Reviews

Mystery in White by J. Farjeon

kategci's review

3.0

This a classic Christmas mystery I was going to read for Christmas 2018, but I could not get into it. Similar in style to Agatha Christie's Poirot and Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, I felt this book skimmed their greatness, but never completely achieved it. Murders from 20 years prior were solved along with a contemporary murder, but while there was a man in charge, Mr. Maltby who seemed to deduce things, he did not always back up his theories with solid evidence. A train gets stuck outside of London on Christmas Eve and 6 strangers are forced to seek shelter in a freshly abandoned house. Creepy things happen which did hold my interest and kept me turning the pages. A recommended holiday read.

_kaib00ks_'s review against another edition

mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

hoovera's review against another edition

3.0

This is another one where I absolutely love all of the elements of the premise (snowstorm, strangers stuck in a place, house seemingly suddenly abandoned), but the resolution disappointed me. I admit I'm not sure how I would have resolved it that would have been satisfying, but something was lacking here.

samterroni's review against another edition

mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5

rebeccadh123's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

n_li_re's review

mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

1.0

margaret21's review against another edition

2.0

Oh dear. I started the book willingly enough. I accepted this was a 1930S crime novel, not some gritty Swedish police procedural. I enjoyed the scene setting on the first few pages. Then I got lost. The characters got muddled in my brain - there are quite a few of them - and the comings and goings of these characters, who make a break from a snow-stranded train and end up taking refuge in a recently-abandoned country house stretch credulity. I lost the will to turn the pages. Somehow I made myself do so. I was by turns bored and irritated.

This was a pre-Christmas Book Group choice, and opinions were divided. You may fall into the camp that found it a charming and enjoyable light read. Give it a go and make your own mind up.

fergelrachusson's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

nic3's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense 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? No

3.75

This was interesting to read as a contemporary book, to see the slang and opinions of the late 1930s

1mpossiblealice's review against another edition

4.0

This was the book that got me into British Library Crime Classics, and it was just as good going back to it. Definitely one of my favourites.