour, and warmed to him far more than I did all of the other characters put together.
|
|
one of my favourites
|
|
This is one of my favourite Heyer books. I loved the adventure! Nicky is a brilliant, from his first burst into the book - and his arguments with John are fantastic. And the kite! Once you have read it you'll understand. The motives of Lord Carlyon seem odd, to say the least and Elinors reasons for searching for a job as a governess seems strange. You'll have to read the book to find out what they are. However all ends well in the end and this lighthearted romp took me away from reality for a day. Since I first read it five years ago, after picking it up from one of my Granny's shelves, I have read it several times. I recommend it to all Heyer fans!
|
|
|
Unbelievable funny plot.
|
|
Romance comes a good second in this book; and the hunt for a mole and missing documents first; but you won't be disappointed. The 'baddie' gets off a bit too lightly though.
|
|
|
A lady encounters spies and lies in an obscure manor
|
|
The herione innocently answers an advertisment for a governess but is taken up by the wrong chaise. What follows is in the best tradition of Georgette Heyer's Regency novels with the added twist of a spy mystery. Rivetting!
|
|
|
United States | 
United Kingdom | 
Canada