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The Shadowed Spring
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1980
35 people want to read
About the author
Carola Salisbury
24 books10 followersCarola Salisbury is a pseudonym for John Michael "Mike" Butterworth.
Butterworth trained as an artist at Camberwell College of Art and worked briefly as a tutor in drawing at Nottingham College of Art. After briefly working as a salesman, he joined the Amalgamated Press (later renamed Fleetway Publications) after submitting samples of artwork to them. Although these were turned down, he tried again, submitting a script for a sea-going adventure strip. This was accepted and Butterworth was hired as a scriptwriter, at first working primarily Western strips featuring Billy the Kid and Buffalo Bill. His interest in history (particularly naval history) led him to pen many historical comic strips for Comet and Sun, including the Napoleonic era adventures of Max Bravo, the Happy Hussar and World War II air-ace Battler Britton.
Aside from his writing, Butterworth was a gifted editor and created a number of new papers for the firm including Playhour Pictures (soon after abbreviated to Playhour), Valentine and the teenage girls' magazine Honey.
In 1965 he became one of the main script writers for Ranger where he penned the sprawling science-fantasy The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire which remains one of the most popular boys' adventure strips published in the UK to this day.
Butterworth left Fleetway Publications and turned freelance. His first novel, The Soundless Scream, appeared in 1967 followed over the next few years by a number of well-received crime novels which appeared under his full name, which has led to some confusion between his work and that of Science fiction writer and Savoy Books publisher Michael Butterworth. Butterworth also turned his hand to Gothic romance novels under the pen-name Carola Salisbury and Sarah Kemp.
He died at the age of 62.
Butterworth trained as an artist at Camberwell College of Art and worked briefly as a tutor in drawing at Nottingham College of Art. After briefly working as a salesman, he joined the Amalgamated Press (later renamed Fleetway Publications) after submitting samples of artwork to them. Although these were turned down, he tried again, submitting a script for a sea-going adventure strip. This was accepted and Butterworth was hired as a scriptwriter, at first working primarily Western strips featuring Billy the Kid and Buffalo Bill. His interest in history (particularly naval history) led him to pen many historical comic strips for Comet and Sun, including the Napoleonic era adventures of Max Bravo, the Happy Hussar and World War II air-ace Battler Britton.
Aside from his writing, Butterworth was a gifted editor and created a number of new papers for the firm including Playhour Pictures (soon after abbreviated to Playhour), Valentine and the teenage girls' magazine Honey.
In 1965 he became one of the main script writers for Ranger where he penned the sprawling science-fantasy The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire which remains one of the most popular boys' adventure strips published in the UK to this day.
Butterworth left Fleetway Publications and turned freelance. His first novel, The Soundless Scream, appeared in 1967 followed over the next few years by a number of well-received crime novels which appeared under his full name, which has led to some confusion between his work and that of Science fiction writer and Savoy Books publisher Michael Butterworth. Butterworth also turned his hand to Gothic romance novels under the pen-name Carola Salisbury and Sarah Kemp.
He died at the age of 62.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 1, 2017
Carola Salisbury is a bit of Holt and a bit of Christie - gothic romance plus murder mystery - with a large dash of flamboyance! I really enjoy his writing and wild cast of characters in each of the books I've read. He paints the characters and atmosphere with broad and colorful brush strokes.
I enjoy the language he uses so much that this time I made a list of all the fun vocabulary. Words like: flummeries, quinsy, munificent, putti, vulpine, pecuniary, appurtenances, probity, preoration, doughty, quiff, jejaws, ratiocination, provender, fatuity, obloquy, calumny, inveigled, bothy...
I can just picture this author on a stage in Shakespeare garb orating dramatically and elaborately. It would have been a hoot to know him.
He really has a knack for bringing to life the characters and especially the male characters. Perhaps being a man helps. His male characters can be quirky and nerdy or dashing and masculine or evil and despicable - never trite though. They are just rich and delicious to absorb.
