The Ivy Tree by Mary Stewart, narrated by Amy Molloy
Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton
Published: 8.15.19
Time: 15 hours 10 minutes
Speed: 1.4x
Format: audio
Source: purchased
Sellers: Amazon
ADD TO: GoodReads
GoodReads Synopsis:
Don't miss this utterly gripping tale of romance, ambition, and deceit, from the Queen of Romantic Mystery, Mary Stewart - perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Barbara Pym.
Whitescar is a beautiful old house and farm situated in Roman Wall country. It will make a rich inheritance for its heirs, but in order to secure it, they enlist the help of a young woman named Mary who bears remarkable resemblance to missing Whitescar heiress, Annabel Winslow. Their deception will spark a powder-keg of ambition, obsession and long-dead love.
Sophia Rose's Review:
Mary Stewart was one of a few writers who became a fast favorite so that I read all her books and many, more than once. She wrote a compelling romantic suspense story that mingles the sweet with the haunting. The Ivy Tree was originally published in 1961 and is a golden classic that stood the test of time in this new audio iteration narrated by Amy Molloy.
The Ivy Tree opens at the ancient Roman Wall site when a woman is accosted by a man who swears she’s the spitting image of his cousin whom he thought long gone and even dead. Connor Winslow runs his great-uncle’s farm and has ambitions to inherit, but a nearer relation, Annabelle, had stood in the way. At first, he is menacing and then cajoling as he works out a plot for Mary Gray to impersonate Annabelle.
The impersonating Annabelle is walking a tightrope of pretending for everyone on the farm and in the neighborhood while making good and sure Con doesn’t see her as a fresh danger to his ambitions.
The Ivy Tree was taut with suspense in that ‘is she or isn’t she?’ premise and all the moments Mary/Annabelle seems like she’ll be caught out in the lie or run afoul of Con’s black moods. There is an atmospheric, haunting tone to this story of past secrets and betrayals and present looking to repeat itself in the style of the Brontes. The romance isn’t introduced until half-way and stays in a backburner role because of all else that’s going on. The whole story is a slow build until the climax releases in a cascade of reveals and action scenes.
Amy Molloy has a desultory tone of narration that gave this a sleepy, gentle feel right up until there were spikes of conflict that were emphasized all the more because it is drastically different. A clever style and a fine distinction of all the characters from Con’s working class Irish to Annabelle’s English overlaid with American.
All in all, this one was sterling and stood the test of time. Loved revisiting The Ivy Tree and will definitely be pursuing more of Mary Stewart’s work in audio. Those who enjoy classic romantic suspense should give this a go.
Author Bio:
Lady Mary Stewart, born Mary Florence Elinor Rainbow, was a popular English novelist, and taught at the school of John Norquay elementary for 30 to 35 years.
She was one of the most widely read fiction writers of our time. The author of twenty novels, a volume of poetry, and three books for young readers, she was admired for both her contemporary stories of romantic suspense and her historical novels. Born in England, she lived for many years in Scotland, spending time between Edinburgh and the West Highlands. Mary Stewart's legacy as an author is vast. She is considered by many to be the mother of the modern romantic suspense novel. She was among the first to integrate mystery and love story, seamlessly blending the two elements in such a way that each strengthens the other.
Sophia’s Bio:
Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, piano-playing, and gardening. Road trips and campouts, museums and monuments, restaurants and theaters are her jam. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.
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.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sophia.rose.7587
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GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13418187.Sophia_Rose
Con doesn't sound like a great guy. This sounds interesting though.
ReplyDeleteHe's not- very selfish, in fact. It got tricky for her there in the end.
DeleteGood that it made the test of time
ReplyDeleteYes, exactly! It's been so long that it was like listening to a new book. Haha!
Delete