Witty…a cheerful extravaganza. -The New Yorker His exploits were legendary… Captain John Staple, back from the battlefront, is already bored with his quiet civilian life in the country. When he stumbles upon a mystery involving a disappearing toll-gate keeper, nothing could keep the adventure-loving captain from investigating. But winning her will be his greatest yet…
Georgette Heyer at her finest. What could possibly be wrong? Really wonderful characters. One of my favorites by her.
Heyer is known as the queen of Regency romance and this novel is one of her best efforts. It stars a brave and courageous army captain who stumbles across a mystery and a lady in distress as he travels across the British countryside on his horse. Of particular interest is that the damsel in question is tall, strong-willed, and unconventional. Naturally they fall in love, with plenty of twists and turns in the mystery of the missing toll-gate keeper.
Georgette Heyer never fails. The Toll-Gate has the perfect heroine in distress and her unique rescuer. Great supporting characters, too. I have always loved this book. Can be read again and again.
This story, while containing a charming romance at its heart, is more of a mystery/adventure, and none the worse for that.
Unusually for a Heyer book, the plot is centred on the main male character, Jack Staple, who, finding life as a civilian boring after an army career, is looking for adventure.
Jack finds his adventure in the Peak District when, passing through a toll gate he meets Ben Brean, a terrified young urchin, who has been left alone and in charge of the tollgate by his father Edward Brean.
As it’s late, Jack decides to stay the night at the toll house, and learns that Ben’s father has disappeared. Feeling sorry for the lad, Jack decides to discover what has happened, even though the more he learns about Brean Senior, the less he likes the sound of him. It is evident to Jack that Edward Brean has been mixed up in some unlawful business.
The next day, Jack opens the toll-gate to a local lady, Nell Stornaway, and is completely bowled over. Never previously interested in marriage, Jack knows she is the one for him, and when he learns about her circumstances he is determined to help her.
Well, with all these reasons to stay, Jack decides to pose as Edward Brean’s long-lost brother and sort out matters for both young Ben and Nell. With such havey-cavey goings on, it will be no surprise that more eccentric characters are introduced — a Bow Street runner, and a highway man, both become acquainted with Jack. And using characters like these, Heyer employs her knowledge of Regency cant (slang) to good effect. Be warned, some of the dialogue becomes a little impenetrable at times. But never fear, this story also contains stolen treasure, hidden caves, secret meetings at the dead of night, in fact everything you could wish for.
If you’re looking for a tale that is set, not in the usual Regency locations of ballrooms and drawing rooms, but in rural England, and one that has a decent mystery to solve, I recommend The Toll-Gate.
It was a great story, very enjoyable.
This book was copyrighted in the US in 1954. The second edition was released in 1972. I’m a big Heyer fan and don’t know how I missed this one. I thought I had read all of her Regencies–some more than once! I’m glad to have found this one in my library. The hero and heroine really earn that accolade. Although their acquaintance is not long, they know that they truly love one another and wish to spend their lives together. But that does not blind them to their obligations or dim their altruism. There is no graphic sex–kisses only, true to a Jane Austen novel. There is heavy use of “cant” language, which I found quite understandable but might give pause to some younger readers. However, I think the young would benefit from exposure to some vernacular that is not profane. It exhibits a very healthy dose of Heyer’s humor, which is one of the things I love about her books.
John was a Captain in the Dragoons in the Napoleonic wars–which have ended. He comes upon a tollgate on a “dark and stormy night” that is being manned by a frightened child. His initial plan is to spend just the one night until the child’s father returns. The next morning, he takes the toll from a woman he knows immediately is his love. He extends his stay at the Tollhouse. He fixes everything for everybody including solving a mystery surrounding a major highway robbery, helping a likable highwayman reform his life and get his girl, and finding a good home for the orphan boy. In the process, he marries his true love and sets to rest the anxieties of her dying grandfather. If you are age 12 or older (I’m 73), and enjoy regencies, you will love this book. If you can’t locate a copy, perhaps your library can arrange a library exchange with The Eastern Shore Public Library in Accomac Virginia.
