Where There's a Will

by Mary Roberts Rinehart

Set in the early 1900s, this story features a cast of memorable characters, mysterious happenings, and leads up to an astonishing conclusion!

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Humor, Mystery Thriller, Romance, Classics, Novels

284 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1912

About the author

Mysteries of the well-known American writer Mary Roberts Rinehart include The Circular Staircase (1908) and The Door (1930).

People often called this prolific author the American version of Agatha Christie. She is considered the source of the phrase "The butler did it," though the exact phrase doesn't appear in her works, and she invented the "Had-I-But-Known" school of mystery writing.

Rinehart wrote hundreds of short stories, poems, travelogues, and special articles. Many of her books and plays were adapted for movies, such as The Bat (1926), The Bat Whispers (1930), and The Bat (1959). Critics most appreciated her murder mysteries.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Ro...

Reviews

[Sterlingcindysu · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cozy mystery written in 1912. Well, I take that back because it's not really a mystery. Others call it a screwball comedy and that's more apt. It was free on Amazon for Kindle. She wrote almost 300 books so I bet there's several currently there for free. Watch the page counts. For whatever reason the kindle versions ran between 190 and 282 pages.

This fits the main character to a "T".



This is my first read of the "American Agatha Christie". She's said to be the inventor of the phrase "The butler did it." Spoiler alert, there's no butler here. But watch out for those cooks!

[Lora · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable old screwball comedy where everyone ends up married or just happy ever after.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 STARS

This was such a fun read! Minnie was such a refreshing narrator. I loved her style. I felt so annoyed with her at times, or at odds with her, and yet I felt sympathetic to her and and other times I just wanted to cheer for her and I really liked how everything came together. It was also refreshing that the central love story wasn't Minnie's -- though we still had the classic romance with two other worthy characters -- and I really didn't know how things would evolve with the plot sometimes. Lots of great little twists and turns and lots of wonderful insight into human character. Fun, fun, fun!

[Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

The narrator was evidently supposed to be flaky, which was supposed to be amusing. But the story itself was a bit spotty, or else I was losing interest and unable to keep up. Certainly, the series of lies, secrets and mistakes among the characters seemed unnecessary and became confusing. The plot: After the untimely death of the proprietor, our narrator, a life-long and very loyal employee at a health spa, conspires with various guests and authorities to help keep the business open while the heir can be 1) found and 2) convinced to accept the terms of the eccentric will. They enlist a mysterious stranger to impersonate the heir. Then the heir turns up, but he has to be hidden away with his new, secret bride, because her family (also guests of the spa) disapprove of the marriage. All the while, the heroine is too much at her wit's end the entire book, trying to variously lie to, hide, or appease people. There is no climax, she's just harried and overwhelmed the entire time, until everything somehow turns out OK...including a surprise love match for her in the end! Oh puke!

[Joan Thompson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave up on this book, just couldn't get into it.

[Nightwitch · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is essentially a written version of a screwball comedy; it's pretty entertaining, written as it was in 1914-ish and narrated by a loyal employee of a "health" spa. Rinehart also here, as per usual, avoids offensive stereotypes - her characters are basically as much fun today as they were back in the 1910s, unless you take offense to her depiction of Prince Oskar, which frankly he probably deserved. Like many American fiction/romance writers of the time she is definitely "rah rah America," valuing working for a living over aristocratic blood and getting in some digs at the idle rich. Over all, a good exemplar of Rinehart although probably not one of my favorite books ever.

[Chrisanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was remarkably enjoyable. Apart from the lack of sleep, with which I identified with too well, I enjoyed it all---even the snow.* Sure, at some point, you clue in to MRR's style and the story, but even when it's somewhat predictable, it still managed to be delightful(those postscripts!!!). The spinster is often played 100% for humor in older novels, but Minnie was beautifully rounded out.

Definitely one of my favorites this year.




*No AC in a heat wave will do that to you.

[Kaethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's simple and charming and very cleverly written. I had thought that Roberts Rinehart did suspense alone, and the title didn't argue against it, but how sweet. Sometimes the fallback emergency bus book really grabs one.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The comedic romance of the practical and sarcastic Minnie, proprietor of a phoney sanitarium, Mr. Pierce, it's phoney owner, lovely and clueless Miss Patty, and Dr Barnes, the phoney doctor. There is a whole host of characters making this a little confusing at times.
As a departure from the other Mary Roberts Rhinehart books, there is no murder mystery here!

[Mandolin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Minnie grew up at Hope Springs and inherited the care of its famous spring from her father, who tended it before her. She is grieved at the early death of its owner and fears for its future existence when its care falls to a man who is known to lack the will and desire to pursue any serious endeavor. Dismayed when he fails to appear and assume his duties, she endeavors to save the spa by enlisting his family and a group of friends and actors to trick the spa's lawyer and guests and to keep the spa running. Unfortunately, the true heir shows up with an unexpected surprise and Minnie and her co-conspirators are forced to weave an even further web of lies to cover his presence. To make matters worse, the guest list includes a wealthy heiress destined to marry an Austrian prince (who happens to be staying at the hotel under a false name), a group of gossiping crones and a conniving hotel owner intent on taking over the spa as soon as it fails. Minnie, true to her red-haired and red-blooded nature, fights to stay on top and keep the deception going...but can she save the spa or are her attempts doomed to failure?

Having read many of Rinehart's mysteries, I was expecting a book of the same genre when I downloaded this one. I was surprised to find that, though it has plenty of action, the book is more a comedy and farce than a mystery. It was still very entertaining, however, and it contains the wry narrative, amusing characters and twist-filled plot that I've come to expect from this author. Not her best but certainly a good read.

[Marci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anytime I read something I'm disappointed in, all I have to do is turn to Mary Roberts Rinehart to be sure of reading something good. And Where There's a Will is yet another of her pre-World War I novels that provides adventure, romance, social drama, and comedy in pretty much equal measures, with just a hint of mystery.

The title puns the word will, using both the volition meaning and the legal disposing of property meaning with comedic effect. The main character and narrator is past youth into early middle age and very engaging. The setting is an old-time sanitorium (health spa) in the Eastern U.S., probably Pennsylvania (since that's where Rinehart is from). There's a European prince, some wealthy U.S. families, runaway newlyweds, some actors, and a mildly villainous developer who wants to wrest the spa away for a luxury hotel. It's all great fun, highly recommended.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought this would be a mystery, but really more of an entertaining funny story told from the point of view of a thirty something woman. Minnie has worked most of her life at a health place where patients come to rest, eat, take Turkish baths, and drink mineral water. The story starts when the doctor in charge dies & leaves it to his scoundrel of a son who must show up by the end of the month to claim it. The fun begins when he hasn't shown up & they decide to conscript an actor to take his place. Then, of course, he shows up married and they have to hide the couple until the bride's father leaves the place. Add fun characters & a bit of romance & changes and you have a fun read.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having enjoyed several of Rinehart's mysteries, I searched for them on Gutenberg Free EBooks. Instead I found some non-mystery books she wrote at some point in her career. I found most of them, like this one, very enjoyable light reads.

[Egg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another wonderful outing with Mrs. Rinehart. Though I prefer her mysteries, this is actually a love story which I generally don't bother reading. 'Where There's A Will', mostly, leans into comedy, however, using Rinehart's superior wit and masterful ability with an almost cinematic style. I felt as if I were watching a film more often than reading and she's managed this with every book of her's I've read.

The plot unfolds from the perspective of the belabored Minnie Waters, the spring house girl who in reality runs a Sanatorium for a scattered few middling, upper-crust, seeking to be pampered. She is central to various tryst, secret romances, schemes, and plots, most of which she unfortunately finds herself involved. A relatively shot novel, but a lot of fun throughout.

[Faina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in a spa where sick people go to take in waters. The owner, a doctor, dies, and his grandson is supposed to take over. This is where it becomes a comedy of errors, and almost like in Shakespeare's play, everybody falls in love, and we have a happy ending. One of those books that you start reading, and it's difficult to put it down. 

[Starry · Rating 3 out of 5]

High-jinx at a sanatorium where the wealthy go to complain, bathe, and drink the sulfurous water. The main character is the cantankerous yet kind and devoted woman in charge of the well. As she tries to save the sanatorium, she also has to unravel the misadventures of many characters. Romance results.

[Kelly S. Packer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful madcap comedy!! Never a dull moment!

I have enjoyed Mary Roberts Rinehart's mystery novels and was surprised to find she had comedy as well. The story was engaging and funny.

[Alyssa Skinner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is clearly set in an older time, but is still easily understood. I greatly enjoyed Minnie's sarcastic and cynical brand of humor, and the story had just the right amount of twists and turns.

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 1 out of 5]

Do not, do not, DO NOT get this Audible edition of Where There's a Will. I am pretty easygoing when it comes to narrators, and even I could not listen to the inept drawling of narrator Deaver Brown.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Celebrilomiel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Joann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amusing classic

I didn't love this book, but I did find it to be a relaxing story. It was not a mystery but an enjoyable book.

[Gypsi · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this precursor to the screwball comedy, Minnie tells what happens when her employer, the owner of a health spa, dies and leaves it all to his grandson -- provided he arrive on a certain date and make a go of the enterprise. It's laugh-out-loud funny, well-written and, though not as fantastic as Rinehart's 1909 novel, When a Man Marries (my review here), it's still vastly entertaining.

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, 40% done and I'm still not into it. Not my cup of tea, and life's too short to waste it continuing to reading a book one really does not want to keep reading.

[Jody · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite Rinehart and somewhat predictable, but I enjoyed it.

[Yibbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very amusing series of events all strung together to confuse a long suffering employee of a summer resort. I like how it's told in the first person. There were some unnecessary words, just be warned.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quirky, light-hearted book. Another "faked-identity" romantic comedy. The setting and characters are unusual and engaging.

[Tobius · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was again not a bad story by this author, but I am on a Mary Rinehart marathon, trying to get 22 of her books read so I can't quite remember exactly what each one is about..

[Jenn Estepp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprisingly *not* a mystery. But, light, entertaining fare on par with what I've come to expect from Rinehart. I particularly enjoyed the sanatorium setting.

[Sandra Lovelace · Rating 5 out of 5]

good twists