What do you think?
Rate this book
Smugglers' Moon
Sylvia Thorpe is one of Britain's most popular novelists. Deborah Chantrey had led a sheltered, restricted life in Bath--until her scholarly father died. He left no will, so the young heiress became the ward of her step-uncle, Lucius Darrell, a distant relation living on the edge of the Essex marshes. Deborah soon found much at Mullion Hall to frighten and perplex her. For why was the Hall shunned and feared by the whole neighbourhood? What strange bond existed between old Lucius and his three, ill-assorted nephews living at Mullion? In desperation, Deborah found herself turning to one of them for help--to Rupert, the quick-tempered young giant, knows as 'Black' Darrell . . .
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1955
5 people are currently reading
236 people want to read
About the author
Sylvia Thorpe
38 books22 followersJune Sylvia Thimblethorpe was born in 1926 in London, England. Educated in London at a school in Brondesbury, Kilburn High School for Girls, Slade School of Fine Arts, and University College. She worked as secretary from 1949 to 1952 and later she worked as school teacher.
As Sylvia Thorpe, she wrote over 25 historical romance novels from 1950 to 1983. Her novel "The Scapegrace" (1971) won the Elizabeth Goudge Historical Award. She was the third elected Chairman (1965-1967) of the Romantic Novelists' Association, and was named a Honor Life Member of the organization.
Sylvia is now a trustee for the Goodrich Village Hall Trust. Goodrich is a village, in south Herefordshire which is very close to Gloucestershire and the Forest of Dean situated near the River Wye and is famous for its old red sandstone Norman and medieval castle.
As Sylvia Thorpe, she wrote over 25 historical romance novels from 1950 to 1983. Her novel "The Scapegrace" (1971) won the Elizabeth Goudge Historical Award. She was the third elected Chairman (1965-1967) of the Romantic Novelists' Association, and was named a Honor Life Member of the organization.
Sylvia is now a trustee for the Goodrich Village Hall Trust. Goodrich is a village, in south Herefordshire which is very close to Gloucestershire and the Forest of Dean situated near the River Wye and is famous for its old red sandstone Norman and medieval castle.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 22, 2019
Boy, was I wrong. That’s a couple of hours I won’t ever get back, but I owed it to Open Library as this was the third time I had borrowed SoM.
My disappointment when I found out that this was a Victorian Gothic rather than the 1955 Gothic reboot I had supposed. Cover was false advertising; yes the heroine runs away (twice) but sadly not in her nightie. This had all the hallmarks of a Victorian Gothic romance from the overbearing guardian who is as gross as a toad lurking for a fly, the overbearing charming cousin, the overbearing brooding cousin, the bland heir and his floozy ex-abigail wife, the incredibly bland wannabe OM, the fearful/scornful villagers/ the atmospheric fog, the finally successful flight from the house, and the requisite house burning to purge of all evil except there is less evil than humdrum smuggling.
Frankly this was out and out dreary as the heroine has all the spice and spine of vanilla pudding although Sylvia Thorpe stays true to the Victorian style Gothic. A much better read for me is Barbara Michaels
( look at the original cover and title
) which has all the tropes of this story but with a feisty heroine; her equally feisty cousin, two competing brothers and an overbearing but devastatingly damaged guardian.
I think this is going to be good because...
a) The cover
b) Characters called Rupert, Nigel, Sir Hugo
c) A guardian/step-Uncle named Lucius, mwa ha ha
c) Old school titled chapters
My disappointment when I found out that this was a Victorian Gothic rather than the 1955 Gothic reboot I had supposed. Cover was false advertising; yes the heroine runs away (twice) but sadly not in her nightie. This had all the hallmarks of a Victorian Gothic romance from the overbearing guardian who is as gross as a toad lurking for a fly, the overbearing charming cousin, the overbearing brooding cousin, the bland heir and his floozy ex-abigail wife, the incredibly bland wannabe OM, the fearful/scornful villagers/ the atmospheric fog, the finally successful flight from the house, and the requisite house burning to purge of all evil except there is less evil than humdrum smuggling.
Frankly this was out and out dreary as the heroine has all the spice and spine of vanilla pudding although Sylvia Thorpe stays true to the Victorian style Gothic. A much better read for me is Barbara Michaels
( look at the original cover and title
) which has all the tropes of this story but with a feisty heroine; her equally feisty cousin, two competing brothers and an overbearing but devastatingly damaged guardian.I think this is going to be good because...
a) The cover
b) Characters called Rupert, Nigel, Sir Hugo
c) A guardian/step-Uncle named Lucius, mwa ha ha
c) Old school titled chapters
March 20, 2015
This was so exciting! There's not a thing I'd change
Barbara is not your usual heroine. She's the type books make fun of. (Pale, weepy and with hardly any courage), but I liked her. Why I don't know. Whatever the case, she was perfect for this book, and it wouldn't have been the same without her. She wasn't all gun ho to catch the smugglers, she behaved as most normal people would under the conditions.
Then there's the hero… I cant tell you who he is because it's a secret, (she has three to pick from), but let me say that she picked the right one. And Oh! He was the best of foils for her.
Simply put I loved it. Not the best Gothic/Romance, but it was a good Adventure. I had to give it five because the end was so satisfying, the kind were you give a happy sigh afterwords. I can't think of anything I didn't like, except I would have liked to know for sure who the Hero was earlier. It would have saved me much agony of mind.
All in all, it was a well rounded, entertaining Gothic. The tower scene reminded me distinctly of Kidnapped, and the uncle was completely unexpected, and so was the true villein. (not that I didn't know who he was but, that I didn't know how far he'd go).
A G as there is nothing objectionable whatsoever.
Barbara is not your usual heroine. She's the type books make fun of. (Pale, weepy and with hardly any courage), but I liked her. Why I don't know. Whatever the case, she was perfect for this book, and it wouldn't have been the same without her. She wasn't all gun ho to catch the smugglers, she behaved as most normal people would under the conditions.
Then there's the hero… I cant tell you who he is because it's a secret, (she has three to pick from), but let me say that she picked the right one. And Oh! He was the best of foils for her.
Simply put I loved it. Not the best Gothic/Romance, but it was a good Adventure. I had to give it five because the end was so satisfying, the kind were you give a happy sigh afterwords. I can't think of anything I didn't like, except I would have liked to know for sure who the Hero was earlier. It would have saved me much agony of mind.
All in all, it was a well rounded, entertaining Gothic. The tower scene reminded me distinctly of Kidnapped, and the uncle was completely unexpected, and so was the true villein. (not that I didn't know who he was but, that I didn't know how far he'd go).
A G as there is nothing objectionable whatsoever.
August 13, 2021
Although this 1950s novels was repackaged, retitled and remarketed as a gothic in the 1970s, it is really a Regency romance with Gothic elements. After the death of her wealthy father, 18 year old Dorothea Chantrey finds herself in a decaying house in Essex, under the care of her foreboding step-uncle Lucius Darrell, who comprises a disagreeable and dangerous household composed of his fractious nephews. The family is shunned by and shuns the neighborhood and it won't take long for Dorothea to discover why. The novel owes more than a little bit to Daphne DuMaurier's "Jamaica Inn," with elements of Georgette Heyer thrown in. Despite this feeling of literary deja vu, "Strangers on the Moor" is a fun read. Thorpe briskly and capably moves the action along; and if Dorothea is a little too naive at times, she's more than compensated for by mischievous and smart secondary character Laura Brant.
August 12, 2018
This was quite good. I had no idea Sylvia Thorpe wrote any gothic books. This one has all the typical elements and is done very well!
February 6, 2021
I can't say it was badly written. It just isn't my favourite genre, so to allow me to really enjoy it, it has to be really good (like Mary Stewart's novels).
It was totally predictable (save one thing about Rupert), also a romance, although the love story was nice.
It probably deserves more but I just can't force myself to give it 3 stars.
It was totally predictable (save one thing about Rupert), also a romance, although the love story was nice.
It probably deserves more but I just can't force myself to give it 3 stars.
July 19, 2020
Good fun. I really enjoy the novels I have read by Sylvia Thorpe. There is a massive spoiler in the title of this one "Smugglers' Moon". Hmm... Wonder what the secret could involve...
June 19, 2022
The second in my reread of Sylvia Thorpe’s novels. I read the Corgi edition entitled “Smuggler’s Moon”. And again I absolutely loved it. She really knew how to write a cracking good adventure/romantic historical novel. Why the gentle and shy Deborah Chantrey had been brought to live at Mullon Hall by her uncle and guardian makes an entertaining and enjoyable read. Full of mystery and tales of smuggling I couldn’t put it down.
December 26, 2012
Enjoyed this one,had all the right touches.Well written,and oh,love those dark dangerous men riding the countryside on fiery black stallions!
Want to read
June 17, 2014Mentioned in a review of The Talisman Ring as being of like quality.
December 6, 2014
This was an excellent suspenseful Gothic-style romance. I found the old paperback on library "take me home" shelves this summer. Read it if you can find it.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews