Ravenburn

by Laura Black

She felt alone, and unloved, in her tower room at Castle Raven. Too nervous, her stepmother and doctor agreed, to bear the strain of Victorian society. Too much in the shade of her fashionable half-sister to be sought after.

Yet Katherine found joy in her books and in her freedom to explore the wild Scottish countryside. Then one day she discovered a man in hiding on a deserted island in the stream . . . a man destined to turn her from a shy recluse into a beauty, to involve her in adventure and intrigue. He was not the man she believed him to be, but, then again, she was not the girl she thought she was . . .

Genres: Romance, Gothic, Historical Romance, Historical, Mystery, Suspense, Scotland

462 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Laura Black was a pseudonym used by Roger Erskine Longrigg, Domini Taylor. Other pseudonym's used were Frank Parrish and Ivor Drummond.

Born in Scotland in 1929, Roger Longrigg worked initially in advertising, which provided the inspiration for his first novel, A High Pitched Buzz first published in 1953. His love of writing saw him delve into many genre's using pen names of Laura Black, Rosalind Erskine, Megan Barker, Iver Drummond and Domini Taylor. The Black books show his prowess at historical fiction, with a dash of romance, set against striking Scottish backgrounds. Longrigg died on February 26th 2000, aged 70

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite a good read. One of the older 80's gothic historcal romances with minimal sex, but a terrific story. Katherine is a virtual prisoner in her tower room, kept from society as she is said to be too fragile to be in society.
However, she does go out and explore the Scottish Highlands. One day she discovers a man hidden on the small island in the middle of the nearby loch. As she comes to know and love him, she turns from a shy mouse to a beauty, much to the dislike of her stepmother and step-uncle. This man is an enigma, and as she becomes more fond of him, her life becomes dangerous, and she is thrust into the middle of a deadly intrigue. An excellent, recommended read.

[Misfit]

I yield at 50%. Nothing happens - nothing. Or when it does, it isn't presented well and has too many secondary characters and is impossible to follow. I don't care about anyone or anything. Moving on.

[Sarah Mac · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure whether this is a bad book, per se, but I'm bored & don't care what happens. I did read the end, out of curiosity; maybe the pace picks up later, but the tone was so plodding & by rote that I still don't want to bother. Katie's passive acceptance pissed me off -- there's a difference between using what power & temper you have available, vs meekly accepting your step-family's blatant lies for years upon years of your life -- & the phonetic dialogue from the servants made me want to scream.

Standard 2-star DNF.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining, well-written romantic adventure romp (from 1978); it's somewhat predictable, but never dull.

Laura Black is a pseudonym used by Roger Erskine Longrigg, who wrote The Passion Flower Hotel (as Rosalind Erskine), which is the book that led me to his romance novels. He's a fun writer.

[Alison Hardtmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an odd, perfect book set in the 1860s in a new castle that looks like nothing more than an elaborate Manchester mill, set in the glens of Scotland. Katie lives there with her step-mother, half-siblings and her uncle. It's been decided that she is of a nervous disposition and must be kept quiet and out of society. Katie doesn't feel nervous, but she can't help but believe the doctors who have come up to Ravenburn castle to examine her. So she spends her days reading and exploring. It's while she is out exploring that she discovers a man hiding out on a small island of the loch, who knew her brother, who fled the highlands after killing a keeper on an adjoining estate. New people are also arriving at the castle, interested in her and interested in clearing her dead brother's name.

Laura Black writes with great humor and the suspense is well plotted and, well, suspenseful. This is an old-fashioned novel in the best sense, suspenseful and very surprising, while the writing makes every page enjoyable. Her characters are, every one of them, well drawn and interesting, especially brave Katie and her new friends, a Glasgow foundling named Robbie and the important, but not self-important, Lord Killin.

[LoveBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katie es una joven de 17 años que desafia las costumbres de las mujeres de ser modestas seguir a la moda y comportarse como verdaderas damas. A nuestra protagonista le gusta correr nadar subise a los arboles y sobre todo descubrir nuevas cosas. por eso no tardo tanto en llegar al castillo de los cuervos, donde investigara si hay fantasmas.
esperaba ella encontrarse con un fantasma pero lo que se encontro fue algo mucho mejor, un joven de veintitanto de años , guapo y profugo de la ley, que era mejor amigo del Hermano mayor de Katie, hermano que fue condenado a morir cuando ella era una niña.
Temiendo un poco de ese joven , le miente diciendo que era una profesora de la dama de el hogar.
no tardo mucho para que ambos corazones se hacercaran y formaran un lazo romantico
pero todo esto termina cuando alguien de la familia esta al borde de cometer Incesto.

Katie es maravillosa , lo malo de esta historia es que quizas algunos le guste pero, es el problema que tiene demasiada informacio que no deberia tener que es solo para relleno.
fuera de eso la ambientacion es buena , los personajes algunos son graciosos y Robie es un rompe corazon.

[Hannah Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hmmm. It's an interesting book, this one. I enjoyed it immensely, that is unquestionable. But the blurb paints it as a far different book - a gothic thriller about a young girl finding something dangerous on a haunted island- to what it actually is - a mid-century chick-lit, based in Scotland and written by a man masquerading as a woman. Thoroughly confusing.

I was turned off by the brother-sister incestuous relationship. But, spoilers. You have to find out why they are actually brother and sister.

The prose is good, everything seemed to be legitimate historically (which otherwise irritates the life out of me) and it did keep you intrigued as to why such and such was happening or what the reason for so many doctors was.
3.5 stars. I would read another of her (his) books.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written, great pros, good plot, well thought out characters, I liked the way you covered the heroines thought process, how she worked out the truth, her emotional reaction to each revelation and her logical thoughts sifting what was important to her against what the general populous thought. A good book for all readers to read. Would make a good English Literature book as lots of good points in the book to discuss what is really going on to perception and how would we react etc...

[Mookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. It follows the tropes and insufferabilities (protagonist passivity) of any 70's gothic paperback, but it was much more well written. I don't buy for one minute thought that Tom didn't recognize her, considering her features are so distinctive. But I did love it.

[Diletta Nicastro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Avvincente, non c’è che dire. La descrizione dei paesaggi selvaggi e della calma e passionale isola sono molto nitide e rispecchiano i sentimenti che animano i protagonisti. Sebbene troppo presto il lettore comprenda che l’amato Robbie, altri non è che il fratellastro di ritorno in Scozia, e che sicuramente i due riusciranno a ritrovarsi in qualche modo, le pagine scivolano via veloci, ricche di suspense.
Passionale è l’aggettivo con cui descriverei queste pagine. Ma a mio avviso c’è un lato positivo molto importante. Nel processo nel quale Tom-Robbie è coinvolto, viene messo brillantemente in luce il problema delle Clearensess, anche se nel testo non vengono chiamate con il loro nome: fittavoli costretti ad emigrare per lasciare il posto a pascoli e luoghi per la caccia.

[Chrisangel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good story, but the poor h went through way too much to get her HEA, enough already! The H didn't have an easy time of it, either, what with his hidden identity, and then being accused of murder! (Those trial scenes dragged on a bit too long, could have been cut in half and still be as effective.) There are enough villains too, some selfish and crummy, others misguided, but still doing enough damage. And I always find a smuggling, stealing or poaching for a good cause theme kind of charming!

A good story, but be prepared for too many frustrating moments.

[Katrin · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book was entertaining enough. there was not the kind of suspense I was hoping for, it's more like a romance with unpredictable twists and a crime scene. I got a bit bored by the trial, which was too long in my opinion. the character of Katie was well enough forged and I liked the relationships in this book which made the book interesting enough. I think this book could have been better, the story and the surprising end were quite good though.

[Chels]

Averie sept tbr

[Peter Jochinger · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little to much recapping of the main story line in this interesting love story.

[Marie Phillip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story. If you like a book with many characters, you'll love this book! The first 22 pages has 21 characters, if I counted correctly.