I notice a pattern in his heroines - which I enjoy. They are thrust into life from difficult upbringings. Generally they are alone due to loss of parents yet they were raised with exceptional education which serves them well as the story plays out. They are genuine and kind. There are numerous possible love interests and you are never quite sure who will win out in the end.
He takes us on treks across the globe to exotic locations as well. We go from England to France to Russia in this adventure on boats, carriages, trains. What's not to like?
3.5
I enjoy the language he uses so much that this time I made a list of all the fun vocabulary. Words like: flummeries, quinsy, munificent, putti, vulpine, pecuniary, appurtenances, probity, preoration, doughty, quiff, jejaws, ratiocination, provender, fatuity, obloquy, calumny, inveigled, bothy...
I can just picture this author on a stage in Shakespeare garb orating dramatically and elaborately. It would have been a hoot to know him.
He really has a knack for bringing to life the characters and especially the male characters. Perhaps being a man helps. His male characters can be quirky and nerdy or dashing and masculine or evil and despicable - never trite though. They are just rich and delicious to absorb.
I notice a pattern in his heroines - which I enjoy. They are thrust into life from difficult upbringings. Generally they are alone due to loss of parents yet they were raised with exceptional education which serves them well as the story plays out. They are genuine and kind. There are numerous possible love interests and you are never quite sure who will win out in the end.
He takes us on treks across the globe to exotic locations as well. We go from England to France to Russia in this adventure on boats, carriages, trains. What's not to like?
3.5
April 10, 2014
"We are journeying to St. Petersburg to save the peace of Europe."
For reasons that are too complicated to try and explain, twenty-five year old school ma'am Clarrie Herbert decides to leave her home in Cornwall and accepts the position of governess to the daughter of some high mucky-muck British ambassador. When she arrives at his current home in France, things are a bit muddled as the daughter has been sent home to England, and the ambassador and staff are in whirlwind preparations for a journey to St Petersburg to negotiate peace between Russia and Constantinople. Curiously, there are no trained translators available (odd, that), and since Clarrie speaks German like a native, she's put on board the train, along with a couple of reporters who don't normally cover diplomatic missions (odd, that), and at the last minute the merry party is joined by one of the Tsar's favorites nieces and off they go via train.
"There's someone on that train, some person - or persons - with a malevolent intent. Someone who - who isn't maybe, quite what he or she appears to be."
That's where I stop - read it for yourself. This was a lot of fun, with plenty of twists and turns and surprises and of course, dropping bodies. Poison. Gunshot. A princess who drowns herself in jewels, parties, champagne and caviar. And that spooky Russian count and his castle with bats (!!) and walls covered in hunting trophies and other things that may or may not go bump in the night.
One of the best mysteries I've come across in a while, and a twist at the end that I never expected for one minute.
For reasons that are too complicated to try and explain, twenty-five year old school ma'am Clarrie Herbert decides to leave her home in Cornwall and accepts the position of governess to the daughter of some high mucky-muck British ambassador. When she arrives at his current home in France, things are a bit muddled as the daughter has been sent home to England, and the ambassador and staff are in whirlwind preparations for a journey to St Petersburg to negotiate peace between Russia and Constantinople. Curiously, there are no trained translators available (odd, that), and since Clarrie speaks German like a native, she's put on board the train, along with a couple of reporters who don't normally cover diplomatic missions (odd, that), and at the last minute the merry party is joined by one of the Tsar's favorites nieces and off they go via train.
"There's someone on that train, some person - or persons - with a malevolent intent. Someone who - who isn't maybe, quite what he or she appears to be."
That's where I stop - read it for yourself. This was a lot of fun, with plenty of twists and turns and surprises and of course, dropping bodies. Poison. Gunshot. A princess who drowns herself in jewels, parties, champagne and caviar. And that spooky Russian count and his castle with bats (!!) and walls covered in hunting trophies and other things that may or may not go bump in the night.
