I’ve got a passion for romantic suspense novels written in the 1960s. Mary Stewart, of course, is a name that should be instantly recognized by most, even more modern readers thanks to the recently released versions of her novels. But another name that you might only recognize from used bookstore shelves or thrift stores is Phyllis A. Whitney.  

I came across a copy of Window on the Square, which was first published 1962, and I’ve spent several enjoyable rainy afternoons curled up reading it. After I had finished reading this suspenseful tale of a girl who comes into a house in the late 1800s to help a troubled child only to learn that murder and mystery cloud the house, I decided to look Phyllis A. Whitney up on the web.  

Ms. Whitney was born September 9, 1903 and died this past February 8, 2008; she was 104 years old when she passed away after a brief illness. Her writing career lasted for over 65 years in which she completed over 75 novels as well more than 100 short stories.  

My first Phyllis A. Whitney romantic suspense was Mystery on the Isle of Skye, first published in 1955. As with so many first novels I had someone introduce me to this one. My grandfather had sent my mom a few boxes from her and my aunt’s childhood and these boxes contained the most wonderful things — memories in the shapes of books and records, old diaries and newspaper clippings. In one of the boxes was Mystery on the Isle of Skye, which I scooped up and tucked under my arm.  

That night, curled up with my aunt’s well-loved copy, a spring thunderstorm knocked out our power. I was so intent on continuing with the story that I first went through two flashlights, a handful of batteries, and eventually candles that smoked and threw curling shadows across the pages. I have to admit that it added to the suspense and I didn’t stop reading until I had turned the last page. That was years ago and Ms. Whitney’s novels still have the power to affect me that way, with or without the candlelight.   

I was sad at first that I hadn’t heard anything of Ms. Whitney’s passing but while there won’t be any new romantic suspense novels from the “Queen of the American Gothics” there are still so many left to enjoy.  I think I’ll go out hunting to see what I can find crammed in the corners of my favorite used books stores and I’ll have to light some candles. I can’t think of any better way to remember a favorite author who brought so much to a genre.