Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Search - Jamaica Inn

Jamaica Inn
Jamaica Inn
Author: Daphne du Maurier
Her mother's dying request takes Mary Yellan on a sad journey across the bleak moorland of Cornwall to reach Jamaica Inn, the home of her Aunt Patience. With the coachman's warning echoing in her memory, Mary arrives at a dismal place to find Patience a changed woman, cowering from her overbearing husband, Joss Merlyn. — Affected by the Inn's bro...  more »
ISBN: 481726
Publication Date: 12/1971
Pages: 302
Rating:
  • Currently 4.5/5 Stars.
 2

4.5 stars, based on 2 ratings
Publisher: Avon
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio Cassette, Audio CD
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

emeraldfire avatar reviewed Jamaica Inn on
Helpful Score: 1
On a bitter November evening, young Mary Yellen journeys to the windswept Cornish coast to stay at the foreboding Jamaica Inn. She arrives at her aunt and uncle's inn to fulfill her mother's dying wish. Although the coachman tries to warn her to stay away from the ramshackled, ruined place, Mary chooses to stay and honor her late mother's final request.

So, Mary will join her relatives - her frightened Aunt Patience and her imposing Uncle Joss Merlyn - and do her best to ignore the various rumors swirling about the place. With the coachman's dire warning still echoing in her ears, Mary will witness her Aunt Patience cowering in fear before her dour Uncle Joss. Terrified by the inn's looming shadow and its brooding darkness, Mary gradually finds herself becoming ensnared in the various devious schemes being enacted behind its crumbling walls - and tempted to love a man she dares not trust.

I really enjoyed reading this book very much; in my opinion, the story was certainly very good and I wanted to find out what would happen next. Although, I will say that I found the story just the slightest bit overly theatrical for me. I absolutely love Daphne du Maurier's writing style; she certainly knew how to create a frightening and suspenseful atmosphere.

I would always literally get lost in Ms. Du Maurier's books every time I read one. However, Jamaica Inn was a slightly different reading experience for me; I never entirely lost myself along the wild Cornish moors while I read this particular book. In my opinion, while this was still a very good story, I don't think it was Daphne du Maurier's best work. Although, I would still give Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier an A!
Read All 6 Book Reviews of "Jamaica Inn"

Please Log in to Rate these Book Reviews

sissy448 avatar reviewed Jamaica Inn on + 15 more book reviews
Loved this book!! 4.5 stars. I think I read it years ago as the first few chapters really seemed familiar, but that may be because I've seen the movie. The first chapter is one of the best first chapters in any book I've read ... really set the mood for the story.
reviewed Jamaica Inn on + 91 more book reviews
Mary Yellen honors her mother's last wish to go live with her aunt at Jamaica Inn. From her first night on arrival she could sense the dark suspense that Jamaica Inn held. This takes place on the rugged coast of Cornwall, England...All about smuggler's with a sinister side.

If you liked the suspense of "Rebecca" then this is the next best novel!
amerigo avatar reviewed Jamaica Inn on
Frenchman's Creek, Rebecca, and Jamaica Inn are my all time favorite du Maurier novels. They are both romantic and atmospheric. They are classic.


Genres: