Withering Heights

Ellie Haskell Mystery #11

by Dorothy Cannell

One dark and stormy night, Ellie’s precocious thirteen-year-old niece turns up at Merlin Court. Ariel has run away from home — and Ellie must take her back to her parents in Yorkshire.

But Ariel’s family live at spooky Withering Heights, a crumbling old mansion home to some rather strange goings-on . . .

First, the kindly cook, Mrs Cake, falls down the stairs.
Then the visiting vicar dies in the middle of drinking a cup of tea.
And there are rumours that a mysterious villain is stalking the halls of Withering Heights, seeking revenge . . .

It’s up to Gothic romance addict Ellie to get to the bottom of these sinister events — before anyone else meets a sticky end.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Classics, Cozy Mystery, Humor, Cozy, British Literature

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

(from Fantastic Fiction online)

Dorothy Cannell was born in London, England, and now lives in Belfast, Maine. Dorothy Cannell writes mysteries featuring Ellie Haskell, interior decorator and Ben Haskell, writer and chef, and Hyacinth and Primrose Tramwell, a pair of dotty sisters and owners of the Flowers Detection Agency.

(from Internet Book List)

Dorothy Cannell, a mother of four, grandmother of ten, and owner of a King Charles Spaniel, was born in England and moved to the United States when she was twenty. After living in Peoria, Illinois, for years, she and her husband recently moved to Belfast, Maine. Her first Ellie Haskell novel, The Thin Woman, was selected as one of the 100 Favorite Mysteries of the Twentieth Century by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association.

Reviews

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A woman who reads too many Gothic mysteries is called to solve a mystery that takes place in a castle. She and several of the other characters get sucked into a gothic narrative that may not match reality.

Some fun parts, but doesn't quite have the stuff to be excellent.

[Chelsea Salisbury · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty slow book, I almost didn't finish it.

[Elliebobellie · Rating 1 out of 5]

could not get passed the fact that my name was in it so I dropped the book

[Lisa (Harmonybites) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Admittedly, I've found that the so-called "cozy mystery" isn't my cuppa. Particularly in a series. Agatha Christie is so clever in plotting, I can forgive that her Miss Marple stumbles into one homicide after another. I'm less forgiving with other books featuring amateur detectives and including cute cats or delicious recipes isn't enough.

No particular gimmick that I could note graces this series featuring interior decorator Ellie Haskell "blissfully married to the handsomest man outside a gothic novel, with three lively children" and a cat. The Thin Woman is the first, but the earliest book I could find in bookstores is Withering Heights. (Is that it then? A literary allusion as extended metaphor? In this case the Brontes?) I just found this so annoying from the first, and I couldn't put my finger on it exactly until one paragraph on page 22 that so got on my nerves I couldn't take it anymore. Here--sometimes a quote is worth a thousand reviews:

Such a pity! Ben had, without raising a dark sardonic eyebrow in my direction, reminded me why I had known on first meeting him that there would be no joy in my remaining an unattached overweight female with a bunch of finely tuned neuroses. So much had happened since. I no longer needed two mirrors to get a good look at myself. But I still thrilled to the image of him striding across the moors with the wind whipping his black hair to a wild tangle. The intent set of his shadowed jaw, the opal fire of his blue-green eyes, and the way his mouth curved in wry amusement all mocked the impudent folly of the elements in enlisting him as a opponent.

Blech. The writing reeks of romance aisle. No way I could take over 200 hundred more pages of that.

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven’t read any of Dorothy Cannell’s books before but I must say I found it a lighthearted and sometimes laugh out loud change of pace. I completely enjoyed the book, however implausible it may be, that is part of the fun. Ellie obviously has a rich imagination and a problem with drifting off into her own scenarios in her mind with the slightest trigger, into a world of gothic romance fiction with herself as the main character. Her partner in crime solving is the irrepressible and ever helpful Mrs. Malloy, her housekeeper. This time out, Ellie’s husband Ben’s twice-married cousin has won the lottery. His daughter Ariel from his first marriage shows up at the house in a anxious state and begs Ellie to come to Yorkshire to Cragstone House where the family has quietly moved since winning. There are many strange events happening. Of course the mansion is spooky on entering to add to the mystique. Disappearances, sudden “accidental” deaths, a bit of “gaslight” all add up to a delightful light romp solving the mystery. Very entertaining and funny, I loved Dorothy Cannell’s writing, wit, and old-fashioned plot with modern twists. I will definitely read more of her books, especially between “heavy” reads, what a relief she will be.

[Federica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that Withering Heights is a beautiful novel with great character development and an intriguing story line that will want you to never put the book down.

[Rachel N. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ellie Haskell and her husband Ben have just sent their three children off to his parents for the week when the 13 year old daughter of Ben's cousin shows up at their house. Her dad and stepmother won the lottery and moved to a mansion in Yorkshire. Ariel, the 13 year old, is concerned about strange events at the house and wants Ellie to investigate. Coincidentally Ellie and Ben's housekeeper has an estranged sister in the same town as Ariel's parents so the 3 of them decide to drive Ariel back home. Then Ben is roped into staying and helping out with a fete planned at the mansion in a few days.

I do like this series though it's been awhile since I read the previous entry. There is a lot going on in this book over not too many pages while it still managed to drag in spots with Ellie worrying about Ben and if he's attracted to another women. They have been together for 9 years in this book, she really just needs to talk to him. I do plan on reading the last 2 books in the series. The first book, The Thin Women, is especially good in my opinion.

[Evelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am new to this series, but when I found this book at a used bookstore, I decided to give it a try. Ellie Haskell is an interior decorator, and her husband Ben is a chef. By coincidence, Ellie plans a trip to Yorkshire to help her housekeeper Mrs. Malloy to reconcile with her estranged sister. Then, that same night, her husband's young cousin Ariel turns up asking for her help with a mystery. The family has moved to Yorkshire after winning the lottery to escape unwanted attention. Though I found many of the characters to be colorful, I wasn't a fan overall. Ariel could be annoying at times with her rudeness to her stepmother. Ben seemed to be oblivious to events on occasion. I enjoyed the ending, but it did seem to come all at once and tied things up too nicely. I wonder how the first ten books are. I jumped in midstream and had no real background for them.

[Anbumalar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good one particularly the plot with all the characters justified in a single chapter is remarkable. I guessed the mystic person before the end so no special star for that . The book and the characters are all justified with their action in every plot which made me give the four stars (a neutral one - worth to read once)
And please don't compare Ellie with hercule poirot or Sherlock it would do no good when you read the pages of this book.

[Charlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ellie's husband Ben has a cousin Tom who has won the lottery and moved to an undisclosed location so that friends and family don't suddenly want to share in his good fortune. Tom's daughter Ariel, suffering teen angst, hating the new manse and her step mother, arrives on Ellie and Ben's doorstep asking for help with some mysterious happenings in her Gothic mansion in Yorkshire. Ellie and Ben, accompanied by their cleaning woman Mrs. Mallow, head for Yorkshire and many mysteries.

[chelsea :) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wasn’t a terrible read but just wasn’t my cup of tea. It felt like less mystery and more family drama with a sprinkle of mystery. I found myself annoyed often with the main character and, unfortunately, because of the first person POV, there was no avoiding her and her thoughts. Tbf, I hadn’t read any of the others in the series as I picked this up on a whim from the library so I had no history with the main character. Nevertheless, she still annoyed me.

[Susan Price · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my 1st Ellie Haskell mystery. Funny characters ... but no one else mentioned that the author just kind of dumps the mystery reveal out in a big glob toward the end of the book. I wouldn't have even bothered reviewing this book, but just finished She Shoots to Conquer & the author did the same thing. It's the most abrupt reveal I've ever read. And I read a LOT of cozy mysteries.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is my first Ellie Haskell mystery and I really enjoyed it. Ellie loves gothic romances and mysteries. Her husband, Ben, is a chef and author of cookery books. Mrs. Roxie Malloy is their housekeeper and helps Ellie solve mysteries. They have children who are spending two weeks with their grand-parents and therefore not around when Ben's cousin's daughter comes and asks for help.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Obviously the title combined with the Yorkshire Moors setting intrigued me. This cozy mystery is #11 in a series, one I knew nothing about. Quick, fun read with a decent mystery and lots of little inside jokes about gothic literature.

[M Eve · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can count the number of books I have 'not finished' on one hand.....and this book is now unfortunately one of them. Vacuous heroine, stilted dialogue, unrealistic and/or irritating characters, etc. Hard pass.

[Vanessa · Rating 1 out of 5]

was disappointed with this. Not at all like Wuthering Heights, just a mystery with gothic portions about ghosts etc.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read, but the proofer needs a refresher course!

[Mohamed · Rating 5 out of 5]

interesting novel , and deeply in the meaning and the story dramatical chapter , its was a good time when I read this novel.

[Jan Sjostrand · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book and great start to a series.

[Gaby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heathcliff tu puta madre

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found a fun new series, even if I did start with book #11 -- will have to go back and read what came before. I love quirky characters, and there are plenty in this novel.

[Margaret Swanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable mystery

Though it took me a little bit of time to get into the story I became engrossed in the mystery and in knowing who the culprits were. Good mystery.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author has an interesting and amusing way of writing

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as the first in the series. I am really tired of Mrs. Malloy.

[Mackenzie Pewitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and quick read! Just what I wanted out of a cozy mystery

[Rahovean Andreea · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn’t finish it it was way too slow

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ellie, an interior decorator, is looking forward to her three children’s visit with their grandparents for a little alone time with her handsome cook husband, Ben, who just published a new cookbook, in their home in England. But when Ben’s young cousin Ariel comes banging on their door in a rainstorm, far from her home, they make a trip to Yorkshire to take her home and see Ben’s cousin Tom and his second wife Betty. Mrs. Malloy, Ellie’s housekeeper, goes along, as that’s the town in which her long-estranged sister lives and she wishes to end their 40-year feud. It’s obvious that young Ariel and Betty don’t get along, but when Valeria, an old friend of Ben’s, shows up Ellie begins to feel more than a twinge of jealousy. When a visiting vicar keels over dead, or as Mrs. Malloy said, “drops off the twig,” Ellie and Mrs. Malloy begin to look for a criminal and a motive. The book is less than a murder mystery, since it’s a disappearance the reader first learns of, and the murder doesn’t come until the end of chapter nine. And Ellie’s constant internal chatter about how handsome her husband is got old after the third time or so. But the British terms and genteel conversation make up for a lack of bodies in the story. And here’s to a happy ending.

[Kirsten · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though I love cozy mysteries, punny titles, and a gothic setting, this book missed the mark. Ellie, her husband Ben, and her sidekick Mrs Malloy are all meh characters and I had a hard time getting into this one.

[ToKa HaMdy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed that novel much that I couldn't literally put it down however I still find some blind spots regarding Healthcliff's personality and behavior.