Customer Reviews

My Lady's Money

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I really enjoy Wilkie Collins, and this book did not disappoint. My favorite of his is The Woman in White, but I this book is possibly my second favorite. It truly is a classic. There is a mystery to solve, and there is also a love triangle. But there isn't too much "schmaltz" or sweetness in my opinion. It's also a fast read, since it isn't a very long book with unnecessary details.

First published in 1878, this delectable novella has the complexity of a full-length novel and is full of revolutions and revelations of character.

There's a mystery. A banknote for 500 pounds has been stolen from Lady Lydiard out of an unsealed letter. Among the several people who wandered into the room where the letter sat, lovely young Isabel, beloved companion of Lady Lydiard, seems the most likely suspect.

You and I and various others feel she must be innocent. But proving it will not be quick or easy. The obstacles in the way of a proper investigation make for a tangled plot. Wilkie Collins gives us a highly original detective too: a dirty old reprobate who does not inspire trust, but is nonetheless awfully good at solving crimes.

And finally there's a suspenseful love story. Two men fall in love with Isabel, and the outcome is doubtful to the very end.

Wilkie Collins had a weakness for women and in his maturity kept two mistresses at once. However reprehensible his morals, his appreciation of women resulted in vital, appealing female characters. The physical charms and winning ways of Isabel are beautifully portrayed. Even eccentric sixty-year-old Lady Lydiard comes across as an attractive and magnetic character.

I loved My Lady's Money and would recommend it to anyone fond of Victorian authors and early detective fiction. The Dodo Press edition offers a pleasant reading experience.

an easy read "who done it?" with interesting characters. a missing bank note, a likely suspect, and an unrequited love triangle... all told with the propriety of victorian storytelling. enjoyable.

This is a review of the free Kindle version. This story clocks in at just under 2,000 locations. The story centers around the theft of a 500 pound note, on what impact that has on the life of a young woman named Isabel.

As always, reading Wilkie Collins is enjoyable for his style of writing. While not the strongest mystery, the description of the characters is rich and varied. Collins takes you on a journey that will change your view of the men in the story, as he tells it.

I also love the dog Tommie, apparently an insertion by the writer of his own pet. Though, one part of the story does remind you of how things have changed - who would bleed their dog now because it was sick?

Another interesting short story, by Wilkie Collins. I am do not care much for short stories, I am trying to be more fair, than I normally would be. I think it could have been much more interesting, and more in depth, if it was a normal length novel.

one major complaint of most of all the collins classics that I have ordered is that they are not unabridged. It is almost impossible to determine if the book has been edited before it is ordered on line.