Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier, reviewed by Eva Leung

Jamaica Inn first edition

An image of a UK first edition of Jamaica Inn

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Crime, Thriller, Historical fiction
Original Publication: 1936

After her mother's death, 23-year-old Mary Yellan leaves Helford, her birthplace, to live with her mother's sister, Aunt Patience, and Uncle Joshua (Joss) Merlyn, the landlord of Jamaica Inn. Little does she know that respectable people no longer stop by Jamaica Inn, as it has been turned into a hideout for criminals, with Uncle Joss at the lead.

Though longing to expose her uncle's crimes to the authorities, Mary can do nothing but stay and protect her timid, innocent Aunt Patience. Desperate for friendship, Mary finds strange solace in the companionship of two men: Jeremiah (Jem) Merlyn – her Uncle Joss's younger brother whom they call "the worst Merlyn of all"; and Francis Davey, the Vicar of Altarnun.

It won't be long before Mary realises that she, too, is in danger…

A brilliant thriller, Jamaica Inn, came out two years before du Maurier published her classic Rebecca, and I have always wondered why it has not attracted more attention. Yes, it was a bestseller when it was published and has had several adaptations over 80 years, but today, it has become a lesser-known du Maurier novel. While the taste of readers has been changing, the novel retains elements that remain appealing to modern thriller readers – a fast-paced storyline, plot twists, cliffhangers, foreshadowing, powerful chapter endings, a strong female lead amongst the vividly portrayed characters, and in addition to all these, a carefully constructed atmosphere that makes Jamaica Inn the foreboding place that it is. I think thriller readers today would have enjoyed it just as much as they enjoy Rebecca.

I have lost count of how many times I have re-read it over the years, even before I decided to include it in my dissertation. Re-reading it today, I still find details I have missed, and I catch myself thinking, "Ah, I could have put this in my thesis." This probably won't be the last time I am re-reading it.

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