Patsy A. S. (duetproductions) reviewed Through the Wall (Miss Silver, Bk 19) on + 47 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Patricia Wentworth's "Miss Silver" books are the quintessential British cozy mysteries with a touch of romance. Delightful reading!
I have 14 of the Miss Silver mysteries and I find them entertaining and informative. It is fun to try and figure out the differences in language and to realize how much the world has changed since she began writing in the 30's. I am a knitter and it is a wonderful sub story to see what she's knitting and how hard it was to find yarn. Wonderful!
Pleasant, easy read
This has become one of my top five Patricia Wentworth Miss Silver mysteries. Its very good- especially when you compare it to the modern cozy, a thoroughly well written and engaging read.
Marion Brand is a lovely young woman who has spent the her 27 years in service to others- taking care of her sister and her lazy husband, working for a pittance, etc. Then, an uncle who she was unaware of due to a family quarrel dies and leaves her half his estate. Within an hour of finding this out, she discovers herself trapped under a train wreck with a stranger- the handsome and famous author Richard Cunningham- they hold hands to keep shock at bay, and rattle on nervously for hours about their lives, giving away intimate details that normally it would take months to disclose to a new acquaintance.
A few weeks later she has moved in to the new family home, sharing half of it with her uncles relations who resent her company, and a few days after this, someone is killed and Marion looks to blame!
What a way to begin a mystery! And thank goodness Richard Cunningham knows right off to contact Miss Silver, to protect Marion and her sister as a house guest in Miss Brand's home, and to get help identify the truth.
Wonderful read. This is a good cozy mystery, and perfect for an autumn read- or anytime one would rather cuddle down with a lovely book. Miss Silver could be compared to Agatha Christie's Miss Marple- save that Miss Silver works as a private detective and is hired to solve mysteries after retiring as a governess. However, they both have the same sharp eyes, ability to draw out their audience into sharing confidences, and penchant for knitting.
Marion Brand is a lovely young woman who has spent the her 27 years in service to others- taking care of her sister and her lazy husband, working for a pittance, etc. Then, an uncle who she was unaware of due to a family quarrel dies and leaves her half his estate. Within an hour of finding this out, she discovers herself trapped under a train wreck with a stranger- the handsome and famous author Richard Cunningham- they hold hands to keep shock at bay, and rattle on nervously for hours about their lives, giving away intimate details that normally it would take months to disclose to a new acquaintance.
A few weeks later she has moved in to the new family home, sharing half of it with her uncles relations who resent her company, and a few days after this, someone is killed and Marion looks to blame!
What a way to begin a mystery! And thank goodness Richard Cunningham knows right off to contact Miss Silver, to protect Marion and her sister as a house guest in Miss Brand's home, and to get help identify the truth.
Wonderful read. This is a good cozy mystery, and perfect for an autumn read- or anytime one would rather cuddle down with a lovely book. Miss Silver could be compared to Agatha Christie's Miss Marple- save that Miss Silver works as a private detective and is hired to solve mysteries after retiring as a governess. However, they both have the same sharp eyes, ability to draw out their audience into sharing confidences, and penchant for knitting.
Red herrings galore, romance and bloody murder.
This is a very fine and expertly woven murder mystery, but... Whoa, MS. Wentworth.... that killer came out of left field.
MISS SILVER INVESTIGATES!
Lying lifeless at the bottom of a jagged cliff Helen Adrian made a ghastly site...Who would want to murder such an enchanting creature?
The authorities were lucky indeed that Maud Silver was there to help...a superb mystery in the Great British Tradition.
Lying lifeless at the bottom of a jagged cliff Helen Adrian made a ghastly site...Who would want to murder such an enchanting creature?
The authorities were lucky indeed that Maud Silver was there to help...a superb mystery in the Great British Tradition.
Andrew B. (armchairexplorer) reviewed Through the Wall (Miss Silver, Bk 19) on + 44 more book reviews
A Miss Silver Mystery.
From the back of the book:
Marion Brand is a young woman of modest means who through hard work has managed to support her frail sister and shiftless brother-in-law. It is a stroke of luck when she unexpectedly inherits a large fortune from her unknown uncle, Martin Brand. She soon leans that he has bypassed his other, closer relatives in her favor.
Marion moves into the seaside family home with her newfound relations. They are a scheming group who sorely resent her presence: Felix, a temperamental concert pianist; two elderly sisters, Miss Cassy Remington and Mrs. Florence Brand; and young Penny Halliday, a cousin. Shortly after Marion's arrival a murder is committed and all the evidence points to her. But the disbelieving police call on Miss Silver to observe the household discreetly from within and, if she can, to solve the riddle of who is actually responsible for the killing before anyone else comes to harm.
Marion Brand is a young woman of modest means who through hard work has managed to support her frail sister and shiftless brother-in-law. It is a stroke of luck when she unexpectedly inherits a large fortune from her unknown uncle, Martin Brand. She soon leans that he has bypassed his other, closer relatives in her favor.
Marion moves into the seaside family home with her newfound relations. They are a scheming group who sorely resent her presence: Felix, a temperamental concert pianist; two elderly sisters, Miss Cassy Remington and Mrs. Florence Brand; and young Penny Halliday, a cousin. Shortly after Marion's arrival a murder is committed and all the evidence points to her. But the disbelieving police call on Miss Silver to observe the household discreetly from within and, if she can, to solve the riddle of who is actually responsible for the killing before anyone else comes to harm.
