The storm led me to Padthaway. I could never resist the allure of dark swirling clouds, windswept leaves sweeping down cobbled lanes or a...
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reviews
Jun 12, 2011
Melanie
rated it: 
This novel is a mystery with Daphne du Maurier as the main character. She is the author of Rebecca, one of my favorite books and films. It is set in Cornwall and so far it does have a Rebecca feel to it. The mystery has just unfolded and I can't wait to see "who-dunit"!
Dec 20, 2009
Cheryl
rated it: 
Daphne Du Maurier read an article in the newspaper, The Times about an old abbey that is located on the Cornish coast. It dates all the way back to the Charlemagne era. Daphne loves rooting around and learning about the history of old places. She begs her parents to let her stay instead of going with them and trying to find a husband. Her parents agree on one condition…Daphne must stay with an old friend, Ewe Sinclaire.
While taking a morning walk, Daphne hears a woman scream. When sh More...
While taking a morning walk, Daphne hears a woman scream. When sh More...
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Dec 05, 2009
Susan
rated it: 
It doesn't sound like a bad concept--the young, unfledged Daphne Du Maurier finding herself involved with a mystery that features a sinister housekeeper, a handsome, brooding man, and a huge, mysterious old mansion on the Cornish coast. And so Daphne stumbles across a frightened young girl and a dead woman...
The problem is that it's so badly written! If you want a mess of dangling participles, misplaced modifiers, anachronisms, overwrought diction and misused words, this is probably for More...
The problem is that it's so badly written! If you want a mess of dangling participles, misplaced modifiers, anachronisms, overwrought diction and misused words, this is probably for More...
Jan 02, 2012
Cornerofmadness
rated it:
Mom wanted this one so I got it for her for the holidays. I’m not overly fond of mystery series that use authors as the protagonist. I’ve seen Edgar Allen Poe, Oscar Wilde, the Alquonquin Club, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and now this one brings us Daphne du Maurier. It was probably the best of the aforementioned bunch.
Young Daphne has gone to Cornwall to research an old abbey’s scrolls, staying with Ewe Sinclair, her mother’s old nurse. She has a love of Gothic architecture and wants to u More...
Young Daphne has gone to Cornwall to research an old abbey’s scrolls, staying with Ewe Sinclair, her mother’s old nurse. She has a love of Gothic architecture and wants to u More...
Dec 04, 2009
April
rated it:
Murder on the Cliffs is the first in a promising new mystery series by Joanna Challis. Daphne du Maurier is a young inspiring author who, instead of staying home to pursue a husband, as her mother would like, decides to take on an adventure by staying with her mother's old nanny. It doesn't take long for her to find adventure, as she discovers a dead body shortly after her arrival to Cornwall. Not only does she discover the dead body of a young woman, who she later finds out is named Victoria, b
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Feb 19, 2010
Cecilia
rated it:
A very entertaining read, for Du Maurier lovers and others as well...those who just like a good story and some good mystery. Challis takes the future authoress and fictionally creates her as an amateur sleuth, all the while allowing her to use her sleuthing for material for her novels, mostly Rebecca. Set in Cornwall, England (Du Maurier's home county in England), Challis sets up a Rebecca-esque story here with all the trimmings...money, a large manor house, an austere housekeeper, a mysteriou
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Feb 26, 2011
Bee
rated it:
What a letdown! MURDER ON THE CLIFFS had so much potential -- gothic undertones, set in Cornwall, murder mystery, even featuring a young Daphne du Maurier. (REBECCA is one of my favorite books) To say it fell flat is an understatement. I labored through the first half, even though I was, quite frankly, bored, then skimmed through the rest to get to the ending. Daphne was a ninny, the writing was poor, the characters were uninteresting and dull, and there were confusing bits -- like that Lianne w
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Oct 11, 2011
Arielle
rated it: 
Murder on the Cliffs is a story intended to be the fictional inspiration for Daphne Du Maurier's Gothic novel, Rebecca. The story is told from the perspective of Daphne Du Maurier herself as a young girl, as she investigates the mysterious death of a young girl engaged to be married to the prominent Lord Hartley. The plot of this novel is a very intriguing one, yet oftentimes there seems to be a lot of suspenseful build-up to the too-brief encounters between characters. Too often, the meetings b
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Aug 24, 2010
Sandie
rated it:
In her attempt to capture the mood and impact of the romantic gothics produced by Daphne du Maurier, Joanne Challis has given us a rather flimsy and shadowy imitation of one of Ms. du Maurier's more famous works, REBECCA.....which itself was Ms.du Maruier's reworking of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre.
All of the ingredients are there. The young Daphne, enamored with old buildings and ancient history, unwittingly pulled into the lives of the Hartley family whose grand mansion holds a pl More...
All of the ingredients are there. The young Daphne, enamored with old buildings and ancient history, unwittingly pulled into the lives of the Hartley family whose grand mansion holds a pl More...
May 12, 2011
Ellen
rated it:
Disclaimer: I have not read Rebecca. I started reading this because I'd finished the other book in my bag and needed something for the train ride home, and happened to have this sitting on my desk at work...
Reasonably entertaining, and would have gotten another star if not for the terrible character continuity. In one scene the POV character suspects another character of being the murderer; in the next she's shocked that anyone could suspect that character!
Reasonably entertaining, and would have gotten another star if not for the terrible character continuity. In one scene the POV character suspects another character of being the murderer; in the next she's shocked that anyone could suspect that character!
Jul 23, 2010
Kimberly
rated it:
I normally love this type of book. It reminds me of the Barbara Michaels books and has all the gothic romance elements. And it should have been a much better book than it was. Although it had all the right elements, for some reason I just wasn't riveted. It did pick up a bit towards the end. Perhaps Major Browning could have been introduced sooner. Hopefully, he will be a recurring character with a larger role in the next book in the series.
Jul 12, 2010
Patricia
rated it:
This is the first in a projected series with Daphne du Maurier as the protagonist. I was predisposed to like it but just couldn't get beyond the fourth chapter. I realize that the atmosphere is supposed to be melodramatic, but the writing just isn't that good. "Sea spray foamed at the mouth of the restless sea." Etc. Oh well.....
Sep 24, 2010
Mary Kay
rated it:
This book is a first person narrative by a young Daphne du Maurier, who discovers the body of a beautiful young woman on the coast of Cornwell. The author used the word "infer" when she meant "imply" so many times, I lost count. There were other egregious editing errors. Not recommended.
Jan 17, 2010
Ashley
rated it: 
I absolutely love Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca! To read a novel that, even though it is fictional, gives us a possible glance into Daphne's life as a young woman investigating a murder that leads her to write Rebecca is a wonderful read. It is very well done and stays true to the facts of her life. I just wish I had more time to read more of Daphne's books. I am young, maybe one day I will get to it.
May 08, 2010
Gina
rated it:
An entertaining mystery with the author of Rebecca as the heroine. While on holiday in Cornwall she solves a mystery with the help of her future husband. She also received the inspiration for writing Rebecca.
May 21, 2010
Bridget
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I really wanted to love this book. It was okay, but didn't knock my socks off. The theory was fun--Daphne du Maurier visiting the house on the cliff and solving the murder that would inspire her to write Rebecca--but the plot didn't really live up to the idea.
Feb 06, 2012
I am a bit disappointed in this book. The story is moving sooo slow and it really doesn't develop the characters really well. So far, I feel I do not know anyone in the book.....
Jan 20, 2012
Carrie
rated it:
I didn't really like it.. It started off fast then the book just went on and on till the end where everything finally resolved. It kept me reading, but just because I wanted to find out what happened.
Dec 27, 2010
Sara
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Great period piece and an excellent character study of Daphne du Maurier. I did manage to figure out who done it about half-way through.
Jul 01, 2010
Maria
rated it:
I liked Rebecca and it was fun to get glimpses of the future novel. A little awkward reading at times, but overall quite enjoyable.
Feb 01, 2010
Marie
rated it:
A quick, fun read.....I enjoyed it. A young Daphne du Maurier is the main character, gaining inspiration to write a novel.
Dec 07, 2009
Kristin
rated it:
Challis’s wonderful sense of atmosphere and her fascinating cast of suspects make Murder on the Cliffs a noteworthy gothic mystery.
Read the full review at http://www.nightsandweekends.com/article...
Read the full review at http://www.nightsandweekends.com/article...
Jan 15, 2010
Heidi
rated it:
Enjoyable story with high marks for atmosphere but I thought the writing style was a bit unpolished.
Sep 20, 2011
Jackie
rated it:
This book was okay, it left a little to be desired. It was a little predictable, and was not very eventful, it almost seemed like at points it dragged on.
Oct 04, 2010
Jeanne
rated it:
I had such high hopes for this book, but honestly it was quite boring and the writing was horrible. Several times I caught myself scratching my head trying to figure out what in the world the author meant to say. The characters weren't interesting at all. A big disappointment.
