Simon & Schuster ISBN: 0689878621 400 pages
The opening chapters of this novel excited me with their tantalisingly Dickensian style. It was heavy on the description but this was offset by eccentric characters such as Postlewaite the lawyer, surrounded by lush undergrowth in a tucked away office. There was a level of intrigue as the central character, Stephen, had no idea what awaited him, firstly as he was summoned to the lawyers' rooms, subsequently as he travelled to the Cornish coast to discover the nature of his inheritance. The mysterious atmosphere was maintained as Stephen encountered gates that locked and unlocked at his convenience, obscure objects placed as if waiting for him, hammocks slung in unlikely places and the constant sense of being watched.
At around this point the writing became bogged down and I felt as though I needed a machete myself to cut through the undergrowth of description. Stephens' discovery of his great-uncles' journal is an effective device for recounting past adventures in the Amazonian rainforest and introduced a new voice. It's always challenging to have one character without anyone else to bounce ideas / conversations off but many of the linkages seemed self-conscious.
Another plus was the introduction of Tig, whom we later learn is a Bugwomp, the species a souvenir from Uncle Theodore's South American adventures. Tigs' arrival gives Stephen someone else to talk to and care for, backing up his ecologically aware credentials with practical nursing. As we meet more of the creatures they provide some comic relief and a few 'aaah' moments.
Stephens' concern for the environment, both Amazonian and closer to home, is worthy and certainly topical but veers towards the preachy at times. It would have been interesting to see some other aspects of his character.
As the reading moved on I became increasingly irritated by the repetition of words within paragraphs and even sentences that didn't seem to be used to any conscious purpose, rather simply a matter of poor editing. I wonder if this was due to the book being written many years before it was published. Perhaps it was difficult to revisit and rework 400 pages.
The Valley of Secrets had so much potential and I guess I just wanted more - more excitement, more conflict. Stephens' practical concerns for the financial future of his property and it's inhabitants are understandable and realistic but given the unusual nature of Lansbury Hall it's surprising that the local community didn't pay it more active attention. Some local kids could have tried to get over the wall or perhaps a small boat could have paid Stephens' beach too much attention.
Having said all this my children were keen for every installment and gave the following opinions once we'd finished. "It was great - every aspect" and " It was brilliant, apart from the sad ending." What do I know.
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