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Dark Viking
Traditional romance novel.
186 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1975
16 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 3, 2017
This would have worked better as a straight suspense rather than a suspense-romance hybrid.
The setting of a beautifully gloomy, isolated Shetland island inhabited sparsely by just a few remaining old pensioners, almost a ghost island, was superbly rendered. The descriptions of the abandoned schoolhouse, the looming menace of aggressive wild birds, the claustrophobic caves found along the seashore and no doubt perfect hiding places for criminals, smugglers, and spies, the overall creepiness of the atmosphere, were as effective as any Hitchcock horror film.
And yet, among all the bleakness, the author also managed to convey the wild, primitive beauty of both the nature and the people, a small town, benign, atmosphere that is a welcome relief to the protagonist after the hustle and bustle of a big city.
The suspense part of the story was also extremely effective. The growing suspicions that her hostile, secretive, neighbour is not who he claims, the mysterious nighttime boattrips she observes, the paranoid feeling that someone has been in her home and searched her things, and a particularly heartstopping episode where the protagonist is lured to an isolated camp where the few male residents are just WAY too cheery and friendly but there is somehow a prickling sixth sense that there is a menace behind all the toothy smiles, were just the perfect set-up for a suspense book.
Unfortunately, rather than leading up to some climactic denouement, the author abruptly cut off both the gothic and the suspense plotlines .
The conclusion instead reverts back to tired romance tropes of jealousy, great, big, terrible misunderstandings, and a final, rather lackluster, even begrudging ILY declaration.
I have a feeling the author got carried away experimenting with different styles and genres before her editor reminded her of the restrictions imposed by Harlequin format. There is no doubt this is a talented, enthralling storyteller and I would have loved to see her write a complete gothic or suspense.
The setting of a beautifully gloomy, isolated Shetland island inhabited sparsely by just a few remaining old pensioners, almost a ghost island, was superbly rendered. The descriptions of the abandoned schoolhouse, the looming menace of aggressive wild birds, the claustrophobic caves found along the seashore and no doubt perfect hiding places for criminals, smugglers, and spies, the overall creepiness of the atmosphere, were as effective as any Hitchcock horror film.
And yet, among all the bleakness, the author also managed to convey the wild, primitive beauty of both the nature and the people, a small town, benign, atmosphere that is a welcome relief to the protagonist after the hustle and bustle of a big city.
The suspense part of the story was also extremely effective. The growing suspicions that her hostile, secretive, neighbour is not who he claims, the mysterious nighttime boattrips she observes, the paranoid feeling that someone has been in her home and searched her things, and a particularly heartstopping episode where the protagonist is lured to an isolated camp where the few male residents are just WAY too cheery and friendly but there is somehow a prickling sixth sense that there is a menace behind all the toothy smiles, were just the perfect set-up for a suspense book.
Unfortunately, rather than leading up to some climactic denouement, the author abruptly cut off both the gothic and the suspense plotlines .
The conclusion instead reverts back to tired romance tropes of jealousy, great, big, terrible misunderstandings, and a final, rather lackluster, even begrudging ILY declaration.
I have a feeling the author got carried away experimenting with different styles and genres before her editor reminded her of the restrictions imposed by Harlequin format. There is no doubt this is a talented, enthralling storyteller and I would have loved to see her write a complete gothic or suspense.
abrierto-to-read-hr-other
August 7, 2022Emma was thrilled with her cottage and would have loved her stay there if it hadn't been for Greg Halcro. He made his dislike very clear. Emma began to realize that there was something very mysterious -- and not quite right -- about Greg Halcro.
May 21, 2021
This was quite a memorable book due its vivid island descriptions. I enjoyed the creepy feel.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews