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Snowfire
Book
Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1972
292 people are currently reading
500 people want to read
About the author
Phyllis A. Whitney
190 books561 followersPhyllis Ayame Whitney (1903 – 2008) was an American mystery writer. Rare for her genre, she wrote mysteries for both the juvenile and the adult markets, many of which feature exotic locations. A review in The New York Times once dubbed her "The Queen of the American Gothics".
She was born in Japan to American parents and spent her early years in Asia. Whitney wrote more than seventy novels. In 1961, her book The Mystery of the Haunted Pool won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best Juvenile novel, and she duplicated the honor in 1964, for The Mystery of the Hidden Hand. In 1988, the MWA gave her a Grand Master Award for lifetime achievement. Whitney died of pneumonia on February 8, 2008, aged 104.
She was born in Japan to American parents and spent her early years in Asia. Whitney wrote more than seventy novels. In 1961, her book The Mystery of the Haunted Pool won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best Juvenile novel, and she duplicated the honor in 1964, for The Mystery of the Hidden Hand. In 1988, the MWA gave her a Grand Master Award for lifetime achievement. Whitney died of pneumonia on February 8, 2008, aged 104.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
August 10, 2017
In a lot of ways, I am the perfect audience for this book.
Phyllis Whitney is one of the big gothic romance authors from the 1970's. This is the second Whitney I've read - the first being Window on the Square. Whitney writes in both a contemporary and a historical time period. Window on the Square is historical. This one is contemporary.
To understand why I am the perfect audience for this book, you must understand something of my childhood. I was born in the midwest, and my parents fell in love with skiing when I was very young. I recall chartered bus trips from Omaha, the place of my birth, to Breckenridge and Aspen, Colorado, with the kids bedded down in the front of the bus, while our parents - the adults - played cards, smoked cigarettes, flirted and drank cocktails in the back. It was a raucous good time.
We moved to Idaho specifically for the skiing when I was in the fifth grade, and I spent every weekend on the slopes. I joined junior racers and my high school ski team. I threw myself down the mountain as recklessly as possible, and warmed up in the lodge and made fun of the ski bunnies who got all gussied up for the purpose, apparently, of sitting in the lodge and being hit on by the ski bums.
I don't know if Phyllis Whitney was a skier, but she nailed 1970's ski culture, from the fondue to the snow bunnies to the apres-ski gluhwein.
Graystones, the house at the center of this book, was perfect - a Norman castle transplanted into the north woods. The mystery was engaging, with Linda, the heroine, going "undercover" as an apres-ski hostess to clear her younger brother, Stuart, who has been accused of murdering Margot, the wife of Stuart's ski mentor, Julian.
Julian is the owner of Graystones. As in Window on the Square, Linda forges a connection with Adria, the small daughter of Margot, who believes that she has killed her mother - the parallels between this book and Window on the Square are notable. And, while I will admit that I think that WotS is the superior book, this one was quite enjoyable. The story comes to a climax on the mountain at night, with Linda fleeing, on skis, from the pursuing murderer.
Now, about the cover. I really like the cover that shows up on goodreads, but like a lot of these books, it was issued in other covers, and my actual cover is not available to choose! I think that the cover for this edition is a little bit misleading, though - because that dress looks like this would be a piece of historical fiction.
This, however, is my cover:
Yes, it is just as crazy in person as it is in a photograph! So, this is a cheesy little book, but it is fun.
Phyllis Whitney is one of the big gothic romance authors from the 1970's. This is the second Whitney I've read - the first being Window on the Square. Whitney writes in both a contemporary and a historical time period. Window on the Square is historical. This one is contemporary.
To understand why I am the perfect audience for this book, you must understand something of my childhood. I was born in the midwest, and my parents fell in love with skiing when I was very young. I recall chartered bus trips from Omaha, the place of my birth, to Breckenridge and Aspen, Colorado, with the kids bedded down in the front of the bus, while our parents - the adults - played cards, smoked cigarettes, flirted and drank cocktails in the back. It was a raucous good time.
We moved to Idaho specifically for the skiing when I was in the fifth grade, and I spent every weekend on the slopes. I joined junior racers and my high school ski team. I threw myself down the mountain as recklessly as possible, and warmed up in the lodge and made fun of the ski bunnies who got all gussied up for the purpose, apparently, of sitting in the lodge and being hit on by the ski bums.
I don't know if Phyllis Whitney was a skier, but she nailed 1970's ski culture, from the fondue to the snow bunnies to the apres-ski gluhwein.
Graystones, the house at the center of this book, was perfect - a Norman castle transplanted into the north woods. The mystery was engaging, with Linda, the heroine, going "undercover" as an apres-ski hostess to clear her younger brother, Stuart, who has been accused of murdering Margot, the wife of Stuart's ski mentor, Julian.
Julian is the owner of Graystones. As in Window on the Square, Linda forges a connection with Adria, the small daughter of Margot, who believes that she has killed her mother - the parallels between this book and Window on the Square are notable. And, while I will admit that I think that WotS is the superior book, this one was quite enjoyable. The story comes to a climax on the mountain at night, with Linda fleeing, on skis, from the pursuing murderer.
Now, about the cover. I really like the cover that shows up on goodreads, but like a lot of these books, it was issued in other covers, and my actual cover is not available to choose! I think that the cover for this edition is a little bit misleading, though - because that dress looks like this would be a piece of historical fiction.
This, however, is my cover:
Yes, it is just as crazy in person as it is in a photograph! So, this is a cheesy little book, but it is fun.
May 11, 2023
06/2018
Mainstream American Gothic from 1973. I had read some of another of hers, and put it away, thinking it was like Young Adult. That is true here too (I would have adored this when I was 11). But this time I loved it. It's so much longer than it needs to be (I had to break between chapters and read other things). But it is so pleasant, semi dark and readable, it put me in a sedative reading drone. The plot, about a modern day ski lodge, is well detailed. A huge amount of sentences, thought and spoken, begin with the word Perhaps. I suppose this is the genre. I mean, Perhaps this is the genre.
Mainstream American Gothic from 1973. I had read some of another of hers, and put it away, thinking it was like Young Adult. That is true here too (I would have adored this when I was 11). But this time I loved it. It's so much longer than it needs to be (I had to break between chapters and read other things). But it is so pleasant, semi dark and readable, it put me in a sedative reading drone. The plot, about a modern day ski lodge, is well detailed. A huge amount of sentences, thought and spoken, begin with the word Perhaps. I suppose this is the genre. I mean, Perhaps this is the genre.
January 29, 2018
An enjoyable mystery that kept me guessing who the 'bad guy' was, but it also went on a bit too long in the end and it's also quite dated and might not appeal to the younger readers. The ski resort setting and the old gothic mansion was fun. I own a paperback copy, but reae the Kindle version via library loan. The typos on that are horrible, and I would hesitate recommending anyone purchase it at the full retail price unless those typos are fixed.
November 28, 2015
This was on the giveaway rack at the library, and a brief perusal suggested that it was in the vein of an Agatha Christie light mystery--something akin to Tommy and Tuppence, perhaps. That evaluation was reasonably accurate, and the mystery was reasonably well considered, plotted, and executed.
I did not care for the solution; I felt it was a bit of a cheat, although in fairness it simply broke one of the "rules of the game", to which the author is not really bound. It also left a number of questions unanswered--in particular, the death of one character who appeared to have died in an accident no one thought could have been an accident but which was never otherwise explained. Although the story did a decent job of moving through the clues and delivering the plot and characters, in the end it was not entirely satisfying.
There was a slight problem with the first person telling. The narrator was the principle character, telling us what she discovered, always speaking in the first person to the point that more than once when her name was mentioned it took me a moment to remember that this was her; further, she was described late in the book and the description was a bit jarring--although whether that was because the author had not previously described her or because it had slipped my mind was something I could not decide. There was a large photo of the author on the back of the cover which I saw every time I picked up the book, and in my mind the character telling the story usually looked like that photo.
The author manages to create one of those closed community murders--it took place in the private home of the wealthy owner of a ski resort, his invalid wife having been pushed down a ramp through a cut railing to her death in a ravine below. The narrator's brother is the owner's protege living in the house with the owner and his wife, their daughter, and his sister; his own mentor lives on the property in a nearby house, there are a few servants who vanish into the background, and a manager of the ski lodge a few hundred yards away hidden by trees. The number of suspects is thus minimal, but the deceased is thoroughly unsympathetic in the view we get from all parties, to the point that the reader sometimes wonders whether he'd have killed her himself.
The real story is probably not the murder mystery but the "romance"--such as it is--as the narrator becomes part of the family, helping the daughter get past her own guilt and struggles over the death of the mother, dealing with the antagonistic sister and older mentor, trusting the manager of the resort, and gradually falling for the widowed owner. She fears he might have killed his wife, but we never really feel that anyone really might have done it but the one character killed midway through the mystery. Even when she is terrified that she might be the next victim, we don't believe that he is the killer.
If you're a light murder mystery addict you might read this one if it lands in your lap, but don't go out of your way to find it.
I did not care for the solution; I felt it was a bit of a cheat, although in fairness it simply broke one of the "rules of the game", to which the author is not really bound. It also left a number of questions unanswered--in particular, the death of one character who appeared to have died in an accident no one thought could have been an accident but which was never otherwise explained. Although the story did a decent job of moving through the clues and delivering the plot and characters, in the end it was not entirely satisfying.
There was a slight problem with the first person telling. The narrator was the principle character, telling us what she discovered, always speaking in the first person to the point that more than once when her name was mentioned it took me a moment to remember that this was her; further, she was described late in the book and the description was a bit jarring--although whether that was because the author had not previously described her or because it had slipped my mind was something I could not decide. There was a large photo of the author on the back of the cover which I saw every time I picked up the book, and in my mind the character telling the story usually looked like that photo.
The author manages to create one of those closed community murders--it took place in the private home of the wealthy owner of a ski resort, his invalid wife having been pushed down a ramp through a cut railing to her death in a ravine below. The narrator's brother is the owner's protege living in the house with the owner and his wife, their daughter, and his sister; his own mentor lives on the property in a nearby house, there are a few servants who vanish into the background, and a manager of the ski lodge a few hundred yards away hidden by trees. The number of suspects is thus minimal, but the deceased is thoroughly unsympathetic in the view we get from all parties, to the point that the reader sometimes wonders whether he'd have killed her himself.
The real story is probably not the murder mystery but the "romance"--such as it is--as the narrator becomes part of the family, helping the daughter get past her own guilt and struggles over the death of the mother, dealing with the antagonistic sister and older mentor, trusting the manager of the resort, and gradually falling for the widowed owner. She fears he might have killed his wife, but we never really feel that anyone really might have done it but the one character killed midway through the mystery. Even when she is terrified that she might be the next victim, we don't believe that he is the killer.
If you're a light murder mystery addict you might read this one if it lands in your lap, but don't go out of your way to find it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2021
In my early teens, I read lots of books by Phyllis Whitney, Mary Stewart, and Victoria Holt, known as "gothic" suspense novels where young women found themselves in mysterious situations and seemingly at risk. They seem dated now, but I think they are underappreciated as early forms of strong women heroines who persisted even when put down as silly little girls. This one was clearly written in the early 70s, and the references to folk music, hippie girls, Rod McKuen's poetry, and even a singing nun must have made it seem hip, and now lend a certain fun to a good setting at a small ski resort in the Poconos in winter. I had missed this one back in the day, and enjoyed a fun summer's weekend reading about blizzards and shooshing down mountainsides.
November 22, 2020
Classic, vintage romantic suspense by one of the grand dames of the genre, Phyllis Whitney (1903-2008). Snowfire was published in 1983, the year I married. Oops, no, I misread that date. 1973, the year before I graduated high school. It takes a master to get me interested in a book about snow skiing, when I have no experience of it, and no interest in it. She gives just enough detail to make it real without me needing to already know the lingo - well, there were a couple of terms I looked up. This one will definitely leave you wondering who did it, until the bitter cold downhill race of an ending, which kept me glued to the book. Put on some hot cocoa or cider, and maybe heat up the fondue pot, for this one.
August 8, 2022
I always enjoy a good mystery by Phyllis. She's an excellent writer and while these do feel a bit dated, they are still rather entertaining to read. 4 ⭐!
November 24, 2016
If you're a Phyllis Whitney fan and you're reading this book, you'll be satisfied with the novel.
It has mystery. It has atmosphere. It has a character that confesses to you her deepest fears, thoughts, emotions that lead her to where she is today.
As far as Whitney books goes, this is not her strongest.
I admit, I am biased. I loved books like Listen to the Whisperer because I adored the "exotic" scenarios. I was appreciative of the fact that Whitney took me to fantastic, luxurious places I didn't have the time or means to visit.
However, this time she is on my home territory. The Poconos.
While she tackled familiar ground, there is very little of what I know here. Sure, it was 30+ years ago, maybe global warming was to account for our lack of blizzards, but I saw little of my local territory that I could not imagine elsewhere.
But I'm not here for that in a Whitney book. I'm here for the mystery. So I give it 3 stars for its entertainment. :)
It has mystery. It has atmosphere. It has a character that confesses to you her deepest fears, thoughts, emotions that lead her to where she is today.
As far as Whitney books goes, this is not her strongest.
I admit, I am biased. I loved books like Listen to the Whisperer because I adored the "exotic" scenarios. I was appreciative of the fact that Whitney took me to fantastic, luxurious places I didn't have the time or means to visit.
However, this time she is on my home territory. The Poconos.
While she tackled familiar ground, there is very little of what I know here. Sure, it was 30+ years ago, maybe global warming was to account for our lack of blizzards, but I saw little of my local territory that I could not imagine elsewhere.
But I'm not here for that in a Whitney book. I'm here for the mystery. So I give it 3 stars for its entertainment. :)
August 16, 2024
Fun discovering a Phyllis Whitney gothic suspense novel I had not previously read. The setting was wonderful familiar to me -- taking place in Camelback ski area in the Poconos, with Swiftwater Inn serving as inspiration for the local ski lodge in which some of the action takes place. I did fall for some of the red herrings, and was dismayed by the heroine's classic gothic heroine action of doing exactly what no one with common sense would ever do.
Ah, pure escapist reading! Originally read as my book with a weather element in the title [snow] for 2018 Pop Sugar Reading Challenge, however switched to a bestseller from year graduated high school [1973 - the year of Jonathan Livingston Seagull (gag)] as it was in top 10 NYTimes bestsellers on my birthday that year.
Ah, pure escapist reading! Originally read as my book with a weather element in the title [snow] for 2018 Pop Sugar Reading Challenge, however switched to a bestseller from year graduated high school [1973 - the year of Jonathan Livingston Seagull (gag)] as it was in top 10 NYTimes bestsellers on my birthday that year.
January 24, 2011
Snowfire is a mystery set in the mountains in the East. Linda's younger stepbrother (Stewart) is a phenomenal skier, under the tutelage of a former champion, Julian. When Julian's crippled wife's wheelchair is pushed off and ledge and she dies, Stewart is the one who ends up in jail. He pleads with Linda to help him, so she sets off to the scene, without telling anyone who she really is.
Phyllis Whitney's stories are entertaining and classic. I had a lot of fun re-reading this one.
Phyllis Whitney's stories are entertaining and classic. I had a lot of fun re-reading this one.
June 1, 2018
To be honest, I read this when I was in middle school. And the story is just a drawing as it was then. Phyllis Whitney has been one of my absolute favorite authors and I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery in Snowfire. If you ever get an opportunity to read her books, do it. There's just something about them!
June 21, 2014
I adored this book as a young teen and it lead me to read more of Ms Whitney's books. I very quickly discovered that, not unlike Danielle Steele, if you've read one, you've read them all. Still, this author was the heroine of my youth. I will always remember this book with fondness.
March 22, 2013
Awesome! This is the book that hooked me on Phyllis Whitney.
January 15, 2022
Early in the reading of Snowfire, an American gothic novel of romantic suspense by Phyllis A. Whitney, I had already guessed "whodunit".
All I needed to find out is the "why?".
Much more melodramatic than suspenseful, I found the ending to be more underwhelming than satisfying.
And to think, I had really loved gothic romances/mysteries back-in-the-day. In my defense, I was very young during that phase.
One note: I had recently been pondering the question, "What if your loved one who is suspected of murder was actually guilty?". . . foreshadowing in the case of siblings Linda and Stuart.
All I needed to find out is the "why?".
Much more melodramatic than suspenseful, I found the ending to be more underwhelming than satisfying.
And to think, I had really loved gothic romances/mysteries back-in-the-day. In my defense, I was very young during that phase.
One note: I had recently been pondering the question, "What if your loved one who is suspected of murder was actually guilty?". . . foreshadowing in the case of siblings Linda and Stuart.
August 8, 2023
One thing I love about Whitney's books is she really keeps you guessing as to whom the villain is. This book was no different. While the skiing backdrop wasn't particularly my cup of tea, as always, Whitney's writing is well researched and detailed, and I came away appreciating the skiing theme.
October 1, 2014
This one kept me guessing to the very end as to who done it. I suspected each of the main characters at one time or another as I was reading. Most of the unanswered questions were answered in the last chapter but somehow it seemed to tie things up too neatly. I thought about giving it a 4 since it kept me guessing but didn't because there were times when it moved a bit slowly.
It is nice to read stories that take place before the days of cell phones and computers, when people have to rely on each other and themselves instead of electronics. The main female character was a bit stronger than some of Whitney's other female leads. She was very independent and was not looking for love. I did not care for any of the main characters.
It is nice to read stories that take place before the days of cell phones and computers, when people have to rely on each other and themselves instead of electronics. The main female character was a bit stronger than some of Whitney's other female leads. She was very independent and was not looking for love. I did not care for any of the main characters.
February 22, 2012
This book is absolutely dreadful. I haven't read it for at least two decades, so I'd forgotten just how bad it really is. The book was published in the early 1970s, but Ms. Whitney's style of writing was more like the 1930s - very archaic and old-fashioned. Her favorite word seemed to be "perhaps"; I only counted "maybe" one time, otherwise it was always "perhaps this" and "perhaps that". Ugh. The only reason I'm going to keep this book is because my now-deceased Mom gave it to me as a Christmas present in either 1981 or 1982. I didn't really even like it back then, and that was when I was young and foolish. But now, I just have to laugh at how utterly bad it is.
August 27, 2016
Linda Earle leaves her job to work at a ski lodge, but she isn't just looking for a change of pace. Her brother Stuart has been accused of killing Margot McCabe, wife of Julian McCabe famous former skier and owner of the Juniper Lodge. Julian is supposedly Stuart's friend and yet he refuses to help him. Linda must find the murderer, clear her brother, and keep her identity secret from Julian and the other occupants of Graystones, but someone knows, and now Linda must worry about her own safety. Another gem by one of America's greatest mystery authors.
December 11, 2017
In my younger days when I was raising my kids I read all of Phyllis Whitney's book as they came out and loved them all. I find that I love them today as much as I did then. This Lady sure could write a story that kept you engrossed until the very end. I will have to see how many more of her books that I might have missed since my younger years and see if I can read them all. Looking forward to many more books to lose myself in. Everyone should read at least one Phyllis Whitney book in their lifetime.
July 11, 2015
Not one of my favorites. I absolutely love gothic romances with all of the mystery and the strong female characters. Phyllis A. Whitney is an amazing author incorporating an unforgettable story with amazing characters.
January 14, 2013
Pretty good mystery taking place on the ski slopes. Stuart's sister places herself in perceived danger to prove his innocence in the death of Graystone's mistress. Of course, love is always an option.
May 16, 2014
It was alright. Medicore, it barely caught my attention, though I read through hoping that it would eventually pick up.
Three stars, mostly because it wasn't *bad* writing, it just didn't interest me as a whole.
Three stars, mostly because it wasn't *bad* writing, it just didn't interest me as a whole.
Want to read
August 3, 2008Quit--left the country!
May 21, 2011
lol, this book was from a bookclub from 1973, or 72, cost 1.98 plus shipping, good read, but had me guessing on who the bad guy was, and I guessed wrong, good one to curl up with,
July 26, 2011
A light but entertaining read. The ending was surprising, though not greatly so. I would have preferred a darker and more interesting style.
July 26, 2013
3.5 Stars
March 11, 2011
Good book. Sad when it ended.
May 9, 2025
Reading a Phyllis Whitney novel after a Victoria Holt has officially cemented Ms. Whitney as my new favorite gothic romance author. Many gothic romance authors wrote historical and "contemporary" gothic novels, but the "contemporary" ones were often horrendously dated and bad, because they were written in the same overly wordy and prudishly old-fashioned style, which ended up feeling jarring and anachronistic. Here, with SNOWFIRE, Whitney managed to capture the claustrophobic and smothering atmosphere of a crumbling manor home on the moors, even though it's set in a swanky modern ski lodge. How does she do it? With atmosphere, crafty wordsmithing, and a plucky heroine reminiscent of Nancy Drew who is determined to do what is right, even if it means sacrificing her own beliefs.
The heroine is named Linda and she has come to the Graystones, a cozy ski lodge, not for skiing but to exonerate her brother, Stuart. The Graystones are owned by a man named Julian McCabe, an ex-champion skiier. His wife, Margot McCabe, also used to love to ski, but an accident left her in a wheelchair and she was never quite the same afterwards. When she ended up being pushed off the ramp on her balcony by an unknown assailant, Stuart, who was studying skiing under Julian and his sinister groundsman, Emory, was blamed. There are too many holes in the story given, however, so Linda manages to secure a position as a hostess of the lodge while also attempting to ingratiate herself into the McCabe family to find out more information about who might have wanted to kill Margot - and why.
One of the things I love about Whitney's works is that she is so good at writing emotional scenes. A lot of gothic romances seem watered down and dreary, but that has never been the case for me when reading a Phyllis A. Whitney book. The McCabe family is emotionally devastated over Margot's death and features a wide array of characters that are eccentric and suspicious. There's Julian, of course, who might have wanted his wife dead because of the hindrance she proved. There's Julian's sister, Shan, who is a flower child that carries spells in her back pocket and believes that the family cat is a reincarnation of Margot (creepy). And then there's Adria, the daughter of Margot and Julian, who might also have reason to kill Margot, and seems to be seriously emotionally disturbed.
I think one of the reasons I love these gothic novels so much is that they remind me of the middle grade Point Horror novellas I devoured by the dozens in middle school. This one in particular made me think of that old R.L. Stine novella, SKI WEEKEND. They're a little dated but in a way that feels more nostalgic than tone-deaf, and I recommend them to anyone who used to read all those trashy middle grade horror novels and then grew up craving more. :)
4 stars
The heroine is named Linda and she has come to the Graystones, a cozy ski lodge, not for skiing but to exonerate her brother, Stuart. The Graystones are owned by a man named Julian McCabe, an ex-champion skiier. His wife, Margot McCabe, also used to love to ski, but an accident left her in a wheelchair and she was never quite the same afterwards. When she ended up being pushed off the ramp on her balcony by an unknown assailant, Stuart, who was studying skiing under Julian and his sinister groundsman, Emory, was blamed. There are too many holes in the story given, however, so Linda manages to secure a position as a hostess of the lodge while also attempting to ingratiate herself into the McCabe family to find out more information about who might have wanted to kill Margot - and why.
One of the things I love about Whitney's works is that she is so good at writing emotional scenes. A lot of gothic romances seem watered down and dreary, but that has never been the case for me when reading a Phyllis A. Whitney book. The McCabe family is emotionally devastated over Margot's death and features a wide array of characters that are eccentric and suspicious. There's Julian, of course, who might have wanted his wife dead because of the hindrance she proved. There's Julian's sister, Shan, who is a flower child that carries spells in her back pocket and believes that the family cat is a reincarnation of Margot (creepy). And then there's Adria, the daughter of Margot and Julian, who might also have reason to kill Margot, and seems to be seriously emotionally disturbed.
I think one of the reasons I love these gothic novels so much is that they remind me of the middle grade Point Horror novellas I devoured by the dozens in middle school. This one in particular made me think of that old R.L. Stine novella, SKI WEEKEND. They're a little dated but in a way that feels more nostalgic than tone-deaf, and I recommend them to anyone who used to read all those trashy middle grade horror novels and then grew up craving more. :)
4 stars
November 22, 2017
I'd have put this closer to three stars if I were judging it purely on literary merit, because Whitney isn't at all a bad writer. To call her a poor man's Mary Stewart would be fairly accurate. The initial premise and the ski-lodge setting were interesting enough; it was the story and characters that eventually lost me, for a couple of reasons. One, I couldn't help feeling (much as I did with Victoria Holt's The Mistress of Mellyn) that I'd read all this before. All the ingredients of the standard Gothic are there: the big sinister house, the brooding hero (who-may-or-may-not-be-trustworthy), the evil first wife, the troubled child, the spunky but sometimes foolhardy young heroine who has to sort things out. And if you don't bring something fresh to this type of plot (or at least provide a wider field of suspects), it turns out to be not so much of a "whodunit" as a "did he or didn't he?" regarding the Brooding Hero, and it's not too hard for the reader to make an accurate guess about that. In this case, too, Whitney seems to try too hard to make her hero seem Fascinating with a capital F merely by telling us he is, but his personality never seems clearly defined and his actions often contradictory, so I just didn't feel it.
I think the story lost believability for me around the point where Linda was invited to stay at Graystones—it seems a thin premise that this troubled family would so easily invite a total stranger in at very short notice just on the hope she might be able to help out. From that point on most of the characters' emotional reactions seemed either too over-the-top or else too shallow. Add to that a handful of little inconsistencies—e.g. one supporting character's eccentricity diminishing without much reason in the final third of the book, another character seeming to inexplicably switch love interests, and some logistical holes in the final explanation of the murder mystery—and it just didn't add up to a successful book for me. Not dreadful, but just not satisfactory.
I think the story lost believability for me around the point where Linda was invited to stay at Graystones—it seems a thin premise that this troubled family would so easily invite a total stranger in at very short notice just on the hope she might be able to help out. From that point on most of the characters' emotional reactions seemed either too over-the-top or else too shallow. Add to that a handful of little inconsistencies—e.g. one supporting character's eccentricity diminishing without much reason in the final third of the book, another character seeming to inexplicably switch love interests, and some logistical holes in the final explanation of the murder mystery—and it just didn't add up to a successful book for me. Not dreadful, but just not satisfactory.
April 5, 2022
Against the backdrop of a small ski resort in the Poconos, Phyllis A. Whitney crafts a story of a determined young woman trying to clear her stepbrother from a murder charge. Linda Earle has taken care of her brother Stuart all his life and when he is arrested for the murder of his mentor's wife, Linda charges into battle to save him, pushing her way into the world of Julian McCabe, former ski champion and Stuart's one-time sponsor. Whitney puts the wintry landscape to good use as the setting for this mystery, with scenes set on the slopes and in the snowy landscape, including a suspenseful blizzard. Along the way, we encounter the usual secondary characters familiar from her previous novels, including a precocious, troubled child, a Whitney specialty. The characters in "Snowfire" aren't as deeply textured as in Whitney's earlier novels, but, true to form, her heroine manages to undergo some soul-searching and growth while solving the mystery.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews