Secret Island

by Jane Aiken Hodge

When Daphne reaches the mysterious island she is plunged into a web of intrigue and suspense, without knowing who she can trust.

Genres: Romance, Gothic, Greece, Mystery, Suspense

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Jane Aiken Hodge was born in the USA, brought up in the UK and read English at Oxford. She received a master's degree from Radcliffe College, Harvard University.

Before her books became her living she worked as a civil servant, journalist, publishers' reader and a reviewer.

She has written lives of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer as well as a book about women in the Regency period, PASSION AND PRINCIPLE. But her main output has been over twenty historical novels set in the eighteenth century, including POLONAISE, THE LOST GARDEN, and SAVANNAH PURCHASE, the beloved third volume of a trilogy set during and after the American War of Independence. More recently she has written novels for Severn House Publishers.

She enjoys the borderland between mystery and novel, is pleased to be classed as a feminist writer, and is glad that there is neither a glass ceiling nor a retiring age in the writers' world. She was the daughter of Conrad Aiken and sister of Joan Aiken.

Reviews

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the late 80s, on an isolated Greek island, there is an interesting combination of 'modern' international spy thriller/romance/mystery and ancient mythical themes woven throughout. I remember reading it as a teenager and not really caring for it because it was so different from the JAH regency books I was used to. However, I appreciate it more as an adult. The fact that I know more Greek history now also probably makes a difference.

[Vicki Parsons · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not one of JAH's best. Lots of stuff going on here, and most of it is pretty outlandish. Too many plots and too much intrigue, but I have a fondness for cheesy contemporary gothics and there's a weird but interesting examination of feminism and sexism, buried under all the malarkey. For fans of JAH or true fans of contemporary gothics or romantic suspense.

[CLM · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would get a 2 if anyone other than my beloved Jane Aiken Hodge had written it...

[Linda Amos · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a bit predictable. Daphne marries Mark, he then has an affair with her best friend and she catches them. A cousin invites her to Kos asking she not tell anyone.