April's Grave

by Susan Howatch

'Karen had been trying not to think about her twin sister April since the day she had decided to try not to think about Neville Bennet any more. Now, as she replaced the receiver after speaking to Marney, she discovered that her memories of both of them were scarcely less painful even now after three years.' Karen and Neville plan a reconciliation in Scotland. April, Karen's twin sister, had caused the split three years previously, but she has not been seen since. So when Karen finds April's suitcases buried near the croft, she more than suspects foul play. And then the murderer strikes again ...

Genres: Gothic, Fiction, Mystery, Romantic Suspense, Thriller, Gothic Romance, Romance

Audio Cassette

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Susan Howatch (b. 1940) is a British novelist who has penned bestselling mysteries, family sagas, and other novels. Howatch was born in Surrey, England. She began writing as a teen and published her first book when she moved to the United States in 1964. Howatch found global success first with her five sagas and then with her novels about the Church of England in the twentieth century. She has now returned to live in Surrey.

Reviews

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before Susan Howatch wrote the amazing Starbridge novels focussed on the Church of England, she spent much of the 1960s writing "woman-in-front-of-the-house books." In other words, romantic suspense, and she was darn good at it too. This one kept me in suspense throughout and I didn't see the end coming. Definitely recommended. I know my mother read a lot of Howatch (and Victoria Holt and Mary Stewart) and I am quite tempted to go back and read some more of them whenever life gets too dull and serious.

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short, gothic novel was slower paced at the beginning but the mystery was fascinating at the end.

The main character was likeable enough but frustrating at times. I really had no idea on the culprit and what happened to the sister. The end result was a delight, though. It wasn't a gripping story for it's duration, and not something I can highly recommend.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not so good as The Shrouded Walls; this book isn't a gothic romance either.

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

Continuing in Susan Howatch's trend of a murder mystery (or mysteries) with Gothic overtones featuring a small group of characters, all with reasons to hate each other, "April's Grave" returns to the Scottish setting of her earlier "The Dark Shore." After three years apart, thanks to her husband Neville's infidelity with her wrecking ball of a twin sister, can Karen reconcile with him? It's not terribly hard to figure out who the villain of the piece is, but Howatch briskly moves the action along. "April's Grave" features the adult emotions, adult conversations and complex characters of all Howatch's Gothics, but also their weaknesses: a tendency to talk out the revelation of the solution to the mystery. By this time, the formula was getting a little stale and one senses the author herself was tired of it.

[Susan Liston · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this as a twofer with "Call in the Night" so I'll review them together, since they are getting confused in my brain anyway.** Although they are I guess technically Gothic novels, they both lack a brooding mansion. I used to devour these books as a young teen, anything with a chick-in-front-of-a-big-house on the cover I gobbled up. And I might have loved both of these if I was thirteen. But as I am not, they were more funny than suspenseful. I easily guessed the outcome of April's Grave. I guessed the ultimate outcome of Call in the Night, but not the way it got there, that was far too convoluted to have figured out oneself. In fact it took so many explanations from so many characters to explain what had actually happened I didn't try to understand as by then I certainly didn't much care. But these books were entertaining in a nostalgic sort of way.

**in both novels the story catalyst is that our heroine's sister has gone missing, and in both our heroine just so happens to stumble upon a freshly dug shallow grave, and digs into them just enough to discover, gasp, a HUMAN HAND. As one does when one stumbles upon a freshly dug shallow grave.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found this older romantic suspense at the used bookstore. Enjoyed it. Kept me guessing. A woman who is estranged from her husband in England returns after 3 years because she finds out her twin sister has been missing all this time, not just off doing her own thing after a fling with the husband. The question is: is the sister dead or just off on her own somewhere. The estranged husband is a prime suspect, but then so are several others who had strong or hateful feelings for the missing sister. Nice read.

[Sherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book like an old friend. Susan Howatch is a master at this genre. Even though I know her structure, I am still surprise at how the tale spins out. Her descriptions are vivid and she keeps the pages turning.

[Tweety · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing and story are pretty good but the longer I think about the book, the less I like it. It's not obvious who did the crime, but I 100% ruled out one person and had it down to two who could have done it. Will I read others by this author? Maybe, but right now I don't care if I do or don't.

[Eliza Redgold · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love all Susan Howatch's books! She is one of my favourite authors and the paperbacks are falling apart ... time to get her on Kindle.

[Gigli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Compra em segunda mão de uma edição portuguesa antiga.
Uma mulher regressa a Inglaterra anos depois de ter abandonado tudo, devido à traição do namorado com a própria irmã gémea, April.
A decisão vem depois de saber que desde essa altura que ninguém sabe de April.
Bom mistério e excelente ambiente.
Uma agradável leitura.

[Robert Fontenot · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is some nifty writing in this slight novel and a lot more ambiguity than usually found in this sort of gothic/mystery. Unfortunately the mystery is easily guessed and they walk their way to a conclusion instead of finding clues.

[Bec · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was sort of interesting, but the characters were dull.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fine. Missing in atmosphere and suspense for the most part. I found it a bit too short to get into - none of the lush characterisation that I've found in Howatch's other work.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not usually into romantic suspense, but I really liked this one. I didn't guess the murderer for most of the book; there were red herrings. I recommend it.

[Prof. Gunjan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best murder mystery ever. Susan Howatch is a versatile writer and I had loved The Sins of the Fathers by her. So if you have not read April's Grave till now please do. Five stars for me.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the short 'gothic' thrillers... this features Karen's twin April, missing presumed dead. Not as frightening as some of Susan Howatch's other thrillers, it's quite a good story with something of a mystery. Very well written, as always.