Source: Purchased
Description: When 17-year-old orphan Jenny Hill discovers that she is the rightful owner of the Alington estate, she searches for the paperwork to prove it. When Jenny overhears her relatives plotting against her, she flees. It will take all of Miss Silver's wiles to cut this familial knot without getting hopelessly ensnared.
Genre: Mystery - Classic
My Impression: This was just a delight! When Jenny Hill's guardian dies after a terrible accident she learns that she might not be Jenny Hill at all but instead Jenny Forbes. And if she is Jenny Forbes that means she is the legitimate heir to the manor house and all that entails.
While the book centers around Jenny's story she feels like more of a main character. Miss Silver comes in to help a young man who has been arrested and who's conviction seems certain. From that point on Jenny becomes more of a side character while the young man's guilt or innocence is sorted out. The structure of this book is a bit different. Not only does the main character basically shift as the book progresses but the reader knows the who and the why from the time of the murder but we just have to wait to see how Miss Silver can prove it.
What kept this book from being a 5 star book for me are two things. The first is the fact that Jenny is 17. She's supposed to be young but 17 seems a bit too young. My other issue is the huge coincidence that throws Jenny into the path of Richard Forbes and his aunt. These were really two fairly minor points that didn't keep me from enjoying the book but just kept it from being a perfect read.
Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Of course! I only have one more Miss Silver book and I'll be sorry to come to the end though luckily I still have some Patricia Wentworth books left to read.
Would I Recommend this Book? I would definitely recommend this author - especially if you are a fan of Miss Marple.
Would I Recommend this Book? I would definitely recommend this author - especially if you are a fan of Miss Marple.
That's interesting how the main character seems different as the story moves along
ReplyDeleteSounds good with two minor flaws that I think have merit, especially Jenny walking into the path of the aunt and Richard Forbes.
ReplyDeleteSounds really good.
ReplyDeleteOne of these days, I am going to pick up one of these classic mysteries.
ReplyDeleteI love the cover. ❤
ReplyDelete