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.
