Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier Book Review

Book Title: Jamaica Inn

Author: Daphne Du Maurier

My Rating: 5*

Publisher: Virago Press

Publication Date: 2003 (first published in 1936)

Genre(s): Gothic, Mystery, Romance, Classics

Pages: 302

Format Read: Paperback

Goodreads: The coachman tried to warn her away from the ruined, forbidding place on the rainswept Cornish coast. But young Mary Yellan chose instead to honor her mother's dying request that she join her frightened Aunt Patience and huge, hulking Uncle Joss Merlyn at Jamaica Inn. From her first glimpse on that raw November eve, she could sense the inn's dark power. But never did Mary dream that she would become hopelessly ensnared in the vile, villainous schemes being hatched within its crumbling walls -- or that a handsome, mysterious stranger would so incite her passions ... tempting her to love a man whom she dares not trust.

This novel had been on my shelf for years before I finally decided to read it as part of #DDMreadingweek. The reason I had never read it before was because it is defined as a classic and I find a lot of classics dense and really hard to get through and so I was put off. However, I loved this novel and even though it reminded me quite a lot about Wuthering Heights, the story drew me in and I could not put it down and so I regret not reading it for all of these years.

Set in Cornwall in 1820, the main character Mary Yellan is a strong, independent and fierce woman who moves in with her aunt and uncle at Jamaica Inn. She becomes very protective of her aunt as she has changed from a bubbly young woman into a timid woman who looks many years beyond her age as her husband Joss is a violent drunk who is the leader of a smuggling trade and is a wrecker of ships to steal the cargo.

When Mary first arrives into Bodmin, the coach driver is concerned to be dropping off such a young girl (23) at Jamaica Inn which raises Mary’s suspicions as she wonders why everyone is so afraid of the Inn and its inhabitants. It all seems very spooky and mysterious but as soon as she meets Joss Merlyn she realises people stay away because of his brutish and angry nature and she quickly finds out that he is involved in something a lot more sinister and hatches a plan to get rid of him once and for all. Mary befriends a local vicar who assures her he will help in the destroying of Joss’ business but there is a twist in the tale and keeps you hooked right until the end. The novel is full of human brutality and is not for the faint hearted.

The gothic setting and imagery of the moors surrounding Jamaica Inn is breathtaking, making it really easy to imagine Mary’s walks over the moors. The detailed descriptions of the terrible days and nights at the Inn can easily turn the novel into some sort of horror that grips the reader and makes it impossible to stop reading, but may give you nightmares!

Not only is there murderous, evil men in the story but there is an unlikely love interest in the form of Joss’ brother, Jem Merlyn who is rude but cheeky and sweeps Mary off her feet. Mary doesn’t trust him or even like him at first but he soon wins her round when she gets lost on the moors and stumbles upon his dwelling. He is the ‘bad boy’ of the 19^th century although not to the extent of being a murderer like his brother which he swears he has nothing to do with Joss’ business.

Jamaica Inn is a real place in Cornwall and the public are able to visit to see the inspiration for Du Maurier's novel and explore the museum, eat at the restaurant and even stay overnight in the hotel. I have been and it really is an interesting and beautiful place to experience.

Jamaica Inn is well deserved to be named as a classic and even though this is the first book of Daphne Du Maurier’s I have read, I will definitely be reading more!