You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
Capable and independent Nicola Ferris-who works as a secretary at the British Embassy in Athens-has just arrived on the island of Crete, where she will be vacationing with her older Botanist cousin Frances. Before she even makes it to the small hotel where they will be staying, Nicola stumbles upon an injured Englishman and his Greek guide who are clearly in hiding. After some digging, Nicola learns that this Englishman Mark and his teenaged brother Colin, were inadvertent witnesses to a murder.
As a result of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, Mark was shot and left for dead, and Colin is missing. After aiding Mark as much as she is able, they decide Nicola should continue on to her hotel as planned in order to stay out of harm’s way. As it turns out however, it will not be that easy to disentangle herself-or her heart-from the growing danger that is circling her new friends.
I have to say that this is probably my least favorite Mary Stewart that I’ve read to date. That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy it by any means, only that I’ve enjoyed the others more. Even so, this was a fun, fast-paced read. As always, the setting was described in such vivid detail that Crete became a secondary character in its own right.
Since a large part of the action and danger occurs very early in the novel, there wasn’t that slow build up of suspense that I love so much in the other Mary Stewart novels I’ve read. I didn’t find the ending as exciting as the drama that came before. In fact, it felt like it petered out a bit, concluding with a whimper instead of a bang.
I also found the romance to be lackluster and closed the book not feeling like I had a strong connection to the characters. I didn’t feel like Nicola was quite as well-developed as Stewart’s other heroines, and I wasn’t too impressed with Mark as a love interest either.
Full review here: https://dwellinpossibilityblog.wordpress.com/2017/09/07/book-reviews-mary-stewarts-madam-will-you-talk-and-the-moon-spinners/#more-7061
As a result of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, Mark was shot and left for dead, and Colin is missing. After aiding Mark as much as she is able, they decide Nicola should continue on to her hotel as planned in order to stay out of harm’s way. As it turns out however, it will not be that easy to disentangle herself-or her heart-from the growing danger that is circling her new friends.
I have to say that this is probably my least favorite Mary Stewart that I’ve read to date. That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy it by any means, only that I’ve enjoyed the others more. Even so, this was a fun, fast-paced read. As always, the setting was described in such vivid detail that Crete became a secondary character in its own right.
Since a large part of the action and danger occurs very early in the novel, there wasn’t that slow build up of suspense that I love so much in the other Mary Stewart novels I’ve read. I didn’t find the ending as exciting as the drama that came before. In fact, it felt like it petered out a bit, concluding with a whimper instead of a bang.
I also found the romance to be lackluster and closed the book not feeling like I had a strong connection to the characters. I didn’t feel like Nicola was quite as well-developed as Stewart’s other heroines, and I wasn’t too impressed with Mark as a love interest either.
Full review here: https://dwellinpossibilityblog.wordpress.com/2017/09/07/book-reviews-mary-stewarts-madam-will-you-talk-and-the-moon-spinners/#more-7061
Another terrific Mary Stewart novel, with all the elements her best books have: a location that is both beautiful and steeped in history; well chosen quotations from classical literature at the start of every chapter; a spunky heroine; credible intrigue; and a romance that is fun without being drippy. Perfect summer reading.
Now it's hard to decide which is the best book by Mary Stewart. Coming up: Thornyhold.
Read it a long time ago but it was one of my first 'adult' books and I still remember it vividly after so many years.
The story is about a young woman (Nicola) who travels to Greece for a holiday with her young aunt. During her trip to the hotel, she meets two strange men. One of them is a young Brit, Mark, who is wounded and needs her help. Something sinister is going on on the island. Mark and his younger brother were sailing off the coast and were attacked when they were witnesses to a murder. Mark is injured and his brother kidnapped.
Nicola tries to help Mark, his brother and also the man that has been helping them but gets into severe danger herself.
This book was made into a movie with Hayley Mills and I remember being so disappointed the movie was so different from the book.
I still have copies of this book. It is a great book although from another era.
The story is about a young woman (Nicola) who travels to Greece for a holiday with her young aunt. During her trip to the hotel, she meets two strange men. One of them is a young Brit, Mark, who is wounded and needs her help. Something sinister is going on on the island. Mark and his younger brother were sailing off the coast and were attacked when they were witnesses to a murder. Mark is injured and his brother kidnapped.
Nicola tries to help Mark, his brother and also the man that has been helping them but gets into severe danger herself.
This book was made into a movie with Hayley Mills and I remember being so disappointed the movie was so different from the book.
I still have copies of this book. It is a great book although from another era.
A young woman on vacation in Crete gets caught up in a murderous conspiracy. Also made into a movie by Disney and starring Hayley Mills.
I think the movie is much more lighthearted while the book is quite suspenseful and intense. But I enjoyed them both.
I think the movie is much more lighthearted while the book is quite suspenseful and intense. But I enjoyed them both.
Very much enjoyed. I was ill and needed something that would be completely distracting and easy to read. This hit the nail on the head.
Set on Crete, this was not my favorite Stewart. The mystery/romance aspect is fine, but I just like the English books the best (Ivy Tree and Thornyhold are still my favorites). Also, there was one moment where I just had to laugh about an Orthodox detail, though in general she got the feel of things right. [Jan 2011]
These are so much more enjoyable than the suspense novels being published nowadays. The heroines are actually smart and capable, the exotic locales read like a travelogue from the past and the dialogue is clever. I loved the myth of the Moonspinners woven through the story.