From Publishers Weekly
Billed as "a novel of obsession," Palmer's debut about a thoroughly wicked woman is meant to be a study of evil, but readers may find its negative depiction of the female sex as distasteful as its amoral central character. Upper-crust Englishman George Marchant, a naive bachelor of 40, marries Camilla Vane, a woman with a shadowy past, who plans to take his wealthy family for every penny. Ensconced at the Marchant estate in the English countryside, ruthless Camilla wastes no time in seducing her brother-in-law; when George walks in on one of their trysts, he dies of a heart attack, leaving Camilla heir to his fortune. The book makes much of George's inability to "control" his wife, taking for granted that men are in charge and that only sinful wives second-guess their mates. Portrayed as one who "despised her own sex," Camilla is a manipulative temptress, a terrible mother who barely acknowledges her prep school-age son from a previous union, and who feels relief when she miscarries George's child. Meanwhile, references to Camilla's frigidity contrast with the wanton behavior of Camilla's sister-in-law, who cheats on her husband but collapses when he demands a divorce. Despite its misogynistic tone, the narrative succeeds as a comedy of manners, adroitly plotted and recounted with dry wit and engaging cynicism. 50,000 first printing .
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
What happens when a staid, wealthy Englishman marries a beautiful but cold woman with lots of skeletons hidden in her closet? In the case of George Marchant and Camilla Vane, it leads to infidelity, betrayal, attempted suicide, a battle for the family estate, and death. Camilla is calculating and unfeeling, even to her own son, and unmoved by the destruction her arrival sets in motion. Although the strong British flavor of the novel may not appeal to some readers, there is enough intrigue and illicit sex to maintain interest to the end. A fierce battle between Camilla and Mrs. Marchant for the family treasures provides a climatic ending. A best seller in England, this novel may have a tougher time finding readers in the United States; recommended for large fiction collections only.-- Kathy Ingels Helmond, formerly with Indiana Univ.
Purdue Univ. at Indianapolis Lib.Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
