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Miss Silver #30
The Fingerprint
When she found the body of her beloved Uncle Jonathan, Georgina's mind went blank. Instinctively, she stooped to pick up the revolver, thus becoming the prime suspect. For Georgina stood to inherit a large fortune when her uncle died. But Uncle Jonathan had a second secret will and the beneficiary is the wide-eyed, seemingly innocent Mirrie Fields.
But there was also the puzzle of the missing fingerprint. It was the showpiece of Uncle Jonathan's collection and he enjoyed telling the story of how he had acquired it from a self-confessed murderer, who was still at large. When the old man was shot, the print had been torn from its album.
Was the missing fingerprint the clue to the murderer's identity? Maud Silver is determined to find out.
But there was also the puzzle of the missing fingerprint. It was the showpiece of Uncle Jonathan's collection and he enjoyed telling the story of how he had acquired it from a self-confessed murderer, who was still at large. When the old man was shot, the print had been torn from its album.
Was the missing fingerprint the clue to the murderer's identity? Maud Silver is determined to find out.
375 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1956
203 people are currently reading
421 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Wentworth
165 books525 followersPatricia Wentworth--born Dora Amy Elles--was a British crime fiction writer.
She was educated privately and at Blackheath High School in London. After the death of her first husband, George F. Dillon, in 1906, she settled in Camberley, Surrey. She married George Oliver Turnbull in 1920 and they had one daughter.
She wrote a series of 32 classic-style whodunnits featuring Miss Silver, the first of which was published in 1928, and the last in 1961, the year of her death.
Miss Silver, a retired governess-turned private detective, is sometimes compared to Jane Marple, the elderly detective created by Agatha Christie. She works closely with Scotland Yard, especially Inspector Frank Abbott and is fond of quoting the poet Tennyson.
Wentworth also wrote 34 books outside of that series.
She was educated privately and at Blackheath High School in London. After the death of her first husband, George F. Dillon, in 1906, she settled in Camberley, Surrey. She married George Oliver Turnbull in 1920 and they had one daughter.
She wrote a series of 32 classic-style whodunnits featuring Miss Silver, the first of which was published in 1928, and the last in 1961, the year of her death.
Miss Silver, a retired governess-turned private detective, is sometimes compared to Jane Marple, the elderly detective created by Agatha Christie. She works closely with Scotland Yard, especially Inspector Frank Abbott and is fond of quoting the poet Tennyson.
Wentworth also wrote 34 books outside of that series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
June 28, 2022
Mirrie, one of the secondary characters, is one of the most annoying characters ever. Sweetly manipulative, relies on the kindness of strangers, a liar, morally compromised, and just the sweetest little thing ever.
She sparkled at him for a moment, and then the lashes dropped. A very small foot drew circles on the polished floor.
‘Well – no – I had things to do and I didn’t get them finished, so I had to ask Georgina. She’s so good, but I’m afraid she was vexed. I mean, she’s so good about everything herself and I haven’t had a lot of practice, but I didn’t – oh, I really didn’t mean to make her late.’ Her voice trembled a little and the eyes were raised again.
Ugh. The Fingerprint is a solid whodunit from post-war England, but too many annoying characters.
Jonathon Field is the victim and deservedly so as he is an arrogant, quick tempered patriarch all too eager to throw the girl he has raised from a toddler under the bus for the doting twee Mirrie.
There are other stock characters here as in the martyr like ward, her bland but noble suitor, the annoying Aunt who talks about nothing, her roguish son who falls for Mirrie and Miss Silver. The mystery is good, but swamped by the feebleness and preciousness of the characters.
Recommend as more of a period piece/
She sparkled at him for a moment, and then the lashes dropped. A very small foot drew circles on the polished floor.
‘Well – no – I had things to do and I didn’t get them finished, so I had to ask Georgina. She’s so good, but I’m afraid she was vexed. I mean, she’s so good about everything herself and I haven’t had a lot of practice, but I didn’t – oh, I really didn’t mean to make her late.’ Her voice trembled a little and the eyes were raised again.
Ugh. The Fingerprint is a solid whodunit from post-war England, but too many annoying characters.
Jonathon Field is the victim and deservedly so as he is an arrogant, quick tempered patriarch all too eager to throw the girl he has raised from a toddler under the bus for the doting twee Mirrie.
There are other stock characters here as in the martyr like ward, her bland but noble suitor, the annoying Aunt who talks about nothing, her roguish son who falls for Mirrie and Miss Silver. The mystery is good, but swamped by the feebleness and preciousness of the characters.
Recommend as more of a period piece/
January 14, 2023
3,5 sterren - Nederlandse paperback
Quote: " Een heel ongewone hobby. Hij heeft de vingerafdrukken vsn iedereen due ooit bij hem heeft gelogeerd. Zijn versie van een gastenboek."-
Quote : Het lichaam is naar het mortuarium overgebracht maar er zijn foto's gemaakt. Hij is zeker vermoord, maar er is een poging gedaan om het op een zelfmoord te laten lijken.-
Quote:"Hij is leeg", zei ze. " ja, hij is leeg. Maar dat was hij niet, dat zou ik kunnen zweren. Twaalf dagen geleden, toen hij ons hierbinnen bracht en dat verhaal vertelde, lag de envelop op de plek waar hij het album opende en die was toen niet leeg. De aantekeningen, of wat het ook was, zat erin.-
De gepensioneerde gouvernante miss Silver lost met haar scherpe verstand de ingewikkeldste moordzaken op.
Patricia Wentworth, de auteur van de vingerafdruk was een tijdgenoten van Agatha Christie. Ze schreef haar eerste boek rond privedetective miss Silver twee jaar voordat Christie haar Miss Marple schiep.
Dat ze een tijdgenoot is betekend ook dat het ook een beetje een historische roman is. Als Downtown Abby, we hebben het over " twee aan twee aan de dinnertafel gaan. Dus fafelheer escorteert tafeldame of het dagpersoneel was al naar huis gegaan. Miss Silver is een gouvernante, gepensioneerd. Bestaat dat beroep nog of is het overgenomen door een au-pair?
Het heeft mij zeker wel geboeid en er zijn mooie en slechte personages en wat twisfs and turns.
Hij gaat nu weer terug naar de mini-bieb. Waar ik hem ook vond.
Quote: " Een heel ongewone hobby. Hij heeft de vingerafdrukken vsn iedereen due ooit bij hem heeft gelogeerd. Zijn versie van een gastenboek."-
Quote : Het lichaam is naar het mortuarium overgebracht maar er zijn foto's gemaakt. Hij is zeker vermoord, maar er is een poging gedaan om het op een zelfmoord te laten lijken.-
Quote:"Hij is leeg", zei ze. " ja, hij is leeg. Maar dat was hij niet, dat zou ik kunnen zweren. Twaalf dagen geleden, toen hij ons hierbinnen bracht en dat verhaal vertelde, lag de envelop op de plek waar hij het album opende en die was toen niet leeg. De aantekeningen, of wat het ook was, zat erin.-
De gepensioneerde gouvernante miss Silver lost met haar scherpe verstand de ingewikkeldste moordzaken op.
Patricia Wentworth, de auteur van de vingerafdruk was een tijdgenoten van Agatha Christie. Ze schreef haar eerste boek rond privedetective miss Silver twee jaar voordat Christie haar Miss Marple schiep.
Dat ze een tijdgenoot is betekend ook dat het ook een beetje een historische roman is. Als Downtown Abby, we hebben het over " twee aan twee aan de dinnertafel gaan. Dus fafelheer escorteert tafeldame of het dagpersoneel was al naar huis gegaan. Miss Silver is een gouvernante, gepensioneerd. Bestaat dat beroep nog of is het overgenomen door een au-pair?
Het heeft mij zeker wel geboeid en er zijn mooie en slechte personages en wat twisfs and turns.
Hij gaat nu weer terug naar de mini-bieb. Waar ik hem ook vond.
June 3, 2017
On the one hand, a very readable cozy mystery with solid writing and engaging characters. On the other hand, this would have to be the most repetitious book I've ever read. Every scene and conversation is recounted, recapped and rehashed a half a dozen times.
Really, this book could have been half the length that it is without all that padding, but then it would have been obvious that the plot is rather underdeveloped.
This is the 30th Miss Silver mystery, and the first one I've read. I imagine the earlier instalments are probably stronger than this one.
Really, this book could have been half the length that it is without all that padding, but then it would have been obvious that the plot is rather underdeveloped.
This is the 30th Miss Silver mystery, and the first one I've read. I imagine the earlier instalments are probably stronger than this one.
November 2, 2022
3.5*
This one was really interesting for various reasons:
I don’t know whether Miss Silver simply was not coughing as much or whether I just managed to ignore it, but it certainly didn’t irritate me as much as in previous books.
