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Hildegarde Withers #9
Miss Withers Regrets
To clear a veteran’s name, Miss Withers investigates a society murder
The war in Europe is over, and America’s fighting men are coming home. Lieutenant Pat Montague spent the war dreaming of a return to his beloved: society princess Helen Abbott. But when Uncle Sam finally lets him go, Pat finds that Helen has become Mrs. Huntley Cairns, and he has nothing to return to at all.
He goes to see Helen at the Cairns mansion, only to stumble upon his rival’s murdered corpse. The jealous soldier is the obvious suspect, but Pat’s friends know he is innocent, and entreat Hildegarde Withers — elementary school teacher and talented sleuth—to clear his name. Huntley was rumored to be involved in the black market, and Miss Withers soon discovers his killer was far more sinister than a soldier with a grudge.
Miss Withers Regrets is part of the Hildegarde Withers Mysteries series, which also includes The Penguin Pool Murder and Murder on the Blackboard.
The war in Europe is over, and America’s fighting men are coming home. Lieutenant Pat Montague spent the war dreaming of a return to his beloved: society princess Helen Abbott. But when Uncle Sam finally lets him go, Pat finds that Helen has become Mrs. Huntley Cairns, and he has nothing to return to at all.
He goes to see Helen at the Cairns mansion, only to stumble upon his rival’s murdered corpse. The jealous soldier is the obvious suspect, but Pat’s friends know he is innocent, and entreat Hildegarde Withers — elementary school teacher and talented sleuth—to clear his name. Huntley was rumored to be involved in the black market, and Miss Withers soon discovers his killer was far more sinister than a soldier with a grudge.
Miss Withers Regrets is part of the Hildegarde Withers Mysteries series, which also includes The Penguin Pool Murder and Murder on the Blackboard.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1947
35 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
About the author
Stuart Palmer
91 books31 followersPseudonyms Theodore Orchards, Jay Stewart
Stuart Palmer (1905–1968) was an American author of mysteries. Born in Baraboo, Wisconsin, Palmer worked a number of odd jobs—including apple picking, journalism, and copywriting—before publishing his first novel, the crime drama Ace of Jades, in 1931. It was with his second novel, however, that he established his writing career: The Penguin Pool Murder introduced Hildegarde Withers, a schoolmarm who, on a field trip to the New York Aquarium, discovers a dead body in the pool. Withers was an immensely popular character, and went on to star in thirteen more novels, including Miss Withers Regrets (1947) and Nipped in the Bud (1951). A master of intricate plotting, Palmer found success writing for Hollywood, where several of his books, including The Penguin Pool Murder, were filmed by RKO Pictures Inc.
Stuart Palmer (1905–1968) was an American author of mysteries. Born in Baraboo, Wisconsin, Palmer worked a number of odd jobs—including apple picking, journalism, and copywriting—before publishing his first novel, the crime drama Ace of Jades, in 1931. It was with his second novel, however, that he established his writing career: The Penguin Pool Murder introduced Hildegarde Withers, a schoolmarm who, on a field trip to the New York Aquarium, discovers a dead body in the pool. Withers was an immensely popular character, and went on to star in thirteen more novels, including Miss Withers Regrets (1947) and Nipped in the Bud (1951). A master of intricate plotting, Palmer found success writing for Hollywood, where several of his books, including The Penguin Pool Murder, were filmed by RKO Pictures Inc.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 17, 2025
Have really enjoyed this series. Why not give it a try!
September 28, 2017
The Miss Withers mysteries are most definitely a case of "more is more." The more I read Miss Withers' adventures, the more I enjoy them. And, through reading other GoodReads reviews, I have jut learned that these period mysteries were made in to films---can't wait to check those out.
Miss Withers is not going to appeal to all mystery fans:
. . . she is a nosy amateur who has no earthly reason to be barging in on police investigations;
. . . the stories are most unlikely (for the above reason); but,
. . . she is bright, self-aware, and no-nonsense.
When all this is combined with stories written c. 1940---they are supremely appealing to me.
Miss Withers is not going to appeal to all mystery fans:
. . . she is a nosy amateur who has no earthly reason to be barging in on police investigations;
. . . the stories are most unlikely (for the above reason); but,
. . . she is bright, self-aware, and no-nonsense.
When all this is combined with stories written c. 1940---they are supremely appealing to me.
