L. R. (twinkiestwice) reviewed on 10/24/2008 + 6 more book reviews

Miss Silver is visiting an old school chum whose small village certainly doesn't lack in local gossip- the villages matriarch has died and left the estate to her estranged son, who left the village 20 years before. The now wealthy James Lessiter hasn't only returned to claim the dwindling estate, but also to seek revenge upon the woman he blames for breaking up the engagement twenty years prior to the beautiful but austere Rieta Cray. Local gossips wonder if James will try to renew his prior love interest with Rietta, and Rietta's friend Catherine tries to force them together. Mr. Lessiter enjoys cruelty, and is having great fun taunting Catherine with the threat of prison for embezzling from his mothers estate. To make matters worse, Rietta's nephew- whom she has raised since he as a toddler- Carr Robertson, discovers that James Lessiter was the older wealthy gentleman who lured his wife away and who he inevitably blamed for her death. When Lessiter is found murdered, there is no end to the suspects who would have benefited from his death, and Miss Silver's own dear Randall March- a former favorite pupil- approaches her to attempt to narrow down suspects as well as hopefully clear his friend who he has developed strong feelings toward.

As always, Miss Silver manages to convey the sort of understanding mixed with authority that entices even strangers to trust her with their most personal confidences. A characteristic that allows her privy to information the local constables usually find unavailable to them in situations involving murder. A very engaging book. Miss Silver is there right from the start, meeting people and involved in the towns current events. I was not able to predict the murderer, and enjoyed all the background information on the locals, as well as the background on Randall March's wife of the later books.

I particularly enjoyed the romantic aspect of this book. So many of Wentworth's romances in the Miss Silver mysteries involve 20 somethings. It was nice to see a developing romance between 40 somethings for a change, too. Both Rietta and Carr broke off engagements several years prior (but for different reasons) and find themselves back in the company of those they had saught to leave behind. They will find closure in Lessiter's death, and perhaps a romantic happy ending, too.

Back to all reviews by this member
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details