The Pride of the Peacock (Casablanca Classics Book 0)

Amazingly sweet story with a lot of realism. I have read all her book and wished that there would be more of them.

An engrossing read, I couldn't put the book down. However, it was spoiled for me by the American spelling which I accept from an American author but found intensely irritating when used in a work by an English writer.

Wow. This side and the other side of the world. A life on hold and a life in bold. Mankind's greed for power and ownership, and love in abundance with a sprinkling of jealousy. This book is as nourishing as a bowl of stew on a cold winter's day. Heartwarming and filling.

I havnt read Victoria holt for about 30 years and I thought it would be fun to read them again. I really didn't enjoy it much.

Loved this book first time around, really enjoying my second read

Lovely and romantic. Couldn't put it down. A super read for all romantic ladies out there truly great xxx xx

Very good could not stop reading very interesting to read about the opal mines ectRecommend to my friendsVictoria holt is good and interesting woman writer

Very good readCould not put it down well worth a read good suspenseRead this years ago still fab today

I've loved this story since I first read it as a teenager! It has everything. Adventure. Suspense. Passion. Love. A perfect balance!

Thoroughly enjoyed

I first read this book around 15 years ago...it was an old copy that belonged to my grandmother, who was a fan of Victoria Holt. While I enjoyed many of Holt's books that I borrowed, it was the poor copy of "Pride and the Peacock" that I read and re-read until it fell apart. This is the story that sparked my love for good historical fiction and in particular the Gothic romance genre. Like my grandmother, I became a dedicated fan of Holt.Of course, not all Holt stories are created equal. Many of them have similar qualities--most seem to have a young woman somehow alone in the world who meets a mysterious man who captures her interest while at the same time arousing a sense of danger and unease in her heart as she tries to unravel murderous events surrounding her. "Pride of the Peacock" follows that well-worked formula, but uses interesting settings and memorable characters to give this story particular flair. Among all Holt's books this is an especially engaging romp--a mystery surrounding the heroine's birth, an arranged marriage with plenty of sexual tension (without explicitness), exotic locations (a voyage around the world ending in Australia), and fabulous (but possibly cursed) jewels. The heroine is adventurous, the hero is brooding, and the twists and turns of the story are unexpected, culminating in a surprise but satisfying ending. This may not be what one would call classic literature, but it sure is a whole lot of fun!I was so pleased to find this book back in print, and pre-ordered it for my Kindle (my copy won't wear away this time around!). I re-read the book when I received it, and all my fondness returned for this engaging romantic thriller. I hope Victoria Holt's books find a new generation of fans, and that you enjoy this book as much as I do!

I haven't read any Victoria Holt for a while and found that this one was a nice easy read. Very predictable. The greatest interest was being partly set in Australia and about Opals. Not many books are set around Opals and gemfields so I found that of interest.

Set in the Victorian era (about 1880), beginning in England, this is the story of Opal Jessica Clavering, the youngest daughter in a family that treats her as if she doesn’t belong. At one time the family was wealthy, but now they live in the Dower House next to the estate, Oakland Hall, they once called their own.When she is 16, Jessica makes friends with the owner of Oakland Hall, Ben Henniker, an opal miner who made his money in the mines of New South Wales. Ben offers her the chance for a new life and Jessica takes it even though it includes a marriage of convenience to his illegitimate son, Josslyn Madden (“Joss”), called “the Peacock” for his pride and his home, Peacocks, in Australia.Once married, Joss returns to Australia with Jessica, who begins to wonder if her husband isn’t planning to kill her. The famous jewel called the Green Flash at Sunset goes missing and there are no clues as to who took it. And then someone is murdered.Holt is a great storyteller and immediately had me deeply involved in Jessica’s life. Jessica is a woman who has a curious mind, an adventurous spirit and is courageous to the core. I liked her very much. Joss is arrogant, like a peacock, but he also has depth. Since we are never in his mind, his thoughts remain a mystery except for what he tells Jessica. The fact he wants to see how Jessica changes as she “grows up” suggests he might like her after all.The characters are richly drawn, the story absorbing and the excitement subtle as Jessica takes on the mystery of the missing jewel, the murder and her husband.