Penniless Kate Malvern is invited to visit her rich relations at Staplewood, a sprawling ancestral estate. But does Aunt Minerva have an ulterior motive in hosting Kate? And does something hidden lurk behind Cousin Torquil's handsome face?

Cousin Kate is Georgette Heyer's attempt to write a Gothic novel chockablock full of locked doors, mutilated animals, and mad relatives. It lacks any of the daft characters or screwball humor from Heyer's earlier Regencies; instead, it is Very Very Serious. But after sacrificing her comedic strengths, Heyer doesn't do enough to embrace the absurd props typical of a Gothic novel. Cousin Kate has murders and madness, but the book presents them with an inescapable sense of restraint and taste -- which is fatal to a Gothic novel. I want more mutilated animals, god dammit!

But even viewed as a novel, rather than a specimen of genre, Cousin Kate is not a success. Nothing very much happens in the novel, so the plot must constantly regurgitate itself as protagonist Kate reviews plot points the audience still remembers from twenty pages ago. And Kate herself feels caught in traction. She begins the novel as a feisty and independent woman, but as soon as she gets to Staplewood, she begins transforming into a helpless and indecisive figure. People keep telling her to leave Staplewood, but she keeps hesitating, because if she left Staplewood, the novel would end. Reading the book feels like being stuck in limbo with Kate: she keeps discovering the same dread secrets and making the same half-hearted denials. Instead of ratcheting up the atmosphere of dread and horror, Cousin Kate placidly treads water.

Torquil -- young, mercurial, and violent -- is the most interesting character in the novel, but even though Kate spends her time wringing her hands ineffectually over Torquil's sad fate, Heyer presents him with a distant and uncompassionate eye. (This is typical for Heyer novels, which you shouldn't read for their generosity of spirit.)

So, is this the worst Heyer book I've read? Maybe. Powder and Patch was dire, but at least it had swashbuckling and a light heart. Cousin Kate is just dull. ( )

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I am not fond of horror nor of any book in which any animal is killed to advance the plot. This Heyer novel is a departure from her usual Regency romance with a gothic touch which I am not fond of. That being said, she does not dwell or over egg the pudding of violence and gets over hard ground with a light touch. Another really interesting heroine.

When young and beautiful governess Kate Malvern finds herself unemployed in Regency England, she is surprised and grateful to receive an invitation to live with a distant aunt. She has never met her Aunt Minerva Broome, and hardly knows what to expect at majestic country home of Staplewood. Her aunt, uncle, and cousin welcome her to their estate, buy her new clothes, and provide all the amenities a young lady of quality should have.

Soon, Kate begins noticing strange things about the manor. Though the guests are few, even family dinners are formal. Unexplained noises and events occur in the night.

Surrounded by her domineering Aunt, handsome but moody cousin Torquil, and cousin Philip, who appears to have taken her in instant dislike, Staplewood soon turns from an inviting stately house to a cold and gloomy mansion ( )

A darker but very satisfying story about an orphan who is suddenly invited by distant family to come to their estate for "a visit". The sinister theme underlying this story is done in a subtle manner. I thoroughly enjoyed this read. ( )

Both of these books are totally charming reads! ( )