Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0396075770 ISBN 13: 9780396075776

Publisher: Dodd Mead, 1978

The last of an ancient Cornish clan, Carla Tregellas has inherited her historic ancestral home: a massive mansion looming high up on the jagged cliffs of Cornwall. From the moment Carla takes possession of the grand manor she feels right at home, warmly welcomed by everyone—except the strange and secretive housekeeper, Mrs. Pendennis, who warns the new owner of the tragic, inevitable fate that will surely befall her if she does not depart at once. But Carla cannot leave, for the unseen bonds of a dark family curse are beginning to tighten . . . and a demon lover waits.

About the Author:

Elizabeth Peters (writing as Barbara Michaels) was born and brought up in Illinois and earned her Ph.D. in Egyptology from the University of Chicago's famed Oriental Institute. Peters was named Grandmaster at the inaugural Anthony Awards in 1986, Grandmaster by the Mystery Writers of America at the Edgar® Awards in 1998, and given The Lifetime Achievement Award at Malice Domestic in 2003. She lives in an historic farmhouse in western Maryland.

From Library Journal:

Carla Tregellas, a modern, sophisticated American woman, inherits the family mansion in Cornwall. The house--reminiscent of something in a Jane Austen novel--overlooks the craggy seacoast and is filled with hidden stairways and abandoned gardens. The unsolved disappearance of a resident two centuries earlier adds a Gothic touch, and Carla, intrigued, stays to investigate what could only be an ancestral curse. Along the way, she meets an assortment of characters who welcome her inquiries, although they seem to be warning her off the property at the same time. Though a bit far-fetched, this enjoyable story is an interesting commingling of modern romance and Gothic mystery. Reader Kate Harper's fine, quickly paced narration adds a delightful touch of life and uniqueness to the characters. The surprise ending is satisfying and intelligent. Recommended for all fiction collections.
- Susan B. Lamphier, Somerville P.L., Mass.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.