There were several elements that reminded me of Christie’s plots – most notably those of Sad Cypress and Towards Zero – but without it feeling like a bad copy of a better book. I really did not mind the similarities I saw. If anything, I was intrigued how Wentworth would handle similar scenarios. And for what it is worth, Wentworth treats her female characters different from Christie in the sense that Wentworth’s stories feel more romance-y, and that in itself was interesting to watch unfold.
This one was really interesting for various reasons:
I don’t know whether Miss Silver simply was not coughing as much or whether I just managed to ignore it, but it certainly didn’t irritate me as much as in previous books.
There were several elements that reminded me of Christie’s plots – most notably those of Sad Cypress and Towards Zero – but without it feeling like a bad copy of a better book. I really did not mind the similarities I saw. If anything, I was intrigued how Wentworth would handle similar scenarios. And for what it is worth, Wentworth treats her female characters different from Christie in the sense that Wentworth’s stories feel more romance-y, and that in itself was interesting to watch unfold.
January 21, 2024
Jonathan Field, a rich eccentric who likes to collect fingerprints, is murdered just after having made a new Will. Is the Will the motive, or is it the missing fingerprint, the one he alleged to have been that of a murderer? No doubt Miss Silver can find out.
A fairly entertaining story though the mystery part is a bit weak, the identity of both murderer and motive becoming clear fairly early on. The part I enjoyed most was the welcome return of Maggie Bell, who previously appeared in Eternity Ring, a disabled girl who entertains herself by listening in to other people’s phone conversations, and thus acquires a lot of interesting information. She is of great assistance to Miss Silver.
A fairly entertaining story though the mystery part is a bit weak, the identity of both murderer and motive becoming clear fairly early on. The part I enjoyed most was the welcome return of Maggie Bell, who previously appeared in Eternity Ring, a disabled girl who entertains herself by listening in to other people’s phone conversations, and thus acquires a lot of interesting information. She is of great assistance to Miss Silver.
April 28, 2015
I liked the story, and the mystery was quite good. The characters are great too!
But the writing is terribly repetitive. They repeat every single thing over and again as if assuming that the reader can't pay attention long enough to remember that, for instance, the heroine called the villain on the phone at half past eight on Tuesday night. I remember. I read it already. You don't have to remind me twenty times that she called him on Tuesday night.
But the writing is terribly repetitive. They repeat every single thing over and again as if assuming that the reader can't pay attention long enough to remember that, for instance, the heroine called the villain on the phone at half past eight on Tuesday night. I remember. I read it already. You don't have to remind me twenty times that she called him on Tuesday night.
June 14, 2019
3.5*
Very typical of the Miss Silver series, which I happen to enjoy.
Very typical of the Miss Silver series, which I happen to enjoy.
May 26, 2020
It starts out like it's going to be a retread of The Brading Collection but luckily changes tack. Another "bruising grip" from a man to a woman that lets her know he loves her 😒
July 14, 2017
Started out strong, but got very repetitive, and the villain is no surprise, though I held out hope for a twist .
Also came with its fair share of usual Wentworth eye-rolling characterizations, and a weird number of instances of snappy young men blowing kisses at their mothers when they're amused. Maybe that's something that happened now and again in this era, but it seemed overmuch.
That's not as bad as this part from the end, though, a sentiment that colors almost all of the relationships in Wentworth's books:
"He experienced a horrifying resurgence of the emotions of primitive man. There was nothing but a little matter of perhaps half a million centuries between him and the male creature who knocked his woman over the head with a lump of stone and dragged her senseless to their cave. A gratifying experience if there ever was one!"
Also came with its fair share of usual Wentworth eye-rolling characterizations, and a weird number of instances of snappy young men blowing kisses at their mothers when they're amused. Maybe that's something that happened now and again in this era, but it seemed overmuch.
That's not as bad as this part from the end, though, a sentiment that colors almost all of the relationships in Wentworth's books:
"He experienced a horrifying resurgence of the emotions of primitive man. There was nothing but a little matter of perhaps half a million centuries between him and the male creature who knocked his woman over the head with a lump of stone and dragged her senseless to their cave. A gratifying experience if there ever was one!"
December 20, 2017
This is a late Miss Silver, originally published in 1956, and is not of the best.It has a lot of the standard ingredients, a large country house, wills, beautiful heroine and tight-lipped hero, murder and secrets.
