Daphne du Maurier’s Novels: Ranked

Daphne du Maurier’s novels are moody, haunting, and psychologically suspenseful – making them perfect for autumn reading. So, while thinking about her novels recently, I came up with this ranking of her books. This list reflects my personal preferences and only includes those novels I have read so far – seven in total, excluding her short-stories. My Cousin Rachel [1951] “People who mattered could not take the humdrum world. But this was not the world, it was enchantment; and all of it was mine” [Daphne du Maurier, Virago Press, 1951/2003: 117]. It must be jarring not to see Rebecca in the first place, but I have my reasons. My Cousin Rachel finds du Maurier at the peak of her narrative powers. It is a dazzling story of relentless obsession, torments of youth, and endless questioning. I love it the most because it is so nuanced, clever, mysterious and psychologically-intriguing. In the story, Philip Ashley finds himself smitten with the wife of his older cousin, Ambrose, who passed away suddenly in Italy. Rachel presents herself as a woman of much beauty and sophistication, but awestruck Philip finally begins doubting himself, questioning whether he is not falling into the same tra...