Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, 4/5

This classic psychological thriller, with its unsettling, gothic atmosphere and ambiguously motivated characters, proves that “slow-burner” and “page-turner” are not mutually exclusive terms.  Du Maurier knows how to reveal just enough to keep her readers hooked without letting them quite know what is going on.  Ultimately, the characters seem a bit thin and the plot somewhat unsubstantial and uneven, but it’s the kind of book that will keep you up at night (reading, that is).

Why I read it: my mom watched the film versions, then got the book out of the library and enjoyed it.