The Case of Jennie Brice [Mass Market Paperback]

Mary R. Rinehart (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1996

Convinced that a murder has been committed in her boarding house after discovering a series of suspicious clues, Mrs. Pittman, unsupported by the police, begins an informal investigation. Reprint.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Kensington Books; Reprint edition (December 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1575661357
• ISBN-13: 978-1575661353
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 3.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,858,044 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

97 of 97 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not at all dated, May 31, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Case of Jennie Brice (Mass Market Paperback)

This book was written in 1912, but unless readers take the time to check out the publication history in the front of the book, they will probably never guess that this book is almost a century old. The Case of Jenny Brice is still an intriguing murder mystery with a realistic heroine. What strikes me most about this (and others by Rinehart) is that as you read, you don't think, "This is an amazing book to have been written 100 years ago." You think simply, "What an amazing book." This is a very short book, actually more of a novella, which makes it an excellent book to read when you can take a day just to enjoy a good mystery.

The Case of Jenny Brice is atmospherically set during a flood in a boardinghouse of a poor Pittsburgh neighborhood. From the very beginning, Rinehart develops a real sense of place. Unlike too many amateur detectives in novels, this heroine has a believable reason for being involved in the case. Again, seen as a product of 1912, Miss Pittman is an especially extraordinary woman, but even without that in mind, she is a convincing character. The Case of Jenny Bright has been referred to as not one of Rinehart's most outstanding mysteries, but in light of the stiff competition from her other novels, that is not really a criticism.

Compared with many of today's better mysteries, The Case of Jenny Bright holds its own. It is not just a curiosity because of its age; it is a fascinating mystery in its own right.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Kindle Review: 2/1/2004 edition: Doable Pittsburgh Flood Yarn, March 10, 2010

By 

CarsPlants (Maine) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Case of Jennie Brice (Kindle Edition)

Written in 1912, the incidents in this story are told from the standpoint of a past-her-prime manager of a boarding house. The events portrayed occur during and after a flood that takes place in 1907. Pretty easy to read, with a nice plot twist at the end. Also, fairly short, just an afternoon's read. This Kindle edition was adequate, no editing issues of note, just the usual line break/margin unevenness. Add ½ star if you have special interest in the "lower Allegheny" area (south of?) Pittsburgh.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed it, September 3, 2010

By 

Sally (Lincoln NE USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Case of Jennie Brice (Kindle Edition)

I really enjoyed reading this. The plot had several twists that I wasn't expecting, and it held my attention. Sometimes the 'vintage' books are better than current ones!
thanks!