However, it is about as exciting and interesting as tepid ditchwater, full of unnecessary repetition, and depicting one of the most irritating female characters you will ever come across.
Frank Abbott could and should have solved this one pretty quickly without the late help of Miss Silver. The party-line listener-in was so obviously flagged up and was so well-known in the area that she had to have vital evidence.
Poor stuff as a mystery.Solution too long-winded and the ending not quite melodramatic enough.
However, it is about as exciting and interesting as tepid ditchwater, full of unnecessary repetition, and depicting one of the most irritating female characters you will ever come across.
Frank Abbott could and should have solved this one pretty quickly without the late help of Miss Silver. The party-line listener-in was so obviously flagged up and was so well-known in the area that she had to have vital evidence.
Poor stuff as a mystery.Solution too long-winded and the ending not quite melodramatic enough.
July 19, 2022
Almost a Five
I would have given this one a five star rating, but the character of Mirrie Field was too annoying to bear. Caressing sleeves and softly saying “Ohhhh” all the time with big eyes and being compared to a lost kitten over and over. Barf me out the door. If Mirrie Field had been an actual kitten, this book would’ve been much improved. That said, it was a good mystery and story.
I would have given this one a five star rating, but the character of Mirrie Field was too annoying to bear. Caressing sleeves and softly saying “Ohhhh” all the time with big eyes and being compared to a lost kitten over and over. Barf me out the door. If Mirrie Field had been an actual kitten, this book would’ve been much improved. That said, it was a good mystery and story.
October 29, 2022
This book is the sequel to "The Eternity Ring," merely because the setting and some minor characters are the same. Parts are repetitive, but the story is a lovely slice of life in the early 1950s--telephones and cars. Georgiana discovers her uncle's body and ends up as number one on the suspect list. She has a younger cousin recently introduced to the family scene, but fortunately, there are enough young men to go around.
December 16, 2021
This was supposed to be a play on Cinderella but the character in that role was too stupid to be believed and as a romance it fell completely flat. The secondary romance also fell flat. I guess since I'm complaining I'll go on and say that the mystery/murderer was obvious from page one. Overall a disappointing read from a series I adore.
February 21, 2020
Good read!
This is an intriguing Miss Silver case. As it happens, it is the last of the whole series for me. I shall miss the dear old girl. I have enjoyed Patricia Wentworth 's work immensely.
This is an intriguing Miss Silver case. As it happens, it is the last of the whole series for me. I shall miss the dear old girl. I have enjoyed Patricia Wentworth 's work immensely.
February 2, 2018
Another enjoyable book in the series. Miss Silver has become a very dear friend.
April 19, 2021
Impossible to read this story without wanting to throw the nauseating Mirrie right out a window.
May 30, 2024
I really liked this one more than previous ones because Frank and Miss Silver equally showed insight into solving the murder.
’The Jonathan Field – the fingerprint man?’
Regardless of grammar, Anthony Hallam said, ‘That’s him. Extraordinary hobby. He has the fingerprints of everyone who has ever stayed there – his version of a visitors’ book. I asked him whether some of them didn’t object, and he wagged a finger at me and said he would nourish the deepest suspicions of anyone who did.’
As they stood together, Mr. Vincent observed that he couldn’t imagine why anyone should want to collect fingerprints, to which Frank replied that it wouldn’t appeal to him personally, but he understood that Mr. Field’s collection was unique. Mr. Vincent fixed him with a dullish eye and enquired, ‘How do you mean unique? I should have thought the police collection would be that.’
‘Oh, the police only get the failures. They don’t touch the potential criminal or the chap who has never been found out. And that, of course, is where Mr. Field has the pull. He has been collecting for the last forty years or so, and he is so well known that it is quite a compliment to be asked for a contribution. In fact anyone who refused would be sticking out his neck and asking to be suspected of dabbling in crime.’
’The Jonathan Field – the fingerprint man?’
Regardless of grammar, Anthony Hallam said, ‘That’s him. Extraordinary hobby. He has the fingerprints of everyone who has ever stayed there – his version of a visitors’ book. I asked him whether some of them didn’t object, and he wagged a finger at me and said he would nourish the deepest suspicions of anyone who did.’
As they stood together, Mr. Vincent observed that he couldn’t imagine why anyone should want to collect fingerprints, to which Frank replied that it wouldn’t appeal to him personally, but he understood that Mr. Field’s collection was unique. Mr. Vincent fixed him with a dullish eye and enquired, ‘How do you mean unique? I should have thought the police collection would be that.’
