Larabee Heiress - a Warner Paperback Library Gothic

This is another book that I've had in my collection for quite some time.  I originally picked it up because the cover scene bears a slight resemblance to the 18th book in the Nancy Drew Diaries series - both covers feature a woman running down the stairs, dogs surrounding her, and a mansion in the background.  It has sat on my shelf for some time, but I've somehow never picked it up to read.  The author, Dorothy Daniels, is said to have been America's Most Popular Gothic Novelist (Dorothy Daniels).  She had more than 140 novels published by a number of different publishers.  Her last Gothic novel was published in 1980, and after writing some romance stories, her last published book was in 1985.  There is some dispute as to whether Dorothy Daniels was an actual person (despite some books carrying a biography and photo of the author on the rear cover!), with some sources claiming she was a man named Paul Hugo Little and several paperbacks being copyrighted by "Norman Daniels."  Regardless of whether Dorothy Daniels was an actual person or a pseudonym, there can be no question that her writing was superb!

 

Larabee Heiress was first published by Warner Paperback Library in 1972, and it was later re-issued by Warner with a different cover (the cover to the right is the copy I have, which is the later edition).  The story is actually very engaging, as it deals with a young woman who awakes in a hospital after a car accident with no memory of anything, including her own name.  After months in the hospital recovering (having had extensive surgeries, including brain surgery!), the Larabee family identifies her as the widowed wife of their son, Larry, who died and bequeathed the entirety of his considerable estate to her - Sandra Larabee!  Shocked to discover she is wealthy beyond her wildest imagination, the young woman returns to the grand estate where the Larabee family resides - Janet Larabee and her husband, Richie, who are Larry's parents; Marilyn Larabee, the oldest daughter who is their golden child; and Nancy Larabee, who is stand-offish and not at all interested in the wealth and beauty the others are enamored with.  There is also Gilbert, the family chauffeur, and Ethel, the housekeeper.  On top of that, the family has two maids: Ava, the upstairs maid, and Dicie, the downstairs maid.  To say that Sandra is completely overwhelmed is an understatement!  It's a good thing Marilyn's husband, Sidney, has always handled the finances since Larry's death, as Sandra knows she would have no idea where to even begin!

 

But things are not what they seem ... which is no surprise for a Gothic novel of this nature.  Sandra not only has no memories of the family or the house, but she also has no memories of her own two children - the twins, Carol and Christine. How could she not remember her own children?  And why does the house have no family photos whatsoever?  Slowly, Sandra begins to pull information from various members of the family, in the hopes of piecing together her life before the accident.  Unfortunately, the more she learns, the more she discovers that she was not the nice, caring person she is now.   In fact, she was a vicious, cruel alcoholic that, just before the accident, had demanded the family move out of HER home!  It is her concern for Nancy, the outcast of the family, that starts Sandra on the path to uncovering the truth about the things she is learning.  Why, after her husband died, did she disappear for days a time?  Where did she go?  What did she do?  And why did she always return home wearing different, cheaper clothing?  Something was wrong, and with the help of a friendly doctor who was at the hospital when Sandra was first brought in, Sandra starts investigating.  What she uncovers, however, are some horrific secrets and deadly plans that already resulted in one person dead, made an attempt to kill a second person, and could very well bring about Sandra's demise!

 

"A beautiful young amnesia victim, a luxurious mansion holding a deadly secret, and three keys that don't fit any doors..."  The blurb on the front cover definitely describes the mystery within, and those three keys are the biggest clues to unlocking Sandra's true past.  From the very first chapter, I was enthralled, and I had to keep turning page after page, because I could not put it down.  Even though early on I had my suspicions about what was going on, I could not wait to get to the conclusion to find out if I were right.  While the story lacks standard Gothic tropes, such as hidden passages, ghostly sounds or apparitions, or dark and brooding mansion (the mansion in this book is quite bright and lovely!), it more than makes up for it with the secrets, the lies, the suspense, the tension, and the danger.  This book is a definite example of just how gifted Dorothy Daniels was at writing Gothic fiction.

 

The second cover art (above) was painted by Vic Prezio, as identified on the copyright page inside.  Not very often do we see credit given like this, which is refreshing.  You can see more about the artist and his work (as well as a full-size version of this cover art) at the Paperback Palette blog (Victor Prezio Art). Prezio provided art for quite a number of Gothic titles back in the day, including quite a few of Dorothy Daniels' books.  The original edition of the book featured an entirely different cover that finds Sandra simply standing at the gate, staring out, with the dark mansion behind her, a light shining from the highest turret. Not sure who the artist, as I do not yet own a copy of this version.  However, despite its more Gothic feel, with the dark mansion, the fog, and spooky clouds above, I prefer the copy I have with the dogs attacking Sandra as she tries to escape the house.  For me, Prezio's art on the later edition provides a more tension-filled scene, as Sandra is racing down the steps to not only escape the horrors of the house, but the angry jaws of the attack dogs that guard the estate!  Hopefully, I can pick up a copy of this earlier printing one day and discovery who the artist is.

 

I may have picked this book up based on the cover similarity to the Nancy Drew Diaries book; but I am now holding on to it as one of the better Gothic stories in my collection, because, while I have enjoyed nearly all the Gothics I have read to date, very few have pulled me into the story and kept my interest as intensely as this one did.  I definitely recommend it - well worth the read!

 

RATING:  10 old 1971 Chevrolet Impalas out of 10 for superb storytelling and skillful plotting with so much suspense and mystery, I can't imagine anyone NOT liking this book!