
While on her last assignment with British Intelligence in Morocco, the widowed Julia Probyn Jamieson meets and is strongly attracted to an Irish country lawyer, Gerald O'Brien, who is travelling with friends of hers. O'Brien has asked Julia to marry him but she delays her decision until he has met her five-year-old son Philip, who is somewhat hard to handle.Boy and man take to each other, and it becomes clear that Gerald will be an ideal stepfather. On his part, Gerald insists that she come to Ireland to see his modest home and meet his friends and neighbors before she makes up her mind, for his world is far different from the glamorous cosmopolitan one she is accustomed to.Julia's quiet vacation is interrupted when she stumbles upon a plot by an unknown land speculator who, with the unwitting aid of an attractive American woman and an Irish poet, is surreptitiously buying a strip of land along the coast for the purpose of building a huge resort hotel and casino. The intrepid Julia is drawn in as a participant when she joins Gerald in his investigation of this devious scheme, which will destroy the wild beauty of the coast and disrupt the peace of the community.
While visiting Ireland to evaluate a potential marriage proposal, Julia Probyn Jamieson discovers a clandestine land development scheme threatening the local coastal landscape. Julia, a former British Intelligence operative, seeks to integrate her young son into the life of her Irish suitor, Gerald O'Brien. As she navigates the social expectations of rural Ireland, she encounters a suspicious land acquisition project involving an American associate and a local poet. The narrative follows Julia as she utilizes her investigative background to uncover the motives behind the proposed hotel and casino, balancing her personal romantic considerations with the protection of the community's environmental integrity.
Readers frequently highlight the balance between the romantic courtship plot and the investigative mystery elements. Discussion often centers on the author's ability to render the Irish setting with precision and atmospheric detail. Critics note that the prose reflects the author's background in the diplomatic community, providing a specific social lens through which the characters interact. Many readers appreciate the focus on the protagonist's professional competence as she navigates both personal and public challenges.
Page Count:
254
Publication Date:
1973-01-01
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill
ISBN-10:
0070077363
ISBN-13:
9780070077362
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