When aspiring writer, Daphne Du Maurier, attends the wedding
of her best friend, Ellen Hamilton, she never expects Ellen
to become a widow minutes after the wedding. Shortly after
marrying American millionaire, Teddy Grimshaw, Ellen is
devastated to discover that her husband has died of a heart
attack. Teddy and Ellen shared a passionate love, but were
cruelly separated after World War I. In the chaos following
the aftermath of war, Teddy was torn apart from the love of
his life and the child he never knew about. Now Ellen is
left grieving for the man she must mourn all over again.
Although it is appears Teddy died of a heartache, no one at
Thornleigh Manor believes he Teddy died of natural causes.
Daphne agrees to work with the Major Browning in order to
find out what really happened to Teddy Grimshaw after his
marriage. Browning works for Scotland Yard, but more
importantly, Browning was to be Daphne's date at Ellen's
wedding -- until he showed up with a fiancee, that is! When
the Major and Daphne begin working as a team, the two astute
minds come up with an impressive list of possible suspects.
Not only was Grimshaw involved in numerous unscrupulous
business deals, but he had also recently disinherited his
vindictive daughter, Rosalie. Rosalie and her mother
immediately place the blame on Ellen when it is proven that
Teddy Grimshaw was murdered. Ellen is depicted as a
murdering gold digger who heartlessly disposed of her
husband in order to keep his millions. Rosalie's accusations
begin to take their toll on the grieving widow, and Daphne
agrees to stay at Thornleigh Manor as a companion to her
friend. But as Daphne becomes part of Thornleigh household,
secret conversations and encounters soon begin to reveal the
unimaginable. Daphne begins to question just how well she
knows her dearest friend.
Rebecca is one of my all time favorite novels, so I was
delighted to read THE VILLA OF DEATH. The historic beauty of
Thornleigh described so eloquently by Challis, will
transport the readers to the familiar halls of Manderely.
Even if you have never read a Daphne Du Maurier novel, THE
VILLA OF DEATH is a guilty pleasure for anyone with a
passion for grand houses and those who love a murder mystery
with plenty of shocking and original twists. The repartee
between Daphne and Major Browning creates a humorous
addition to this charming book. Joanna Challis has penned an
ambitious novel worthy of including Daphne Du Maurier.
Young Daphne du Maurier must defend of a friend who has been
accused of murder in this next installment in the beguiling
mystery series that readers of Rebecca will love.t's the
summer of 1927, and young Daphne du Maurier has traveled
to Thornleigh Manor to attend the wedding of her good
friend, Ellen, who is set to marry her beau, Teddy.
Having met in the midst of the chaos and calamity of
wartime, the lovers were brutally separated years before by
family objections, but have since reunited. But when Teddy
is found murdered just after the wedding, and Ellen is
accused of the crime, Daphne and the dashing Major Browning
must uncover the truth before all is lost.
© 2003-2025 off-the-edge.net
all rights reserved Privacy Policy