Rating: 
Summary: Georgette Heyer Has Gone Gothic!
Review: "Cousin Kate" is a dark, gothic novel, different from most of Georgette Heyer's other works. I have nothing against dark or gothic, but there is a lack of originality in this predictable plot and the characters lack the usual "Heyer spark." I believe that the author wrote this novel while she was ill. This is apparent as her delightful verve is very much missing here.Kate Malvern, 24, orphaned and penniless, has been fired from her job as a governess through no fault of her own. She is surprised by an invitation to stay with her father's half sister, (whom she has never met), at the sumptuous estate Staplewood. There she meets the elderly lord of the manor, her aunt's husband Sir Timothy, their strange and ailing son, Torquil, and a cast of characters right out of the Addam's Family scrapbook. Why has this distant relation made Kate an honored guest and gifted her with beautiful clothing, jewelry and almost cloying kindness? Kate thinks she has the answers....but...? I would say that to discover the secrets behind this strange tale you will have to read the book. However, as a major Georgette Heyer fan, I don't mind reading her most mediocre novels...and there aren't many. You, on the other hand, may want to save yourself the time. There isn't very much to surprise, enlighten or horrify here. This one is not a keeper.
JANA
Rating:
Summary: Georgette Heyer Has Gone Gothic!
Review: "Cousin Kate" is a dark, gothic novel, different from most of Georgette Heyer's other works. I have nothing against dark or gothic, but there is a lack of originality in this predictable plot and the characters lack the usual "Heyer spark." I believe that the author wrote this novel while she was ill. This is apparent as her delightful verve is very much missing here. Kate Malvern, 24, orphaned and penniless, has been fired from her job as a governess through no fault of her own. She is surprised by an invitation to stay with her father's half sister, (whom she has never met), at the sumptuous estate Staplewood. There she meets the elderly lord of the manor, her aunt's husband Sir Timothy, their strange and ailing son, Torquil, and a cast of characters right out of the Addam's Family scrapbook. Why has this distant relation made Kate an honored guest and gifted her with beautiful clothing, jewelry and almost cloying kindness? Kate thinks she has the answers....but...? I would say that to discover the secrets behind this strange tale you will have to read the book. However, as a major Georgette Heyer fan, I don't mind reading her most mediocre novels...and there aren't many. You, on the other hand, may want to save yourself the time. There isn't very much to surprise, enlighten or horrify here. This one is not a keeper.
JANA
Rating: 
Summary: The last of the truly classic Heyers
Review: .................................... Her writing style is always exquisite, and her ear for dialogue is parallelled by none. Even in a book where she was not at her utmost greatest, she is still very readable; and Cousin Kate is one of those books. It is not Heyer at her best, however. The characters are just a shade under-developed, veering dangerously towards the two-dimensional, which is very unusual for Heyer, and the story is not as elegantly plotted as we expect from Heyer. Having said this, it remains to be said that "Cousin Kate" shows Heyer at the last height of her talent. Her last historical romances after "Cousin Kate" were "Charity Girl" and "Lady of Quality", both proving a sad disappointment on the whole. So "Cousin Kate" is Heyer's last wholly successful and well-written novel. This gives the book a pathos to the Heyer fan, as does the fact that it was written during a serious illness on Heyer's part. If you read the book, you can sense the author's illness-induced depression underneath the surface comedy, and more obviously, in the dark twists and turns of the Gothic plot. However, Cousin Kate remains a classic Heyer study of character and Regency attitudes, and boasts a wonderfully warm and generous heroine who it is impossible not to dislike, and one of Heyer's most pleasant and agreeable heroes. (If you're expecting the bared teeth and masterful machoism of a Regency Buck, you will be disappointed, but if you like a man who you can talk to, who is warm and considerate and dependant, here is a book that will satisfy you as regards romance) It was written in response to the popularity of the Gothic romance as exemplified in Victoria Holt, so inevitably, such a departure from the "Heyer mould" of gentle and pleasant romance with a strongly realistic and sensible basis could disappoint some fans. But having said all this, I highly recommend the book "Cousin Kate." to anyone who wants to see how competently Heyer handled what is an essentially different type of historical novel.
Rating: 
Summary: A dark and different Regency Romance
Review: A very different type of book than Georgette Heyer usually wrote, "Cousin Kate" takes us to a more "Gothic" style of romance and leads us through the dangerous paths of madness. Kate Malvern is a likeable heroine, yet one who is strangely nieve for all her worldly experience. One starts of not knowing which characters to trust, and this book definately keeps one enthralled to the end. A book that is not universally liked by Georgette Heyer fans, it is one that you really must read to make your own decisions about it.