‘Oh, the police only get the failures. They don’t touch the potential criminal or the chap who has never been found out. And that, of course, is where Mr. Field has the pull. He has been collecting for the last forty years or so, and he is so well known that it is quite a compliment to be asked for a contribution. In fact anyone who refused would be sticking out his neck and asking to be suspected of dabbling in crime.’
March 14, 2020
Jonathan Field had raised his niece Georgina since she was a baby. Clearly, she was to be his heir. Then he finds Mirrie, his cousin's penniless daughter, and takes her into his manor as well. Soon he feels his allegiance shift. He won't believe that Georgina doesn't care about his money, especially since the man she loves is too proud to marry a wealthy woman. Field makes a new will and then is found dead, with the will burnt--leaving Georgina as the logical culprit. Fortunately, Miss Silver is visiting the neighbors, and doesn't think logic should omit the character of the suspect. And Mirrie may have met some strange people when she was a woebegone orphan...
January 7, 2018
I love miss silver but this is the scrapings off of the bottom of the pan. luckily I’ve learned a harsh lesson from Christie and am reading the later ones before the ones in the middle.
October 10, 2023
On rereading, I've downgraded this to 3 stars, chiefly due to the total obnoxiousness of one character!
Jonathan Field disinherits his niece, Georgina, because he believes the accusations made against her by an anonymous letter writer. Later that day, he is murdered. The killer is obvious right from the start - in fact, so obvious, that with most other novelists, you'd be expecting a shock twist at the end, but being a Wentworth novel, of course, we don't get that! But I don't really read Miss Silver novels for the plot, more for the characters.
And this is where the novel is let down. There are too many unpleasant people in this book. For a start, I have no sympathy with our 'murderee' who is happy to believe anonymous accusations against a young woman he has known since childhood. Our heroine's young man doesn't want to marry a woman with money, so he blows hot and cold throughout the novel, depending on whether he thinks Georgina is wealthy or not. Presumably, we're supposed to find this touching, but I found it infuriating - what kind of guy is only willing to stick with his girl when she's a pauper and dumps her whenever he thinks she might be well off?
And then we have Mirrie Field, the long-lost cousin in whose favour Georgina is disinherited.
The final weakness of the plot is that, while it is obvious to the police and to Miss Silver who is the murderer, the end part drags on for pages. I suspect she was trying to write more of a thriller than usual, but it really doesn't work.
This completes my rereading of the Miss Silver cannon. I've only retained those novels which rated 4 stars or more on rereading, which were half of the total novels in the series. There is definitely a marked falling-off toward the end, so if you are new to her work, I'd start in the middle - or if near the beginning, definitely skip the first and fourth novels!
Jonathan Field disinherits his niece, Georgina, because he believes the accusations made against her by an anonymous letter writer. Later that day, he is murdered. The killer is obvious right from the start - in fact, so obvious, that with most other novelists, you'd be expecting a shock twist at the end, but being a Wentworth novel, of course, we don't get that! But I don't really read Miss Silver novels for the plot, more for the characters.
And this is where the novel is let down. There are too many unpleasant people in this book. For a start, I have no sympathy with our 'murderee' who is happy to believe anonymous accusations against a young woman he has known since childhood. Our heroine's young man doesn't want to marry a woman with money, so he blows hot and cold throughout the novel, depending on whether he thinks Georgina is wealthy or not. Presumably, we're supposed to find this touching, but I found it infuriating - what kind of guy is only willing to stick with his girl when she's a pauper and dumps her whenever he thinks she might be well off?
And then we have Mirrie Field, the long-lost cousin in whose favour Georgina is disinherited.
The final weakness of the plot is that, while it is obvious to the police and to Miss Silver who is the murderer, the end part drags on for pages. I suspect she was trying to write more of a thriller than usual, but it really doesn't work.
This completes my rereading of the Miss Silver cannon. I've only retained those novels which rated 4 stars or more on rereading, which were half of the total novels in the series. There is definitely a marked falling-off toward the end, so if you are new to her work, I'd start in the middle - or if near the beginning, definitely skip the first and fourth novels!
