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What exciting final chapters these have been. This section was so action-packed that I was on the edge of my seat the whole time I read it. It was just a roller-coaster ride.

So, we finally find the fate of Manston's first wife and the reason for the deception practiced by Manston in bringing Anne Seaway into the scene. It's funny that I truly felt sorry for him instead of any anger. He was capable of villainy, but I didn't feel him to be a total villain devoid of human feelings. Edward and the rector put the case against Manston forward, and Edward rescues Cytherea from being abducted by Manston.

Miss Aldclyffe's 'secret' was finally revealed, and our guess about the relationship between her and Manston is correct: Manston is her illegitimate son. Although she was a schemer I felt sorry for her when her reasons were revealed.

Finally, Cytherea and Edward are married, and the story ends on a happy note (so different from some of his later works).

What were your thoughts on this section? How do you like this first novel of Hardy?

I also felt pity for Miss Aldclyffe, especially since those times were so unforgiving to women who bore children out of wedlock. For Mr. Manston I felt nothing but loathing. He was a murderer, a blackmailer, and a coward. I have no doubt that he would have eventually harmed Cytherea, despite his obsession with her. I haven’t read much Hardy yet, but despite the flaws in this story I can see the potential for the great novelist he became.

Finally a solution of all these complications throughout the book. It was dark and horrible to read what Manston did and confessed. I also found him an awful type of person. Miss Aldclyffe not so much, as it was sad for her to have to give her child away and not marry her love. Her intrigues later on were not okay, though I can understand part of her motives.
On the whole I like Hardy´s later novels better, as this one was such a sensational story even with a dark crime. His descriptions though are already a sign for his later work´s wonderful settings.

Thanks to you Pyangie for leading this discussion and to those participating!

I agree with Pyangie that these last few chapters were very exciting. And I think that Hardy was adept at creating three-dimensional characters.

I really enjoyed this book and it was fun to read it in sections with others. It took me awhile at the beginning to get used to his writing which didn't seem to flow easily. But it turned out to be a real page-turner.

Thanks, Pyangie!

The story is certainly flawed, but I agree with Nancy and Michaela that the novel shows the potential of the great writer Hardy was to become.

Melanie wrote: "I agree with Pyangie that these last few chapters were very exciting. And I think that Hardy was adept at creating three-dimensional characters.

I really enjoyed this book and it was fun to read ..."

I'm glad you enjoyed the novel, Melanie. I did too.

Thanks for the words of appreciation, Michaela and Melanie. I'm afraid I couldn't do a proper job like in previous times. I was struggling with my assignment submissions for my MA, so I wasn't available as much as I ought to.

What a sensational (in every sense of the word) ending! Murder, deceit, a police chase, a terrifying housebreaking/attempted assault, an illegitimate child, a ghost, love lost and found-it had it all. Perhaps it was a bit much, but quite an exciting read nonetheless.

Also a lovely ending, the recreation by Edward and Cytherea of their courting in a more innocent time, tempered by being witnessed by a newspaper reporter, so there is likely a bit of notoriety to come.

I also enjoyed the little bell-ringing episode-I believe Hardy was some sort of church musician or involved in some way in church music, or at least it often plays a role in his novels.

Thanks Piyangie for this suggestion and your moderation-much enjoyed and appreciated.

My feelings about the novel weren’t quite the same as most of you. Yes, there was breathless excitement in the final chapters but for me it was more in the realms of a ‘trashy thriller� than the type of Victorian literature that I enjoy. Apparently ‘trashy thrillers� are in vogue at the moment end even big stars don’t mind signing up to them. Not for me though.

Manston unwound so quickly from his cool imposing persona it was like an explosion inside a grandfather clock, springs breaking everywhere.

There was even a crowd scene at the ‘secret� burial of the body which I thought very novel.

I extended his nick name from ‘Manston the handsome phantom� to ‘Murderous Manston the mad handsome phantom� when he started careering across the countryside in various disguises towards Cytherea’s.

Of course it had to be Edward who spotted him in his country yokel smock so that he could rescue Cytherea from her murderous husband. But not before there was a Buster Keaton style chase over and under Cytherea’s kitchen table, worthy of a Cecil B. DeMille silent movie. Yes, despite Cytherea’s horrible predicament, it made me laugh.

I have some questions about the plot.
1. How did Edward find out about Anne Seaway?
2. Shouldn’t Manston’s mum have been arrested at the burial scene for aiding and abetting a criminal?
3. Wasn’t it just as shameful for Edward to marry the wife of a murderer?
4. Would Cytherea have really wanted to come back to live next door to where Manston first terrorised her? With her predisposition for the supernatural (ie those deaths of Miss Aldclyffe and her father), even with Edward beside her I can’t see her resting easily at night.

As Piyangie mentioned it was a novel with plenty of flaws it but did have some exquisite moments. I much preferred the poetic descriptions, particularly of nature, to the plot which became overblown and sometimes slightly silly in places. There is no doubt in my mind that his later novels are better even if they are darker. Nevertheless, I am glad I read it as I was able to compare it with his next two novels Under the Greenwood Tree and A Pair of Blue Eyes which I really enjoyed.

I read this novel in almost one go at the beginning of the group read, as I often do. With many group reads, I then return to read the book again at 'group speed'. With this novel, I found I had no interest in doing so. - So my impressions are from some distance already.

The book kept me asking 'why that now?' and 'wait, what came first?' and 'who knew what when?' over and over. But that did not puzzle me enough to re-read it, although I may already have forgotten half of it. It was just not compelling enough. I do remember the scene where no fewer than 4 persons creep through the night in pursuit of each other ... for me, that was the deliciously ridiculous climax of an overly convoluted plot. Otherwise, I feel that neither characters nor story are particularly memorable.

Trev, thanks for making me laugh at some of the more dramatic scenes. You’re right that the drama can be looked at as camp if viewed in another way. I still enjoyed the book, but you certainly are right too!

As he did here with Manston killing Eunice, later on in his novels Hardy again used the shock of a "dead" person returning to incite a sudden murder, when Boldwood murders Troy at the Christmas Eve party in Far From the Madding Crowd.

Melanie wrote: " I really enjoyed this book and it was fun to read ..."

Melanie, you are stepping into a treasure-trove of wonderful books if you continue on with Thomas Hardy.

Brian, yes, I agree! A friend recommended Two on a Tower so I plan to read that next. Last year I enjoyed The Hand of Ethelberta, and read Far From the Madding Crowd and Tess of the D'Urbervilles long ago.

Yes, Two on a Tower is among my favorites. I also especially like The Woodlanders, FFTMC & The Mayor of Casterbridge.

Agree with Trev (great comment). And I too had many of these questions!

Ending was very exciting, but this book was less deep and more sloppily executed than later works. Still glad I read it.