“One class of fiction lovers will read it for the ‘mystery,’ while another will care more for its delicate, and subtle observations of nature and character, and the admirable English the author commands.”
| + | Critic. 46: 477. My. ‘05. 220w. |
“Miss Dougall’s frequently too fluent descriptive facility is freely exercised. There is beauty, however, in her descriptive phrases, and she can place a scene before the reader’s eyes with just the effect she aims at. The plot is ingenious and sufficiently original, and is remarkably well worked out. Miss Dougall is one of the cleverest of contemporary story tellers. Better still are the studies of character. The novel has value, too, as an impartial comparison by an outsider of Northern and Southern traits of character. It is a readable book, and it deserves success.”
| + + | N. Y. Times. 10: 102. F. 18, ‘05. 280w. |
“The plot is ingenious and original and remarkably well worked out.”
| + | N. Y. Times. 10: 391. Je. 17, ‘05. 160w. |
“The plot of this novel is managed with much skill, holding one’s interest without disclosing the solution of the puzzle until the very end. It is a cleverly told tale, with many original points.”
| + + | Outlook. 79: 504. F. 25, ‘05. 80w. |
“This book was published in England under the title ‘The earthly purgatory,’ and the title was well chosen. For the lover of adventure the book is to be commended.”
| + — | Pub. Opin. 38: 429. Mr. 18, ‘05. 190w. |