Review - The Master of Seacliff

Andrew Wyndham dreams of escaping his mundane life of working in his aunt and uncle’s New York shop to become an artist in Paris. It’s the turn of the twentieth century, and the likes of Monet are shaking up the art world. When Andrew’s friend arranges for him to be the tutor for the son of wealthy Duncan Stewart, it seems he is well on his way to realizing his dream. Only, on arriving at the isolated Seacliff mansion, Andrew finds a brooding atmosphere that instantly makes him uneasy.

His employer is a tempestuous man whom some believe murdered his father and business partner. Andrew also has to fend off the attentions of Leo, Seacliff’s neighbor and family friend, and the creepy butler doesn’t like him. Nonetheless, our hero is intrigued by the mysteries he uncovers and is determined to find the truth. Unfortunately, the deeper he digs, the more his life seems to be in danger.

“The Master of Seacliff” was on my wish list to read for a very long time. Unfortunately it went out of print before I got to read the original version, but then it was reissued in ebook form last year, so I’ve finally gotten the pleasure of reading it. This is a classic Gothic mystery, with a very heavy gay bent. Although the plot is very different, the setting reminded me a lot of Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None”, and in true Christie style, the bodies just keep turning up.

The plot of this book will keep you guessing, and not just about the mystery at its heart. It’s also hard to tell where the romantic aspect will go as well. Our first introduction to Duncan Stewart makes him sound like an ogre, while the devil-may-care Leo seems to be the one meant for Andrew. But as the story unfolds, Andrew’s view of Duncan begins to soften, while Leo starts to look like a bit of an oaf. All this definitely adds to the mystery.

My one complaint about the story, and it’s one I can’t believe I’d ever make about a book, is the surfeit of gay characters. Just about every male main character in the story is queer, and while it’s great to read about people like me, it stretches believability in the story just a tiny bit too much. The sexual relationships, which would have been quite scandalous at the time the story is set, are certainly key to the plot, but it detracted, ever so slightly, from the story. Still, it is a delicious mystery tale and certainly deserves a read.

“The Master of Seacliff” is available from Amazon and Smashwords.