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wolfsonarchitect's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-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
3.5
Good classic mystery from the 1900s. It’s fun that it also involves a romance. The audiobook reading by MaryAnn on Librivox is excellent.
heidenkind's review against another edition
4.0
Yay! Such an entertaining book. I'm so glad I read it.
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constantreader471's review against another edition
3.0
3 stars for a mystery that I found hard to follow. It took me 4 days to read this book, although it is only 230 pages. Mary Roberts Rinehart is considered the most important early American woman mystery writer and has been called the "American Agatha Christie." This book was first published in 1906, so perhaps my expectations do not coincide with the mystery writing style during this time period. However, the book employs narrative more than dialogue, similar to many modern mysteries.
The mystery starts with a lawyer, Mr. Blakeley, going from Washington, DC to Pittsburgh, Pa. He is bringing some papers to a man who can verify if they are forged. But on the return trip, the forged papers are stolen, a man is murdered and Blakeley is the chief suspect for the murder.
There is a stilted romance, which does come to fruition, and a satisfactory conclusion to the mystery.
This book was her debut book. There is only the 1 murder, and no graphic violence or bad language, and thus ok for cozy fans.
The mystery starts with a lawyer, Mr. Blakeley, going from Washington, DC to Pittsburgh, Pa. He is bringing some papers to a man who can verify if they are forged. But on the return trip, the forged papers are stolen, a man is murdered and Blakeley is the chief suspect for the murder.
There is a stilted romance, which does come to fruition, and a satisfactory conclusion to the mystery.
This book was her debut book. There is only the 1 murder, and no graphic violence or bad language, and thus ok for cozy fans.
hordover's review against another edition
4.0
All of Mary Roberts Rinehart books are intimate time capsules. Much like reading Edna Ferber short stories, you get a glimpse into a distant time (turn of the previous century) and place (often Pittsburgh) through the eyes of a woman who pays attention to human nature and also how humans actually live. Tiny details about how lives are lived at the time stand out in her works that I can only attribute to her being a woman with a sharp eye, knife-point wit, and life experiences (e.g., nurse in WWI) that give her a particular/peculiar perspective that enriches both her stories and her readers.
pkadams's review against another edition
2.0
In 1909 this book was a top 10 best seller for the year. Famous as the grand dame of the American mystery genre ("the butler did it..." is attributed to Rhinehart), I have stumbled over references to her books and plots a number of times. I was curious to read it and found it an exquisite period piece that allows you to be swept into the world of 1909 America that is modern enough for you to see the rich details and differences with 100 years ago. Mundane descriptions and actions about traveling in a sleeper coach are fascinating and provide a vivid account of every day life.
The mystery starts in a Pullman coach and involves a sympathetic and attractive, bachelor, lawyer who is traveling with valuable papers. He finds his sleeper, the lower-ten, occupied by another man and upon waking the next morning discovers the other man murdered, his documents and clothes missing, and blood stains on his bed linens. Suspicion falls on the lawyer and then the train wrecks, allowing the lawyer and the beautiful, young, fresh-faced, modern, plucky but devastating feminine heroine to escape and begin clearing his name. Of course suspicion is thrown on everyone and Rhinehart isn't above using spooky and creepy scenes of candles, mysterious stranger, and darkened buildings to build the suspense and atmosphere.
But despite the characters, and wonderful descriptions, F. Scott Fitzgerald was right when he wrote in This Side of Paradise about Mary Roberts Rhinehart: “My God! Look at them, look at them—Edna Ferber, Gouverneur Morris, Fanny Hurst, Mary Roberts Rinehart—not producing among ’em one story or novel that will last ten years."
It is hard to read through this novel because of the melodramatic and overly sentimental nature of the writing. Perhaps in the right hands, a wonderful screen play could be created, but alone the writing makes it clear why it hasn't stood the ravages of time.
The mystery starts in a Pullman coach and involves a sympathetic and attractive, bachelor, lawyer who is traveling with valuable papers. He finds his sleeper, the lower-ten, occupied by another man and upon waking the next morning discovers the other man murdered, his documents and clothes missing, and blood stains on his bed linens. Suspicion falls on the lawyer and then the train wrecks, allowing the lawyer and the beautiful, young, fresh-faced, modern, plucky but devastating feminine heroine to escape and begin clearing his name. Of course suspicion is thrown on everyone and Rhinehart isn't above using spooky and creepy scenes of candles, mysterious stranger, and darkened buildings to build the suspense and atmosphere.
But despite the characters, and wonderful descriptions, F. Scott Fitzgerald was right when he wrote in This Side of Paradise about Mary Roberts Rhinehart: “My God! Look at them, look at them—Edna Ferber, Gouverneur Morris, Fanny Hurst, Mary Roberts Rinehart—not producing among ’em one story or novel that will last ten years."
