Nine Coaches Waiting (4) (Rediscovered Classics) Paperback – May 1, 2006

I guess mysteries have always been a part of my life. Ever since my mom handed me that first Nancy Drew--The Hidden Staircase--that thirst for the clues, the search, the not knowing has stuck with me. That, combined with the fact that they are very nostalgic for me, and you get to read about a lot of them. Mary Stewart is my very favorite when it comes to romantic suspense and her many mysteries are serial re-reads for me. In the best of times and the worst of times, she comes through with an unrivaled spirit of adventure, panache, and wanderlust. I will forever have my mom to thank for finding her first Mary Stewart in a small town library when she was in high school, painstakingly collecting lovely used copies over the years, and reading them over and over again so that one day I would grow up and want to do the same. If you ask my mom which one is her favorite she'll probably tell you Airs Above the Ground. It takes place in her beloved Austrian Alps and features a dangerous fire, a missing husband, and a legendary horse. It's definitely the one I saw her re-reading most often. If you ask me, I get "that look" on my face and dither around about the virtues of this one and that one. Which is exactly what I did trying to decide which one to post on today. I ended up with NINE COACHES WAITING because it may be the most potent combination of every element I love about Ms. Stewart's novels. It's certainly one of the ones I re-read most often.Belinda Martin (Linda for short--or for pretty, as her mother used to say) lands in Paris on a cold, gray, and rainy day. She is on her way to her brand new post as a governess to the young Count Philippe de Valmy. Having lost both his parents in a tragic accident, the nine-year-old little boy lives with his aunt and uncle in the vast and ornate Château Valmy in the French countryside. Léon de Valmy, Philippe's uncle, runs the estate on behalf of his underage nephew until he comes of age and arranged for a proper English governess for his charge. When Linda arrives at the imposing manor, she is at once enchanted by its beauty and history, but is also immediately struck by the sense of menace and doom surrounding the land and its inhabitants. Léon is a charismatic force of nature and quite charming with it, and when Linda meets his reckless and rakishly handsome son Raoul, she understands a bit more about the Valmy heritage and what makes this family tick. As she becomes closer to Philippe and Raoul, Linda draws ever nearer to putting her finger on the source of the threat. But the layers of danger and darkness run deeper than any of them guessed and she may not be able to trust those she wants to, no matter how innocent or attractive they may seem. Soon it is up to the shy young governess to beat the clock in order to save Philippe's life as well as her own.This is the kind of heady, romantic, foreboding tale that wraps you up in its elegant wings and carries you off for parts unknown. Linda is immediately sympathetic, with her loneliness wrapped around her like a threadbare cloak, her fierce protectiveness of Philippe, and the way she verbally spars with Léon de Valmy and manages to emerge unscathed. She is what this darkly glorious place needs and there are wonderful little touches here and there of the Jane Eyre and Rebecca about this novel. And the entire story winds on in that delicious vein. The exquisite suspense lingers to the very last and the relationships between the characters are real, romantic, and wholly delightful. Every time I read it I fall in love all over again with lovely Linda, dangerous Raoul, adorable Philippe, and beautiful, haunting Valmy. And I get chills at the same parts every time single time. NINE COACHES WAITING showcases a master storyteller at her very best. Highly recommended.

