One of my all time favorites written by Mary Stewart. I’ve read it many times and will likely read it again. Well written, page turner, great characters, wonderful story with action, romance, mystery and vivid descriptions. ( )

I'm pretty sure I read this back in my youth, but Mary Stewart is always worth a reread. Linda Martin takes a job as a governess to a young French boy, Philippe, the Comte de Valmy. His guardians are his uncle and aunt; the uncle is in a wheelchair but the boy seems afraid of him. Attempts are made on Philippe's life and Linda doesn't know who to trust.
This isn't my favorite Stewart book, but it's still pretty good. The descriptions of the French countryside near the Swiss border are lovely. The characters are appropriately mysterious and the reader can't see the twists coming: is Raoul, the attractive son of the aunt/uncle looking out for Philippe or trying to kill him? The romance happens pretty quick, which is why I took a star off, but it's still a great read. ( )

I love the gothic romance feel and the slow-growing romance between Linda and Raul. A really good ending too and a great mystery. Unputdownable!

https://friendlyebooks4u.wixsite.com/laurawalker-1

https://books2read.com/u/3nDkG5 ( )

Re-read, April 2020. Keeping it at five stars for a first-time reader, though of course as a reread it doesn't pack quite as much punch because you know what's going to happen. Still, the suspense and the action scenes remain pretty breathtaking!

PS. The romance is pretty dated! But it works within the suspenseful, broody atmosphere, I guess.

Original review:

It's the wee hours of the morning but I HAD TO KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN.
Ugh, a book like this might wreck your bedtime, but it's amaaaazing suspense. ( )

Linda Martin, an orphaned English girl, has accepted a job as governess at Chateau Valmy in the French countryside. We know immediately that all is not as it seems in the Valmy household, as does Miss Martin, and the sorting of the good from the bad is a dangerous endeavor.

Reading Nine Coaches Waiting again was like coming home and finding someone had already lit you a fire and left you a hot toddy. I sank back into it, and it was as wonderful as the very first time I read it. When I was young I read this book more than once, and I thought I might find it had lost some of its allure now that I am so much older--NOT SO. It has all those wonderful details that draws one in: the orphaned governess, posing as less than she is, the French mansion with vast estate grounds and gardens, the handsome but rakish gentleman, and a life-or-death mystery that must be solved. The thing about Mary Stewart is that she takes all those well-worn elements and creates something new and thrilling from them. She transports you into this imagined world and anything that sounds unbelievable or cliche in a blurb just disappears into her creative and believable writing style. You find yourself holding your breath with Linda Martin and feeling her desperation as she attempts to unravel her suspicions from the facts.

I cannot express how much I love Mary Stewart and her writing. I have discovered that there are two books she has written that I have not read. I am waiting for copies of them to arrive. It is like knowing there is a Godiva chocolate bar hidden just out of reach. I want it now, but I am savoring the knowledge that it will be a delight beyond measure when I finally find its hiding place. Meanwhile, I decided to resample the chocolates that are already sitting on my shelf. ( )