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melissa_who_reads's review against another edition
3.0
In this phase of the Miss Silver series, formidable old ladies are playing a heavy role. The heroine of the story is interesting when we first meet her, as a 15-year-old caught unawares by a rising tide, but her grown-up self is less capable - and by the end, a bit silly. But an enjoyable story nonetheless, with all you could wish for: a mysterious hidden treasure with a curse, an old house with mysterious passages, old family retainers, and an autocratic aunt who does not like the suitor her niece prefers ... and Miss Silver, visiting a cousin in the neighborhood who knows all the participants.
leslierholm's review against another edition
5.0
Miss Silver is definitely a Miss Marple - but which came first, the chicken or the egg? Christie's first Miss Marple was published in 1927, and Wentworth's first Silver in 1928 - but there is no way of telling who wrote their character first. Still, so close in time, I doubt their was really even any influence. Perhaps it was just an idea who's time had come.
Before I devolve into more cliches, I like Miss Silver very much, and can enjoy the books without overly worrying about who was first. This one in particular has young love in jeopardy, buried treasure and curses - what's not to love?
Before I devolve into more cliches, I like Miss Silver very much, and can enjoy the books without overly worrying about who was first. This one in particular has young love in jeopardy, buried treasure and curses - what's not to love?
tracey_stewart's review against another edition
5.0
This might have been five stars if only the heroine didn't have the typical Wentworth heroine penchant for swooning. Miss Silver is in top form; it's always so funny how stereotypically 50's Feminine all the heroines in these books are, when Miss Silver always gives the impression that she could stare down a charging bull and have him chastened and following at her heels in about a minute. It's a particular shame in this book that the early promise of a spirited and capable girl as the heroine is shown in the first chapter doesn't quite get fulfilled when the character grows up.
So - there's an interesting villain (who while awful, would have been an absolutely gruesome horror if she'd been written today), hidden tunnels, a bit of a rake who I kept expecting to be in the frame, lots of knitting, and some vivid scenes that lift this above the general scrum of almost-mass-produced-cozyish-mystery. Wentworth's writing - can I say sparkled? Is that too old-fashioned a compliment? (Or too Twilight?) Some of the later books in the series feel more as if they were written automatically, to pay the bills and keep the publisher happy. This one felt like Patricia Wentworth was enjoying herself thoroughly. The solution to the underlying older mystery was pretty plain from the jump, but that didn't take away any of the fun (and it was another thing that would have been blood curdling if written now). From a terrific opening scene (with a really nice reveal lying in wait a few chapters later), to the "romantic" Mr. Tampling (I love him) ... oh, why not. Five stars it is. Candida was entitled to a bit of light-headedness.
So - there's an interesting villain (who while awful, would have been an absolutely gruesome horror if she'd been written today), hidden tunnels, a bit of a rake who I kept expecting to be in the frame, lots of knitting, and some vivid scenes that lift this above the general scrum of almost-mass-produced-cozyish-mystery. Wentworth's writing - can I say sparkled? Is that too old-fashioned a compliment? (Or too Twilight?) Some of the later books in the series feel more as if they were written automatically, to pay the bills and keep the publisher happy. This one felt like Patricia Wentworth was enjoying herself thoroughly. The solution to the underlying older mystery was pretty plain from the jump, but that didn't take away any of the fun (and it was another thing that would have been blood curdling if written now). From a terrific opening scene (with a really nice reveal lying in wait a few chapters later), to the "romantic" Mr. Tampling (I love him) ... oh, why not. Five stars it is. Candida was entitled to a bit of light-headedness.
pencils's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
roshk99's review against another edition
3.0
Reminiscent of an Agatha Christie, but more of a thriller than mystery. Set in a British small town with a Miss Marple-like character in Miss Silver.
thepickygirl's review against another edition
5.0
Candida Sayle has one incredibly memorable event as a young girl. Invited to the coast with a friend's family but arriving before them, she asks about the tide. Two elderly women note her name and tell her the tide will not rise until 11 p.m. She walks upon the beach, only to be stuck on the cliff side when the tide begins to rise much earlier. Fearing death, she calls out for a time. Stephen Eversly happens to hear her and pulls her up to safety, though they cannot get back to the inn until the next morning. Much her senior, he protectively holds her until dawn.
This is one of the best openings to a book I've read in a long time, and though this particular motif (young woman stuck on the side of a cliff in danger of drowning) returns in several Wentworth books, it's particularly effective here. Plus, it's incredibly romantic, and I was so sad that it appeared Stephen and Candida would never meet again.