One of the best mysteries I've come across in a while, and a twist at the end that I never expected for one minute.
May 28, 2014
2.5 Stars
This was a "Murder on the Orient Express " kind of book. A medley of characters (diplomats, reporters, translators, a Russian princess, etc) are en route by train from France to St. Petersburg in order to step in and save the peace of Europe. Okaaaay.
It was ok. Good but not great. The suspense started too late for my taste and wasnt strong enough for me to really get worried.
There were a few occasions (in a crypt, in an old castle, around a campfire at a gypsy feast) where I wish more time was spent because the situation really lent itself to spookiness. But these were over with rather quickly.
Some twists I guessed, others I didn't see coming. Overall, it was a good read but not one I couldn't put down.
CONTENT: Clean
This was a "Murder on the Orient Express " kind of book. A medley of characters (diplomats, reporters, translators, a Russian princess, etc) are en route by train from France to St. Petersburg in order to step in and save the peace of Europe. Okaaaay.
It was ok. Good but not great. The suspense started too late for my taste and wasnt strong enough for me to really get worried.
There were a few occasions (in a crypt, in an old castle, around a campfire at a gypsy feast) where I wish more time was spent because the situation really lent itself to spookiness. But these were over with rather quickly.
Some twists I guessed, others I didn't see coming. Overall, it was a good read but not one I couldn't put down.
CONTENT: Clean
April 30, 2018
My first by this author. I don't think I would run out to read another one any time soon. A mystery ala Murder on the Orient Express but without a detective aboard. It's 1878 and a disparate group of characters find themselves on a "secret" mission aboard a train from Paris to St. Petersburg for diplomatic negotiations to keep the peace between Russia and England over the fate of Turkey. Unexpected deaths occur that the group is slow to recognize that it may be associated with their mission. When the 3rd death comes about, it becomes obvious that the culprit is one of the group. And unfortunately I had started to guess who it was. However there was a twist I didn't see coming. I always appreciate that!
The story was moving along as a 3 star for me until some horrible trite romantic dialogue. both internal & articulated, primarily by the heroine, was inserted. I rolled my eyes numerous times. It moved it down to a 2 star.
The story was moving along as a 3 star for me until some horrible trite romantic dialogue. both internal & articulated, primarily by the heroine, was inserted. I rolled my eyes numerous times. It moved it down to a 2 star.
April 24, 2025
I started this book and could not leave it aside! So entertaining is the story :-)
This is my first Carola Salisbury novel and it will most surely not be my last.
The story is about group of people who end up traveling from Paris to St Petersburg, in order to negotiate peace between Russia and Constantinople.
Amoung these people is Clarrie Herbert,a 25 year old teacher who initially travels to France to accept a position of gouverness to the daughter of a British ambassador.
The ambassador has to abruptly travel to St Petersburg and Clarissa is taken with them as a german translator, not having even met the man or his daughter.
Three journalists, a colonel, a russian princess and her maid, plus a secretary travel alongside on the train.
All good until people start being killed. A murderer is abord the train. Who ? I could not guess.
The only minus I found is the male love interest. Who can fall madly in love with someone who hardly notices you the hole book? I would have definetely chosen another character for the role.
He deserved it much more!
This is my first Carola Salisbury novel and it will most surely not be my last.
The story is about group of people who end up traveling from Paris to St Petersburg, in order to negotiate peace between Russia and Constantinople.
Amoung these people is Clarrie Herbert,a 25 year old teacher who initially travels to France to accept a position of gouverness to the daughter of a British ambassador.
The ambassador has to abruptly travel to St Petersburg and Clarissa is taken with them as a german translator, not having even met the man or his daughter.
Three journalists, a colonel, a russian princess and her maid, plus a secretary travel alongside on the train.
All good until people start being killed. A murderer is abord the train. Who ? I could not guess.
The only minus I found is the male love interest. Who can fall madly in love with someone who hardly notices you the hole book? I would have definetely chosen another character for the role.
He deserved it much more!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews