Latter End - Classic Mystery Review

Goodreads:  Latter End (Miss Silver #11) by Patricia Wentworth

Rating:  Loved It!
Source:  Purchased

Description:  Things had never been quite the same at Latter End since Lois had taken over. Suddenly life seemed to be an endless succession of bitter family rows - which Lois invariably won. When she is murdered, it is up to Miss Silver to discover her killer.

Genre:  Mystery - Classic

Why I Picked This Book:  I'm reading the Miss Silver books in order this year and this was the next one on the list.

My Impression:  This was a delightful surprise because within a few pages I realized I hadn't read this before!  Wentworth wrote a number of unlikable relatives being murdered during house party books and I had gotten this confused with another book.  As well, Lois Latter may just be the most unlikable unlikable relative Wentworth has ever written as well as being one of the most villainy villains I've yet to come across.  It's not amazing that she ends up being murdered.  What is amazing is that she lasted as long as she did without someone being pushed past the breaking point and taking her out.  

When the story begins the majority of the characters are under a great deal of strain and is very obvious that something is going to have to give and soon.  A lot of the action takes place off screen and the reader learns of it as Julia Vane is reporting to Antony Latter who fled the tense house and went back to London.   Miss Silver is front and center in the investigation which I am pleased about but she doesn't really become one of the household which is her usual habit.  She is there in a professional capacity and that is very very clear.  I enjoyed seeing her in a role that is a bit more straightforward then her usual knitting and conversation interrogations.  As well, I will never not love Chief Inspector Lamb's reaction to her and his subordinate Frank Abbot's (whose rank I can never remember) obvious glee and fondness for Miss Silver.

This was a delightful read that's a little different from the usual Miss Silver book.  While this is the 11th book in the series it can be read in any order.  There is occasionally a character from a past book mentioned but it's in the most background kind of way.   Really it's normally just Miss Silver knitting something for their offspring or an offhand mention of the character giving another character a glowing recommendation for Miss Silver.  
 
Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Absolutely!  Miss Silver is one of my absolute favorite fictional detectives and I've got quite a few left to read!

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you enjoy Miss Marple you really must read Miss Silver though I do not recommend the first book.