The Black Shrouds (Rue Morgue Vintage Mysteries) [Paperback]

Constance Little (Author), Gwenyth Little (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 155 pages
• Publisher: Rue Morgue (November 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0915230526
• ISBN-13: 978-0915230525
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,347,887 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thank Heavens for Rue Morgue Press, December 5, 2002

By 

addicted to mysteries "merch28" (Pine Grove, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Black Shrouds (Rue Morgue Vintage Mysteries) (Paperback)

The "Little" Books are a delight and this is a particularly good one. It is filled with wacky characters, a feisty heroine, an obliging handsome man, and the obligitory mystery. All the ingredients for a vintage "Little" book! The books have been out of print for many, many years. It is wonderful that the Rue Morgue Press is republishing them one by one. One could only wish they would print one a month. If you like your mysteries with a great deal of humor, THE BLACK SHROUDS is a book for you.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining combination of period romantic comedy and "whodunit", January 16, 2010

By 

Jim Davis (St. Charles, MO USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Black Shrouds (Rue Morgue Vintage Mysteries) (Paperback)

This trade paperback is a reprint of one of the 1940s vintage comedy/mysteries written by the Little sisters. It's a delightful combination of murder mystery and romantic comedy. The plot involves the murder of two sisters, two occupants of a boarding house shared with other eccentric boarders. It should be pointed out that all Little mysteries are standalones and not series of books with continuing characters.

The heroine/detective is very likable, with a quick wit and a no nonsense manner. The mystery seems to be more than adequate - not up there with Christie or anything like that but reasonably complex and the reader is given every opportunity to match wits with the detective - a match that this reader has yet to win so perhaps I'm not the best judge.

Beyond this one gets an interesting glimpse into the world of a boarding house circa 1940. The comforts seem quite Spartan by the standards of the 21st century. There is a cozy (or perhaps claustrophobic for some) feel about the book as all the action takes place in the boarding house.

All in all, a very pleasant evening's amusement that is highly recommended. I look forward to picking up more reprints of Little mysteries.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rediscovered Treasure, October 1, 2003

By 

Jacqueline A. Merritt "jackson_lib" (Albion, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Black Shrouds (Rue Morgue Vintage Mysteries) (Paperback)

A big kiss and hug to the people at Rue Morgue Press for rereleasing the wonderful and unique mysteries of Gwenyth and Constance Little. As a librarian I love to share authors with my patrons and I've been ordering all the Little titles as they are published and telling everyone about them. Reading them is such a pleasure!