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House of Men
When Kate Mitchell was offered the job of part-time secretary at Tor-Fret, a lonely old house on the Northumberland fells, she had no idea that the household was composed only of men.
Her employer, Maurice Rossiter, an embittered victim of polio, was subject to alternative fits of temper and depression. Even so, Kate found it difficult to understand his peculiar hatred of his elder brother Logan, on whose charity Maurice was obliged to depend. But when she accidentally stumbled upon Maurice with Logan's fiancée , she became aware of some of the secrets of Tor-Fret, and realised she was getting too deeply involved with Logan Rossiter and the other inhabitants of the mysterious household.
Her employer, Maurice Rossiter, an embittered victim of polio, was subject to alternative fits of temper and depression. Even so, Kate found it difficult to understand his peculiar hatred of his elder brother Logan, on whose charity Maurice was obliged to depend. But when she accidentally stumbled upon Maurice with Logan's fiancée , she became aware of some of the secrets of Tor-Fret, and realised she was getting too deeply involved with Logan Rossiter and the other inhabitants of the mysterious household.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 27, 1977
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About the author
Catherine Cookson
458 books688 followersCatherine Cookson was born in Tyne Dock, the illegitimate daughter of a poverty-stricken woman, Kate, who Catherine believed was her older sister. Catherine began work in service but eventually moved south to Hastings, where she met and married Tom Cookson, a local grammar-school master.
Although she was originally acclaimed as a regional writer - her novel The Round Tower won the Winifred Holtby Award for the best regional novel of 1968 - her readership quickly spread throughout the world, and her many best-selling novels established her as one of the most popular contemporary woman novelist. She received an OBE in 1985, was created a Dame of the British Empire in 1993, and was appointed an Honorary Fellow of St Hilda's College, Oxford, in 1997.
For many years she lived near Newcastle upon Tyne.
Although she was originally acclaimed as a regional writer - her novel The Round Tower won the Winifred Holtby Award for the best regional novel of 1968 - her readership quickly spread throughout the world, and her many best-selling novels established her as one of the most popular contemporary woman novelist. She received an OBE in 1985, was created a Dame of the British Empire in 1993, and was appointed an Honorary Fellow of St Hilda's College, Oxford, in 1997.
For many years she lived near Newcastle upon Tyne.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 30, 2025
One of my earliest reads via the school library book club. A great read as a teenager. I still enjoy reading this book to this day. A contemporary novel set in the 1970s so gender politics will be of that time. The story of Kate Mitchell and her emerging relationships with the men at Tor Fret from the uncles, to her employer Maurice and his older brother Logan and his fiancée Noreen.
I absolutely loved this on its first reading circa 1978, again purchased from my scholl library book catalogue. I have continued to enjoy the romance that does unfold on my re-reads of this over the years
Synopsis:
Let down by her fiance, Kate sets out to find herself a job. She becomes a secretary to a writer who lives with his brother in a great lonely house in the Northumberland fells. Life has embittered the writer since he contracted polio and in his self-pity he tries to wreck his brother's happiness.
When Kate Mitchell was offered the job of part-time secretary at Tor-Fret, a lonely old house on the Northumberland fells, she had no idea that the household was composed only of men.
Her employer, Maurice Rossiter, an embittered victim of polio, was subject to alternative fits of temper and depression. Even so, Kate found it difficult to understand his peculiar hatred of his elder brother Logan, on whose charity Maurice was obliged to depend. But when she accidentally stumbled upon Maurice with Logan's fiancée , she became aware of some of the secrets of Tor-Fret, and realised she was getting too deeply involved with Logan Rossiter and the other inhabitants of the mysterious household.
I absolutely loved this on its first reading circa 1978, again purchased from my scholl library book catalogue. I have continued to enjoy the romance that does unfold on my re-reads of this over the years
Synopsis:
Let down by her fiance, Kate sets out to find herself a job. She becomes a secretary to a writer who lives with his brother in a great lonely house in the Northumberland fells. Life has embittered the writer since he contracted polio and in his self-pity he tries to wreck his brother's happiness.
When Kate Mitchell was offered the job of part-time secretary at Tor-Fret, a lonely old house on the Northumberland fells, she had no idea that the household was composed only of men.
