Enjoyable, fairly standard romance, lovely description of the countryside, not to be compared with Rebecca. Oddly I kept being startled to find it written in the 3rd person as it has the feel of a 1st person narrative! ( )

I love Rebecca and was looking forward to Jamaica Inn, but once I got to it I was pretty disappointed.

This book should be wonderful - the rundown inn isolated on the moors in Cornwall, smugglers, wreckers, murderers and thieves - what more could you ask for in a plot for a gothic thriller? Somehow, though, this just didn't work for me. I kept reading along, waiting to find someone to care about and for something interesting to happen and it just didn't happen. It all feels too careful and too formulaic - insert charming handsome horse thief into slot A, combine with plucky heroine in slot B, varnish with rumors of smuggling and murder and combine with mist to create your romantic thriller (allen wrench provided with kit). ( )

Dark, gothic, fascinating storyline. daphne Du Maurier is able to describe a scene perfectly without wittering on.

Reminded me of Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre ( )

After her mother's death, Mary Yellan must leave her farm in Helston and move in with her aunt and uncle. Her uncle by marriage, Joss Merlyn, is abusive and a drunkard, and her Aunt Patience, whom Mary remembered as vivacious, has been cowed by her husband. Joss is also the landlord of Jamaica Inn, a place with a bad name and a mystery, as Mary discovers that her uncle's business runs towards illegal activities. For the sake of her aunt, she doesn't say anything at first, but as she learns more of what's really going on, she's not sure how long she can keep silent.

I once read that the Gothic novel was the precursor to the romantic suspense genre, and this novel is a good example of that: the love interest with a dark past, mystery and danger, are all present. The suspenseful ambiance is well done, as might be expected from this author, with vivid descriptions. Though not as well-written as Rebecca, I think partially because I liked the protagonists more and partially because I had a better idea of what to expect, I liked this story a little more. ( )

Listened 09/2009.