The first three Miss Silver Mysteries introduce the British governess-turned-sleuth and a “timelessly charming” series (Charlotte MacLeod). From a “first-rate storyteller,” here are three full-length mystery novels in one volume, set in England between the two world wars and featuring Maud Silver, a retired governess and teacher who embarks on a new career in private detection (The Daily … detection (The Daily Telegraph).
Grey Mask
After four years wandering the jungles of India and South America, Charles Moray has come home to England to collect his inheritance. Strangely, he finds his family estate unlocked and sees a light in one of its abandoned rooms. Eavesdropping, he learns of a conspiracy to commit a fearsome crime. His first instinct is to let the police settle it, but then he hears her voice: Margaret, his long lost love, is part of the gang. To unravel their diabolical plot, he contacts Miss Silver.
The Case Is Closed
Marion Grey is growing used to the idea that her husband will never be released from prison, especially after the horrors of the very public trial. But when new evidence suggests her husband may be innocent of murder after all, she hires a professional–the inimitable Miss Silver–to clear his name.
Lonesome Road
A terrified young woman asks Miss Silver for help unmasking someone who has threatened her life. Rachel Traherne has been receiving menacing letters about her deceased father’s fortune. The first two letters were vague; the third said simply, “Get ready to die.”
These charming traditional British mysteries featuring the unstoppable Miss Silver–whose stout figure, fondness for Tennyson, and passion for knitting disguise a keen intellect and a knack for cracking even the toughest cases–are sure to delight readers of Agatha Christie, Ellis Peters, and Dorothy L. Sayers.
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I love the Miss Silver Mysteries.
I was delighted to discover these lost gems from the Golden Age of Crime Fiction.
Patricia Wentworth’s thirty three novels about the exploits of one of literature’s first female private detectives have been over-shadowed by the books of Wentworth’s more famous sisters in crime. Yet they’re well-written, dramatic, full of engaging characters and usually provide the reader with a satisfying mystery to solve.
A retired governess turned private investigator, Miss Maud Silver dresses drably, knits like a demon and first appeared on the literary scene in 1927 – the same year as Jane Marple. But unlike Christie’s more famous sleuth, she’s a professional who runs her own agency. This is what attracted me to the series; my current work-in-progress, ‘Smoke and Cracked Mirrors’, is about two young women who do the same thing.
Every Miss Silver mystery has at its heart a romantic couple. This couple must and will unite by the end of the novel but have plenty of adventures before the denouement. Miss Silver herself, plays her cards close to her chest. She often doesn’t appear until a third of the way through the book but always pops up at the end to exhibit brilliant insight and explain how the murder was done.
Thoroughly recommended for anyone who enjoys Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers and Margery Allingham.
Miss Maud Silver is innocuous, unremarkable, and retiring. So she makes a perfect detective while masquerading behind her victorian hair and clothing, and hiding behind her knitting. Easily able to appear to be an impecunious spinster, a retired governess, or a maiden aunt, Miss Silver hides her keen intelligence, dry wit, intuitiveness, and her logical deductions from most of the people around her. People tend to confide in Miss Silver, particularly information they’ve revealed to no one else.
These first three books are a wonderful introduction to Patricia Wentworth’s style. The plotting is intricate, the prose is lyrical, the depth of characters is amazing, and the books are fun! Wentworth originally published in the 1950s, but the books are set from the 1920s through World War II. Period detail is accurate and plentiful, making the books even more enjoyable. Patricia Wentworth’s books are among the best I’ve ever read.
Miss Silvers is one of my all-time favorite characters and the series of books are excellent .
I absolutely LOVE the Miss Silver mysteries, but must confess that The Grey Mask, her first mystery, is my least favorite. If you haven’t encountered Miss Silver previously, I’d suggest starting with the 2nd mystery, and returning later to the first one. Her mysteries are such wonderfully classic mysteries and don’t need to be read in order to be enjoyed. Miss Silver sometimes features heavily in the mysteries, and in other books makes only brief appearances, but she and the other repeating characters are all very special, and make these mysteries a pleasure to read.
It was fun to read
I do enjoy the Miss Silver Mysteries. They can be a bit too wordy at times. The story seems to drag, but then they usually have an exciting turn that glues you to the pages. All in all very good mystery novels.
I enjoyed them
I’m a huge fan of Miss Maud Silver!
Such fabulous stories
I love her mysteries!
I’m a fan of Miss Marple and Miss Silver is kind of an heir to her…. fun cozies.
great fun classic mysteries
You have to like early English detective tales. I do; thus I enjoyed this book. Not for everyone, probably, but I found the stories highly entertaining. Will be reading more in the future.
Patricia Wentworth’s novel are always great. A glimpse of time long past, a view on kindness and always a very good mystery.
If you like British Cozies, this is a great one for you! Some of the characters aren’t exactly who they are purported to be, which makes for an interesting ending. This was a bundle, so there were several books in one, which made it a great deal. I like challenge in my cozies, but I do not like too much nail biting and gore. This fell well within what I can cope with.
Some of the best from one of the best ever.
I really like the Miss Silver mysteries. She is an original character and gets things done.
Just finished and this was a thoroughly enjoyable read!
Easy read of a time past.