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The first 20 per cent or so of this novel enthralled me. I rate it as the best opening pages that I’ve read by this author writing as Victoria Holt (at the time of writing, I’ve read all but two Holt novels).

One of this author’s greatest strengths – as Plaidy and Carr, too – is creating believable child characters, especially girls. She does a great job with little Carmel, who’s very endearing from the moment you meet her. You’d have to be very hard-hearted to not sympathise with a four-year-old orphan being brought up with people who don’t really want her.

We get some lovely scenes, such as when an older boy character – Lucien – helps Carmel search for her lost pendant, and when Carmel meets some gypsies in the wood.

Settings at a big house with woodland nearby is usually a winner with me, providing you throw in a good cast of characters and a lively plot, which we do have in this early part.

Alas! Change is inevitable, and the setting switches to Australia. With the exception of Plaidy’s “Beyond the Blue Mountains”, every other book I’ve read by this author – under all her pseudonyms – goes downhill when the heroine sails to Australia. It often feels like I’m reading travel writing, not a novel. I’ve lost count of how many times the heroine of one of Holt/Plaidy/Carr’s novels is startled by a kookaburra.

Carmel, of course, grows up, so some of those endearing qualities from the earlier parts of the story are lost; however, she remains a very likeable character.

As you’d expect with a Holt novel, there’s a mysterious murder to solve. As usual, it’s not hard to work out who did it. To give credit to Ms Holt, though, it took me two guesses to pick the murderer. Once I’d discounted my first choice at about three-quarters of the way through, it then became obvious who did the deed.

It’s also obvious which admirer Carmel will chose for a husband, but I think it's the right choice.

Typically with this author, we get too much *telling* as opposed to *showing*, which makes for passive prose, but overall I rate this as one of Victoria Holt’s better books. In fact, I think it’s my second favourite, after “The Judas Kiss”. ( )

I read this book during the summer when I was 12, and I remember getting a sunburn because I couldn't put the book down to move into the house. Always the sign of a good read! ( )

a quick, easy mystery. I figured out the murder and I hate it when I can figure out the murders. ( )

I really enjoyed this book. Its one of my favorites by Holt. It moved at a good pace, kept my attention. The story was well written. There wasnt alot of fluff or cut off endings. It was just written really well. She could have even added more to the story if she wanted to but it turned out nice how it was. I would recommend if you are looking for an easy read to fill the evening. ( )