Castle Mirage

Castle Mirage was first published in paperback by both Unibook and Belmont Tower in 1971. Both editions featured different artwork. It was also published a second time by Belmont Tower using a different cover. In 1991, the novel was reprinted as a murder mystery by Linford Mystery. The book's author, Alice Brennan, was prolific in the 1960s and 1970s, contributing to sleaze, nurse-fiction, and gothics for the typical paperback publishers like Belmont, Berkley, Avon, and Paperback Library. I read and enjoyed her medical drama Nurses Dormitory (1962 Lancer), and reviewed it HERE. On the Book Graveyard, Nick and I chose Castle Mirage as a buddy read for our popular Guide to Gothics video series. You can watch that discussion HERE.

Elizabeth has just met and married a man named Stephen after spending just three weeks with him. Stephen comes from a wealthy family of successful shipping exporters. For the honeymoon, Stephen decides to return to the family's castle in Oregon to care for his sick, elderly father. As Castle Mirage opens, Elizabeth is rattled when she discovers Stephen's father isn't the person she was expecting – he seems much younger and healthier. Did Stephen con her? 

Adding to the frustration, Elizabeth meets Stephen's quirky half-brother Abel, a stocky, cynical self-described “wicked one” who does nothing to help ease the tension. Through cryptic, cautionary warnings, Abel paints a picture that Stephen is a lunatic and must be avoided. He urges Elizabeth to leave Stephen and the castle. But why is Abel there if things are so bad?

The terror mounts as Elizabeth meets a reclusive young servant named Naomi. Supposedly, she had a fright in her bedroom one night and lost the ability to speak. However, Elizabeth finds Naomi singing in an ominous tune in the garden. What's up with the strange maid Mrs. Mills, and her psycho husband? What's locked up in the old summer house? Why does a photo of Stephen's mother resemble Elizabeth?

The answers would just open up this review to more questions. The bottom line is none of it matters because this book...well, it just plain sucks. 

Alice Brennan simply skips over some of these details and never really provides any logical answers. Abel's attitude, his actions, and the relationship he attempts to build with Elizabeth fail to land when readers receive the grand reveal in the book's climax. The hooded figures, the summer house, Naomi...it's all just smoke and mirrors that don't lead to anything. This is a mess of a book with fragmented dialogue, meandering backstories, zero character depth, and a sluggish, frustrating pace. Nurses Dormitory was great. Castle Mirage is a pile of sh#t. Avoid at all costs!