Penhallow by Georgette HeyerMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Penhallow is a tour de force of psychological suspense. It’s a crime novel but not a mystery–the reader is privy to all details of the crime and its sad denouement. Its strength lies in Heyer’s masterful portrayal of her characters’ inner thoughts and emotions. Its conclusion is logical, unexpected and ironic, leaving one with bittersweet feelings about the Penhallow family members’ respective fates. Its only fault was its excessive length, generally due the repetition of facts that had been previously presented. Penhallow is a masterpiece in the English country house/gothic genre, and should not be neglected by anyone partial to that type of story.
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