Dorothy Daniels (1915–1987)

Good old fashioned Gothic romance and a mystery to boot. Unfortunately the writing is a bit on the simple side and must have been meant for the YA reader of 40 years ago.

I have no idea who Dorothy Daniels was. It sounds like one of the alliterative pen names romance writers commonly use. She wrote a number of novels but I doubt they are as well thought out as this one.

BTW I have no idea how I acquired this book. I know it must be mine but I don't remember ever purchasing it or why I would have.… (meer)

I have to say I didnt like this at all.

It was just so clumsily written,with characters blurting out everything. The dialogue lacks any sublety and I cant believe after someone has tried to drown you that the first thing that comes to mind is chitchat with your rescuer.


Then I realized I was being towed ashore. Strong arms
lifted me, carried me up onto the shore and set me down,
where I lay, panting and weak from the shock of what I
had undergone. I tried to open my eyes, but it was too
much of an effort.
"Laura . . . Laura . . . are you hurt? Laura . . . answer
me. Open your eyes. It's Peter."
"Peter," I said in wonderment. "Is it really you, Peter?"
"Of course, it is," he answered gently. "What in the
world happened? No . . . don't answer. Just rest. You're
exhausted."
I felt sudden relief flow through me and I opened my
eyes and attempted to sit up, but the effort was too much.
I lay back.
"How did you happen to come here?" I asked, my tone
grateful.
"Mama said you'd been to call."


She was drowning you numbskull..you just saved her from drowning.You were there you know.

You would have expected with a gothic that there would be...well a gothic atmosphere it fell short there too. Or even a convincing historical atmosphere as no one talks in the proper way.Oh and our heroine has a 26 year old chaperone who she has been traveling through Europé with.They were supposed to go to the Orient next. THE ORIENT I find myself a bit baffled by this.

Its the mid-victorian era (or so I think) I think Europe is plausible but to send a young miss to the orient with only a flighty and flirty companion kind of stretches credibility somewhat.

If you want a good gothic look elsewhere...like oh say [b:The Secret Of Mirror House|3511352|The Secret Of Mirror House|Jennifer Blake|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1328050969s/3511352.jpg|3553044] It has plenty of gothic goodness and a truly frightening near drowning of the heroine.… (meer)