December 14, 2022
"The end of war's uncertain." (William Shakespeare)
For the victors, armistice should be a time of relief and rejoicing. But, as Miss Withers observes shrewdly, the coming of peace doesn't instantly dispel the emotional strain and social upheaval of a long, brutal war. Families have lost loved ones. Everyone is aware that the victory came at a terrible cost. Most of all, young men who have been engaged in the violence of warfare are coming home. Life has gone on without them and even those who love them can't understand what they've been through and how they've changed.
Pat Montague has survived, but the prize he fought for (the love of beautiful Helen Abbott) is no longer his. Helen has married an unattractive, but successful businessman and is living the life of a rich socialite. Her former lover is determined to see her one more time, but the person he sees is her husband. And her husband is at the bottom of their showy swimming pool. He's not holding his breath.
The local sheriff is quick to call for help from the NYPD. Inspector Oscar Piper can deal with the crime without worrying about offending powerful local people. Sheriff Vinge doesn't want a murder to go unpunished, but he doesn't want to lose his next election, either.
Piper arrives to find that his old frenemy Miss Hildegarde Withers already neck-deep in the mystery. She's retired from school-teaching AND amateur detective work, but her streak of curiosity is too wide to keep her on the sidelines, especially when she's convinced the police are on the wrong track. Piper sees only The Eternal Triangle - two men in love with the same woman and the loser taking revenge against the winner. Miss Withers wants to know more about the suspicious activities of those who were present at the house-warming when the host decided to take a swim.
The household includes Helen's father and younger sister. The two sisters are polar opposites and Miss Withers wonders why the father seems determined to believe evil of his younger daughter. She's not a charmer like her sister, but her childish rebellions hardly justify her father's harsh opinion of her. Furthermore, she loves her horse and is kind to him. An animal-lover, Hildy gives Miss Lawn Abbott full credit for that.
A local cabal has already tried to get Miss Withers to do some investigating for them. She turned them down, but the retired Naval commander and his wife, the middle-aged doctor, the mismatched young couple, and the cheerful lawyer have something on their minds. Did that something lead to the death of Huntley Cairns? And who IS Cairns and what is the secretive business that made him rich?
As always, watching Hildy and Oscar duke it out while investigating a murder is great fun. Palmer lived a "full life" himself, having been married four or five times. He knew (none better) about squabbling couples and he doesn't limit his humor to his two main characters. One exchange between Mr and Mrs Beale in the throes of wicked hang-overs is particularly memorable.
The identity of the murderer was and wasn't a surprise to me. Like an ethical mystery writer, this author furnished the clues if the reader is clever enough to interpret them. I think this is one of the best in this series and that's saying a great deal.
PS Watch out for a cameo appearance by a character from another series I love. Craig Rice claimed that she based her hard-drinking, womanizing Chicago lawyer on her friend Stuart Palmer. But what would he be doing in New York state? And as Oscar Piper demands indignantly, is he even LICENSED to practice in New York?
For the victors, armistice should be a time of relief and rejoicing. But, as Miss Withers observes shrewdly, the coming of peace doesn't instantly dispel the emotional strain and social upheaval of a long, brutal war. Families have lost loved ones. Everyone is aware that the victory came at a terrible cost. Most of all, young men who have been engaged in the violence of warfare are coming home. Life has gone on without them and even those who love them can't understand what they've been through and how they've changed.
Pat Montague has survived, but the prize he fought for (the love of beautiful Helen Abbott) is no longer his. Helen has married an unattractive, but successful businessman and is living the life of a rich socialite. Her former lover is determined to see her one more time, but the person he sees is her husband. And her husband is at the bottom of their showy swimming pool. He's not holding his breath.
The local sheriff is quick to call for help from the NYPD. Inspector Oscar Piper can deal with the crime without worrying about offending powerful local people. Sheriff Vinge doesn't want a murder to go unpunished, but he doesn't want to lose his next election, either.
Piper arrives to find that his old frenemy Miss Hildegarde Withers already neck-deep in the mystery. She's retired from school-teaching AND amateur detective work, but her streak of curiosity is too wide to keep her on the sidelines, especially when she's convinced the police are on the wrong track. Piper sees only The Eternal Triangle - two men in love with the same woman and the loser taking revenge against the winner. Miss Withers wants to know more about the suspicious activities of those who were present at the house-warming when the host decided to take a swim.
The household includes Helen's father and younger sister. The two sisters are polar opposites and Miss Withers wonders why the father seems determined to believe evil of his younger daughter. She's not a charmer like her sister, but her childish rebellions hardly justify her father's harsh opinion of her. Furthermore, she loves her horse and is kind to him. An animal-lover, Hildy gives Miss Lawn Abbott full credit for that.