It is hard to read through this novel because of the melodramatic and overly sentimental nature of the writing. Perhaps in the right hands, a wonderful screen play could be created, but alone the writing makes it clear why it hasn't stood the ravages of time.
tracey_stewart's review against another edition
3.0
This was kind of an odd one. I love Mary Roberts Rinehart – but this one was not quite up to where I expected it to be. Unfortunately it's one of those books where the unsolved mystery is more interesting than the solution. It's a great setup – rather dull lawyer fellow (with vivid best friend – I liked that the kind of boring one was the narrator) goes off to get some very important papers for a very important case, and on the train ride home has them stolen. And also comes in as the best suspect for a murder in his Pullman car. Luckily for him, the train suffers a horrific accident, so he has the chance to avoid immediate investigation, and also to fall in love – with his best friend's girl.
The writing is entertaining; characterization works, and all the red herrings and wrong suspects that litter the landscape make for a good yarn. Everything eventually pulls together and gets cleared up – and I admit to disappointment at the wrap-up. Sometimes the journey is just more fun than the destination.
One warning: this is very much of its time. In a couple of ways, actually – it startled me when the narrator talks about choosing a hansom cab; the involvement of the train made me think for some reason that it was a Golden Age book, from the forties or so. Then there's the line "Pittsburg without smoke wouldn't be Pittsburg, any more than New York without prohibition would be New York." So – Pittsburgh used to be spelled without the "H", and it's during Prohibition. Check.
But just in case you go into this thinking it's just a very well-written historical mystery that uses some great details to let you know when it's set – well, reality will hit you like the Ice Bucket Challenge when words are used to refer to non-white races that would probably not be used today, even by the most dedicated anti-anachronistic writer. Yeah. It was first published in 1909. Things were different then. It can be (to use a period-appropriate adjective) delightful – but it can be cringe-worthy as well. Which was also the case with a few remarks about women, too, which – come now, Ms. Rinehart.
The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review.
The writing is entertaining; characterization works, and all the red herrings and wrong suspects that litter the landscape make for a good yarn. Everything eventually pulls together and gets cleared up – and I admit to disappointment at the wrap-up. Sometimes the journey is just more fun than the destination.
One warning: this is very much of its time. In a couple of ways, actually – it startled me when the narrator talks about choosing a hansom cab; the involvement of the train made me think for some reason that it was a Golden Age book, from the forties or so. Then there's the line "Pittsburg without smoke wouldn't be Pittsburg, any more than New York without prohibition would be New York." So – Pittsburgh used to be spelled without the "H", and it's during Prohibition. Check.
But just in case you go into this thinking it's just a very well-written historical mystery that uses some great details to let you know when it's set – well, reality will hit you like the Ice Bucket Challenge when words are used to refer to non-white races that would probably not be used today, even by the most dedicated anti-anachronistic writer. Yeah. It was first published in 1909. Things were different then. It can be (to use a period-appropriate adjective) delightful – but it can be cringe-worthy as well. Which was also the case with a few remarks about women, too, which – come now, Ms. Rinehart.
The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review.
staticdisplay's review against another edition
3.0
I read this because I've been watching some classic movies (The Bat Whispers; The Bat) and I found out it was based on this author's writing. So this is listed as Miss Cornelia Van Gorder #1 which I have no idea where that is coming from because she definitely doesn't appear in this story, as far as I noticed. Anyway, this story is so strange: we're barely introduced to the main character, who tells us that he doesn't really know how to tell a story but here we go. So, we follow him through a mysterious meeting regarding some forged notes (we never learn too much about Bronson or his forgeries, but he's presented as fairly sinister), a train crash, and some investigations. There are several instances of casual racism which sucks and was my primary issue with this story; also didn't find the love story too interesting. Otherwise, the characters were fairly dynamic. There was a spooky moment in a seemingly abandoned mansion during a thunderstorm. The resolution was full of surprises!
dlmoldovan's review against another edition
3.0
Overall, I found this book enjoyable. But, it was a little too convoluted. The story was interesting, the characters were interesting, the mystery was interesting, but there were so many twists and turns that I wonder how in the world the author managed to keep it all straight herself. It did keep me from guessing who the murderer was, but took away part of my enjoyment in the book. And I have to say that I looked everywhere for her books, most of which have been out of print for years, and I managed to find them through Amazon Kindle. I don't like reading e-books, but when on vacation, they're perfect as I can't pack too many books with all the new weight restrictions.
monkreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
sarahelisewrites's review against another edition
3.0
A mystery where all signs point to... half the witnesses?
This was a convoluted story and not too interesting - but I'm near incapable at stopping a book, so I did make it to the end! It wrapped up well (and nicely for the characters), though never became particularly compelling.
This was a convoluted story and not too interesting - but I'm near incapable at stopping a book, so I did make it to the end! It wrapped up well (and nicely for the characters), though never became particularly compelling.