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shaz_time23's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
mitchk's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
An enjoyable mystery superbly written. The characters are lively and well drawn - with many quirks and oddities! Put these characters into an equally complex setting where the smallest details create atmosphere and builds a strong, visual stage and it becomes a much more complex and engaging mystery than many. Written in 1932 it is evocative of its time.
krobart's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Although the mystery is interesting and complicated, and the novel is purposefully slow to develop, creating an atmosphere as it goes, it is perhaps a little too slow. The metaphor of fear being an entity is a little overdone. For my complete review, see https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2024/03/08/review-2326-fear-stalks-the-village/
booksboozeandsausagedogs's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
shanaqui's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Ethel Lina White is great at creating a tense atmosphere and then drawing every possible ounce of drama out of it, and she's very successful here. It gets a little melodramatic at times, but it makes sense given the febrile atmosphere of the story. It opens in an idyllic village, where everyone knows one another -- and where everyone is suddenly a suspect after poison pen letters begin to be received.
I found the resolution of the mystery fairly obvious, though I hadn't anticipated some of the dramatic twists and red herrings along the way, so it took a while to figure out why it worked out that way and how the mystery gets unravelled.
White also does some interesting things with the characters, making them feel surprisingly real for a crime novel of this period. There's some genuine psychological depth to the doctor in particular, and they aren't all straightforward stereotypes. I actually felt sad about some of these scenes, and much more involved than I usually do with classic crime -- there's three in particular that really struck home.
As a note, anyone with triggers concerning suicide should read this book with care. There are two successful suicides, with varying degrees of description, and an additional almost-suicide that's quite closely described.
I found the resolution of the mystery fairly obvious, though I hadn't anticipated some of the dramatic twists and red herrings along the way, so it took a while to figure out why it worked out that way and how the mystery gets unravelled.
White also does some interesting things with the characters, making them feel surprisingly real for a crime novel of this period. There's some genuine psychological depth to the doctor in particular, and they aren't all straightforward stereotypes. I actually felt sad about some of these scenes, and much more involved than I usually do with classic crime -- there's three in particular that really struck home.
As a note, anyone with triggers concerning suicide should read this book with care. There are two successful suicides, with varying degrees of description, and an additional almost-suicide that's quite closely described.
kazzle_69's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
1outside's review against another edition
3.0
This was among the bulk of free e-books I found recently, and while I initially wanted to read The Spiral Staircase first, I found out that out of the 3 ELW books in the bulk, this one was the earliest, the part of me obsessed with chronology just wouldn't let me start with the second oldest book.
It was not an easy read the first few chapters. Language too florid and metaphor-heavy. But I persevered, and was rewarded with a page-turner, several more or less annoying characters, and a mediocre story. Could have been so much worse...but I can see why ELW is nowadays somewhat forgotten, in comparison with Ms Christie.
It was not an easy read the first few chapters. Language too florid and metaphor-heavy. But I persevered, and was rewarded with a page-turner, several more or less annoying characters, and a mediocre story. Could have been so much worse...but I can see why ELW is nowadays somewhat forgotten, in comparison with Ms Christie.
maplessence's review against another edition
3.0
3.5★
I loved Ethel Lina White's [b:The Lady Vanishes|1024939|The Lady Vanishes|Ethel Lina White|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1180313825l/1024939._SY75_.jpg|1011180] but only liked this book, & find it hard to believe that there was only four years difference between the publishing dates, as I remember The Lady Vanishes as being a far more accomplished book.
What I did like was the sense of place White gave with her description of village life. The village did sound too good to be true - which of course it was! Ignatious Brown was an interesting in character detective & I'm trying to allow for the fact that this book was first published in 1932 so was groundbreaking for it's time.
But I didn't like the way that a character, who appeared important when she was introduced, completely disappeared. & Fear is given a physical (& fanciful appearance) Didn't work for me & I found the resolution both unsatisfying and over the top.
I have another couple of White books on my Kindle & I liked this book well enough that I will read them in the future.
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshessonovel.wordpress.com
I loved Ethel Lina White's [b:The Lady Vanishes|1024939|The Lady Vanishes|Ethel Lina White|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1180313825l/1024939._SY75_.jpg|1011180] but only liked this book, & find it hard to believe that there was only four years difference between the publishing dates, as I remember The Lady Vanishes as being a far more accomplished book.
What I did like was the sense of place White gave with her description of village life. The village did sound too good to be true - which of course it was! Ignatious Brown was an interesting in character detective & I'm trying to allow for the fact that this book was first published in 1932 so was groundbreaking for it's time.
But I didn't like the way that a character, who appeared important when she was introduced, completely disappeared. & Fear is given a physical (& fanciful appearance) Didn't work for me & I found the resolution both unsatisfying and over the top.
I have another couple of White books on my Kindle & I liked this book well enough that I will read them in the future.
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshessonovel.wordpress.com
ashleylm's review against another edition
5.0
Really rather marvellous. The writing itself felt fresh and non-dated, despite being 90 years old. I was absolutely delighted that, depending on intrepretation, this is not actually a murder mystery, it's an anonymous-letter mystery. I've never understand why 99.9% of mystery novels are solving murder mysteries, when other types of mysteries might be just as (or more) interesting, so this was a very pleasant change.
The author played fair, all the clues and knowledge given to the detective were also given to us. Despite a vast cast, I could tell all the characters apart (so often writers fail to worry about this, giving me names and no more, really), and they were a fun, diverse bunch, including some character types not before encountered--nothing remotely resembling a stock character.
Very recommended! But a bit of a page-turner, I've had two sleepless nights in a row.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). I feel a lot of readers automatically render any book they enjoy 5, but I grade on a curve!
The author played fair, all the clues and knowledge given to the detective were also given to us. Despite a vast cast, I could tell all the characters apart (so often writers fail to worry about this, giving me names and no more, really), and they were a fun, diverse bunch, including some character types not before encountered--nothing remotely resembling a stock character.
Very recommended! But a bit of a page-turner, I've had two sleepless nights in a row.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). I feel a lot of readers automatically render any book they enjoy 5, but I grade on a curve!