Last weekend was another volleyball tournament, a local one this time. My daughter’s team won a silver medal, they were so thrilled and proud of themselves.

Ironically, I get a lot of reading done at tournaments. There can be a lot of waiting between games so I bring books to keep myself occupied. I never meant to do two book reviews in a row, but this weekend featured some especially long waits and Jamaica Inn was an especially fun book to finish.

This is the third Daphne du Maurier book I’ve read. She’s most famous for her novel Rebecca and her short story The Birds, both of which have been made into movies. I read The Birds for school as a child and it made an impression on me–I got excited any time we got to read spooky stuff at school–but I totally forgot the author’s name. When I picked up the famous Rebecca as an adult I was pleasantly surprised to find she was the author of that spooky little story I’d liked so much. If I’m honest, Rebecca wasn’t as gothically thrilling as I’d hoped it would be. I ended up much preferring The House on the Strand, which was much weirder and harder to predict.

The House on the Strand is still my favorite, but Jamaica Inn was really enjoyable. It’s a pretty straightforward gothic thriller set in the moors of 19th century Cornwall. The main character is a young woman named Mary Yellan; when her mother dies and Mary can’t run the family farm alone, she sets off to live with her aunt and uncle at Jamaica Inn. Even before she arrives, she learns Jamaica Inn has a bad reputation and her uncle a violent man involved in some shady business. As she realizes just how bad the situation is for herself and her aunt, Mary tries to find friends to help and a way to get out of her uncle’s power.

I know this is an old novel, but I don’t want to be too specific about the plot because most of the drama here is in watching Mary uncover her uncle’s secrets and try to figure out what to do and who to trust. Du Maurier creates a lonely atmosphere full of dread, and Mary’s spirit really shines against it. There’s not much blood and it’s not particularly scary, but it is thrilling and the end is nicely dramatic and has some spooky hints of supernatural forces at work.

This was an exciting, easy read with relatable characters and a great gothic feel. Since it was written in 1938 instead of actual Victorian times, it has a Victorian atmosphere but with more modern characters and values, and it’s got a quick pace and modern language that make it easy for modern readers to enjoy. It’s great for anyone who likes atmosphere and drama without full gore or horror, and it’s great for anyone looking for a gothic classic that isn’t too long or difficult.

And with that review, I have to leave you for this week. On Friday we leave for yet another tournament, this one in Denver. Denver isn’t a great tourist city, in my experience (though it sounds like a great place to live), but I’m sure we’ll find something fun to do in our off hours. If not, maybe I’ll come home with yet another book review ready to go. Until next week. –Corvus