Although Cirak's Daughter is by no means a simple novel to be read merely for the plot, it is a very exciting and suspenseful mystery story. As Jenny attempts to interpret the scant evidence she has concerning her father's death and the nature of the people who knew him in Meldrum, the reader is piqued, misled, aroused, and gratified along with her. The author maintains Jenny's point of view on the various characters and situations that arise during her adventure, even though the narrative is not told in the first person.

The style is lively, both in dialogue and exposition. The dialogue is skillfully associated with the speaker. Jenny, for example, talks with youthful energy and verve, while Marguerite Firbelle speaks slowly and carefully, with an effort at dignity. The poor cousin Beth speaks in a self-effacing and whining tone. The exposition is also vivid, enlivened...