Customer Reviews

Pilgrim's Rest

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An old house with a curse on it--people dying left and right--but what really stuck in my mind was the picture of the young woman left alone to care for her preschool niece, after the child's parents were killed in an air raid.

As usual in Miss Silver books, there are nice people and nasty ones, and the nice ones don't suddenly turn around and murder for gain--which I must say, is a bit more realistic than some other mystery writers' books. And Miss Silver knits busily, picking up the strands of the case with as much ease as the yarn on her needles. Amazing how soothing a murder can be.

The Pilgrims have not been having a good War. Pilgrim Pater was killed in a riding accident while his son Roger was overseas and just after he had broke the entail to sell his white elephant of a house, Pilgrim's Rest. Captain Jerome is a semi-invalid due to his psychological response to the wounds he received at Dunkirk-- thank goodness for his devoted nurse who tries so hard to keep him from becoming excited. Nephew Henry Clayton who had worked for the Information Ministry disappeared on the eve of his wedding to a local heiress between the time he was observed leaving his house and the front door of his fiance's house a few dozen yards away. Jack was taken prisoner by the Japanese in Singapore and his fate is unknown.

When Roger comes home to Pilgrim's Rest to wind up his father's affairs though, he barely escapes two nearly fatal accidents that might have been attempts on his life. On the advice of an old friend who works for Scotland Yard he asks Miss Silver to come to his home and investigate the situation there. Miss Silver, of course, is only too delighted.

There's lots of stuff crammed this mystery which keeps the interest. However, there are some negatives including an overly precious child. The darling Penny talks in a way I can't imagine even British WWII toddlers talking, lisping adorable little things as she charms one and all. She luckily is removed a safe place about half way through the book.

Finally, the resolution of the plot relies way too much on intuition, coincidence, and a villain who can't keep quiet. Of course the villain sticks out a mile as well.

However, if you like British cozies where spinster detectives knit jumpers and socks as she searchs for clues and is always one step ahead of the police then grab this one.