Murder visits a seaside mansion in this gothic mystery from the #1 New York Times–bestselling author known as the American Agatha Christie. The house called Sunset has been Marcia’s summer home for her entire life. Both of her parents died there, and she and her brother spent their youth exploring its rambling hallways and seaside grounds. They love the old house, but Marcia’s sister-in-law has … Marcia’s sister-in-law has never taken to it. Juliette loathes the sea, and soon comes to loathe her husband, as well. After they divorce, Juliette pays a final visit to Sunset, demanding alimony. She is there for a few tense days before she disappears. It takes them a week to find her body.
The peace at Sunset has been shattered, and Marcia must work quickly to keep her beloved childhood home from being forever spoiled. Somewhere in the creaky old mansion, a murderer lurks. Will Marcia be accused of the crime? Or will she be the next victim?
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Mary Roberts Rhinehart was known as the American Agatha Christie. Her first book, The Circular Staircase, was published in 1908, twelve years before Christie’s first publication, and she continued publishing into the 1950’s. She published many novels, including two series with female protagonists, a number of short story collections, plays, nonfiction and a memoir. She was a foreign correspondent in WWI. In her mystery novels she often used the device of foreshadowing to hint at a looming disaster; a first person narrator would lament, for example, that a particular decision led to tragedy without making explicit the tragedy to follow. This device came to be known as the ‘Had I but known’ device. Used skillfully it increases suspense, but can tip over into melodramatic excess.
The Wall is an enjoyable read, perhaps a bit drawn out for modern tastes. But it’s enlightening to read significant earlier writers of detective fiction to gain a clearer understanding of the genre.
Love this writer and the time period she wrote her books…. I thought I had read everything until this jewel popped up
I completely enjoyed this book. It was well written, did not “talk down” to the reader and was intelligent. I would like to see more like this.
I loved this book as a throwback to the early 20th century. By today’s standards I don’t think it would be as popular, but it took me to a time and place when my grandparents were young. Loved the setting in a summer vacation colony.
It was very dated and simplistic. The heroine constantly had the “vapors”.
Very politically incorrect due to the year it was published. 1938.
A summer house during the great depression and a mystery that wasn’t easy to figure out. At lot of players and everyone had a reason to kill juliette.
An excellent writer, ageless book that keeps you interested. Enjoyed reading.
I would give it more stars if I could. I hadn’t read anything by MRR for years and years but now I remember why I always liked her. She’s a master storyteller.
This is a classic mystery author. Great writing
I could not put this book down.
A good read, but not up to her standards.
Although the world of rich New Englnders was hard to engage with, the characters were oddly intriguing. Felt like a window into a bygone era.
This is a fun, easy to read mystery! If you enjoy Agatha Christy you will enjoy this author!!
A nail bitter for sure. As always with Mary Roberts Rinehart, a great read if you like old fashioned mysteries set between the WW’s.
If you are unfamiliar with MRR this book is a great place to start. Her mysteries are always clever and her characters engaging. Her book “The Circular Staircase” is probably my favorite, but all her mysteries are very good.
Wonderful story, great plot.
This is a good book but I knew that because I love this author. It is dated in the fact it was written during the depression but it is still a good mystery and it will hold your attention or at least it held mine.
I love this author. I’ve bought her entire works. She writes of such an interesting time in our history. Very interesting for me to read of these times.
While it was an interesting murder mystery, I enjoyed the glimpse in to those particular times during the depression just before the war. The writing was very well done.