Becky C. (meadowildflower) reviewed Henrietta Who? (Inspector Sloan, Bk 2) on + 13 more book reviews
I need a nice uncomplicated procedural right now and this is filling the bill quiet well. A young girl finds after her mother is killed in a hit and run that the lady is not her mother after all. Has never had a child. Detective Sloan has to find out who they are before he can solve the mystery.
Ron K. (WhidbeyIslander) -
A very satisfying read -- well written, interesting and with good characters (although Henrietta herself can get a little tiresome.) Well constructed and yes, there is a clue you won't recognize until the detective points it out at the end.
Very old fashioned murder mystery, which I enjoy more for a glimpse into British life in the 60s than for the writing style or the challenge of the mystery. While we might think that the Swinging 60s wrought an instant transformation on the British Isles, Aird makes it clear from the setting and context of her murders, and the attitudes of her characters, that change took time to percolate through to places like the little market towns of the fictional "Calleshire" (her version of Midsomer, for cozy mystery fans).
This is probably my favourite of the four Inspector Sloan novels I've read, so far, because of the attitudes to adoption that it reveals as being the norm not so long ago. Most characters -- including Henrietta herself -- find it almost impossible to think of the woman who raised her from infancy as Henrietta's "mother," once it's revealed that she didn't give birth to the child. Once again, Sloan himself is refreshingly modern in his attitudes, while being satisfyingly prickly and a bit flawed.
The mystery is more satisfying because here, the issue is more "why" than "who."
This is probably my favourite of the four Inspector Sloan novels I've read, so far, because of the attitudes to adoption that it reveals as being the norm not so long ago. Most characters -- including Henrietta herself -- find it almost impossible to think of the woman who raised her from infancy as Henrietta's "mother," once it's revealed that she didn't give birth to the child. Once again, Sloan himself is refreshingly modern in his attitudes, while being satisfyingly prickly and a bit flawed.
The mystery is more satisfying because here, the issue is more "why" than "who."
British Mystery
When Grace Jenkins is run down in the lane, Henrietta, who has been raised as her daughter, finds herself without parents (or even last name). The New York Times named this one of the best books of the year it was printed, and for good reason.
There are lots of red herrings and droll humor throughout. It is a priceless Catherine Aird who-done-it.
There are lots of red herrings and droll humor throughout. It is a priceless Catherine Aird who-done-it.
