Summary

My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier is, at its heart, a gothic murder mystery. The story centers on Philip, a young man who was raised by his older cousin Ambrose. Ambrose is a life-long bachelor until he travels to Italy and there marries a woman named Rachel. When Ambrose falls ill and dies in Italy, Philip is left wondering if Rachel somehow had a hand in his death.

Chapter 1: Philip recalls being a young boy and seeing the body of a man who was hung. Ambrose was with him. The man had been hung for killing his wife. Ambrose says that men cannot go around killing women for having sharp tongues or they would all be murderers. Philip puts on a brave face for Ambrose, but gets sick as Ambrose walks away. He then throws a stone at the body and follows...