tiredgirlreads 's review for:

Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier

4.0

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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I’ve been a lover of ‘Rebecca’ since I first read it in my teens but this is the first time reading another Du Maurier. 

Her description is really what shines. The setting of the Cornish moors and the inn itself is vividly described to the point where I could see every detail. Truly a masterclass in world building! 

I enjoyed the character of Mary; she’s not perfect and makes some questionable decisions but I can see exactly what lead her to those choices and it felt very real. Joss Merlyn is a terrifying villain and there were moments on such extreme tension that I genuinely felt as panicked as Mary. 

The thing stopping it being 5⭐️, though, was the fact that I think I wanted a different ending for Mary. No spoilers but I feel like Du Maurier has something against letting her female protagonists being happy and independent. I know she was writing in the 30s though! All in all, I would definitely recommend it!