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When Harriet Jones arrives, late at night, at the lonely Spanish villa left to her by her seemingly penniless godfather, she disturbs an intruder who was hiding in one of the bedrooms. Her godfather's friends and acquaintances all come under suspicion when she reads a letter he has left for safe keeping with a Spanish lawyer, indicating that either in the house, or on the land around it, there is some object of value. She is attracted to both a neighbouring landowner, Don Luis Montalba, and Cay Martin, a geologist, with whom she spends Easter in Seville. Seville is beautiful and filled with crowds who have come to participate in the famous Feria and the sinister Procession of the Penitents, a procession in which a man is killed—a man whose uncle once owned the villa which now belongs to Harriet.
Harriet Jones inherits a secluded Spanish villa only to find herself entangled in a dangerous hunt for a hidden object of value. Upon arriving at her new property, she encounters an intruder, signaling that others are aware of the secret her godfather left behind. Harriet must navigate a web of suspicion involving her godfather's associates while managing her growing attractions to two very different men. The narrative follows her through the vibrant and chaotic atmosphere of Seville during Easter, where the line between local tradition and lethal threat begins to blur.
This novel functions as a classic mystery that utilizes its Spanish setting to heighten the sense of isolation and danger. The narrative relies on the juxtaposition of festive public events and the private, sinister motives of the characters surrounding Harriet. Readers likely find the inclusion of the Procession of the Penitents to be a pivotal moment that shifts the tone from a standard inheritance mystery to something more ominous. The work effectively balances the protagonist's romantic interests with the mounting pressure of the search for the hidden object, ensuring the tension remains consistent throughout the story.
Page Count:
160
Publication Date:
1974-05-13
Publisher:
Collins
ISBN-10:
0002332418
ISBN-13:
9780002332415
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