Her employer, Maurice Rossiter, an embittered victim of polio, was subject to alternative fits of temper and depression. Even so, Kate found it difficult to understand his peculiar hatred of his elder brother Logan, on whose charity Maurice was obliged to depend. But when she accidentally stumbled upon Maurice with Logan's fiancée , she became aware of some of the secrets of Tor-Fret, and realised she was getting too deeply involved with Logan Rossiter and the other inhabitants of the mysterious household.
June 12, 2015
I happened to find this gem at our local library and once I began reading I couldn't put it down.
Our heroine Kate lives a happy existence with her two doting parents on the quiet and isolated moors. Jilted by the man she loves and her father's worsening health she decides to find work closer to home.
She find the Rossiter mansion needs a secretary and she applies. Meeting the disfigured youngest Rossiter surprises her but the goings on on the property are shocking in deed. The oldest Rossiter is engaged and soon to marry and that is when Kate realizes appearances are definitely deceiving.
Who is the hero in this fast paced novel about life in bygone years. Loved it!
Our heroine Kate lives a happy existence with her two doting parents on the quiet and isolated moors. Jilted by the man she loves and her father's worsening health she decides to find work closer to home.
She find the Rossiter mansion needs a secretary and she applies. Meeting the disfigured youngest Rossiter surprises her but the goings on on the property are shocking in deed. The oldest Rossiter is engaged and soon to marry and that is when Kate realizes appearances are definitely deceiving.
Who is the hero in this fast paced novel about life in bygone years. Loved it!
June 6, 2018
Brilliant storyline and very well written. I enjoyed every word.
July 26, 2009
Back Cover Blurb:
When Kate Mitchell applied for a job at Tor-Fret, a lonely house on the Northumberland fells, she had no idea that it was composed only of men. She could not understand her moody employer and his hatred of his brother, but slowly she begins to discover some of the secrets of the house.
When Kate Mitchell applied for a job at Tor-Fret, a lonely house on the Northumberland fells, she had no idea that it was composed only of men. She could not understand her moody employer and his hatred of his brother, but slowly she begins to discover some of the secrets of the house.
May 11, 2020
This was a so-so read for me. I enjoyed the story, but the abrupt ending really ruined everything, and I'm surprised at it being a one-off novel, as I feel it could have made a brilliant saga. Had this been the case, I could have forgiven the ending, knowing there was more to come, but as it stands alone, I wouldn't be tripping over myself to read it again.
September 21, 2019
Another delightful read!
Catherine Cookson does it again with another book that is so difficult to put down! Lovely story! She is my favorite author since the first book I read of hers called The Black Velvet Gown 30 years ago!
Catherine Cookson does it again with another book that is so difficult to put down! Lovely story! She is my favorite author since the first book I read of hers called The Black Velvet Gown 30 years ago!
September 13, 2014
More of a historical romantic mystery with only slight Gothic elements (I'm always hoping for a true Gothic in these forays into older novels), this novel nevertheless won me over. The writing was solid, and the lead character surprisingly independent and strong for the date of publication (1963). As I avoid reading most romances, I've never read this author's work before and was pleasantly surprised at her skills.
Plot: private secretary takes a job at the "house of men," an estate inhabited by two feuding brothers, their three elderly uncles, and a couple dour male servants. There's a pretty neighbor woman the two brothers have historically fought over, a menacing bastard half-brother, and some mysteries to be solved before the heroine falls for one of the brothers.
Completely "sweet" in romance novel terms. Even the few kisses aren't described except in vague ways along the lines of, "the world went away and when I came to, I was stunned."
Plot: private secretary takes a job at the "house of men," an estate inhabited by two feuding brothers, their three elderly uncles, and a couple dour male servants. There's a pretty neighbor woman the two brothers have historically fought over, a menacing bastard half-brother, and some mysteries to be solved before the heroine falls for one of the brothers.
Completely "sweet" in romance novel terms. Even the few kisses aren't described except in vague ways along the lines of, "the world went away and when I came to, I was stunned."
March 4, 2010
As expected another great book by Catherine Cookson. A story of family betrayal that "practical Kate" finds herself caught up in.
October 21, 2024
Another good one, don't be put off by the title. I always enjoy creating the character's in my mind's eye, I got the old twins down as looking a little like the Muppets old chaps in the gallery :-)
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews