Helpful Score: 1
If you like suspense/romance novels, this is one of Mary Stewart's best. The chase across France, where the heroine is being pursued by a sinister stranger in a fast car, is one of my favorite reads in any book of this type. Stewart writes in a more literary style than most mystery/romance writers but for my money it makes the book much more enjoyable. Note that these were written much earlier (I believe it was originally published in the 50's, and is set in that time period) than the publication date on this edition might make you think.
I remembered liking this book as a teen/pre-teen, but it did not stand up well on the re-read.
The author's descriptions of the setting are marvelous, but the plot is thin and elements don't hang together very well.
The author's descriptions of the setting are marvelous, but the plot is thin and elements don't hang together very well.
This is Mary Stewart's first romantic suspense novel, and my favorite. The story and romance are more successful in Nine Coaches Waiting, but Madam Will You Talk is unique in its evocation of place: the south of France. The heroine and her friend, both English schoolteachers on holiday, arrive at their hotel, and Charity is immediately involved in a deadly plot when she befriends a young boy staying there with his stepmother. Another guest tells her that the boy's father has been tried for murder, and the boy and his stepmother are fleeing the dangerous father, who has been acquitted. Soon she is confronted with the father while taking the boy sight-seeing, and flees with the terrified boy. That is just the beginning of an exciting and surprising story.
The way Stewart makes the reader see, smell and taste the warm country of the south of France is nothing short of extraordinary,and her writing never surpassed what she did here.
The way Stewart makes the reader see, smell and taste the warm country of the south of France is nothing short of extraordinary,and her writing never surpassed what she did here.
Mary Stewart is a wonderful writer. I love all of her books. If you've never read a Gothic then you are in for a treat. The book is old but well worth the read.
This story takes place in France right after World War II. Charity Selborne is the widow of a British Air Force officer and is on holiday with her artist friend when the encounter in a small village hotel a group of characters that seem to be loosely tied together. There is a beautiful woman and a small boy that are at the center of something odd. Chairty learns that the woman had been married to an antiques dealer in England who had been tried but not convicted for a murder in their home and the boy with her is her stepson. It is the boy, David, that catches Chairity's attention as he seems lonely. She befriends him and takes him on a sight seeing trip and thus begins the adventure that makes the story. True to Ms. Stewart's style. there are vivid descriptions of the French countryside, lots of action and suspense as she tries to escape from the pursuing enemies, some doubt and plenty of surprises as who the enemy is is uncertain, and romance as well. And a great ending, as always. The book is just long enough to be read in an afternoon and intriguing enough to keeps ones attention. Highly recommended. The only things that really dates the story is the lack of cell phones that would have entered into a book of today but they weren't really missed and the fact that everyone seems to always be lighting or putting out a cigarette. People don't smoke that much these days.
This story takes place in France right after World War II. Charity Selborne is the widow of a British Air Force officer and is on holiday with her artist friend when the encounter in a small village hotel a group of characters that seem to be loosely tied together. There is a beautiful woman and a small boy that are at the center of something odd. Chairty learns that the woman had been married to an antiques dealer in England who had been tried but not convicted for a murder in their home and the boy with her is her stepson. It is the boy, David, that catches Chairity's attention as he seems lonely. She befriends him and takes him on a sight seeing trip and thus begins the adventure that makes the story. True to Ms. Stewart's style. there are vivid descriptions of the French countryside, lots of action and suspense as she tries to escape from the pursuing enemies, some doubt and plenty of surprises as who the enemy is is uncertain, and romance as well. And a great ending, as always. The book is just long enough to be read in an afternoon and intriguing enough to keeps ones attention. Highly recommended. The only things that really dates the story is the lack of cell phones that would have entered into a book of today but they weren't really missed and the fact that everyone seems to always be lighting or putting out a cigarette. People don't smoke that much these days.
Mary Stewart's first novel, showing the elements that went into making her the epitome of romantic suspense. Charity is a brave and resourceful heroine; Richard is bit more menacing in the beginning than her later male characters; and then Louise as the helpful friend. Great "you are there" descriptions of the countryside and the food - no one but Mary Stewart could make a meal at a roadside cafe into a gourmet experience. Charity's flight from Richard - and the ending with Charity in the car with the villain - are very suspenseful. It's certainly slower paced than today's books, and the two lovers barely touch each other. It's firmly based in its own time period but a classic nonetheless.
Like all Mary Stewart's suspensful novels, this combines romance, terror, atmosphere, scenery into a superb mixture of menace and enchantment.
