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50th out of 182 books
—
46 voters
The Black Opal
Abandoned as a baby, her exotic beauty prompted hushed whispers of gypsy blood. But lovely Carmel March remained shrouded in mystery....
When tragedy struck her adopted home of Commonwood House, little Carmel had been bundled off to Australia. Returning to England as a young woman, she became haunted by questions from her past, as well as the shocking revelation that she h
Paperback, 384 pages
Published
January 3rd 1995
by Ivy Books
(first published 1985)
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Catherine's Review:
Left under an azalea bush at Commonwood House and reluctantly taken in by Dr. and Mrs. Marline, Carmel March has always felt like an outsider. Her origins shrouded in mystery, Carmel has always wondered why she was abandoned. Desperate for affection, she forms attachments with the gypsies in the woods, dear Uncle Toby, and Kitty Carson, her beloved governess. When Mrs. Marline is crippled in a hunting accident and becomes even more bitter and cruel, life at Commonwood becomes...more
Left under an azalea bush at Commonwood House and reluctantly taken in by Dr. and Mrs. Marline, Carmel March has always felt like an outsider. Her origins shrouded in mystery, Carmel has always wondered why she was abandoned. Desperate for affection, she forms attachments with the gypsies in the woods, dear Uncle Toby, and Kitty Carson, her beloved governess. When Mrs. Marline is crippled in a hunting accident and becomes even more bitter and cruel, life at Commonwood becomes...more
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Carmel is found under the Azalea bush, "the one that gave Tom Yardley all that trouble one year." She is taken in by the people at Commonwood House and is generally made to feel unwelcome. It is hinted that she might belong to the gypsies. She is championed by Uncle Toby as well as the two youngsters from The Grange, Lucian and Camilla. When the lady of the house dies, she goes off to Australia with Uncle Toby and only upon her return as an 18-year-old lady, does she find she's been whisked away...more
Everytime I read a Victoria Holt novel I wait for the main character to fall in love, and sometimes I can guess who it is before it's revealed. Holt has a recipe for writing mystery novels; sometimes it can be redundant, sometimes it can really grab you. The Black Opal starts off with a baby found under an Azalea bush next to Commonwood House where Dr and Mrs Marline live with their two daughters, Adeline and Estella, and their son Henry. Hesitantly, the Marlines' take the baby in and name her C...more
This book I really liked, but it's one I have to be in the exact mood for. There's no denying the writing genius of Victoria Holt, who also wrote under several other names. Her descriptions are breath-taking and whole, her vocabulary is miraculous, and her ability to weave a story into one's mind cannot be questioned. It's her style, though, to start at the beginning of a character's life and go to the end. Which is wonderful. But sometimes I'm too impatient a reader for that style.
However, I ve...more
However, I ve...more
Recien termine de leer El Ópalo Negro de Victoria Holt, la verdad hace mucho tiempo lei una novela de ella bajo su seudonimo de Jean Plaidy y me gusto pero como era biografica pues tuvo un final triste y no habia tenido oportunidad de cojer otro libro de ella y luego me tope con Lilith que me encanto, no la podia soltar, con el Opalo me paso lo mismo pero me oblige a que me durara toda la semana, ahora estoy tratando de conseguir todo lo que pueda de esta escritora porque en mi humilde opinion e...more
I didn't think much to this book, I'll be honest. 8 people died and it only had 11 chapters, it just seemed to be rather morbid the whole way through and then magically had a happy ending. The author should have made their mind up one way or another!
I found the storyline quite commical and completely unrealistic. It was roughly about a half gypsie girl who was found under the azuala bush and was magically accepted into this rather rich family although lets be honest at that period of time that...more
I found the storyline quite commical and completely unrealistic. It was roughly about a half gypsie girl who was found under the azuala bush and was magically accepted into this rather rich family although lets be honest at that period of time that...more
a half gypsie chick lives in house where she isnt wanted until some thing stirs up in there that her "uncle"toby came and got her to take a voyage with him and thats where he confessed to her he was her father. but later her father dies tragically and she is left to live with his wife her new mom. Later on she goes back to her origional home where she discovers that the poeple she knew and some she loved died or dissapeared fromt he house where she was raised. she is to be in a love triangle a d...more
Another gothic classic from the grande dame herself, Victoria Holt. I rather liked this one in the sense that it was somewhat less melodramatic than her other books, and the heroine likable and not stupid like some. Amusingly, while the black opal has a rather important role off-screen, it does not figure too largely in the overall story.
I enjoyed reading the book because it had everything i liked in it. The fact that it had romance and suspense was worth reading the book and i would love to read more of her books. Victoria Holt is a great authoor because she captures the reader it keeps them wanting more from the beginning to the end.
The story concept was great...if only I didn't feel like I was reading what a 12 year old would right. The dialogue was choppy and stilted at times. Towards the end I was basically reading it to see 'whodunit' not because I was captivated. This was my first Victoria Holt, but I'm going to give her another shot.
This book has been sitting on my shelves for quite awhile so decided I would read it. A very predictable read but just what I needed during the busy weeks before Christmas. Story line was okay but not much real drama. The "twist" was pretty expected.
This is the first book I have read by V. Holt and I actually enjoyed it. Very easy read. Would give it a 3.5 if I could. I am interested to know if all of her books are the same or if I would find something new when I read another one.
This was a very typical Victoria Holt book. It had a mystery and a love story.
Carmel was an orphaned child left under an azalea bush. Her mother a gypsy, her father a surprise. She was left at Commowood House and brought up with the family there. She always felt the outsider. Then, when the wicked mistress of the house is murdered, she is swept away into another life in Australia. Carmel finds out who her real father is. She has three suitors. She solves the mystery of Commonwood House. She fin...more
Carmel was an orphaned child left under an azalea bush. Her mother a gypsy, her father a surprise. She was left at Commowood House and brought up with the family there. She always felt the outsider. Then, when the wicked mistress of the house is murdered, she is swept away into another life in Australia. Carmel finds out who her real father is. She has three suitors. She solves the mystery of Commonwood House. She fin...more
Mar 29, 2012
Anita Williamson
added it
I LOVED Victoria Holt when I was younger. I read all her books. Now, I doubt I could stomach them. They are clean but all are kind of alike. I put no rating on them since they are all about the same.
A used book store find, not sure this author is still in print. I enjoyed her style, this book reminded me some of Anne Perry. A touch of mystery and just a tad of romance. chick book
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!
I was pleasantly surprised that this book was not just a romantic mystery, but had some substance, namely, dealing with grief, and the complications of relationships, especially with family.
I liked this book very much,. It was a little predictable in some places but I still enjoyed it and would recommend it for others to read. It was a fast read and kept your interests through the whole book.
Carmel is found as an infant in the garden and raised by a doctor's family until tragedy strikes, and her life takes a turn toward a whole new adventure.
Ms Holt's last book.
A mish-mash of story lines come together in this book.
Not her best but a comfort read for me after reading it first almost 25 years ago.
A mish-mash of story lines come together in this book.
Not her best but a comfort read for me after reading it first almost 25 years ago.
This was my first Victoria Holt novel and while I thought the character development was well done I'm just not a fan....
It was slow, not overly entertaining, and the ending was as predictable as you get. It was just OK.
My wife introduced me to Holt's writing through the Black Opal. Very intense, and very good.
I loved reading these books in the 1970-80s, and I am re-reading them and still enjoying them.
Trashy beach read. I get these books from my MIL, I don't know if I can look her in the eye...
Pleasant story about a girl meeting lives challenges and solving an old family mystery.
I think this would make an awesome movie/screenplay!!
Pretty good it was a little different...
My favorite book of all time!
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Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Eleanor Alice Burford, Mrs. George Percival Hibbert was a British author of about 200 historical novels, most of them under the pen name Jean Plaidy which had sold 14 million copies by the time of her death. She chose to use various names because of the differences in subjec...more
More about Victoria Holt...
Eleanor Alice Burford, Mrs. George Percival Hibbert was a British author of about 200 historical novels, most of them under the pen name Jean Plaidy which had sold 14 million copies by the time of her death. She chose to use various names because of the differences in subjec...more
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Feb 10, 2010 06:04am