The Blackout by Constance and Gwenyth Little

The Blackout

Constance and Gwenyth Little

1951

3/5 stars

Two years ago, Joe Crolliz woke up in a hotel room with amnesia. Now, after seeing a house that tickles his memory, he answers an advertisement to be a companion to the blind owner, Madame Rose.  As he spends time with her and the other residents, his past slowly returns, only to be filled with things he doesn't particularly want to recall.

Though the story was interesting and generally well-plotted, the Blackout lacks the sparkle, charm, and humor that characterizes the novels of the Little sisters.  The various twists and surprises are quite good, however, and the tension buildup was nicely done.  Overall, though, this is a rather forgettable book*, not quite in the same class as most of their earlier works, and, while not a bad mystery, is certainly not one I would recommend to new readers of the authors.

* To let you know just how forgettable, I will admit that I was on page 113 of this 159 page book before I realized that I had read it before.

A Brazen Curiosity by Lynn Messina

A Brazen Curiosity

Lynn Messina 

2018

4/5 stars

It is 1816, and twenty-six-year-old Beatrice Hyde-Clare is a member of an English country house party.  Orphaned twenty years ago, Bea lives with her aunt, uncle, and cousins who, though not actively unkind, never let her forget that she is a poor relation.  Mousey and timid, Bea finds herself tongue-tied and panicky in society, and is still unmarried as a result of her disastrous debut Season some years ago.  However, when she stumbles upon fellow houseguest, the Duke of Kesgrave, standing over a murdered man, Bea finds herself able to converse with the annoying Duke firmly and intelligently as they combine forces to solve the mystery.

This is a charming cozy mystery taking place in Regency society, and is a definite nod to the mistress of Regency novels, Georgette Heyer.  Bea is a delightful character, and it's a pleasure to watch her overcome the trained submissive humility and find the true feisty, confident woman hidden inside.  Her friendship with Kesgrave is tempered by her prejudices against him, and her assumptions about her likability.  As she begins to enjoy his company more and more, the relationship becomes bittersweet to Bea in a most realistic way.  

Messina generally writes well, and has obviously researched the Regency period as she was able to use the cant, describe the clothing, and (except for a few instances) create a credible atmosphere.  The dialogue was often clever and amusing, and the characters, while still stereotypical of a Regency novel, were mostly believable. The mystery itself is interesting with a satisfactory ending, and, despite all the clues being in the open, not easy to solve right away.  

Overall, I enjoyed it from start to finish and am glad I chose to try it despite the negative reviews.  Those who enjoy light historical mysteries will most likely find A Brazen Curiosity charming as well.  I am certainly looking forward to reading more in the series.

A Golden Argosy by Fred M. White

Fred M. White

A Golden Argosy

Fred M. White 

1886  

3/5 stars

Before his death, Eleanor's uncle is influenced by his half-sister to cut Eleanor out of his will and leave all the money to the sister instead.  At his death, however, there is no money to be found.  Later, Eleanor is given a curious letter written by her uncle shortly before his death, which seems to be in code telling her where the money is hidden. With help from a new friend, Eleanor and her husband solve the mystery.

This Victorian melodrama is light on plot and suspense, and hinges entirely on improbable coincidences.  Despite that, it's well-written and compelling, and, as White's first novel (written at the age of 27), shows great promise for the popular and prolific author's later works, which I look forward to exploring.

The Red Thumb Mark by R. Austin Freeman

The Red Thumb Mark 

R. Austin Freeman

(1907)

4/5 stars

A young gentleman, Reuben Hornby, is accused of robbing the safe where his uncle kept valuables for his business.  His thumbprint, made in blood on a memorandum, is found in the safe when the loss is discovered.  When Hornby, professing his innocence, is arrested, he and his distressed family seek help from the medico-legal expert, Dr. Thorndyke.  The case is recounted by Thorndyke's friend and assistant, Dr. Jervis, who watches with admiration as Thorndyke slowly reveals his defense.

The real question of this novel is not so much who is guilty -- that is evident early on -- but how Thorndyke will be able to prove Hornby innocent.  Thorndyke does not share all his facts with Jervis, giving the reader the opportunity to find the solution by piecing together the clues and evidence to the correct conclusion.  

The Red Thumb Mark is well-written, despite the character of Thorndyke being less fleshed-out than that of Jervis, with a strong plot, good conversations, an enjoyable narrator, and a completely satisfying ending.  I'm late discovering Freeman, but I look forward to reading more of the Thorndyke mysteries.

A Keeper by Graham Norton

A Keeper

Graham Norton

2018  

3/5 stars

When Elizabeth returns to her Irish hometown to sort out her deceased mother's effects, she finds letters that lead to secrets she never expected of her mother. 

This is a mostly-well written novel, but the events are too unbelievable and the "surprises" are never quite that. I was hooked in the beginning, but as the improbabilities stacked up and the characters didn't develop, it lost it's emotional appeal and charm. The novel also suffered from a superfluity of "major" events, watering the main story. I wouldn't be tempted to read another book by Norton. 

(A note on the audio book: The author reads it himself and, while not terrible, is not a pleasure to hear with his too-fast speech and less-than-convincing voices.)

Arsène Lupin by Maurice Leblanc and Edgar Jepson

Arsène Lupin
novelized by Edgar Jepson
from a play of the same name by Maurice Leblanc
1909

4/5 stars

first American edition, 1909 
Doubleday, Page & Company

Arsène Lupin is a gentleman thief with a wicked sense of humor, buckets of charm, and a genius for planning.  Several years ago, he sent a letter to the unbearable millionaire M. Gournay-Martin directing him to pack up the named items and send them to the given address, or Lupin would come and steal them himself.   M. Gournay-Martin did not; Lupin did.  Now, he is threatening  M. Gournay-Martin again with the intention of stealing an immensely valuable coronet.  M. Gournay-Martin's soon-to-be son-in-law, the Duke of Charmerace, takes a great interest in the goings-on and vows that he will help stop the crime. Mlle Gournay-Martin and her secretary/companion Sonia figure into the plot also, as the story fills with love, betrayal, deception, and greed. 

This is the novelization of Maurice Leblanc's 1908 play of the same name by Edgar Jepson, and fits in before the Hollow Needle in the series. (If one reads the Hollow Needle first, as I did, the surprises of this volume may be spoiled.)

Jepson's writing is not as melodramatic or as thrilling as is Leblanc's, but the tale is still told well.  Lupin's character is so appealing, that it's impossible for the reader not to root for him during the battle of wits between the Law and the Criminal.  The romance of the story is only lightly touched on, but there is still a strong and touching scene between the two lovers.  The plot is clever, and it's fun to see how Lupin works all the angles to create success.  His daring and impudence, along with the plot twists, make Arsene Lupin a fun read.

This is an entertaining series, and I found Arsene Lupin enjoyable from start to finish, but I recommend that a new reader begin with The Extraordinary Adventures of Arsene Lupin: Gentleman Burglar (my review here), the set of short stories that introduces Lupin.

According to the Pattern by Grace Livingston Hill

According to the Pattern
Grace Livingston Hill
1903 
3/5 stars

Miriam discovers that her husband, Claude, has become infatuated with a glamourous society woman, Mrs. Sylvester.  In fear of what might happen to her and her three children if her marriage should fail, Miriam decides to fight back by becoming as elegant and sophisticated as Mrs. Sylvester.  In the meantime, Claude regrets his association with Mrs. Sylvester, but. aware that Miriam knows, is uncertain if she can ever forgive him and love him again.  When serious illness strikes, Miriam and Claude, with the help of a young seminary student, find peace and hope through a new-found faith.

This early twentieth-century novel is a gentle read though often tense, with an overt Christian message.  While not a first-class writer, Hill was an extremely popular author, and, as with this book, her plots are easy to follow, mostly realistic, and inspirational.  The reader expects the happy outcome, but the journey there is filled with enough crises, both emotional and actual, to keep the story interesting.  Of course, the mores and values will seem odd to some twenty-first century readers, but I enjoyed the flavor of genuine turn-of-the-century American melodrama.

October 2020 Wrap-Up

Books Read:

Vallista by Steven Brust (2017) 

4/5 stars

In this adventure, which fits in between two of the previous books, Vlad is trapped in a house that straddles time spans, trying to release a mysterious child who has come to him from the future to ask for help in her past.  The metaphysics of Necromancy, time travel, and the Halls of the Dead weren't always easy for me to follow, but the story in general was witty, well-written, and a good deal of fun.  I do hope Brust continues this fantastic series.

The Duke Decides by Headon Hill (1903)  4/5 stars (my review here)

The Unwilling Guest by Grace Livingston Hill  (1902)  3/5 stars

This is a sweet turn-of-the-century romance, with average prose, a strong Christian message, and a gentle story.  It gives a good glimpse into the mores of that time, and touches on contemporary events.  While it's not exceptional, it is still a pleasant fluff novel.

The Hollow Needle by Maurice Leblanc (1909)  4/5 stars (my review here)

False Faces: Further Adventures from the History of the Lone Wolf  by Louis Joseph Vance (1918)  4/5 stars  (my review here)

Audio Books Completed:

Evans Above by Rhys Bowen  (1997)  3/5 stars
Taking place in a small Welsh town in the 1990s, this light mystery has a charming setting and a likable protagonist. However, the crime was convoluted, the love angle was cringe-worthy, and the confrontation with the villain had me rolling my eyes.  I wasn't impressed when I read the first of Bowen's other series ("Royal Spyness") and I have no interest in reading more in this series, either.

Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier (1936)  3/5 stars 

After the death of her mother, Mary Yellan goes to live with her maternal aunt, who is married to the landlord of the Jamaica Inn.  She soon discovers that her Uncle Joss is an evil, dangerous man and becomes desperate to deliver herself and her aunt from his intrigues.  Du Maurier is one of my favorite authors, though I had not read this early novel; sadly, I found Jamaica Inn disappointing, and not up to her later standard.   There are still glimpses of the talent later realized, and the characters were generally well drawn, but both prose and plot were immature, the twists were not surprising, and the ending quite anticlimactic. I certainly wouldn't recommend this as an introduction to du Maurier's works.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (2012)  4/5 stars  (my review here)

They Found Him Dead by Georgette Heyer (1937)  3/5 stars

Heyer's considerable talent for characters, dialogue, and situations is obvious throughout, but the mystery's (somewhat abrupt) solution was weak and unsatisfying.

Harbour Street by Ann Cleeves 

(2014)  5/5 stars

DI Joe Ashworth and his daughter are present when a woman is murdered on the Metro, involving DCI Vera Stanhope in a twisty case that centers on Harbour Street in the south Northumberland town of Mardle. The characters in this mystery are well-developed, the plot complex and mostly believable, and the solution satisfying.  Every time I read one in this series I am both more impressed with Cleeves and more attached to Vera.  I was truly surprised a couple of times, which brought this excellent novel to a full five stars.

The Whisper in the Gloom by Nicholas Blake (1954)  4/5 stars  (my review here) 

Did Not Finish:

Queen Lucia by E. F. Benson

I disliked the pretentious, selfish, smug Lucia from the beginning.  I know this is satire, and supposedly quite funny, but I simply could not continue reading about this unpleasant woman.

A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn

I didn't make it an hour into this mystery.  The anti-Victorian Victorian woman was enthralling the first time I read it, years ago; by now, it is a character so over used as to be laughable.  The heroine was not particularly likable, and I couldn't stomach hours of her and the dull writing.

A Memory of Violets: A Novel of London's Flower Sellers 

by Hazel Gaynor

An hour into the audiobook and so many coincidences and improbabilities had occurred, in addition to historical inaccuracies and obvious "secrets", that I gave up.  After reading the negative reviews on Goodreads, I saw that I was not alone in my gripes and that, for those bothered by such things, it just got worse.