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The Coldstone
The secrets of an English country estate offer a potent mix of romance and suspense in this classic mystery featuring retired governess Maud Silver. When Anthony Colstone inherits an ancestral estate that dates back to Elizabethan England, there is one ironclad The property is never to be excavated and the ancient stones known as the Coldstone Ring removed. Anthony arrives at Stonegate in the bucolic village of Ford St. Mary with many Why did Sir Jervis Colstone bind him to such a promise? Why does no one know exactly how many stones the Coldstone Ring contains? And why are the superstitious villagers so frightened? Anthony is convinced that he’s being watched. Then one night in the library, he sees a panel behind a family portrait move. He’s soon surrounded by shadowy figures looming in and out of his vision. With the help of Susan Bowyer, the great-granddaughter of the oldest village resident, Anthony starts to uncover the secrets of the stones. But the closer Anthony and Susan come to the truth, the closer they move toward a dangerous enemy determined to possess a long-buried treasure at any cost. The Coldstone weaves mystery and danger with an exciting love story in the sparkling style of beloved British crime writer Patricia Wentworth.
237 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1930
160 people are currently reading
187 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Wentworth
162 books522 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 34 reviews
February 4, 2025
Only barely 3 stars for me. It became maddening. The first half had a lot of clever nods to late 18th/early 19th gothic romance. It is set in a village that seems so bucolic that pinafored lasses could be walking the paths and meadows. Wentworth’s setting is actually the late 1920s. The lass has shingled hair and the occasional car passes by.
A young hero unexpectedly inherits a manor house (in the middle of town). There are many scary local stories attached to the property which includes a partial stone circle somewhere behind said house. Also inherited with the house are secret underground passages, portraits with peep holes and buttons that reveal secret spaces. After halfway it started to become really tiresome. The romance as well as the mystery plot takes one step forward and two back. The author continually dangles partial information in front of the reader but takes forever to get to the only semi-satisfying conclusion. Promising but a let down.
A young hero unexpectedly inherits a manor house (in the middle of town). There are many scary local stories attached to the property which includes a partial stone circle somewhere behind said house. Also inherited with the house are secret underground passages, portraits with peep holes and buttons that reveal secret spaces. After halfway it started to become really tiresome. The romance as well as the mystery plot takes one step forward and two back. The author continually dangles partial information in front of the reader but takes forever to get to the only semi-satisfying conclusion. Promising but a let down.
January 4, 2018
Free | A less obvious plot than many of Wentworth's books, but two serious irritations | This definitely stands out as being one of her more creative stories. That said, Susan's constant insistence that she couldn't explain a couple simple, relatively unimportant things about a man who was basically a sociopath, with no explanation of why she couldn't explain them, was beyond stupid. Also, I get the whole superiority of the lord of the manor thing, but when someone has nearly succeeded in murdering you and your fiancee after multiple break ins and threats, someone else has repeatedly tried to steal from you, assault you, and has screamed verbal abuse at you in your home, and a third person has abetted them both in order to get a share of the spoils, you don't ask the first two to leave with no further consequences, and escort the third home with a promise that you'll pay to send them on an around the world trip. FFS!
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September 16, 2019Rural Gothic set up to this one with ancient standing stones and curses and secret passages. Sadly she doesn't go Full Hammer Horror but the villain is a proper nasty obsessive piece of work reeking of male entitlement. Undertones of anti Irish prejudice and a whiff of casual antisemitism spoil the fun.
January 24, 2021
I've read many Wentworth books. This one is an early one, from 1930. They plan on living happily ever after at the end of this one, which hurts because we know what is just around the corner for Britain.
As with many of the author's books, we have some rambling, unnecessary details, a young woman who behaves in a rather dangerous way with young men, tight lipped village people, an old manor house with secret passages and dungeon-like cellars, and some disturbing uses of a race or religion word which in this case is "jew".
I liked the male protagonist, but a warning, he falls instantly in love and pursues marriage in a heartbeat, like many Wentworth men. And he pursues a cousin, also a Wentworth specialty! This is a strong romance with a treasure hunt and mysteries, and some odd filler material with eccentric relatives and gossips.
