The Toll-Gate (Regency Romances)

Other reviewers will do full justice to Georgette Heyer's charming books. Many of us are happy to have found a source for her writing once again. BUT! I bought "Toll Gate" via Kindle for $1.99 Nov. 2011. I bought other Heyer books at the same price afterward, or at very similar prices. Now the store's Kindle is indulging in price gouging now that they've caught onto the fact that this author is a winner. I'm returning to buying used physical copies and not handing the store and Kindle some $8. or more for convenience.

I purchased this for the Kindle and read it right away. When wondering which of her books I wanted to hear narrated, I chose this one precisely because of the enchanting cant that Georgette uses throughout. I was not disappointed with Daniel Hill's narration of it. He did an excellent job and made it all sound as if he was used to using those expressions every day of his life. He really made it all come to life.

This story is a little different from Georgette's other stories and that is NOT a bad thing, for this story is wonderful. I have devoured every one of her books that I could get my hands on (not easy where I live) since I was about 12 years old. This one ranks right up there as being one of her better ones. Although in my opinion she never wrote a dry or boring story, there are some of her stories that tend to blur together and it is hard to keep them apart. That is because they are so similar. This one stands out on its own merit as one you would definitely want to read aloud to your children as a bedtime story, or just sit by the fire on a rainy day and read to yourself. Or in this case, have it read to you by Daniel Hill. Wonderful.

At 29, Captain John Staple is the heir-presumptive to Earldom but prefers an adventurous life. After his mother and sister unsuccessfully introduce him to a few eligible ladies, he decides to journey to Leicestershire to his friend's estate. On his way he ends help at a toll-gate run by a scared boy, Ben. Captain Staple notices Ben's father is missing and decideds to stay until he returns. He meets Miss Nell Stornaway and realizes there is a mystery surrounding her cousin and his unwelcomed friend staying with her.

Not one of her best books, but the characters and mystery kept me engaged. The romance doesn't evolve over time but is love at first sight. The setting is unique and Heyer gives an interesting persceptive into the life one leads while working in a toll-gate. I found the slang a little difficult to understand at times but it is a book I would again and again.

Clean romance. Would recommend this to Regency fans who enjoy a little bit of mystery.

Set in the Regency period, the main character is Captain John Staple who has returned from the Napoleonic conflicts and is somewhat bored with society living in the country. He leaves to visit a friend, but takes a wrong turn and ends up at a toll-gate in the dark. He is surprised to see the gate manned by a frightened young boy. Intrigued, wet, and tired, Captain Jack stops to investigate and finds that the boy's father asked him to watch the gate while he left for an hour or two, but he has been gone far longer. The Captain takes on the role as gate keeper as he investigates. He meets Lady Nell as she traverses the gate on her way to church, and she sparks a romantic interest in him. Nell is smart and very tall, and did not do well in her Season or at Bath, receiving no marriage proposals. She lives with her grandfather, the local squire, whose health is poor, and is worried what will happen to her upon his death. Along the way of his investigation, the Captain meets a likeable highwayman who has his heart set on Nell's maid, Rose, the squire and his grandson, Henry (Nell's cousin), and Henry's unsavory friend, Nathaniel. The village is abuzz with his possible identity, and is convinced that he is courting Nell incognito. Jack uncovers a cunning plot and must use his wits and brawn to solve the case and save the day. This Regency novel is more in her mystery/adventure style rather than a romance/comedy of manners.

Compared to the usual highly successful formulae Heyer employed in her dozens of Regency romances, this one is something of a departure in several ways. Capt. Jack Staple, age twenty-nine in 1816, is definitely a gentleman (he's the cousin and temporary heir to an earl, in fact) but he doesn't behave in any way like an aristocrat. He's a soldier, a now-retired dragoon who sold out his commission after Napoleon was packed off to St. Helena, being unable to face the boredom of life in the peacetime army. Jack's problem is a need for adventure. He's likely to wander off and involve himself in any matter that takes his fancy, if it seems likely to amuse him or interest him for awhile -- especially if there's an element of danger. His friends sometimes despair of him, but he's also a very large man, and very well able to look after himself, so there's not much they can do about it.

