By: Stephanie L. Robertson

Dark secrets, a mysterious gemstone, and a marriage of convenience.

Despite her rich namesake, Opal “Jessica” Clavering lives in penury with her tyrannical mother, hen-pecked father, mousy sister, and subjugated brother. Thanks to her father’s gambling habit, the Claverings were forced to sell their old family estate, Oakland Hall.

Unlike her embittered family, Jessica isn’t one to sit around and reminisce about “better days.”  Not when there are family secrets to uncover and adventures to be had—such as learning about the new owner of Oakland Hall, Ben Henniker.

Wheelchair-bound, Henniker is a rather peculiar opal “gouger.” He made his fortune in the Antipodes before losing a leg in a mining accident.  Henniker then returned to England and set about purchasing a proper English mansion long before Jessica was a “nobby” in her family’s eyes.

When old Henniker nearly meets his doom in a run-away wheelchair, Jessica saves the day. The two strike an unlikely friendship, which her mother would prohibit—that is if she knew about it. Henniker regals Jessica with stories of Australia’s glittering opal mines. Jessica is enthralled with tales of the mysterious Green Flash, a rare opal which draws everyone who sees it under its spell.

As his health deteriorates, Henniker offers Jessica co-ownership of the Green Flash and his famous opal mine in one condition…that she marries his peacock-arrogant son, Joss. Not only is Joss arrogant, but he is also obsessed with the Green Flash.

But is he obsessed enough to murder Jessica for the full inheritance?

Holt invites her readers to follow Jessica from her uninspired home in England to her new life in Australia.

Click to tweet: Classic romance review of The Pride of the Peacock by Victoria Holt at Favorite Friday Fiction. #FridayReads #romance

Stephanie’s Critique: The Pride of the Peacock

In Victoria Holt’s inimitable (albeit formulaic) tradition, Jessica is a Jane Eyre figure who emerges from a humdrum existence to find excitement, adventure, and even love. The Pride of the Peacock also features Joss, a brooding Mr. Rochester-esque love interest. Like most of Holt’s characters, Jessica finds herself on a steamship from England to Australia—fascinating stuff for those of us adore fiction set in far-away places.

At times, Jessica may be a damsel in distress. (If you’re not into that type of plotline, Holt probably isn’t for you.) Yet Jessica is no shrinking violet. She is a bold risk-taker and encourages others to do the same. Holt’s books were written in the 1970s-80s, so they were appropriate for my mother to share with a teenaged me.

Therefore, I have no qualms recommending it to readers. There is, however, an out-of-wedlock child and lucky opals. But Holt’s thrills come from mystery, danger, and overseas travel. The Pride of the Peacock is one of Ms. Holt’s gothic, suspenseful best!