The usual 3rd person omniscient narration is done well, so we jump into people's thoughts, adding some suspense and some humor. As with all Wentworth books, people behave in odd ways at times, like in this one, exploring underground with a lamp rather than a flashlight, when they know there is methane down there. There is the Wentworth abrupt ending, too, but it was overall an entertaining book.
As with many of the author's books, we have some rambling, unnecessary details, a young woman who behaves in a rather dangerous way with young men, tight lipped village people, an old manor house with secret passages and dungeon-like cellars, and some disturbing uses of a race or religion word which in this case is "jew".
I liked the male protagonist, but a warning, he falls instantly in love and pursues marriage in a heartbeat, like many Wentworth men. And he pursues a cousin, also a Wentworth specialty! This is a strong romance with a treasure hunt and mysteries, and some odd filler material with eccentric relatives and gossips.
The usual 3rd person omniscient narration is done well, so we jump into people's thoughts, adding some suspense and some humor. As with all Wentworth books, people behave in odd ways at times, like in this one, exploring underground with a lamp rather than a flashlight, when they know there is methane down there. There is the Wentworth abrupt ending, too, but it was overall an entertaining book.
May 10, 2020
The mystery is fun and I did like the hero a lot, but I absolutely hate stories where one person just refuses to explain things because the author needed to stretch out the suspense. (Also, I hate stories that allow a clearly evil person to go free, because "family!")
February 13, 2022
Great fun!
This was a wonderful adventure and may top my long favourite Wentworth. Unusually, this heroine has several secrets, even the possibility of dark ones and I didn’t guess any at all and it’s topped by a very wonderful unusual saviour. I loved it. Great fun!
This was a wonderful adventure and may top my long favourite Wentworth. Unusually, this heroine has several secrets, even the possibility of dark ones and I didn’t guess any at all and it’s topped by a very wonderful unusual saviour. I loved it. Great fun!
May 12, 2020
Decent thriller adventure, but the heroine wasn't all that likeable... too secretive for no real reason, and it made her look like a two-timing flirt.
January 7, 2021
I've read a few of the pre-Miss Silver light thrillers by Patricia Wentworth lately and while not high on quality, they do provide a fix of comfort reading and cosy period detail which is particularly welcome in a winter lockdown.
This one has a male protagonist, which is less common for Wentworth's books and often works quite well. The Case Of William Smith, which is mostly told from the point of view of the titular William, is a stand-out among the Miss Silver mysteries for me. And while this book doesn't live up to those standards, Anthony Colstone makes a pleasant alternative to the rather romanticised young women, forever turning pale and fainting, who usually star in Wentworth's mysteries.
Anthony is a cheerful, adventurous young soldier who, at the beginning of the story, unexpectedly inherits his uncle's grand country estate and we accompany him on his excited journey to see his new property. There is something rather appealing about stories which start in this way and I am tempted to start collecting them and think of a name for this sub-genre. Mary Stewart's Thornyhold
would be a favourite example.
The house Anthony has inherited, Stonyplace, is rather an oddity as it sounds as though it would be right out in the countryside but is in the middle of the village. (This seems to have been driven by requirements of the plot.) There is a mysterious ring of ancient stones. There are villagers who won't tell what they know. There is one of Patricia Wentworth's favourite character choices, a pair of twittering elderly sisters, one forceful, one tremulous. And there is Susan, whom unfortunately I disliked on sight. She's annoyingly bubbly, keeps secrets she has no business keeping and gives Anthony an unjustified runaround because she's so busy being cutesy and elusive.
One of the main problems I had with the story was the family trees. When your plot deals with ancestors stretching back several generations, it's confusing enough without giving them all the same first names. At first I tried to keep track of how people were related but I soon lost interest and stopped bothering about it.
Overall the plot is not well worked out. It should really be 2-stars but I have given it a third star for Anthony, who is a likeable and capable hero and it's not his fault that he is saddled with such a ridiculous plot.
This one has a male protagonist, which is less common for Wentworth's books and often works quite well. The Case Of William Smith, which is mostly told from the point of view of the titular William, is a stand-out among the Miss Silver mysteries for me. And while this book doesn't live up to those standards, Anthony Colstone makes a pleasant alternative to the rather romanticised young women, forever turning pale and fainting, who usually star in Wentworth's mysteries.
Anthony is a cheerful, adventurous young soldier who, at the beginning of the story, unexpectedly inherits his uncle's grand country estate and we accompany him on his excited journey to see his new property. There is something rather appealing about stories which start in this way and I am tempted to start collecting them and think of a name for this sub-genre. Mary Stewart's Thornyhold
would be a favourite example.The house Anthony has inherited, Stonyplace, is rather an oddity as it sounds as though it would be right out in the countryside but is in the middle of the village. (This seems to have been driven by requirements of the plot.) There is a mysterious ring of ancient stones. There are villagers who won't tell what they know. There is one of Patricia Wentworth's favourite character choices, a pair of twittering elderly sisters, one forceful, one tremulous. And there is Susan, whom unfortunately I disliked on sight. She's annoyingly bubbly, keeps secrets she has no business keeping and gives Anthony an unjustified runaround because she's so busy being cutesy and elusive.
One of the main problems I had with the story was the family trees. When your plot deals with ancestors stretching back several generations, it's confusing enough without giving them all the same first names. At first I tried to keep track of how people were related but I soon lost interest and stopped bothering about it.
Overall the plot is not well worked out. It should really be 2-stars but I have given it a third star for Anthony, who is a likeable and capable hero and it's not his fault that he is saddled with such a ridiculous plot.
May 14, 2019
A Romantic Mystery
Having inherited the ancestral home, Anthony Coldstone must deal with visitors, perhaps ghosts, at night and ancient relatives regaling him with his family's history and tales of a treasure buried somewhere in the house. Along the way he meets and falls in love with his distant cousin who behaves oddly toward the unwanted visitors. If you like Wentworth's books you'll like this one even though it doesn't include Miss Silver, her famous detective.
Having inherited the ancestral home, Anthony Coldstone must deal with visitors, perhaps ghosts, at night and ancient relatives regaling him with his family's history and tales of a treasure buried somewhere in the house. Along the way he meets and falls in love with his distant cousin who behaves oddly toward the unwanted visitors. If you like Wentworth's books you'll like this one even though it doesn't include Miss Silver, her famous detective.
April 2, 2024
This is the first Patricia Wentworth book that bored me to tears. I usually love her short romantic mysteries and often read her as a palate cleanser to transition between books. But this was the longest short book I have read in a long time. It was disjointed and repetitious, the romance was rushed, the characters were never fully developed, and the mystery was far from mysterious. I will read more of her books but I will choose more carefully next time.
May 24, 2021
I expected too much of this book after reading the blurb. I thought it was going to have a dark and mysterious atmosphere with the stones and all, but no. Nothing of that sort. Just a "love story" which was quite boring with two main characters who just don't know each other at all. Susan was the most annoying, keeping secrets for who knows why.
May 5, 2023
Although I enjoy Wentworth's Miss Silver mysteries - largely due to Miss Silver herself - this is another of the author's books without the spinster sleuth that just couldn't hold my attention.
Although there were details that needed filling in, it wasn't long before the reader could roughly figure out how this was going to pan out.
Although there were details that needed filling in, it wasn't long before the reader could roughly figure out how this was going to pan out.
September 5, 2020
I really enjoy Wentworth's standalone novels. Miss Silver is good, but I think her non-Silver novels are much better! This one was fantastic. It included old mysteries, new mysteries, hidden treasure, and romance.
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January 31, 2022Another Wentworth book with an interesting premise and filled with family secrets and intrigue. As usual, all is not entirely as it seems, but everything comes together in a mostly satisfactory conclusion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2024
Maybe a 3.5. Lots of suspense, but a very bizarre and unbelievable plot, with one of those heroines who makes secrets and mysteries for no logical reason. The aged gran who terrorizes the villain is rather lovely, though.
December 2, 2024
Shows its age...
Quite mannered, a very slight story, but probably would have been quite sensational at the time it was published. Only worth reading as an attempt to complete the oeuvre.
Quite mannered, a very slight story, but probably would have been quite sensational at the time it was published. Only worth reading as an attempt to complete the oeuvre.
November 5, 2025
Wentworth could do so much better than this
This reads as if the author wanted to try her hand at a spooky, secret hiding place mystery, wanted to find out if she could swing it.
