Reviews

Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier

faithmotta04's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

gracieterry's review

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

This is the second du Maurier book I read, the first being Rebecca. The first 150 pages were relatively slow, but then I was completely sucked in. I was enamored with the eerie, spooky descriptions and symbolism of the moors. I really loved the heroine and her swaggering, bold attitude in the face of solitude and danger. 

If there’s one thing I didn’t like about the book, it would be that I felt the romance between Mary and Jem was rushed and not well elaborated on. I couldn’t tell if she loved him truly or just loved him because he was better than what she had been surrounded by.

Otherwise, I loved the prose and the setting. Daphne does it again! 

xabbiesx's review

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

ladylazzz's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

jmcook's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

charleyeliza's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.0

nicolamb's review

5.0

This one quickly became one of my favourite books of all time

jennyjava's review

adventurous dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

One of my favorite books.  If at all possible, try to visit the actual Jamaica Inn in Cornwall that this book was based on - it was a surreal, almost magical visit.

budzickova's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

4.5

xcgirl93's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is my third Daphne Du Maurier novel, and while Rebecca and Frenchman's Creek are still my favorites by her, there is no denying that Du Maurier was a fantastic gothic writer.  She builds suspense and atmosphere so well, it's as if you truly are on the moors of Cornwall, fearing for what might happen next to Mary Yellan.

Jamaica Inn is shrouded in mystery, both the plot of the novel as well as the inn that Mary finds herself at once her mother passes away. Though at times the twists were predictable and Mary herself made some choices that made me go, "Huh?" I found this overall to be an intriguing read.  I also learned a bit about some of the myths surrounding Cornwall