Maulever Hall by Jane Aiken Hodge is a classic tale of romantic suspense, and very nostalgic for me since my mom gave me Victoria Holt books when I was a teen. Maulever Hall stands the test of time, which can be rare with novels written in the 1960s. The ending surprised me! This is the kind of Gothic I like. it's not chilling and will not keep you up at night. It's atmospheric and romantic, and I really enjoyed it. I looked it up on Amazon, and it appears to no longer be available. That's too bad!

This book follows Marianne. She has come to Maulever Hall after suffering from memory loss after being in a violent coach accident. She doesn't know who she is, what she's doing or where she's going. The only clue to her identity is that of a brooch with a name on. After a violent coach accident, Marianne wakes with no memory and no idea who she is or where she was going — a name on her brooch the single clue to her identity.

Given refuge by a local widow at Maulever Hall, Marianne feels settled and finding firm friendship with Mrs Mauleverer, the only problem is her memory isn't returning and she wants answers. When Mrs Maulever's son returns home with his soon to be wife things start to become strained and tense. The future Mrs Maulever has thrown the one place that Marianne has found safe and suspects things aren't quite right.

This book had promise and I loved the idea of the book. Marianne was likeable until the young boy who ventured with her to Maulever got pushed to the back of the story. At times I wanted to shout at Marianne to open her eyes and COMMUNICATE and at times the book fell a little flat for me. However if you like a book that has a bit of intrigue, murder, secrets and a big finish then this book is for you.

An older book being rereleased, not really up to the story lines of more recently written books. Prefer more passion in my romance novels.

First published in 1964 and now available again, this is surprisingly undated.

After an accident in a public coach, Marianne has lost her memory; she only knows her name because of a brooch she was wearing. Set down in a remote area along with the small boy she was accompanying, she hides from pursuit and finds refuge at the local manor. Mrs. Mauleverer, an elderly widow left alone by her son, welcomes her company. When Mr. Mauleverer returns home accompanied by a newly widowed cousin whom he may--or may not--be romantically involved with, the quiet life at Maulever Hall is upended. Several times.

Although it is superficially an old-fashioned romantic suspense novel, it is difficult to assign this to a genre other than historical fiction. There is a romance, but this does not have the shape of a romance novel. And a suspense plot underlies the events, but it is in abeyance for much of the book. It's not quite a Gothic romance, either. Regardless of genre, however, it is an enjoyable read.

“Maulever Hall” is a 1964 gothic mystery set in the Regency Era. All the ingredients for a great gothic have been skillfully blended into a well-written book: a sweet and naïve heroine, an atmospheric mansion on an isolated moor, a brooding and handsome master, and a bonus in the form of two funny and eccentric old ladies.

What sets this novel apart from other gothic mysteries I’ve enjoyed reading is that the heroine of this book has lost her memory due to a blow to the head in a carriage accident. She remembers almost nothing about her past, only that her first name is Marianne, that she can ride horses, and that someone who wants to harm her is following her. So, she not only has no idea whom to trust, but also has no clue who she is, which makes for some intriguing plot twists.

“Maulever Hall” is delightfully suspenseful, and I’m glad it's being republished for a new generation of readers. Thanks to NetGalley and Agora Books for an advance copy of a new digital edition in exchange for a review. This edition is now available through the Amazon Kindle store in the US and the UK: https://www.agorabooks.co/titles/maulever-hall/.

This was my first Jane Aiken Hodge book and though it was a nice sedate book it just wasn't anything exciting to write home about. Marianne comes to after a bump on a head to discover she knows nothing of who she is and who the young boy in her charge is, the only clue to her identity is a brooch she wears. After finding herself in these dire straits she is befriended by Mrs Maulever, an eccentric woman who brings her to Maulever Hall where she becomes a companion. As she recuperates Mrs. Maulever prepares Marianne to meet her elusive, seldom home son Mark and his future intended Lady Heverdon. I appreciate nice, clean reads but this was a bit boring for me.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy of this in exchange for my review.

received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

This was a bit of fresh air, really enjoyed the story and the protagonist.Loved it would like to read more from the author

Maulever Hall was a fun read if only to compare how historical romances have changed since it was originally written in the 1970s. Back then, you didn't need sex to sell, the heroine didn't have to constantly show how anachronistically 'strong' she was, and the writing had to be solid. But the story had to be suitably gothic, the heroine feminine and sweet, and the male lead macho and manly in ways that are very dated in the modern day. While I have fond memories of many old 1970s historical romances, this is not one of them. There's too much "TSTL" (Too Stupid To Live) choices made by the heroine and the plot is so ridiculous as to be risible.

Story: Marianne awakes after a nasty bump on her head to realize she has no idea who she is and why she is traveling with a young child. She knows she doesn't like the boy and doesn't have much of a connection to him. But she is sure she is escaping someone/some bad situation. Left with only an idea of her final destination, Marianne is befriended by the lady of the Maulever Hall and kept on as a companion to the quirky old lady. When the lady's son returns, everything will change. Marianne's past is catching up and even as she falls for the handsome aristocrat Mauleverer, she begins to realize that she had better remember soon because she is in real danger.