October 7, 2024
Le vieux Jonathan Field vient de retrouver Mirrie, une nièce dont il ignorait l'existence. Il l'installe dans sa maison, la confie à Georgina, son autre nièce et... les ennuis commencent ! Une lettre anonyme vient accuser Georgina de négliger Mirrie. Jonathan s'emporte contre Georgina et la déshérite au profit de Mirrie. On le retrouve assassiné quelques jours plus tard. L'inspecteur Abbott soupçonne fortement Georgina. Mais Miss Silver, la redoutable vieille fille détective, séjourne dans la région et accepte de se charger de l'affaire. Son art de recueillir les confidences, sa lucidité et son étonnante perspicacité seront bien nécessaire pour résoudre ce mystère.Un ton typiquement anglais ou les détails les plus quotidiens, une fleur à un chapeau, la couleur d'un manteau, revêtent une importance et une saveur inimitable.
Je viens de lire plusieurs critiques et j'ai lu que La trace dans l'ombre n'est pas le meilleur ouvrage de Patricia Wentworth. Cela confirme mon ressenti quant à la lecture de ce roman.
Je n'ai pas du tout aimé cette histoire que j'ai trouvée très mièvre, les personnages sont cucul la praline et peu développées. On y ajoute deux romances à l'eau de rose et une intrigue où on devine rapidement qui est le meurtrier et le tour est joué.
Je viens de lire plusieurs critiques et j'ai lu que La trace dans l'ombre n'est pas le meilleur ouvrage de Patricia Wentworth. Cela confirme mon ressenti quant à la lecture de ce roman.
Je n'ai pas du tout aimé cette histoire que j'ai trouvée très mièvre, les personnages sont cucul la praline et peu développées. On y ajoute deux romances à l'eau de rose et une intrigue où on devine rapidement qui est le meurtrier et le tour est joué.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2017
Free | Trying too hard to be modern, and one truly awful female character | My biggest complaint is actually that Frank Abbott doesn't act in character. He isn't normally so insistent on the guilt of any one person based on circumstantial evidence, or so jaded and suspicious. For him to still say he's nurturing suspicions long after that character's motive had been washed out is not in tune with the Frank of the other books. There's also an astonishing amount of repetition. The series does tend that way, but this is at a whole new level. And in an attempt to fit the times we have a bad boy with a flick knife who steals cars, robs jewelry stores, and has about a dozen girls on the string. It was nice to revisit characters from Eternity Ring, though.
March 8, 2022
This could also be termed as The Red Herring... used by the murderer to cover up the real reason for Jonathan Field's murder. Field had two nieces, though Georgina was for a longtime been considered his heir until he found Mirrie. Considering the slums... the poverty and the pervading shadow of criminal elements usually found in such places within urban settings... the lack of education and other paucities that the girl had come from... it was inevitable that one could suspect that the threat would come from that quarter.
September 21, 2023
It was a fun little story. I guessed right away who the murderer was, but my mistake was in thinking there were 2. Mirrie drove me crazy. I don't see how a normal sane person could put up with all her little simperings. She acted like a tween, not a teen. She was either sobbing uncontrollably, which was most of the time, or batting her long eyelashes.
January 21, 2024
Not very mysterious
The killer was obvious and all if it was Merrie fluttering her eyelashes and chasing the murderer in ineffective ways. It was almost that frank and Miss Silver weren’t written about. And the fingerprints Miss Silver mentions? Too little too late.
The killer was obvious and all if it was Merrie fluttering her eyelashes and chasing the murderer in ineffective ways. It was almost that frank and Miss Silver weren’t written about. And the fingerprints Miss Silver mentions? Too little too late.
Want to read
February 26, 2019Synopsis: uncle Jonathan has been murdered and Maud Silver is determined to find out why a fingerprint is missing.
April 1, 2024
Down to the last three of Wentworth's Miss Silver mysteries. Have been on a hiatus from them for several months. It was very comforting to get back into her world.
While some of the other GR reviewers thought the plot too simple, too obvious, Mirrie too too obnoxious with her manipulations, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Many of the mysteries are predictable, and Wentworth has her romantic formula in most of them, but they are a comfortable escape. I also read these as much for Maud's relationship with Frank Abbott as well as to get more into his psyche. Wentworth never delves that deeply into anyone's psyche, but "delve" is a relative term anyway in some of these Golden Age cozy mysteries. A reader has to look for snippets. This title did not disappoint in this. This murder involved some family members of Frank's, and at a social event, one of the members teased Frank about a woman named Susan from a much earlier case in whom Frank did seem to have a love interest. And given Frank's landed gentry upbringing, it is always interesting to see how close and affectionate he is with Miss Silver and how he does value her opinions.