Not her best. Convoluted and not quite believable plot, tho it has funny moments
Georgette Heyer at her finest. What could possibly be wrong? Really wonderful characters. One of my favorites by her.
Heyer is known as the queen of Regency romance and this novel is one of her best efforts. It stars a brave and courageous army captain who stumbles across a mystery and a lady in distress as he travels across the British countryside on his horse. Of particular interest is that the damsel in question is tall, strong-willed, and unconventional. Naturally they fall in love, with plenty of twists and turns in the mystery of the missing toll-gate keeper.
Georgette Heyer never fails. The Toll-Gate has the perfect heroine in distress and her unique rescuer. Great supporting characters, too. I have always loved this book. Can be read again and again.
This story, while containing a charming romance at its heart, is more of a mystery/adventure, and none the worse for that.
Unusually for a Heyer book, the plot is centred on the main male character, Jack Staple, who, finding life as a civilian boring after an army career, is looking for adventure.
Jack finds his adventure in the Peak District when, passing through a toll gate he meets Ben Brean, a terrified young urchin, who has been left alone and in charge of the tollgate by his father Edward Brean.
As it’s late, Jack decides to stay the night at the toll house, and learns that Ben’s father has disappeared. Feeling sorry for the lad, Jack decides to discover what has happened, even though the more he learns about Brean Senior, the less he likes the sound of him. It is evident to Jack that Edward Brean has been mixed up in some unlawful business.
The next day, Jack opens the toll-gate to a local lady, Nell Stornaway, and is completely bowled over. Never previously interested in marriage, Jack knows she is the one for him, and when he learns about her circumstances he is determined to help her.
Well, with all these reasons to stay, Jack decides to pose as Edward Brean’s long-lost brother and sort out matters for both young Ben and Nell. With such havey-cavey goings on, it will be no surprise that more eccentric characters are introduced — a Bow Street runner, and a highway man, both become acquainted with Jack. And using characters like these, Heyer employs her knowledge of Regency cant (slang) to good effect. Be warned, some of the dialogue becomes a little impenetrable at times. But never fear, this story also contains stolen treasure, hidden caves, secret meetings at the dead of night, in fact everything you could wish for.
If you’re looking for a tale that is set, not in the usual Regency locations of ballrooms and drawing rooms, but in rural England, and one that has a decent mystery to solve, I recommend The Toll-Gate.
It was a great story, very enjoyable.
This book was copyrighted in the US in 1954. The second edition was released in 1972. I’m a big Heyer fan and don’t know how I missed this one. I thought I had read all of her Regencies–some more than once! I’m glad to have found this one in my library. The hero and heroine really earn that accolade. Although their acquaintance is not long, they know that they truly love one another and wish to spend their lives together. But that does not blind them to their obligations or dim their altruism. There is no graphic sex–kisses only, true to a Jane Austen novel. There is heavy use of “cant” language, which I found quite understandable but might give pause to some younger readers. However, I think the young would benefit from exposure to some vernacular that is not profane. It exhibits a very healthy dose of Heyer’s humor, which is one of the things I love about her books.
John was a Captain in the Dragoons in the Napoleonic wars–which have ended. He comes upon a tollgate on a “dark and stormy night” that is being manned by a frightened child. His initial plan is to spend just the one night until the child’s father returns. The next morning, he takes the toll from a woman he knows immediately is his love. He extends his stay at the Tollhouse. He fixes everything for everybody including solving a mystery surrounding a major highway robbery, helping a likable highwayman reform his life and get his girl, and finding a good home for the orphan boy. In the process, he marries his true love and sets to rest the anxieties of her dying grandfather. If you are age 12 or older (I’m 73), and enjoy regencies, you will love this book. If you can’t locate a copy, perhaps your library can arrange a library exchange with The Eastern Shore Public Library in Accomac Virginia.
Not her best. Convoluted and not quite believable plot, tho it has funny moments