Rating:
Summary: A dark and different Regency Romance
Review: A very different type of book than Georgette Heyer usually wrote, "Cousin Kate" takes us to a more "Gothic" style of romance and leads us through the dangerous paths of madness. Kate Malvern is a likeable heroine, yet one who is strangely nieve for all her worldly experience. One starts of not knowing which characters to trust, and this book definately keeps one enthralled to the end. A book that is not universally liked by Georgette Heyer fans, it is one that you really must read to make your own decisions about it.
Rating:
Summary: A Dark and Depressing Tale
Review: Cousin Kate is a page-turner, as are the rest of Georgette Heyer's works. The attention to detail and delightful plot twists will not leave any devoted reader disappointed. However, this particular tale is dark and depressing, rather than light and uplifting. Kate is invited to spend time in the country with her male cousin (hence the title). Her aunt, a formidable woman indeed, has an ulterior motive for the visit. The book focuses on Kate's visit and the problems that arise therein. This story is not as dark as Georgette Heyer's book Penhallow (which, in my opinion, is a hard book to finish because of the depth of its despair). However, it is despondent enough to be left on the shelf after the first reading. It was given 3 stars as opposed to fewer because Georgette Heyer never seemed to be able to write a bad book.
Rating:
Summary: A book with a skilful blend of romance & mystery
Review: Georgette Heyer is one of my favourite authors & though this book is given only 3 stars her style of writing is unbeatable. This book feautures a pretty, but penniless heroine spirited away to a life of luxury by her kind aunt or so she thinks. The plot is skilfully woven & it is impossible to guess or be prepared for the ending. This book is not written like her other romance novels featuring a dashing hero admist balls, exclusive clubs etc but set in the countryside. Though at first it might be a little dragging, the plot thickens gradually & it's impossible to put it down. An unforgattable read!! I only wish I could say more, but that would spoil the whole effect of the story. I'm sure this book willl leave a deep impression on emotional hearts, as it did on mine.
Rating: 
Summary: Pass on this one.
Review: I've just started reading Georgette Heyer and of the 8 books I have read, I've loved them all until I got to this one. The heroine is annoying and because I could not sympathize with the characters, I found the plot boring and tedious. I'm jealously guarding all my Georgette Heyers for re-reading, but with this book, I could not toss it quickly enough.
Rating:
Summary: A Dark and Depressing Tale
Review: No one can compare to Georgette Heyer. Many try to emulate her style,
but practically no one has mastered it. And in spite of her
troublesome tendency to marry off naive young girls barely out of the
schoolroom to older sophisticated men of the world; and her frequent
portrayal of the middle and merchant classes as uncultured, uncouth
and grasping, perpetually trying to curry favour with the upper
classes; she is still one of my favourite authours. With this novel,
Heyer abandons somewhat the comedy of manners that she is so well
known for and enters the darker realm of the gothic novel. The heroine
of the piece is Kate Malvern, a penniless orphan, who has just lost
her latest job as a governess and her home. An aunt that she knows
little of offers her a home at Staplewood Manor. Her aunt, Minerva
Broome, wants Kate to act as a companion and friend to her young
cousin, Torquil, who happens to be a charming and clever young man but
who is troubled by frequent mood swings and bouts of depression. All
too soon Kate discovers that all is not well at Staplewood
Manor. There is an atmosphere of secrecy and deception. And Kate soon
finds that she doesn't know whom to trust or what to do. In Kate
Malvern, Heyer has created a witty, courageous and gallant heroine
that engages the reader. The avid Georgette Heyer fan may miss the
lively light hearted romps she is most famous for, but I can recommend
this book as a wonderful read, especially for its gallant heroine.
Rating:
Summary: Cousin Kate
Review: No one can compare to Georgette Heyer. Many try to emulate her style,but practically no one has mastered it. And in spite of hertroublesome tendency to marry off naive young girls barely out of theschoolroom to older sophisticated men of the world; and her frequentportrayal of the middle and merchant classes as uncultured, uncouthand grasping, perpetually trying to curry favour with the upperclasses; she is still one of my favourite authours.With this novel,Heyer abandons somewhat the comedy of manners that she is so wellknown for and enters the darker realm of the gothic novel. The heroineof the piece is Kate Malvern, a penniless orphan, who has just losther latest job as a governess and her home. An aunt that she knowslittle of offers her a home at Staplewood Manor. Her aunt, MinervaBroome, wants Kate to act as a companion and friend to her youngcousin, Torquil, who happens to be a charming and clever young man butwho is troubled by frequent mood swings and bouts of depression. Alltoo soon Kate discovers that all is not well at StaplewoodManor. There is an atmosphere of secrecy and deception. And Kate soonfinds that she doesn't know whom to trust or what to do.In KateMalvern, Heyer has created a witty, courageous and gallant heroinethat engages the reader. The avid Georgette Heyer fan may miss thelively light hearted romps she is most famous for, but I can recommendthis book as a wonderful read, especially for its gallant heroine.
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