Review of "Bath Tangle" by Georgette Heyer

I have read at least 20 books by Georgette Heyer, and for the most part have enjoyed them all. But this was by far the most frustrating book of all. It seems obvious to the reader from the very beginning who should end up with who. The whole book is like trying to untangle a necklace: if you don't manage to get the knot out on the first few tries, it begins to get more and more complicated. The book starts complicated, and by the middle it's such a huge knot, it seems impossible that there is a solution that will end without someone being made miserable or completely ruined.

Rotherham and Serena were engaged to one another before the book even takes place. But remain close friends due to close family connections, even after Serena breaks it off because "they don't deal well together." The reason for this is they both have hot tempers and domineering personalities, and have a tendency to argue every time they see one another. They both despise weakness, in either resolution or physical ability. In the book they each carry on serious love affairs apart from one another, and it's clear to the reader that neither would ever be happy with these significant others. Serena's Major allows her to trample all over her, and treats her like a goddess. He believes she can do no wrong, he is obsessed with an image, a creation of his mind. And Rotherham's Emily is a silly baby, blinded by wealth and splendor who lives in absolute fear of him. Fanny, Serena's step-mother, says of Rotherham and Emily "that no two persons could be less suited." Both these relationships are obviously unhealthy and neither one has the potential for a truly respectful and mutually happy, honest marriage.

I will not go on from there, because it would spoil the ending, but I will say the tangle is a very bad one, involving secret loves, elopements, and reckless engagements. I was shocked Heyer was able to untangle this mess in a satisfactory way in less than two chapters. The ending, though not a complete shock, surprised me. I was unable to anticipate every plot twist. The plot, though at times seemed a little unbelievable, was well thought out. The characters each held strong personality traits, but they did seem a little one dimensional at times. I think that the strange thing about this book was there wasn't one character whose mind we entered often. In the other Heyer books I have read, it usually focuses on the one character's thoughts, but this one skipped about, so I came away feeling as though I didn't know all the characters as well as I should. Despite these minor setbacks, the book was still well written, and a fun read. I love Heyer now more than the first time I picked up Arabella.