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Lady Audley's Secret

Mary Elizabeth Braddon

Start date: November 1, 2019

Finish date: November 30, 2019

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Dec 10, 2019 Candi rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: classics-shelf, mystery-crime, kindle-book-i-own

"What do we know of the mysteries that may hang about the houses we enter?"

I was both intrigued and hesitant to read this mid-nineteenth century work. First of all, I just had to know this huge secret that Lady Audley would presumably be keeping from us! Secondly, this is labeled as a sensation novel, which to me goes hand in hand with that dreaded term: melodrama. I don’t necessarily mind a bit of verbosity here and there in my classic fiction, in fact I somewhat expect it. However, melodrama i "What do we know of the mysteries that may hang about the houses we enter?"

I was both intrigued and hesitant to read this mid-nineteenth century work. First of all, I just had to know this huge secret that Lady Audley would presumably be keeping from us! Secondly, this is labeled as a sensation novel, which to me goes hand in hand with that dreaded term: melodrama. I don’t necessarily mind a bit of verbosity here and there in my classic fiction, in fact I somewhat expect it. However, melodrama is an element I prefer to steer clear of. I must say I was pleasantly surprised. The taste of melodrama did not turn me off completely. Rather, it only forced me to shave a star from my rating. Otherwise, I quite enjoyed this!

I won’t really get into the plot, as it would be too revealing. The author gives away a bit too much up front. However, there is much more to discover farther along, so don’t set it aside too quickly should you choose to pick this one up someday. I relished the gothic atmosphere and the frequent foreshadowing. Audley Court, home to Sir Michael Audley and his much younger second wife, Lady Audley, is an idyllic sort of home but with an aura of mystery about it (much like its inhabitants.)

"A noble place; inside as well as out, a noble place—a house in which you incontinently lost yourself if ever you were so rash as to attempt to penetrate its mysteries alone…"

The characters too are sharply sketched. Robert Audley, barrister and nephew to Sir Michael, is depicted as an idle fellow. One of those types that we would now call ‘book-smart’, but lacking in the area of common sense perhaps. Educated yet aimless. However, when a person dear to his heart turns up missing, the spark is lit and he is jolted into action. He becomes a man obsessed.

"The one idea of his life had become his master. He was the bonden slave of one gloomy thought—one horrible presentiment."

His wits are pitted against those of Lady Audley, a woman who may not be the childlike, helpless young lady she appears to be. The proud yet neglected stepdaughter, Alicia Audley, may be on to my lady, but isn’t she just being a tad bit jealous of all the attention daddy now gives to the new woman in his life? Maybe not; after all, the instincts of animals usually prove to be correct, don’t they?

"She may bewitch every man in Essex, but she’d never make friends with my dog."

I have to admit, I became rather intrigued as the plot moved along towards the second half of the novel. It was quite thrilling, in fact! I may have guessed a bit here and there, but I didn’t quite figure out as much as I expected I would. The end may have been a bit too neat and tidy; the author even admits this to her audience at the end. I’ll gladly accept her apology, as this was a fun romp despite the pat ending.

"Foul deeds have been done under the most hospitable roofs; terrible crimes have been committed amid the fairest scenes, and have left no trace upon the spot where they were done."
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