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sjgochenour's review
4.0
This was one of my favorites in high school, and upon rereading (relistening), it's clear why -- it's very funny, with broadly sketched characters and a lot of entertaining and satisfying scenes. (The opening chapter!)
It holds up better than I expected; there is one gay character who is a beloved friend of the family, who feels quite real and detailed as a person even if he leans into a few stereotypes. (He has a heart attack during the course of the book, but he is very much alive and well at the end of it.) While the heroine's beloved aunt owns a regal Virginia mansion, she is an interloper from somewhere else, and all of the ~old money~ ~fine old family~ types in the town are revealed to be the descendants of literal devil-worshippers. I doubt this was at all a nod to the violent racial history of the South, but it's less uncomfortable to read than some other takes.
It holds up better than I expected; there is one gay character who is a beloved friend of the family, who feels quite real and detailed as a person even if he leans into a few stereotypes. (He has a heart attack during the course of the book, but he is very much alive and well at the end of it.) While the heroine's beloved aunt owns a regal Virginia mansion, she is an interloper from somewhere else, and all of the ~old money~ ~fine old family~ types in the town are revealed to be the descendants of literal devil-worshippers. I doubt this was at all a nod to the violent racial history of the South, but it's less uncomfortable to read than some other takes.
lberestecki's review against another edition
5.0
I generally prefer the Peabody, Bliss, and Kirby books to Peters's standalone works, but this was a good mystery and I sped through it.
starsnstitchin's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
khoerner7's review
3.0
I have always enjoyed the writing of Elizabeth Peters. This is a stand alone mystery. Ellie, engaged to the wrong guy, is house sitting for her eccentric Aunt Kate. The appearance of several ghost like events creates the mystery that must be resolved. Who in the old families is trying to keep secrets quiet or are the ghosts real?
ssejig's review
4.0
I love the cover description of this book. Accurate but misleading... in the best possible way. Not unlike Elizabeth Peters. Who created a fun book. Not necessarily haute literature but definitely worth a read nevertheless.
Ellie is on her way up to house sit for her rich, eccentric aunt. Also in the car, her asshat fiance, Henry. The vivid description of Henry's thoughts perfectly describe his character. He starts out seeming like an all-American and, well, we also see the flip side of getting that dream.
We get great descriptions of all of the characters but not as much insight as we get into both Henry and Ellie. We learn that Ellie's aunt is going on vacation and Ellie is staying to watch the many, many animals. Except that she also sees something else. Of the six prominent families in the area, Ellie sees ghosts related to five of them. And starts wondering why. Thankfully, the lawnboy, and a descendant of one of the families, Donald, is there to help.
Ellie is on her way up to house sit for her rich, eccentric aunt. Also in the car, her asshat fiance, Henry. The vivid description of Henry's thoughts perfectly describe his character. He starts out seeming like an all-American and, well, we also see the flip side of getting that dream.
We get great descriptions of all of the characters but not as much insight as we get into both Henry and Ellie. We learn that Ellie's aunt is going on vacation and Ellie is staying to watch the many, many animals. Except that she also sees something else. Of the six prominent families in the area, Ellie sees ghosts related to five of them. And starts wondering why. Thankfully, the lawnboy, and a descendant of one of the families, Donald, is there to help.
judythereader's review
2.0
While house-sitting for her eccentric aunt, Ellie starts to experience some strange phenoma. She also meets Kate's handsome next door neighbor, who becomes interested in the problem and starts to help her.
This book features several unpleasant people who are all possible villains. That part is good. The good guys are all good, but it's written in the 70's so it's proto-feminist. Kate will never marry and will always do as she wants, but her niece is going to marry someone who respects her intelligence all while expecting her to be a good wife. At least that's my impression of Ellie.
There are other things I really didn't like, but they would be spoilers so I'll leave them alone.
This book features several unpleasant people who are all possible villains. That part is good. The good guys are all good, but it's written in the 70's so it's proto-feminist. Kate will never marry and will always do as she wants, but her niece is going to marry someone who respects her intelligence all while expecting her to be a good wife. At least that's my impression of Ellie.
There are other things I really didn't like, but they would be spoilers so I'll leave them alone.
duffgt06's review
4.0
This one was cute. Pretty lighthearted quick read with light hints of the supernatural.
krisrid's review
4.0
Elizabeth Peters never disappoints! Fun, smart characters, a highly entertaining plot with lots of excitement and mystery, and the wonderful humour typical of Peters books that makes the story sparkle!
Ellie agrees to house-sit for eccentric Aunt Kate while she takes a vacation. Since Aunt Kate lives in a stunning Virginia mansion filled with cats, dogs and various other animals, Ellie assumes it will just be a peaceful getaway as she plans for her wedding to her high-powered lawyer fiance, Henry.
But once Aunt Kate leaves, and Ellie is alone in the house, she starts seeing some unbelieveable things. Against her better judgement she enlists "yardboy" and neighbour Donald to help her try to figure out whether she's hallucinating, or if there really are some inexplcable things going on.
As always, Elizabeth Peters writes fabulous stories. They are always full of characters that run the gamut from smart and on the ball, to the oddballs who you aren't quite sure what to make of. She then combines these terrific characters into great stories with excitement, suspense, and just enough farce to make it all lots of fun.
I particularly loved the inter-play between Ellie and Donald, who start out not really liking one another very much and therefore do a lot of verbal sparring which is highly entertaining. An easy, fast, and highly enjoyable read!
Ellie agrees to house-sit for eccentric Aunt Kate while she takes a vacation. Since Aunt Kate lives in a stunning Virginia mansion filled with cats, dogs and various other animals, Ellie assumes it will just be a peaceful getaway as she plans for her wedding to her high-powered lawyer fiance, Henry.
But once Aunt Kate leaves, and Ellie is alone in the house, she starts seeing some unbelieveable things. Against her better judgement she enlists "yardboy" and neighbour Donald to help her try to figure out whether she's hallucinating, or if there really are some inexplcable things going on.
As always, Elizabeth Peters writes fabulous stories. They are always full of characters that run the gamut from smart and on the ball, to the oddballs who you aren't quite sure what to make of. She then combines these terrific characters into great stories with excitement, suspense, and just enough farce to make it all lots of fun.
I particularly loved the inter-play between Ellie and Donald, who start out not really liking one another very much and therefore do a lot of verbal sparring which is highly entertaining. An easy, fast, and highly enjoyable read!
pussreboots's review against another edition
5.0
http://www.pussreboots.pair.com/blog/2013/comments_12/devil_may_care.html