Title: The Moonspinners
Author: Mary Stewart
First published January 1, 1962
400 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780060502959 (ISBN10: 0060502959)
Rating: 4.05
Overview
Intrepid and vivacious Anna Smith relishes her job as a tour guide on the picturesque island of Santorini. However, fate takes a dark turn when she joins two tourists on an excursion and witnesses a sinister ritual.
Now, Anna’s idyllic life is at risk of being shattered by a ruthless and chilling threat. Will she be able to escape unscathed, or will she become the next victim of a twisted and deadly game?
Find out in Mary Stewart’s gripping novel, The Santorini Secret.
About the Author
Meet Lady Mary Stewart, a beloved English novelist who shared her love for storytelling with her students at John Norquay elementary school for over three decades. With twenty novels, a poetry book, and three books for young readers, Lady Mary has been widely read and admired for her contemporary stories of romantic suspense as well as her historical novels.
Though born in England, she spent much of her life in Scotland, splitting her time between Edinburgh and the West Highlands. Want to learn more about this remarkable author?
Check out her unofficial fan site!
Editoral Review
Mary Stewarts The Moonspinners is a masterfully written suspense novel that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat from start to finish. First published on January 1, 1962, the book is a classic in the genre of romantic suspense, and has been beloved by fans for over five decades.
The novel is set on the island of Crete, and follows the story of Nicola Ferris, a young Englishwoman who finds herself embroiled in a dangerous game of cat and mouse with a group of local criminals. Along the way, she meets a variety of memorable characters, including her cousin Frances, a handsome young Greek man named Mark, and an enigmatic hermit named Stratos.
Mary Stewarts writing is nothing short of extraordinary; her descriptions of Crete are so vivid and evocative that they transport the reader to the island itself, and her characters are so well-drawn that they feel like real people. The Moonspinners is beautifully paced, with just enough suspense to keep you turning the pages without ever feeling rushed, and the plot twists and turns with the skill of a true master.
One of the themes that runs throughout the novel is the conflict between tradition and modernity. Crete is a place that is steeped in history and tradition, but the arrival of modernity in the form of cars and telephones is causing the island to change rapidly.
Stewart handles this theme with a deft touch, exploring the tension between the old and the new without ever getting bogged down in heavy-handed moralizing. The Moonspinners is a book that will appeal to anyone who loves a good suspense novel, but it is especially recommended for fans of Mary Stewarts other work.
Like her other novels, it is a beautifully crafted piece of storytelling that combines romance, suspense, and adventure in equal measure. Fans of historical fiction will also find much to enjoy here, as the novel is rich in the culture and traditions of Crete.
If the book has any flaws, it is perhaps that some of the characters are not as well-developed as they could be. Nicola and Mark are both wonderful, fully-realized characters, but some of the supporting characters feel a bit thin.
However, this is a minor quibble, and it doesnt detract from the overall excellence of the novel. In conclusion, The Moonspinners is a book that is highly recommended for anyone who loves a good suspense novel, or is a fan of historical fiction.
Mary Stewarts writing is exceptional, and her skillful storytelling will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. This is a book that deserves to be read and enjoyed by generations to come.
Washington Post gives it 4 out of 5 stars.
