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The Workhouse Girl
Robert Montague, a fiery preacher with an adventurous past, is a perfect catch for any girl in the parish of Ravenshill. Stockbroker Cuthbert Armitage certainly thinks so and sets his daughters, Cassie and Pippa, into competition for the minister's attention. But Montague is not all he seems to be, as Cassie, his pretty, biddable bride, discovers soon after the wedding. Trapped in a dangerous marriage, and an unwitting partner in financial fraud, Cassie finds her only ally in the servant Nancy Winfield and her only friend in Allan Hunter, manager of the local ironworks. Together, they hold her future in their hands. The dark currents that run beneath the smooth surface of Cassie's conventional Victorian marriage, and the power of an evil man over all around him, lead first to disaster and then to tragedy.
616 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1996
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 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 17, 2021
Who is the workhouse girl, Nancy Winfield? What is the true connection between her and her mistress Cassandra Armitage Montague?
There is much "fear, domination and sexual intrigue" as the answers unfold with mystery, betrayal and danger in this tragic Victorian tale.
Once again I was caught up in the lives of the well fleshed out characters and the twists and turns of the surprising plot in this "Jessica Stirling" novel. Everytime I read one of these I want to read another.
I hope you will enjoy these treasures as much as I have.
There is much "fear, domination and sexual intrigue" as the answers unfold with mystery, betrayal and danger in this tragic Victorian tale.
Once again I was caught up in the lives of the well fleshed out characters and the twists and turns of the surprising plot in this "Jessica Stirling" novel. Everytime I read one of these I want to read another.
I hope you will enjoy these treasures as much as I have.
August 30, 2019
Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
I know not what to say, this is a story unlike any I have read before. I thought it was a romantic novel, but it turns out to be a dramatic, thriller of sorts. Lies, deceit, pretences, greed. Along with poverty, a man of faith but not ordained, and ordained man with no faith. Brings to my mind the saying. Oh what a wicked web we weave, when first we practice to deceive. I’m sure you will enjoy this novel that I would say in a historical thriller.
I know not what to say, this is a story unlike any I have read before. I thought it was a romantic novel, but it turns out to be a dramatic, thriller of sorts. Lies, deceit, pretences, greed. Along with poverty, a man of faith but not ordained, and ordained man with no faith. Brings to my mind the saying. Oh what a wicked web we weave, when first we practice to deceive. I’m sure you will enjoy this novel that I would say in a historical thriller.
March 20, 2009
LOVE Jessica Sterling!
May 29, 2013
A story of love,fear and spellbinding suspense. Perverse and deadly passions run deep.
October 22, 2019
A great book about classism, racism and the plight of women both rich and poor during the Victorian period as well as the downtrodden poor. It also highlghts the hypocrisy of the church in England in that time.
June 4, 2022
Ugh. Absolute ugh.
August 12, 2016
Tense, creepy, and full of a dignified suspense, this is the sort great historical fiction that I wish I could find more of.
Set in Scottland during the Victorian era, it evokes the dark and steamy underbelly of the town of Ravenshill - which I assume could stand for many Scottish towns. Almost an afterthought are the vivid descriptions of the way that the religious have used their pulpits for either good or their own gain, giving a realistic backdrop to what is never merely just a good ole' psychological thriller.
The larger issues of a woman finding herself in her marriage, determining what is right and what is merely expected by society, and the rights of the poor and orphaned, weave their way throughout this novel. We are given the very real portrait of Nancy, a girl raised in workhouses and then forced to find work any way she can (even on the streets) to sustain her baby. And though she finds love of a sort, and we wish for her to find happiness in any way she can, it seems that she will never get what she needs in life.
Cassie is the heroine of the story, and despite her sheltered upbringing, knows that her husband is not all that he seems, and that the things he expects her to do are degrading. Evidently she hasn't read 50 Shades. She has to grow up in order to fight back, though it is not until she finds love with another man before she will leave.
I find the idea that she needed Cubby to help her come to a decision a little off-putting, but it's also probably very realistic for the time period. And this novel never hits a false note with authenticity. The language, the attitudes, and the posturing all felt very real (though I've admittedly never been to Scotland, or lived in the age of Queen V.)
Full of depth and surprising characters, this one will keep you up late at night, thanking your lucky stars you didn't grow up in a Scottish workhouse.
Set in Scottland during the Victorian era, it evokes the dark and steamy underbelly of the town of Ravenshill - which I assume could stand for many Scottish towns. Almost an afterthought are the vivid descriptions of the way that the religious have used their pulpits for either good or their own gain, giving a realistic backdrop to what is never merely just a good ole' psychological thriller.
The larger issues of a woman finding herself in her marriage, determining what is right and what is merely expected by society, and the rights of the poor and orphaned, weave their way throughout this novel. We are given the very real portrait of Nancy, a girl raised in workhouses and then forced to find work any way she can (even on the streets) to sustain her baby. And though she finds love of a sort, and we wish for her to find happiness in any way she can, it seems that she will never get what she needs in life.
Cassie is the heroine of the story, and despite her sheltered upbringing, knows that her husband is not all that he seems, and that the things he expects her to do are degrading. Evidently she hasn't read 50 Shades. She has to grow up in order to fight back, though it is not until she finds love with another man before she will leave.
I find the idea that she needed Cubby to help her come to a decision a little off-putting, but it's also probably very realistic for the time period. And this novel never hits a false note with authenticity. The language, the attitudes, and the posturing all felt very real (though I've admittedly never been to Scotland, or lived in the age of Queen V.)
Full of depth and surprising characters, this one will keep you up late at night, thanking your lucky stars you didn't grow up in a Scottish workhouse.
July 23, 2013
dark mood -- very class conscious portrayal-- rich or religious or both who have no compassion -- who believe that those in live in poverty have only themselves to blame (much like the position of extreme "tea party" or Republican legislatures in NC
"Sometimes it alarmed Cubby Armitage to realise that he was approaching his forty-fifth birthday. He would look up from his supper and pass remarks that a person less disinterred than his wife would have interpreted not only as regret but bewilderment, the wistful amazement that comes with the discovery that one is not in the least important in the scheme of things and that all to soon one will not be able to make any difference to anything."
"Sometimes it alarmed Cubby Armitage to realise that he was approaching his forty-fifth birthday. He would look up from his supper and pass remarks that a person less disinterred than his wife would have interpreted not only as regret but bewilderment, the wistful amazement that comes with the discovery that one is not in the least important in the scheme of things and that all to soon one will not be able to make any difference to anything."
March 24, 2014
This book has been a gread reading material. Thought it is not one of my favourites, i enjoyed it very much, I liked the depths of the characters, the uniqueness of each one of them and the way they interacted with each other. They were all connected in a 'not-so-dramatic' sort of way which i found interesting. My favourite character was " Todd BrownLee ", even though he played a minor role, he was -in my opinion- the most touching character .
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April 24, 2021Ehhh.
March 26, 2017
Excellent book-decent writing-like books set in England
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews