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Beckman Trilogy #3
The Gates Of Midnight
Traces the fortunes of a British family--the Beckmans--as they struggle through the dark years of World War II
302 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 1986
About the author
Jessica Stirling
71 books18 followersA pseudonym used by Hugh C. Rae, initially in collaboration with Peggie Coghlan and later alone.
Hugh Crauford Rae was born on November 22, 1935 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK, son of Isobel and Robert Rae. He published his first stories aged 11 in the Robin comic, winning a cricket bat the same year in a children’s writing competition. After graduating from secondary school, he worked as an assistant in the antiquarian department of John Smith's bookshop. At work, he met her future wife, Elizabeth. Published since 1963, he started to wrote suspense novels as Hugh C. Rae, but he also used the pseudonyms of Robert Crawford, R.B. Houston, Stuart Stern (with S. Ungar) and James Albany. On 1973, his novel "The Shooting Gallery" was nominee by the Edgar Award. On 1974, he wrote the first few romance novels with Peggie Coghlan, using the popular pseudonym Jessica Stirling. However, when she retired 7 years after the first book was published, he continued writing more than 30 on his own, and also as Caroline Crosby. His female pseudonyms first became widely known in 1999, when "The Wind from the Hills" was shortlisted for Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists' Association. Widowed nine years ago, Hugh died on September 24, 2014 at the age of 78.
Hugh Crauford Rae was born on November 22, 1935 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK, son of Isobel and Robert Rae. He published his first stories aged 11 in the Robin comic, winning a cricket bat the same year in a children’s writing competition. After graduating from secondary school, he worked as an assistant in the antiquarian department of John Smith's bookshop. At work, he met her future wife, Elizabeth. Published since 1963, he started to wrote suspense novels as Hugh C. Rae, but he also used the pseudonyms of Robert Crawford, R.B. Houston, Stuart Stern (with S. Ungar) and James Albany. On 1973, his novel "The Shooting Gallery" was nominee by the Edgar Award. On 1974, he wrote the first few romance novels with Peggie Coghlan, using the popular pseudonym Jessica Stirling. However, when she retired 7 years after the first book was published, he continued writing more than 30 on his own, and also as Caroline Crosby. His female pseudonyms first became widely known in 1999, when "The Wind from the Hills" was shortlisted for Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists' Association. Widowed nine years ago, Hugh died on September 24, 2014 at the age of 78.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
November 19, 2017
Really enjoyed this book.
A story of Hope, Sadness and tragic circumstances set in WW2. This book follows the fortunes and misfortunes of the thrice married Holly Beckman King and family and all those attached to Holly.
After the death of her husband Kennedy King, Holly is left with the antiques business she and Kennedy had set up. It had done well for them over the years and prospered and now with another war looming on the horizon, only 22 years after the War To End All Wars, Britain's antique businesses looked to become doom and gloom in the war arriving on Britain's doorstep.
Chris, Holly's son, is a pilot with the air force and meets up with Stephanie, his cousin unbeknownst to him. They fall madly in love and marry at haste, something that happened a lot during the war. Then tragedy strikes.
Holly's errant and very absent brother Richard, lives in Paris with his much younger French Canadian wife, and they deal in art of the more expensive kind, and Richie will do what he has to to get his hands on the valuable collection belonging to a Comtesse, in order to save if from getting into German hands. His wife will also do what she has to in order to stay allied with the Germans.
So much happens in this book which I found most absorbing with tragedy at many corners, making this an excellent read. I really enjoy stories which will romp along at a good page and 'Jessica Stirling' (aka Scottish author Hugh C. Rae) certainly delivers.
A story of Hope, Sadness and tragic circumstances set in WW2. This book follows the fortunes and misfortunes of the thrice married Holly Beckman King and family and all those attached to Holly.
After the death of her husband Kennedy King, Holly is left with the antiques business she and Kennedy had set up. It had done well for them over the years and prospered and now with another war looming on the horizon, only 22 years after the War To End All Wars, Britain's antique businesses looked to become doom and gloom in the war arriving on Britain's doorstep.
Chris, Holly's son, is a pilot with the air force and meets up with Stephanie, his cousin unbeknownst to him. They fall madly in love and marry at haste, something that happened a lot during the war. Then tragedy strikes.
Holly's errant and very absent brother Richard, lives in Paris with his much younger French Canadian wife, and they deal in art of the more expensive kind, and Richie will do what he has to to get his hands on the valuable collection belonging to a Comtesse, in order to save if from getting into German hands. His wife will also do what she has to in order to stay allied with the Germans.
So much happens in this book which I found most absorbing with tragedy at many corners, making this an excellent read. I really enjoy stories which will romp along at a good page and 'Jessica Stirling' (aka Scottish author Hugh C. Rae) certainly delivers.
Displaying 1 of 1 review