Customer Reviews

Grey Mask

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Written in 1929, this is either the first or second book in the Miss Silver series (depending on which reference I checked). It's my first read in the series and I expect I'll read a few more -- Miss Silver is a knitter after all.

This story revolves around an 18 year old girl who may or may not be an heiress. In the meanwhile, a conspiracy appears to exist that threatens the girl's safety. Most of the book focuses on the girl and some acquaintances who take it upon themselves to protect her. One of the friends hires Miss Silver but her appearences are infrequent.

Bottom-line: A good 1920's English mystery for those who are fond of Christie and others. I'm hoping for more Miss Silver in other books.

I have loved Patricia Wentworth's novels for many years. After purchasing my Kindle 2 years ago I was very disappointed that they were not available. If you are a fan of Dorothy Sayers you will most likely love Patricia Wentworth's as well. The Grey Mask is first class! Enjoy!

The comparison of "Grey Mask" to Agatha Christie's Miss Marple is a natural one, although Miss Silver's debut actually preceded Miss Marple's. Yet, "Grey Mask" put me more in mind of Ngaio Marsh's Roderick Alleyn novels. Both are more slyly humorous. Miss Maud Silver, a retired governess with a propensity to quote Tennyson, is also considerably more formidable and professional in aspect than the deceptively fuzzy Miss Marple.

Don't get me wrong: Lovers of any of the Miss Jane Marple cozies will love Miss Maud Silver, as well. It's a terrible pity that Miss Silver is so much less well known than Miss Marple, Hercules Poirot, Dorothy L. Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey, Roderick Allen, or Josephine Tey's Alan Grant. With any luck, that can change.

This book was written in 1929. That said, it was written in such a way, that it wasn't "dated" so much. A jilted man returns to England, after 4 years abroad, only to discover his house being used as a meeting place for some evil clandestine group. This is full of mystery and intrigue, and Miss Silver, a spinster (one assumes) PI, of sorts. Strangely, we don't see a lot of Miss Silver, but she seems to know a whole lot about what's going on.

I enjoyed the book, but Margo, a 15 yr old supposed-heiress, and Freddy, a scatter-brained widower, did get on my nerves, as they prattled incessantly. This is the first of a series. I will most likely read more, but probably not end-to-end.

Wentworth is an often overlooked doyenne of the classic mystery. Miss Silver (not to be confused with Miss Marple) is a great sleuth.

This book was my first from Patricia Wentworth and I sincerely hope it will not be the last. I was engaged from the beginning and couldn't put the book down. I appreciated the lack of swearing and offensive material while the plot and characters were interesting.

This book lent itself well to the male robot on Kindle, as always allowing for the usual faults (words with same spelling but multiple meanings and, one would hope cured in the next edition, spelling out forms of address-saying M, R, S, not Misses, etc.). I was carried right along with the story.

As I write two reviews precede mine, one a strong WOW, one a strong BOOOOO. I found it (listening only, never reading the text) a tricky plot with good characterizations and adequate suspense to keep one hanging on to the end. Interestingly, while vital to the plot, Miss Silver plays a small part in the proceedings, most of the story being carried by the romantic leads and subordinate romancers. The hero, about whom we can have no doubts, is the leading man. His one time lady love, about whom we must have doubts, plays a mildly subordinate leading lady. The 18 year old who is innocent in all respects, is the source of whatever humor there is in the script.

The book is not up with those of the classic writers, Christie, Sayers and the like, but still is rewarding reading. As I say, do not expect to see much of Miss Silver, she tends to fade into the woodwork, so to speak.

I am a big fan of Patricia wentworth, grey mask is part of the miss silver collection and it was pure mystery from beginning to end.

I tend to start reading my Kindle books with a bit of fear and trepidation, never quite knowing what to expect. My fears were totally unwarranted as it turned out to be a very good read. This is my first Miss Silver (in memory) and I look forward to trying a few more. It matters not a whit that it was written in 1929 - it is so classic as to be timeless.

This is the first book by Patricia Wentworth I have read. I enjoyed the mystery and was completly surprised by the twist in the end. I probably will purchased more of Wentworth's book if they are avaiable on Kindle Deal of the Day.