So, Jack is returning to his home in Hertfordshire from a family visit in the north and he's crossing the moor in horseback with only a saddlebag for his gear, when severe weather at night causes him to seek shelter at an isolated toll-house on a back-country turnpike. The young boy left in charge is terrified for some reason, and Jack decides to spend the night, expecting the toll-collector, who is the boy's father, to return by morning. But, of course, he doesn't. And the more stories he hears from locals paying their toll, the more Jack begins to wonder what's going on -- because something certainly is. Then he meets Miss Nell Stornaway, an uncommonly tall young woman (but just the right size for Capt. Jack) whose invalid grandfather is the local squire. And boy, does she have problems!

While there is, of course, a strong romantic element, the story really is more of a mystery yarn, involving mysterious strangers, government gold, limestone caverns, highwaymen, and the Bow Street Runners. And justice isn't necessarily what the law says it ought to be. Jack Staple is one of Heyer's more engaging characters, as is the "bridle-cull" who would rather be a farmer. The only problem, really, is one that turns up in many of Heyer's period novels, but is rather more serious here, and that's the sometimes impenetrable lower-class slang and thieves' cant. Young bloods in all her books adopt this jargon (just as the younger generation always has had a secret language), but because many of the supporting cast this time are actually working people, there's a great deal more of it. The inexperienced reader will have to pay close attention -- but the effort is very much worth it.

Captain Jack Staple is a great character, one of my favorite Heyer creations. He is absurd, and yet completely endearing, and it makes the reader really want the best for him. His readiness to mix with memebers of lower social classes than himself is a remarkable atribute considering the time period. The other characters in this novel are also really well-written, and provide great comic value during the course of the adventure.
One thing that is different about this particular Heyer regency is that it mostly takes place outside of the inner circle of the Quality. Set close to Sheffield, the reader is truly given the sense of a small peak district community nestled in the hills. Everybody knows everybody else, and the arrival of Captain Jack is big news.
All in all, another great regency romance by Georgette Heyer, all of which are completely different.

For a plot synopsis, see other reviews. I love mystery, and I love romance even more, so I loved this book. Some felt that it was more mystery than romance. I can see this argument, but I was not at all disappointed by the amount of romance in the book.

I agree that the Regency slang can be difficult to follow, but having read many Regency books, I relished the challenge. I felt that the amount of slang was purposeful, given that the hero is taking on the roll of a tollgate attendant as opposed to gentleman.

The UNIQUE hero and heroine are refreshing.

Georgette Heyer's "The Toll Booth" was the historical romance that Christina Dodd says made her want to become a writer. I'm not surprised that she said this. This brilliant Regency novel was a mystery, an historical romance, and one of the most resoundingly funny books that I've ever read.

When you have a thumping chest cold that leaves you prostrate after periodic coughing jags, it's even harder to catch your breath when you are sent into whoops of laughter every time one of her characters lets out with a long string of Regency cant, (slang), mocking the peculiarities of evil men that they would prefer went far away from their otherwise quiet, little town.

Modern slang, even that around WWII, I realized while reading this book, couldn't hold a candle to the many imaginative ways that Regency men of all classes teased and mocked each other -- to show deep friendship, profound disgust, or mere contempt. Where and when did Heyer ever learn how to speak it so wittily? That is just one of the mysteries of which this book was composed.

This is an enjoyable Regency mystery, with a touch of romance, though it's never the primary focus. As per usual, Georgette Heyer does a wonderful job here with characterization. There was a bit more cant here, enough that at times it was difficult to make out what some characters were saying. There were also a few monologues or long narrative descriptions that I skimmed through. And I wasn't thrilled with the hero's actions at the end of the story. All of these things kept this book from being one of my favorites, but it's still good.