If you are already a fan of Mary Stewart's romantic suspense novels, you shouldn't hesitate to read this one.But maybe you've never read one of Mary Stewart's novels and you're wondering about her? It's difficult for me to put into words the appeal of Mary Stewart's novels. They were thrilling adventures usually set in interesting locations (France, in this case, but other books of hers were set in Greece, Scotland, Austria, etc.) Her heroines were generally smart, brave young women, sometimes with hidden depths. (Her novels were romances, but I find that the Love Interests were generally less memorable than the protagonists.) And despite the danger in most of the novels, the tone of the books is ultimately optimistic rather than dark or pessimistic. The world of Stewart's novels is a dangerous one, but it is full of good and brave people. I think that is part of what makes visiting and revisting it so enjoyable.If you are NOT yet a Stewart fan, here are some things you should know in advance about NINE COACHES WAITING:1) This book is heavily influenced by Victorian Gothic fiction like JANE EYRE, and it acknowledges that influence up front. That said, it is not just a retelling of JANE EYRE, despite being a story about a governess, a wealthy family, and secrets.2) This novel was published in 1958. At the time, it would have been a contemporary suspense novel. Today, it will likely feel "vintage" or "classic" due to the time gap. But if you're fan of Midcentury Modern furniture or vintage clothing and would like to know the kind of novel women of the '50s and early '60s read, you might give this a try.3) The protagonist is like many of Stewart's heroines: smart, courageous, but vulnerable. Some of her behavior and interactions may be a little dated, but for the most part the character, like the novel, holds up well.4) There is romance, but it's not steamy. Stewart tends not to describe even kissing in much detail.5) The main love interest may be a bit underdeveloped, but for plot relevant reasons. I can't say much about this without spoilers, but I feel the pacing of the romance is a potential flaw that will likely bother some readers. On the other hand, though the romance may seem rushed, I think that the protagonist's lack of knowledge about the love interest was necessary for some of the plot. Had she known him better, the second half of the novel would have played out differently.6) The novel's representation of disability is complicated. There is a character who uses a wheelchair in the book. The way that the character is represented --treated with pity because of his disability-- is problematic by today's standards. Some readers may want to give this book a pass for that reason.

There is nothing special but entertaining enough. It is an easy reading book, especially on the rainy days. Linda is a brave young lady. I quite like her.

This book was one of the greatest surprises to me. The plot sounded interesting, and the blurb says that Mary Stewart is an English classic - yet I had never heard of her. I started reading and I couldn't stop. This book took several nights of sleep from me ;-)! The characters are extremely interesting, be it the villain, the villain's wife, the child, the love interest, the protagonist, other minor characters - everyone is interesting. It feels like they are real people, not cardboard stereotypes. The plotline has been created with perfection! It's so perfectly paced you really cannot stop reading. Nearing the end, the suspense was so unbearable I felt like I was going to implode. The writing style is beautiful, sometimes poetic, sometimes simple, yet always very pleasant to read. The setting mirrors the horrible events beautifully. This was really the best book I have read in 5 years, a very enjoyable and thrilling read. On top of the beauty, the suspense, the fascination, this is an intelligent book with many interesting thoughts.Personally, I can find no fault in this book, it's one of the best I've ever read. Mary Stewart has immediately become one of my favorite authors, and I know I'm going to read all of her books. It's been years since I've so thoroughly enjoyed reading a novel!

I read this book when I was 10 years old and still love it 50 years later. It is a testament to this author that even though written in 1958, with no cellphones or texting, this story stands the test of time. Mary Stewart is one of my favourite authors and I re-read her books every couple of years. Now, on to the next one... The Moon-Spinners or Madam, Will You Talk? ... difficult choice.

How wonderful it is to be so gripped by a book that you forsake all else to finish it. There is mastery on all fronts. The plot is intelligent, believable and twisty. The characters utterly convincing. The setting wonderfully described. “Gallant” Linda Martin, half French, half English, takes a job as governess to nine year old Philippe de Valmy, who is in the care of his crippled uncle Leon and elegant wife Heloise prior to becoming the Comte. Philippe and Linda have both lost parents to airplane crashes. Before long Linda suspects that two near miss accidents were in fact attempts on Philippe’s life. Her life is complicated by the fact that she falls head over heels in love with Raoul, Leon’s son by his first marriage. Unfortunately, she is forced to consider that Raoul may be part of the plot. Desperate to keep Philippe alive, she absconds with him and there follows a nail-biting flight to the safety of Villa Mireille, home to Hypolite, Leon’s archaeologist brother, who’s expected home from Greece.I can’t recall ever reading a book where the characters’ complicated thoughts and motives are so clearly delineated and this, as well as the Savoyard setting close to Geneva were the main fascination. Linda is a likeable hero: she’s conscious of her own Cinderella fantasising and wryly talks herself out of it, having a chin up, look to the future mentality combined with a clear ethical stance. The English forester William Blake who becomes a friend and helper is in no danger of becoming an alternate love interest. Since this book withstands the test of time, what will now follow is a Mary Stewart binge.

Non conoscevo Mary Stewart, ed è stata per me una gradevole sorpresa. Davvero non mi aspettavo di trovare un romanzo che costituisse un mix tra il gotico, il thriller, la storia d'amore