"Mistress of Mellyn" was a clever weaving of elements from earlier Gothic novels such as "Jane Eyre (1847)", "The Woman in White (1859)", and "Rebecca (1938)". Its setting in Cornwall made the resemblance to "Rebecca (1938)" so remarkable that it was speculated that "Victoria Holt" was a pseudonym for Daphne du Maurier. After six Victoria Holt novels were published over eight years, it was revealed that Hibbert was the author. Hibbert wrote a further 31 novels as Victoria Holt, primarily portraying fictitious characters set against an authentic period background, usually of the late 19th century. The last Victoria Holt novel, "The Black Opal", was published after her death.