STORY BRIEF:
Captain John Staple has just left the military after Napoleon's defeat. He is traveling to see a friend and comes across an unmanned toll-gate. The gatekeeper has disappeared, and his son Ben is alone and frightened. John offers to help and stays the night. The next day Nell is traveling through and needs the gate lifted. For John it is love at first sight. He decides to stay with the boy and be temporary gatekeeper until Ben's father can be found (and to get to know Nell).

Nell's grandfather Sir Peter is close to death. Her parents died earlier. Her cousin Henry has moved in planning to take over when Sir Peter dies. Henry's friend Nat is also staying at the house. There are bad vibes about Nat.

As John talks to Nell and others coming through the gate, he begins investigating and uncovers murder and robbery. He takes some interesting action.

REVIEWER'S OPINION:
I usually don't read mysteries because I prefer strong emotional relationship development. This is mostly mystery, so I was surprised that I enjoyed it. The main draw was John doing interesting things with interesting characters. I was not glued to my seat. It was easy to put down, but it worked well for me as an audiobook. When deciding between 3 and 4 stars, I rounded up to 4 because it had some things I didn't expect.

Nell's role is passively walking on egg shells. Her grandfather is near death. Any stress could kill him, so Nell lies about things to keep him calm. She doesn't do anything to get rid of Henry or Nat who scare her. But I'm not sure what she could have done. She's quiet and doesn't take action about anything. There is no money or provision for her future. The estate is burdened with debt. There is no interesting dialogue between Nell and John. It's really a story about John investigating the mystery and saving the day. He's the strong, smart, action hero.

The narrator Daniel Hill was good - maybe speaking a little too fast once in a while - but maybe not. He's not my favorite, but he was fine.

DATA:
Unabridged audiobook length: 9 ¼ hours. Narrator: Daniel Hill. Swearing language: none that I recall. Sexual content: none. Setting: 1816-1817 England. Book Published: 1954. Genre: historical mystery with a little romance.

Georgette Heyer is noted as a writer of Regency romances (she established the genre) and of murder mysteries. In this book she integrates the two into a seamless whole, producing an mystery that is inseparable from a romance (and which is set during the Regency). This sounds an unlikely juxtaposition, but Heyer pulls it off without a jarring note.
Captain John Staple, at a loose end now that the war against Napoleon is over, stumbles across an anomaly: an unattended tollgate. He takes shelter for the night, and in the morning finds a reason to stay in the area: Miss Stornaway. The two turn out connected, which is not to the Captain's liking, and he finds it necessary to disentangle them before he can let justice take its course.

If you love well-written Regency romances, you can't pass up one of Georgette Heyer's novels. Toll Gate is no exception. Three-dimensional characters, well-written dialogue and a story that is engaging and entertaining.

John Staple finds an unmanned toll gate and decides to spend the night before continuing his journey. He meet Miss Nell Stornaway in the course of his assumed duties and they discover a body.
A hidden murder mystery lurks in THE TOLL GATE, a Regency romance by Georgette Heyer. It has gotten lost from its true colors and deserves to be placed with her excellent mysteries.
Nash Black, author of HAINTS and SINS OF THE FATHERS.

I am an unabashed "Heyer" fan and own almost everything she has ever written but I believe that this is one of her best as far as humor and wit are concerned. These "characters" all grab your heart, make you both laugh and cry ... sometimes all at once! One of my favorites that I have read and re-read many times over. Enjoy!

Classic modern regancy romance with a nice little mystery as well. Georgette Heyer's dedication to dialect in the dialogue is amazing. Reading Heyer is foundational to any dedicated regancy romance reader's repertoire.

This is brilliant- the story is brilliantly told/narrated and the story is great- Daniel Hill is the guy from the BBC comedy show 'Waiting For God'- but this is high drama and he gets the characters every time- and you can't believe its him as he changes from narrator to character- blown away- get it!