Pryde's Rock

by Malcolm Archibald

A young man's search for the truth . . .Northumberland, 1803: Matthew Pryde, a young engineer, is sent to a small coastal village to persuade the local landowner that a lighthouse must be built to prevent the high number of fatal shipwrecks that occur there. Finding himself suddenly on a personal search to discover more about his own mysterious childhood, Matthew finds himself attracted to the beautiful Grace Fenwick, but the consequences mean that...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0727864599
• ISBN13: 9780727864598
• Release Date: March 2007
• Publisher: Severn House
• Length: 247 Pages
• Weight: 0.96 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.8" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

I couldn't stop listening!

Orphan Matthew Pryde grew up unhappy and abused in a boarding school in London. His school and expenses are paid for by a mysterious benefactor. Subjected to gruesome treatment at the hands of the other students, Matthew endures to realize his dream of becoming an engineer. Later, he travels to a remote English town to build a lighthouse. Suprisingly, the villagers are against the lighthouse's construction- mostly because they profit from salvage caused by wrecks which crash against a large, partially submerged rock called the Black Corbie. As Matthew struggles with his difficult commission he meets a mysterious girl whom he develops a bond. Will Matthew succeed in discovering his truth about his origins and build the lighthouse? Or will he be broken by the cruelty and the conspiracy in the village? I really enjoyed this novel and the narration was excellent! The story was gripping, and Matthew was a hero you could root for. I really felt bad for him at the boarding school. His treatment (and that inflicted on the other boys was terrible), the characters of Lady Fenthick and her Daughter Grace were also quite interesting. I enjoyed this book at start to finish... Although the big 'reveal' wasn't that surprising, I could've hoped it had been a bit more positive. I kind of wished Matthew had a bit more vindication and that those who tormented him suffered a bit more....They were cruel and deserved it. The antagonists in this novel were so remorseless. I also thought the arrival of the shopkeeper's daughter towards the end was a bit too cutesy, but it worked out well. I really hope their is a sequel. I'd like to find out what happens to Matt, Lady Fenthick and her Daughter. If not a sequel...An epilogue would be greatly appreciated. 5 stars.