Nine Coaches Waiting

I first found Mary Stewart when I was rather young The Wonderful World of Disney did "The Moon-Spinners" with Haley Mills. I was hooked and I still enjoy her books as true mystery romances with the covers falling off and all.


Flawless Classic Romantic Suspense   November 16, 1999
18 out of 19 found this review helpful

They don't write books like this anymore. Sadly, even the author didn't write books like this for long. Her writing has deteriorated since the Merlin books (which I also disliked), but her 1950s and 1960s romantic suspense were superb. What do we need to do to get more of Stewart's works reissued in paperback? If there's a petition, I want to sign it.


Classically Crafted Suspense Entertainment   March 4, 1999
13 out of 13 found this review helpful

The language is lovely, the setting as much a character as the protagonists themselves. The mystery is wonderfully crafted with just the right element of whimsy, allusion, magic and sophisticated romance. Ms. Stewart has the formula down to an almost perfect science; she is the wordsmith of description. As all her novels have been virtually overlooked by today's readers, I recommend that all her earlier books be re-issued in trade paperback format, so that another generation may enjoy the almost perfect structural honing of her craft. While categorized as 'romantic suspence', I don't believe these stories were ever given the literary praise they deserve.


A Classic Romantic Mystery   June 30, 1998
Jutta (New Jersey, USA)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

Linda Martin, an English governess, accepts what she considers the perfect position. She is put in charge of young Philippe de Valmy, nine years old and heir to the Chateau Valmy in France. The unusual requirement for this position was the governess was to know no French. Reason given for this strange requirement was that young Philippe was learn English perfectly with no help in his native tongue. Linda wanting the job desperately, lies and thinks no more of it...That is until some strange and dangerous incidents occur; and she realizes that someone is out to harm young Philippe. The likely suspects are his uncles, who would stand to inherit the Chateau if the young boy died.

Not a mystery alone, this novel also a wonderful love story as Linda falls in love with Raul Valmy. Raul also stands to inherit the Chateau and Linda is torn between her love him and her love and the need to protect young Philippe. "Nine Coaches Waiting" was a beautifully written book that held my attention. I've read it many, many times, enjoyed it and consider it a "Classic."