Nope.
This reads as if the author wanted to try her hand at a spooky, secret hiding place mystery, wanted to find out if she could swing it.
Nope.
November 19, 2016
A pretty good mystery.
I liked it better than the one Miss Silver mystery I read a long time ago by this author. I may try more. I know lots of people like her books.
I liked it better than the one Miss Silver mystery I read a long time ago by this author. I may try more. I know lots of people like her books.
August 7, 2020
A little more Gothic than most... pretty enjoyable.
September 8, 2020
Not her best, but a fun read.
September 23, 2020
My least favorite.
March 20, 2022
Another engaging story from a delightful author. Very atmospheric.
February 9, 2023
Fun gothic romance but the heroine wasn’t very likable and her unnecessary secret-keeping was a clunky plot device.
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February 19, 2023Slow beginning and a little old fashion love and mystery story. The family history was confusing at times
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2023
Middling, and the main character isn’t particularly appealing.
November 18, 2024
What I would call a typical mystery of this time...nothing great, but still a fun distraction.
March 11, 2025
Got halfway through book and it was too boring to finish.
July 5, 2025
An irritating heroine and an anti-semitic "pun" mar this Nancy Drewish not-much-of-a-mystery. The old ladies are the real stand-outs.
June 20, 2021
Le titre et la couverture me donnait tellement envie et le résumé aussi semblait prometteur mais malheureusement on est sur une déception…
Le plus dérangeant a été les personnages avec quasiment tous le même nom rendant la compréhension assez compliquée et les dialogues complètement fouillis qui embrouillent tout. Sans parler du personnage de Susan qui m’a particulièrement agacé avec sa manie de dire sans rien dire au final et répéter 20 fois le prénom des personnes 🤦🏼♀️
L’ambiance cozy mystery est la seule chose qui m’a plu mais cela n’est pas correctement exploité malheureusement et on s’éloigne assez vite du mystère des hautes pierres…
Dommage mais j’ai tout de même envie de découvrir la fameuse Miss Silver précurseur de Miss Marple, en espérant que les dialogues soient différents...
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The title and the cover made me want to read it so much and the synopsis also seemed promising but unfortunately it was a disappointment...
The most disturbing thing was the characters with almost all the same name making it quite complicated to understand and the completely messy dialogues that confuse everything. Not to mention the character of Susan who particularly annoyed me with her habit of saying nothing in the end and repeating people's first names 20 times 🤦🏼♀️
The cozy mystery atmosphere is the only thing I liked but it's not properly exploited unfortunately and you get away from the high stone mystery pretty quickly...
A pity but I still want to discover the famous Miss Silver precursor of Miss Marple, hoping that the dialogues are different...
Le plus dérangeant a été les personnages avec quasiment tous le même nom rendant la compréhension assez compliquée et les dialogues complètement fouillis qui embrouillent tout. Sans parler du personnage de Susan qui m’a particulièrement agacé avec sa manie de dire sans rien dire au final et répéter 20 fois le prénom des personnes 🤦🏼♀️
L’ambiance cozy mystery est la seule chose qui m’a plu mais cela n’est pas correctement exploité malheureusement et on s’éloigne assez vite du mystère des hautes pierres…
Dommage mais j’ai tout de même envie de découvrir la fameuse Miss Silver précurseur de Miss Marple, en espérant que les dialogues soient différents...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The title and the cover made me want to read it so much and the synopsis also seemed promising but unfortunately it was a disappointment...
The most disturbing thing was the characters with almost all the same name making it quite complicated to understand and the completely messy dialogues that confuse everything. Not to mention the character of Susan who particularly annoyed me with her habit of saying nothing in the end and repeating people's first names 20 times 🤦🏼♀️
The cozy mystery atmosphere is the only thing I liked but it's not properly exploited unfortunately and you get away from the high stone mystery pretty quickly...
A pity but I still want to discover the famous Miss Silver precursor of Miss Marple, hoping that the dialogues are different...
August 28, 2020
It started out well but dragged a little in the middle. A young man inherits a estate and tries to find out why he is not allowed to move the huge stones on it. I liked this book, but not Patricia Wentworth's best book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews