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Stranger at the Gate
The inside DJ flaps have a brown stain otherwise book is in pristine condition. 9th yr selling. Satisfaction guaranteed. Ships quickly. TY for your order.
- GenresGothic
176 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 1975
About the author
Josephine Edgar
15 books5 followersMary Edgar Mussi (aka Mary Howard)
Mary Edgar was born on 27 December 1907 in London, England, UK, daughter of Jenny (Howard) and George Edgar, an author. She was educated privately. On 6 March 1934, she married Rudolph F. Mussi, they had one son, Max, and one daughter, Susan Jane. She was a past chairwoman of Society of Women Writers and Journalists. She started writing contemporary romance novels as Mary Howard in 1930, later she used the penname of Josephine Edgar to sign her gothic historical romances. She was the recipient of the Romantic Novelists' Association award in 1960, 1979, 1980, and Elinor Glyn award in 1961. She passed away on 02 March 1991.
Mary Edgar was born on 27 December 1907 in London, England, UK, daughter of Jenny (Howard) and George Edgar, an author. She was educated privately. On 6 March 1934, she married Rudolph F. Mussi, they had one son, Max, and one daughter, Susan Jane. She was a past chairwoman of Society of Women Writers and Journalists. She started writing contemporary romance novels as Mary Howard in 1930, later she used the penname of Josephine Edgar to sign her gothic historical romances. She was the recipient of the Romantic Novelists' Association award in 1960, 1979, 1980, and Elinor Glyn award in 1961. She passed away on 02 March 1991.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
November 6, 2017
Not terrible, just...bland.
[Spoiler paragraph. Sorry, but my annoyance can't be clarified otherwise.]
It started off with a bitchy namesake heroine, a massive (& justified) grudge, & a vague 19th-c sensational feel -- all good stuff. But halfway through Sarah abruptly decides she was wrong to pursue her revenge, then backs away from her bitchitude & tries to extricate herself in order to marry a hum-drum lawyer. Even worse, she falls all over herself to APOLOGIZE for being offended by their bad treatment. WTF! Suddenly the nasty brother & mother are no longer scary; instead they're pathetically pitiful re: their bad behavior, both past & present. Nasty Bro even shoots Saintly Bro while aiming at Sarah, but then she protects him from scandal & marries Saintly Bro to effect her ultimate apology & keep the haughty mum from having a breakdown. WHAT. You don't owe these people shit, girl!
[/spoiler paragraph]
I hate when gothic/rom suspense authors show the stones to push their characters toward an edge of Unreliable Narrator...Anti-Hero...whatever you call it, then abruptly back away from the precipice to keep everything safe, sane, or polite. FOLLOW THROUGH, dammit! If I wanted to wallow in the constancy of genteel society, I'd read Georgette Heyer or HQN Love Inspired(s).
Anyway. I've tried several of this author's books, but only truly liked one. There's nothing specific that puts me off. But ultimately her stuff presents itself as too afraid to push the envelope into genuine peril -- a key component that usually garners high ratings from yours truly. Rather, Ms Edgar opts for authorial hand-holding, an underlying attitude toward both heroes & villains that smacks of "There, see? She's not REALLY so unpleasant!"
I've only got 1 Edgar book left. We'll see how it goes, but I'm inclined to think that will be my last.
[Spoiler paragraph. Sorry, but my annoyance can't be clarified otherwise.]
It started off with a bitchy namesake heroine, a massive (& justified) grudge, & a vague 19th-c sensational feel -- all good stuff. But halfway through Sarah abruptly decides she was wrong to pursue her revenge, then backs away from her bitchitude & tries to extricate herself in order to marry a hum-drum lawyer. Even worse, she falls all over herself to APOLOGIZE for being offended by their bad treatment. WTF! Suddenly the nasty brother & mother are no longer scary; instead they're pathetically pitiful re: their bad behavior, both past & present. Nasty Bro even shoots Saintly Bro while aiming at Sarah, but then she protects him from scandal & marries Saintly Bro to effect her ultimate apology & keep the haughty mum from having a breakdown. WHAT. You don't owe these people shit, girl!
[/spoiler paragraph]
I hate when gothic/rom suspense authors show the stones to push their characters toward an edge of Unreliable Narrator...Anti-Hero...whatever you call it, then abruptly back away from the precipice to keep everything safe, sane, or polite. FOLLOW THROUGH, dammit! If I wanted to wallow in the constancy of genteel society, I'd read Georgette Heyer or HQN Love Inspired(s).
Anyway. I've tried several of this author's books, but only truly liked one. There's nothing specific that puts me off. But ultimately her stuff presents itself as too afraid to push the envelope into genuine peril -- a key component that usually garners high ratings from yours truly. Rather, Ms Edgar opts for authorial hand-holding, an underlying attitude toward both heroes & villains that smacks of "There, see? She's not REALLY so unpleasant!"
I've only got 1 Edgar book left. We'll see how it goes, but I'm inclined to think that will be my last.
Displaying 1 of 1 review