This particular example has all of her typical ingredients: a strong sense of place, a believable and very "knowable" heroine, a brooding male lead and a well constructed plot. The pace is particularly finely judged, building skilfully from a languid sunny holiday start.

Highly recommended and a great introduction to her (non-Arthurian) early work. Don't be put off her thillers if you have been underwhelmed by her more recent offerings - I find them tedious and sentimental, which could never be said of earlier work.


Enjoyable escapism with resourceful heroine & dramatic plot   June 24, 2001
 9 out of 9 found this review helpful

I picked up this book at a jumble sale, and I've since become a fan of Mary Stewart, so was glad to see that they've been reissued. Although they're old fashioned now, they're still very enjoyable, and Madam ... is no exception, despite not matching my favourite, This Rough Magic.

The heroine, Charity, is holidaying in France when she becomes involved with David, a young boy, whose father was arrested for murder, and is now trying to track down his son. Although David's fear of meeting his father seems understandable, Charity finds that there's a lot more going on, and his beautiful stepmother, the handsome French antique dealer, and the English man who reads T.S. Elliot all seem to be involved. Most confusing of all are the feelings she has for David's father, despite the fact that she believes him to be a murderer...

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to spend a few hours of pleasurable escapism.