Wentworth loves her Tennyson quotes, and sometimes I have to look up other terms I am not familiar with. This book included the phrase "cocked a snook." I had to look it up to see that it means to "make a gesture by putting one's thumb to one's nose and wagging the fingers" at someone--mocking them, in other words. Interesting.
While some of the other GR reviewers thought the plot too simple, too obvious, Mirrie too too obnoxious with her manipulations, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Many of the mysteries are predictable, and Wentworth has her romantic formula in most of them, but they are a comfortable escape. I also read these as much for Maud's relationship with Frank Abbott as well as to get more into his psyche. Wentworth never delves that deeply into anyone's psyche, but "delve" is a relative term anyway in some of these Golden Age cozy mysteries. A reader has to look for snippets. This title did not disappoint in this. This murder involved some family members of Frank's, and at a social event, one of the members teased Frank about a woman named Susan from a much earlier case in whom Frank did seem to have a love interest. And given Frank's landed gentry upbringing, it is always interesting to see how close and affectionate he is with Miss Silver and how he does value her opinions.
Wentworth loves her Tennyson quotes, and sometimes I have to look up other terms I am not familiar with. This book included the phrase "cocked a snook." I had to look it up to see that it means to "make a gesture by putting one's thumb to one's nose and wagging the fingers" at someone--mocking them, in other words. Interesting.
September 29, 2020
The book begins with confirmed bachelor and Scotland Yard Detective Inspector Frank Abbott getting an invitation to a country estate. Miss Silver's favorite policeman brings the story to Wentworth's typical manor house peopled with a typical house party. We get quite a bit of Frank's family in this one, characters from a previous story: “The Eternity Ring”.
As with all these latter books in the Miss Silver series, I have the impression they were written by a ghostwriter, who copied from earlier books, and imitated Wentworth's expressions and style. Characters recur, situations repeat, phrases ring bells, descriptions are the same as in previous books. It is all entertaining enough, just not very original if you've read the other books in the series.
Like earlier books in the series, Miss Silver enters the story quite late in the game. It is nearly the halfway point when she enters the story, and that is when the heavy repetition begins and long discussions of evidence. That can be tiresome.
As with all these latter books in the Miss Silver series, I have the impression they were written by a ghostwriter, who copied from earlier books, and imitated Wentworth's expressions and style. Characters recur, situations repeat, phrases ring bells, descriptions are the same as in previous books. It is all entertaining enough, just not very original if you've read the other books in the series.
Like earlier books in the series, Miss Silver enters the story quite late in the game. It is nearly the halfway point when she enters the story, and that is when the heavy repetition begins and long discussions of evidence. That can be tiresome.
May 24, 2025
If you are new to the Miss Silver series, let me assure you that this elderly ex-governess turned private detective can give Miss Marple a good run for her money. This particular novel, 'The Fingerprint', is an engaging murder mystery which draws the reader in right from the start. The characters, including the murder victim, are interesting and an added bonus is the extent to which Miss Silver is involved in the plotline. In spite of red herrings - a term of which Miss Silver disapproves! - I felt that a major element of the denouement was all too obvious, but I do read a lot of murder mysteries and detective novels. However, overall it was an enjoyable read to which I was always eager to return.
As usual with this series, I chose to listen to the audiobook, which probably needed to be edited a little more thoroughly, since the narration fell slightly short of the usual standard.
As usual with this series, I chose to listen to the audiobook, which probably needed to be edited a little more thoroughly, since the narration fell slightly short of the usual standard.
July 5, 2021
Frank Abbott gets us started in this story, and I love when he shows up! His friendship with Miss Silver always gives me a smile, and it's nice to see him call her in for assistance. While visiting his friend Jonathan Field at Field End, a niece finds Jonathan dead - having committed suicide, and Frank is not convinced this is the case. He calls in Miss Silver to help him.
With her usual determination and perseverance, Miss Silver finds out pieces of information that build a picture leading to the killer. It wasn't suicide, and the murderer might go free if Miss Silver doesn't work carefully. The red-herrings, Frank's support, and Miss Silver's charm make this another lovely read.
With her usual determination and perseverance, Miss Silver finds out pieces of information that build a picture leading to the killer. It wasn't suicide, and the murderer might go free if Miss Silver doesn't work carefully. The red-herrings, Frank's support, and Miss Silver's charm make this another lovely read.
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