The story took way to too long to get going and a mystery should at least let you go back and find the clues. The clues just weren't there and the reveal was slapdash. However, Rosetta is an interesting heroine and pretty fearless at times. She gets about everything thrown at her in a fairly improbable fashion and mostly does not act like a ninny. I just didn't need to have all her adventures before she ends up in the gothic mystery romance. Shipwreck, pirates, harem, oh my!

“The Captive” is in some respects three stories in one: Rosetta’s childhood, adventures abroad, and a murder mystery.

I felt most engaged with the early part of the story where Rosetta – the heroine and narrator – is growing up. I like her interaction with the servants, and how they entertain each other in the kitchen.

Another engaging theme comes later when Rosetta, in her late teens, adopts the role of governess for a difficult girl called Kate. Their relationship is the most interesting one in the book.

As for the plot overall, the narrative doesn’t live up to the expectations described in the synopsis. Shipwreck, pirates, harem, daring escape, etc., could’ve been handled much better. As usual with this author, there’s too much *telling*, as opposed to *showing*. The reader is often told what happened when the author could’ve dramatized scenes to show what happened.

The suspense elements are good but we have another typical Holt trait in that dangerous situations are resolved too quick and easy.

I liked most of the characters, especially Rosetta, Lucas, and Kate.

While the novel's different themes blend well enough, I feel more dramatization and action would’ve unleashed this story’s full potential. ( )

Rosetta Cranleigh is a young women raised during Queen Vicotoria's reign and has been sheltered from the world. A trip to Cape Town results the ship capsizing, her bing rescued from drowning, kipnapped by pirates and sold to a Turkish pasha for his harem. ( )

I stumbled upon this book in an old collection of my mother's, and didn't expect to like it nearly as much as I did. Very intriguing, if not a bit predictable. ( )

This one has even more wierd plot turnings than most of this genre. As unlikely as most of these turnings are, the ending is even more far-fetched. ( )