The whole amnesia thing has been done ad nauseum - even back in the 1970s! But the series of circumstances that will see several people take care of Marianne and the child is honestly ridiculous. I kept shaking my head in disbelief at the wafer-thin and very deus ex machina plot twists and turns. You're not going to believe any of this so you need to turn off your logic to enjoy Maulever Hall.

In addition to the improbable series of situations, Marianne herself is hard to like (as are all the characters). She's traveling with a child but quickly dumps him off on a cook with a mean streak - and then promptly forgets him for most of the book. She then spends the rest of the book letting others take care of her - all because she's unique or distinct and therefore companionable. I had a hard time with the 'everyone falls in love with her' syndrome that permeated this story.

The male lead, Mauleverer, was very 1970s - back then they called it an MCP - Male Chauvenistic Pig. These days, we would call it alpha male. His character was badly underdeveloped and not very interesting. Certainly, I never understood what Marianne saw in him (or him in her, if I'm going to be honest). Other characters, such as Mauleverer's mother and the Duchess, were also incredibly improbable. But they fared better than most of the side characters, most of which would be in a scene, name checked, and then disappear.

So although Maulever was a good book in the 1970s, now it feels oddly dated and underwhelming. The gothic elements were over the top and the plot a generic historical romance. Characters were uninteresting and a bit too archetypal for the era in which it was written. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

Marianne has amnesia. She woke up riding in a mail coach and was told by the other passengers that there had been an accident. Not only does she not remember the accident, she doesn’t remember who she is or who the little boy is who is next to her. The brooch on her dress says "Marianne" so she assumes that’s her name. She had originally instructed the coachman to leave her and the boy (who the passengers say is named Thomas) off at a crossroads where they don’t normally stop. When they are let out she has no idea why she’s there or if anyone was to meet her. She walks miles before coming to a small village. She decides to head to the vicarage, hoping that the vicar will take her and the boy in as it’s pouring rain. The vicar is anything but welcoming and is affronted that she has the gall to ask for help. (How did this guy become a priest?) Luckily for Marianne there is a woman visiting the vicar who is far nicer and states she’ll take her and the boy in. Marianne and Thomas settle in to Maulever Hall and Marianne becomes a sort of companion to Mrs. Mauleverer, the woman who took her in. Marianne still has no clue who she is and no matter how hard she tries, she can’t remember. Determined to discover who she is, Marianne combs the countryside for clues but only finds a new friend in an older woman.

Mrs. Mauleverer’s son, Mark, shows up with a woman who was married to his cousin. The cousin and her step-son have just died and she’s trying to find her way. Mark seems smitten with Lady Heverdon and not so much with Marianne. He doesn’t treat Marianne all that well and is suspicious of the reasons she’s there.

While I found the blurb of this book incredibly intriguing, unfortunately I didn’t find the story to be all that good. There are large portions of the book where nothing much happens and the story dragged. Marianne was not my type of heroine. She made unwise decisions over and over but the author tried to make her seem like she was the key that held everything together. I didn’t see that - I found her incredibly gullible and easily swayed to the point of view of whoever she was talking to. It was a bit frustrating, I must say. She did have her own thoughts at times, but I found those to be few and far between.

Mark is the “hero” of the story but he was an ass. He treated Marianne like dirt but then suddenly they were professing their undying love for each other. What? There was no romance, no build up, nothing – just sudden undying love. Made me crazy.

When Marianne finally gets clues to who she is does she trust the man she just professed her love to? No! She run,s and then it’s almost like a whole other small book was inserted in – I just didn’t like it. Then there’s the boy who she pretty much fobbed off on one of the Maulever Hall maids. Thomas is hardly mentioned at all and until later in the book couldn’t quite figure out why he was included at all since Marianne had nothing to do with him.

In the end I found I didn’t care for the book all that much and can’t say I recommend it.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

This will post as a guest review on Book Binge.
bookbinge.com

The reissue of a Jane Aiken Hodge book from the 1970's is a pulpy historical romance that tries to push itself into the "gothic fiction/gothic romance" category but falls a bit flat. A woman wakes up in a carriage with amnesia, she has a young boy with her. Where are they going? Why are they leaving? Who were those other people in the carriage?

Through a series of events, "Marianne" ends up staying at the grand Maulever Hall - it has everything - a brooding hero, a villain, a child who kind of fades into the background and is really only used as a plot device.

This was probably VERY good in the 1970's but...I've read too many other historical fiction books that are more enjoyable and full of more ..spark.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This was an enjoyable read that kept me guessing until the end. I did think Marianne was rather easily persuaded but she was young and suffering from amnesia. As for Mark, he was more aware of things than he let on and he is very involved with the politics of the day and the unrest in the country. The story had a number of interesting characters and a few twists and turns. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

It has been awhile since I read a good gothic romance with a lot of mystery thrown in. I am so glad I got the chance to read this one. It was very good! After waking up with no memory and escorting a young child, Marianne seems destitute. She soon meets Mrs. Maulever and the mystery begins. After many twists and turns, she discovers who she really is and also finds romance. Highly recommend if you like a good gothic mystery!

