This was a Blytonesque adventure/mystery/thriller book, but with some very Brent-Dyer-ish touches – a large family, a long-lost cousin and two redoubtable old ladies. It had a definite post-war feel, with references to both Nazis and rationing. I really enjoyed it apart from the confusion over Arminel Chudleigh becoming Gill Culver of the Chalet School. Why the name change and why the personality change? And why on earth was Arminel nicknamed “Crumpet”?! The other nicknames, which were fairly self-explanatory anyway, were explained, but there was nothing about that one.
Chudleigh Hold was home to a young baronet, his seven siblings, their nanny, a governess rejoicing in the name of “Loo” and a housemaid, later joined by their great-aunt and her companion. It was close to the sea, with smugglers’ coves and secret tunnels – you get the idea – and the house was full of valuable paintings and jewellery.
A hitherto unknown cousin invited herself to stay, and Mysterious Things began to happen. Of course, it turned out that she was a fake, and the truth all came out and the baddies were vanquished in a dramatic adventure, with Great Aunt Merrill and “Crumpet” in the thick of it. It’s really rather a shame that EBD didn’t write more adventure books, because the Chudleigh Hold series is great fun!
setinthepast 