Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Bride of Pendorric by Victoria Holt Narrator: Henrietta Meire
Published by Tantor Audio on April 25, 2023
Genres: Historical Mystery, Historical Romance
Length: 10 hours, 38 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
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When Favel Farrington met Roc Pendorric on the Italian island where she lived with her father, they fell deeply in love, and there was no reason to suspect that they would not live happily ever after. Then Faval's father was drowned while swimming, a circumstance that was as puzzling to Favel as it was heartbreaking. No one could have been more devoted during these sad days than Roc, and when he took her home to Pendorric, the ancient family home on the Cornish cliffs, no family could have welcomed her more warmly than Roc's sister, her husband, and twin daughters. In fact everyone in the house and the village was eager to meet "the bride of Pendorric".
At first the phrase amused Favel. Then she found herself looking more and more often at the portraits of two other Brides of Pendorric who had died young and tragically - one of them Roc's own mother. The very stones of Pendorric seemed to be waiting for her to slip; the courtyard seemed to have eyes. And was there speculation even in the eyes of the young twins, who watched her constantly? Did she imagine it, or was Roc curiously attentive to other women at Pendorric - and did his absence grow more frequent? Surely no legend, no evil out of the past could threaten their happiness. Surely Roc's love for her had not been pretense.
At last, in a terrifying moment, Favel can no longer dismiss as accident the strange things that are happening to her at Pendorric. She must confront the very real dangers of the present.
Victoria Holt was one of my Big Three intros to classic, gothic romantic suspense along with Phyllis Whitney and Mary Stewart. I devoured her huge backlist as a teenager and pretty much loved it all. It has been many years and many twists in my reading taste since I picked up one of her books and when I spotted Bride of Pendorric re-released in audio, I was curious to revisit a world Victoria Holt was superb at creating.
Bride of Pendorric was not one I remembered at all, but I was struck when I started listening by the familiar vibes of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca. Not exactly and milder, though the scope was just as broad with its atmospheric settings and situations, mysterious events and the legend of the tragic Pendorric Brides. The almost naïve and innocent young heroine in a whirlwind romance and marriage to an older worldly, and slightly jaded man who kept big secrets and a brooding house and household back home. Oh yes, it definitely had delicious Rebecca overtones and I was all in for that.
This was written in the 1960’s as a current romantic suspense. My first read was in the 80’s and it felt ‘classic’ then. Now, after reading and listening to books with an even much greater time gap, I really felt like I was listening to a classic and a time long gone. Favel’s gentle persona and Roc’s overbearing behavior reflected the times and the isolated feeling needed for such a gothic story to work its wiles on the heroine and her own temperament doing the rest.
The story builds a setting and a feeling which includes all the characters surrounding Favel when she swiftly marries Roc after her father’s death and goes home with him to discover there is something wrong and still going on at Roc’s home in Cornwall. Though gentle, there is a quiet strength to Favel that she discovers as she faces it all even the possibility that her own husband may be a villain. I loved the moderate thrills and chills that come from her investigation and road to discovery.
Revisiting a book years later can be a chancy thing, but I loved Bride of Pendorric and now I have a thirst for more along the same vein and from the same author. Those who like milder, but no less atmospheric gothic romantic suspense should snatch this one up.
Narration:
Henrietta Meire was a new to me narrator. She was a great match for this story that is told from Favel’s point of view. She voiced the cast of characters well and she caught the tone of each scene and the buildup of the story fabulously.
Listen to a clip: HERE
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing.Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators.Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance.Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
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Oh, this brings back memories! I read this when I was fourteen and she was my first in the gothic romance genre. Excellent review, Sophia💜
Fun that you were a teen Holt reader, too, Jonetta!
Holt, Whitney and Stewart were my introductions to gothic romantic suspense novels, too. I read many of her books when I was a teen. Reading this review makes me want to go to the library and check out some of her books and reread them. 😀
Ah, yay, glad to give you a pleasant walk down memory lane, Lark. Wow, the same three were your go-tos, too!
It all started with Nine Coaches Waiting…which is still my favorite Mary Stewart book. Then my mom introduced me to Whitney with The Golden Unicorn. I’ve been a fan ever since. 😀
I relistened to Nine Coaches Waiting and Madam Will You Talk last year. They were both still great. 🙂 I need to do some Whitney rereads. That is so funny, my mom introduced me to Whitney, too. She gave me The Winter People.
I know I read a few Phyllis Whitney and Mary Stewarts back in the day so I bet I’d enjoy this one. How fun to revisit some favs from reading past. I’ll look into this author!
I think it is fun discovering how many of us were into the same authors back in the day. Oh yes, Victoria Holt was along the same lines as the others. Hope you get the chance at some point, Rachel!
I too read all Victoria’s books many years ago, along with Mary Stewart, Daphne duMaurier and Anya Seton. I also read Dennis Wheatley and John Wyndham along with Dorothy L Sayers and Agatha Christie. In fact I worked my way round the different sections of my library. My continuing favourites however are Georgette Heyer books and I’ve read my collection many many times. I now also have my JAFF collection (mostly based on Darcy and Elizabeth) some of those being favourite go to reads.
I’m not into audiobooks at the moment as I prefer to read myself and at my own speed but maybe one day.
I love seeing who you loved reading and your journey through all of them to the JAFF now. I still need to try Anya Seton. I’d not heard of the two male writers so I’ll have to see if my library carries their stuff.
I adore Georgette Heyer books, too, Glynnis! 🙂
I’m not familiar with her work or the genre, but I’m glad you enjoyed your revisit. Henrietta Meire narrated a few books by an auto-read author, Anne Renwick, and I always found her performance adding value and excitement to the stories.
Ooh, that’s good to know about her narrating those. I’ve got the ebooks, but I might check my library for the audio versions in that case.
Glad the re-read worked for you!
Me too! Always chancy when I go back to books from years ago.
This sounds good, Sophia! It can indeed be all down to luck when reading something from way back then, but when picked up at the right moment in our lives, it can be quite unforgettable! Glad this worked out really well for you! 😀
Yes, always the worry that time and circumstances will change one’s earlier opinion and dash aside fond memories. 🙂
While I’ve only read 2 books by Victoria Holt, one of them is an all time favorite of mine, The Pride of the Peacock. I used to read that book over and over so much that I have it mostly memorized. Now I need to go back and read it again!
Yes! I loved that one, too, Lisa. I feel the need for a author binge. 🙂