But five years later, a lot has changed.The last of Candida's relations has died, and she has no options until two great-aunts reach out, past a family dispute, to ask Candida to visit. Eccentric and co-dependent, the Misses Cara and Olivia Benevent make Candida uncomfortable, especially after she has a dream that these two women were the same who nearly drew her to her death on the coast five years earlier. As Candida sees more of her aunts and learns of the Benevent Treasure and its terrible curse, she becomes more and more afraid of the Benevent home and family.
As usual with a Miss Silver book, the star here is not Maud Silver. Instead, Wentworth writes a novel of characters: Candida, an innocent but intelligent young woman. Olivia Benevent, who I swear is very similar in demeanor to Mrs. Danvers in Rebecca. Cara Benevent, a poor soul who only wants love but who has been browbeaten by Olivia for so many years, she is withdrawn and skittish.
Miss Silver comes in - only when called and takes charge of the situation, knitting needles in hand, rising to the occasion in the final pages of the book. If you haven't read Miss Silver yet, don't let the knitting needles deter you. Yes, she knits with them, but mostly she uses them as a way to disarm her clients, who are usually hesitant to talk to her, whether it's because they feel silly or that they shouldn't discuss family business with a stranger.
Read this: and be prepared to be drawn into the wilds of England with missing secretaries, a mysterious legend, and a healthy dose of romance.
This is one of the best openings to a book I've read in a long time, and though this particular motif (young woman stuck on the side of a cliff in danger of drowning) returns in several Wentworth books, it's particularly effective here. Plus, it's incredibly romantic, and I was so sad that it appeared Stephen and Candida would never meet again.
But five years later, a lot has changed.The last of Candida's relations has died, and she has no options until two great-aunts reach out, past a family dispute, to ask Candida to visit. Eccentric and co-dependent, the Misses Cara and Olivia Benevent make Candida uncomfortable, especially after she has a dream that these two women were the same who nearly drew her to her death on the coast five years earlier. As Candida sees more of her aunts and learns of the Benevent Treasure and its terrible curse, she becomes more and more afraid of the Benevent home and family.
As usual with a Miss Silver book, the star here is not Maud Silver. Instead, Wentworth writes a novel of characters: Candida, an innocent but intelligent young woman. Olivia Benevent, who I swear is very similar in demeanor to Mrs. Danvers in Rebecca. Cara Benevent, a poor soul who only wants love but who has been browbeaten by Olivia for so many years, she is withdrawn and skittish.
Miss Silver comes in - only when called and takes charge of the situation, knitting needles in hand, rising to the occasion in the final pages of the book. If you haven't read Miss Silver yet, don't let the knitting needles deter you. Yes, she knits with them, but mostly she uses them as a way to disarm her clients, who are usually hesitant to talk to her, whether it's because they feel silly or that they shouldn't discuss family business with a stranger.
Read this: and be prepared to be drawn into the wilds of England with missing secretaries, a mysterious legend, and a healthy dose of romance.
gamachel's review against another edition
4.0
This was great for many reasons. As book 26 in the series I was able to pick it up and follow everything without wondering what I missed along the way, if there was anything it didn't read as such. I will definitely be reading more of the series. It is a short British mystery that keeps you guessing from start to finish.
june_englit_phd's review against another edition
4.0
Despite me having had trouble wading through the first 100 pages of this Miss Marple-esque murder-mystery, this book gets four stars from me! Get past page 100 and things start happening....spooky things, murderous things....and then it is well nigh impossible to put the book down!
It's a tale of two elderly sisters, one young woman, one old mansion, buried treasure and a controversial inheritance. It's a tale of jealousy, plotting, concealment and terror. Although extremely well written, there was, at times, a feeling of things being a little "far fetched" - especially the likelihood that Candida would meet exactly the same man who rescued her from a cliff-face five years previously whilst on a weekend away, when he is called to the mansion to sort out some wall cracks. However, I am glad I persevered with the story - even if the outcome was a little on the predictable side.
This was the first Patricia Wentworth novel I have read - but definitely not the last.
It's a tale of two elderly sisters, one young woman, one old mansion, buried treasure and a controversial inheritance. It's a tale of jealousy, plotting, concealment and terror. Although extremely well written, there was, at times, a feeling of things being a little "far fetched" - especially the likelihood that Candida would meet exactly the same man who rescued her from a cliff-face five years previously whilst on a weekend away, when he is called to the mansion to sort out some wall cracks. However, I am glad I persevered with the story - even if the outcome was a little on the predictable side.
This was the first Patricia Wentworth novel I have read - but definitely not the last.