My Cousin RachelMy Cousin Rachel
Score Classic
What it's about
Orphaned young, Philip Ashley is raised by his older cousin Ambrose on a grand Cornish estate. When Ambrose travels to Florence, he marries a mysterious distant cousin, Rachel, and then dies, after letters hinting at suspicion. When Rachel arrives in Cornwall, Philip is determined to hate her, and finds himself falling under her spell.
Why it's worth reading
It spent 8 weeks at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and was one of the ten best-selling books of 1952. It's one of Daphne du Maurier's most gripping novels.
You'll love it if you liked
Rebecca
Jane Eyre
The Woman in WhiteGood to know
Its central question, whether Rachel is guilty, is never fully answered.
By the numbers
- Readers59 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller56 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
Dark, Gripping, Moving
More by Daphne du Maurier
Rebecca
The Scapegoat
Frenchman's Creek
The House on the StrandIf you like this, read next
An American Tragedy
Perfume
The Postman Always Rings Twice
The Bottoms
Scruples
Bel CantoExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is My Cousin Rachel worth reading?
Yes. It spent 8 weeks at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and was one of the ten best-selling books of 1952. It ranks #1,188 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 71.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is My Cousin Rachel about?
Orphaned young, Philip Ashley is raised by his older cousin Ambrose on a grand Cornish estate. When Ambrose travels to Florence, he marries a mysterious distant cousin, Rachel, and then dies, after letters hinting at suspicion. When Rachel arrives in Cornwall, Philip is determined to hate her, and finds himself falling under her spell.
How long does it take to read My Cousin Rachel?
About 7 hours (279 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after My Cousin Rachel?
If you liked it, try Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë or The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins.