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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
It just lays there, June 30, 2002
Cannell's latest installment in the Ellie Haskell series, "The Importance of Being Ernestine" bears out the old saying that anticipation is greater than reality. I'm an avid fan of the Ellie Haskell novels so I was overjoyed to buy a copy of "Ernestine" after what seemed an interminable gestation time between publications. The shaming number of inconsistencies in the novel are distracting. On page one or two, a town is called "Mucklesby" and several paragraphs later is "Mugglesby." Throughout the novel there are transpositions and blatant misspellings and wrong word usage (in the novel a character took a peak -- meaning peek). Despite the sloppy editing, try as I might, I could only find this novel mildly amusing. This time out, all the silliness that made Cannell's earlier novels (notably "Femmes Fatal," "How to Murder the Man of Your Dreams") at times literally laugh-out-loud escapades, came across as pat and tired. In "Ernestine" the cast of characters were like a family reunion: there was the madcap Mrs. Malloy, still teetering around on 4-inch heels and dying her hair improbable colors, while fracturing the Queen's English; devoted husband Ben, known primarily for his physical beauty and little else; a kleptomaniac Aunt Lulu; and hippy-like Cousin Freddy, who seems to be acting more a mother to Ellie's three young children than Ellie herself. For some reason, these formerly lovable and entertaining characters failed to enchant me this go round. As for the mystery -- well, Cannell's novels do fall into the "cozy" category, so there are no violent scenes or graphic depictions of murder or mayhem of any kind. Don't get me wrong: I still love Cannell's work, but I suspect she's fired off the best jokes in her earlier installments in the Ellie Haskell series. Nevertheless, I'm addicted, and will eagerly await the next Ellie Haskell mystery. But please get a decent editor.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
If you have enjoyed mysteries since their inception, this will be a delightful trip down memory lane., March 20, 2007
Ellie Haskell and her housekeeper Mrs. Malloy are mistaken for private detectives and asked to locate a missing person by a woman named Lady Krumley. It seems that Lady Krumley had fired her pregnant maid 30 years before and has recently had a rash of unusual deaths in the family due, she believes, to a vow of vengeance the maid made before dying several months after her dismissal. She wants the two sham detectives to find the maid's daughter Ernestine so she can make amends for her actions 30 years ago.
I am having a hard time figuring out how to describe this book. It is a parody, sort of. It is a throwback in time to an earlier style of mystery, sort of. I liked it, but it is still hard to describe. The suspension of disbelief factor is very high, but the book is very enjoyable. Much of the book is very tongue-in-cheek as the detectives feel their way through their roles and draw from an assortment of mystery styles and genres - from the gritty film noir private eyes, to the frolicking society detectives, and back again for classic plot twists straight out of Sherlock Holmes. If you have enjoyed mysteries since their inception, this will be a delightful trip down memory lane.
One of the strange things about the edition I read is the typos. Or what appear to be typos. Because of the style of the book, you are never quite sure if they are intended or not. Tell me what you think. Look for Mugglesby, micro-cousin, peak, and creak appearing where Mucklesby, microcosm, peek, and creek would be appropriate.
One of the great things about this book is the treatment of an overused mystery theme - the long-lost/illegitimate child. As most dedicated mystery readers know, this concept is tired. But Cannell manages to make it interesting. She peppers the book with Ernestine candidates and lots of red herrings that keep you guessing until the end.
Favorite character? Mrs. Malloy. An eccentric woman who has an outfit for every occasion and detective personality.
Did I guess it? Well, there are really two mysteries in this book. One I did get fairly quickly, but the other involves that old Sherlockian plot twist... Good luck!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Witty and fast-moving., August 11, 2002
Ellie Haskell and her housekeeper, Mrs. Malloy are visiting in the detective's office Malloy cleans when a late client drops in. An elderly aristocrat claims that her family is suffering from a curse left behind by a falsely accused maid. The woman, believing that Ellie and Malloy are detectives, asks them to investigate. A gunman attempts to persuade them to drop the case, but only makes them more anxious to find the truth. Egged on by her friend, Ellie agrees and the two women set off on a proper English play of manners. There are no end of suspects: a nephew who may have killed his parents with an exploding train set; the nephew's wife who is interested in blackmail; actresses turned maid; the elderly lady herself; and the mysteriously missing Ernestine. It takes continued efforts for Ellie and Malloy to get to the truth--and still make it home in time for Ellie to take care of her family. Author Dorothy Cannell writes a funny, fast-paced novel. The character dialogue kept me chuckling, as did the rather mad-cap action. The mystery itself won't pose much of a challenge for hard-core cozy readers, but in the case of THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ERNESTINE, getting there is where the fun is. And there is plenty of fun in this charming novel.
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