A local cabal has already tried to get Miss Withers to do some investigating for them. She turned them down, but the retired Naval commander and his wife, the middle-aged doctor, the mismatched young couple, and the cheerful lawyer have something on their minds. Did that something lead to the death of Huntley Cairns? And who IS Cairns and what is the secretive business that made him rich?
As always, watching Hildy and Oscar duke it out while investigating a murder is great fun. Palmer lived a "full life" himself, having been married four or five times. He knew (none better) about squabbling couples and he doesn't limit his humor to his two main characters. One exchange between Mr and Mrs Beale in the throes of wicked hang-overs is particularly memorable.
The identity of the murderer was and wasn't a surprise to me. Like an ethical mystery writer, this author furnished the clues if the reader is clever enough to interpret them. I think this is one of the best in this series and that's saying a great deal.
PS Watch out for a cameo appearance by a character from another series I love. Craig Rice claimed that she based her hard-drinking, womanizing Chicago lawyer on her friend Stuart Palmer. But what would he be doing in New York state? And as Oscar Piper demands indignantly, is he even LICENSED to practice in New York?
December 7, 2022
She was very scattered
Hildegard made SO many mistakes this book. Sure she solved it, but it was almost as if she went through every permutation until she finally landed on the right one. And that Oscar let her get away with it all! Shameful.
Hildegard made SO many mistakes this book. Sure she solved it, but it was almost as if she went through every permutation until she finally landed on the right one. And that Oscar let her get away with it all! Shameful.
March 16, 2025
Miss Withers Outstanding Sleuth (Again)
Miss Withers Mysteries are such an enjoyable read! The mysteries keep you guessing until the end. The banter between Inspector Oliver Piper and Miss Withers is so funny.
Miss Withers Mysteries are such an enjoyable read! The mysteries keep you guessing until the end. The banter between Inspector Oliver Piper and Miss Withers is so funny.
March 10, 2021
Another excellent Miss Withers mystery. Interesting characters, good plot that moves along, with the customary set of red herrings for Hildegarde to sort through. A nice twist at the end too.
December 9, 2023
Buen desenlace, una de las mejores novelas de Palmer. Si bien el asesino es previsible, la explicación final es impecable.
June 12, 2011
I discovered author Stuart Palmer after watching a vintage movie on television. He wrote mysteries in the 1930s and 1940s which featured Miss Withers, a mystery-solving school teacher. I was so taken with the movie, The Penguin Pool Murder, that I did a little research and found he's written a whole series. Miss Hildegarde Withers is a no-nonsense woman with a sense of humor and an eye for detail.
This particular story was written post World War II, and Miss Withers has retired from the teaching profession. A very wealthy man has drowned in his swimming pool, and a returning serviceman is taking the blame. Although Miss Withers is the reason the veteran is arrested, she believes he is innocent. Surprisingly, her own tropical fish tank offers her some clues as to what happened. Not everyone is glad that this teacher won't mind her own business.
So far, all of the Miss Withers books have been very entertaining.
This particular story was written post World War II, and Miss Withers has retired from the teaching profession. A very wealthy man has drowned in his swimming pool, and a returning serviceman is taking the blame. Although Miss Withers is the reason the veteran is arrested, she believes he is innocent. Surprisingly, her own tropical fish tank offers her some clues as to what happened. Not everyone is glad that this teacher won't mind her own business.
So far, all of the Miss Withers books have been very entertaining.
August 3, 2023
This is the first post-WWII novel with Miss Withers.
A veteran comes back to his home town to confront his former fiance, who has married a rich war profiteer. Of course, the profiteer is murdered, and the veteran is the primary suspect.
Miss Withers doesn't want to get involved, but does, once she bonds with the defense lawyer over tropical fish.
I can't say this is the best book in the series. I don't think Palmer really understands the change after WWII yet. Still, better than a lot of books.
A veteran comes back to his home town to confront his former fiance, who has married a rich war profiteer. Of course, the profiteer is murdered, and the veteran is the primary suspect.
Miss Withers doesn't want to get involved, but does, once she bonds with the defense lawyer over tropical fish.
I can't say this is the best book in the series. I don't think Palmer really understands the change after WWII yet. Still, better than a lot of books.
May 31, 2014
Having seen the old movies based on the series, I wanted to read the books. According to TCM, the author was more popular than Agatha Christie in his time.
The book is funny, easy to read, with nice twists. It's also fun to read about that time period since styles and manners are so different.
The book is funny, easy to read, with nice twists. It's also fun to read about that time period since styles and manners are so different.
January 12, 2014
great series
August 29, 2020
Not nearly as good as the early books in this series, but not bad.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews