And my latest recommendation is...
The Woman in White
By: Wilkie Collins
Grab your hot chocolate and curl up next to the fire, preferably on a stormy night, for one of my favorite mysteries. Walter Hartright is a young drawing master with a fabulous opportunity to teach the young ladies of Limmeridge House. He will recieve a hefty salary, room and board, and the treatment of a gentleman for the duration of his residence. Everything should be perfect. Of course this is where it all goes wrong. Before his arrival at Limmeridge he encounters a mysterious woman, dressed (you guessed it) all in white along a lonely road at night. She tells him that the happiest days of her life were spent at Limmeridge before he helps her to a cab and she dissappears into the night. What a shock to Walter when hearrives at Limmeridge to discover that his younger pupil looks the mirror image of his ghostly acquaintance.
On a lark, Walter and the older sister, Marion Halcombe, decide to unravel the history of the mysterious woman. Their efforts are cut short, though, when it becomes evident that Walter and Laura, the young lady of Limmeridge, have fallen in love. But Walter is a tradesman and Laura is engaged to Sir Percival Glyde, a baronet, so Walter hurries himself from Limmeridge in the hopes of forgetting. A title, though, does not always bring with it a good heart, and the woman in white returns, claiming to know a terrible secret about Sir Glyde...
Asylums, graveyards, and a great scene at a burning church vestry keep you turning page after page following the efforts of Walter Hartright and his two pupils, the clever Marion Halcombe and the beautiful Laura Fairlie as they attempt to discover the mysteries surrounding Sir Percival and the Woman in White.
When you've read the book drop me a line. I'd love to hear what you think!
Woman in White Links
- The text online
- Info on the author, Wilkie Collins.
- Apparently there's been two movies made. The first one doesn't look like it has much to do with the book, but the more recent one (I think it's BBC or something like that) looks a little more on track. Be forewarned! This link tells you more about the book than my review!