Rating: Loved It!
Source: Purchased
Description: When James Lessiter returns to Lenton after many years to claim his family estate, his reappearance opens old wounds never healed. Then he is found bludgeoned to death by a fire poker and the suspects are too numerous to count. Thank heavens Miss Silver is in town to visit a friend.
Genre: Mystery - Classic
My Impression: Wentworth excels at writing thoroughly detestable characters and James Lessiter is pretty much at the top of the list. He's angry and spiteful and pure meanness all hidden behind a façade of smooth businesslike politeness. He has a genius for detecting weakness and a total disregard for the wellbeing of those around him. Really the only thing that was surprising about him being murdered is that it took so long for someone to finally kill him.
My Impression: Wentworth excels at writing thoroughly detestable characters and James Lessiter is pretty much at the top of the list. He's angry and spiteful and pure meanness all hidden behind a façade of smooth businesslike politeness. He has a genius for detecting weakness and a total disregard for the wellbeing of those around him. Really the only thing that was surprising about him being murdered is that it took so long for someone to finally kill him.
As with most mysteries when the victim is not the nicest suspects abound. Basically everyone who ever came into contact with Lessiter wanted to kill him but Rietta Cray and her nephew Carr Robertson have the strongest motive and opportunity - or so it seems. Luckily for them, Miss Silver is visiting an old school friend who happens to live right next door. And Miss Silver's old pupil Rietta's old friend Chief Constable Randall March is brought into the investigation.
As the investigation gains traction more and more people hold clues and have motives until finally Miss Silver steps in to clear things up. Miss Silver is a bit behind the scenes but she is involved from the very beginning which I very much enjoyed. As well I liked seeing her with an old school friend and getting to know her on a somewhat more personal level. I really enjoyed this one and it is one of the books that reminds me just why I love Wentworth and Miss Silver.
Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Definitely! I've got the next Miss Silver book ready to read.
Would I Recommend this Book? If you enjoy Miss Marple you should definitely give Miss Silver a try.
Would I Recommend this Book? If you enjoy Miss Marple you should definitely give Miss Silver a try.
I should see if I can find this series for my sister-in-law who loves Agatha.
ReplyDeleteI've never tried this author but, your excellent review makes me so curious. Glad you loved it.
ReplyDeleteI’ve had Patricia Wentworth on my list for ages so maybe I need to make the effort to tackle her extensive works this upcoming year. Do you have any reading goals planned?
ReplyDeleteI’m doing the nonfiction with Shelleyrae & probably the historical fiction challenge.
I almost feel sorry for whoever killed James and put him out of his and other people's misery!
ReplyDeleteI love Miss Marple, so this series needs to be on my list!
ReplyDeleteI think I saw that my library had this series. I have to make time for it.
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