In this book, Marianne wakes up after a carriage accident with no memory of who she is or where she is going. There is a child traveling with her, and they disembark in the middle of nowhere--a place Marianne herself requested but now cannot remember why.

She ends up staying at a place called Maulever Hall with an eccentric but kind older lady. Efforts to restore Marianne's memory are minimal. Instead, she becomes entrenched in the routine of the house, acting as companion to Mrs. Mauleverer. The old lady has a son she rarely sees, but, of course, he soon appears on the scene, a perfect example of the brooding, Rochester-like hero for a besotted Marianne. (I did find him a little too much a jerk for a while, though.)

I enjoyed this Regency romance very much, although I think it could have been a little shorter. It is well told and does not suffer from any annoying anachronisms or misplaced modern sentiments. However, it does feature a pair of characters who are in love but ready to believe the worst about each other, and their gullibility toward the end does stretch one's patience. Especially when the heroine quickly chooses on very flimsy proof to believe a man who she knows has lied to her before.

Also, when it was revealed who Marianne is, who the child is, and why they were on the run, I felt I should have figured it out much earlier. Many readers probably do. It's not a particularly surprising twist.

This book was easy to get into, charming and funny at times, and romantic in a brooding sort of way. Toward the end it had me speeding to find out what would happen next. I hope to read more by this author.

I received a digital copy of a new edition of this via NetGalley in exchange for a review. It did have a few distracting typos, but other than that I thought it was a great read.

Marianne has lost her memory. She thinks her name is Marianne, but she's not really sure about that. Other than she is wearing a brooch that has that name. And, she's for a two year old boy with her. The other riders in the stagecoach say they heard her call him Thomas. She isn't wearing a ring so she knows he's not her child. She doesn't even have her purse with her. All she knows is that she has to stay hidden, her and the child. Something dark and foreboding is going to happen, she just knows it.
This is a great read. Had me thinking of the old gothic novels, which I absolutely love. The characters work well together. It's written with that time period in mind. It's interesting and compelling. You can't put it down!
5 Stars

I loved this book, I am amazed that I had never read anything by this Author, as I eagerly turning pages, I kept thinking to myself, I must find her other work! Marianne is running from someone, only thing is, she doesn't remember who, or why? Then comes the knowledge that she has no idea who she is, or who the child is, traveling with her? She doesn't believe he is here, he doesn't act like she is, but where did he come from? Where is she going, and why? This is the ideal set up for a mystery, I was so excited to find something so different, something that kept me turning the pages. He tries to shoot her, she trips, or her head would have been blown off! He set fire to the room she and the little boy were sleeping in! He set an entire house on fire in the middle of the night, where three women, were sleeping, one of the women had a stroke three weeks earlier! I am so disappointed that this awesome book was turned into a liberal mess at the very end! Incredible, he was mistreated as a child, don't punish this grown man, who was willing to commit heinous crimes for a beautiful vile woman, who wanted money, it's called greed! I am so sick of liberals writing books that are historically inaccurate! During that time period, I assure you, he, and she both would have been hung!
No, I do not recommend this book!
Carolintallahassee.com

I both liked and disliked this read. I liked that it had a gothic romance feel to it. It reminded me if classic romances like Wuthering Heights. However, I didn't like how it seemed like our heroine randomly feel in love with Mark. There weren't that many interactions between Mark and Marianne and so their was no build up or buy in that they loved each other. The pacing was also slow and I found myself skimming parts. Overall, this wasn't a terrible read, it just wasn't something I'd re-read.

As always, I love this author!! She wrote yet another wonderful story! Reminded me a lot of Jane Eyre's story.

This book was a bit different from my norm, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked the beginning of the book. I thought starting the story out with the main character that just suffered amnesia was a clever idea.

The pacing was pretty slow, but I was still enjoying it until I got to around Chapter 9, I believe it was, where all of a sudden Marianne and Mr. Mauleverer leave their former personalities behind and are completely enraptured by one another.

After that snafu, my enjoyment in the book plummeted. It felt like the book veered way off track and never came around to making sense. Ridiculous situations happened one right after another and it wasn't funny anymore, just annoying.

I didn't really enjoy either of the main characters. I thought Marianne was too gullible and lovestruck, and Mr. Mauleverer was just kind of an ass. They didn't have any chemistry whatsoever, and I wasn't cheering them on at any point in the book.

However, one character was really quite well-written. The Duchess of Lundy was witty and unique and I really enjoyed the parts of the book that she was written into. By the end, those were really the only parts of the book that I liked.

Overall, I wasn't impressed and I actually can't believe that I stuck with it until the end.

I thoroughly enjoyed this take on the old 70s era gothic romances. Feisty and endangered heroine? Check. Wounded, brooding hero? Lots and lots of plot twists, turns and misdirections? Check, check, and check. Highly recommended for those who (like me) enjoy this know nd of thing.

This review was based on an ARC ebook received in return for an honest and unbiased review