Reviews for Golden Collar

The average rating for Golden Collar based on 2 reviews is 5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2020-05-19 00:00:00 Christian Knoche I have had this book on my shelf for awhile and have finally gotten around to reading it, as it's a quiet day, with the gentle sounds of a nice Springtime rain falling, perfect weather for a cozy Cadell book! I enjoyed following Henry on his journey as he visits and falls in love with the Algarve region of Portugal, escapes from some bad relationships and connections, and finds true love. The descriptions of coastal rural Portugal are very lovely, so that you can almost smell the pine trees and sea air, and so that you find yourself slowing down and relaxing inside, more attune to a slower and gentler way of life. It's always fun to meet the characters, both nice and irascable, in a Cadell book, and this book's characters are no exception. I especially like the crusty but kind Lady Pearling! An enjoyable story...

Review # 2 was written on 2020-09-22 00:00:00 Justin Rodriguez Henry Eliot is a young Englishman who was raised in Brazil and trained as an architect. He works for a wealthy and powerful man and is engaged to marry the boss’s daughter. He has it made, right? But from the very start it’s clear that all is not as it seems. His boss is a petulant despot, and in the deftest way the narrator makes it clear that Henry can barely stand his fiancée. The boss has been trying to buy a property in Portugal as a wedding gift for his daughter, but the negotiations are not going well. Because Henry is fluent in Portuguese, he is sent to close the deal. And so we find ourselves in an Elizabeth Cadell sweet spot, a glamorous, exotic locale where the main character can find transformation. Henry is a classic Cadell protagonist—self-made, self-contained, underestimated by others but not quite ready to break free. It’s a good formula for generating sympathy in the reader, and I was on Team Henry from quite early in the game. His journey is a particularly enjoyable one, as he encounters a variety of English expats on the rude-and-vulgar spectrum, some quaintly soulful Portuguese for whom he develops an instant affection, and a series of plausible plot complications. I will always give high marks to a well-constructed story that is told well, so although the subject matter and intellectual ambitions of this book may have merited a lower rating, within the domain of what the author was trying to achieve, I could not find a flaw. For a story published in the 1960s, it was only minimally dated, and I enjoyed it thoroughly.