Elements of a bad Gothic

[Penfeather]

After having read some "duds" as I call them, I thought it might be good for others to know why I rate some books poorly.  I'm sure everyone has their own ideas about what makes for a good book vs a bad one, so I would also appreciate feedback from others.  This helps me to understand why some readers like one book and give it a thumbs up while others may give it a thumbs down.

Here are my elements of a bad Gothic:
1. third-grade reading level
2. 2-D characters
3. heroine falls in love with hero within the first 10 pages
4. loose ends not tied up
5. melodrama
6. poor dialogue
7. inconsistencies - the author forgot events in their own book
8. no suspense, no sense of danger
9. no logic

There may be more and I will have to add to this list as they come up.

This might be covered under (2) and (9) already, but I detest a "TSTL" (Too Stupid To Live) heroine.  "What's that noise down in the cellar? I think I'll go investigate by myself, in the middle of the night, alone, without telling anyone where I am.  Oh, no! The trap door has been slammed shut, locking me in! Whatever shall I do?"

Another pet peeve: Deus ex machina.  The heroine is cornered by the villain, and is saved not by her own wits or strengths but by the hero/police/fortune accident at the last moment.  This device is especially infuriating if the heroine faints/swoons and is brought around with brandy/smelling salts/forehead cloth.