Alice Where Art Thou

by Elizabeth Cadell, Aparna Bera (Illustrator)

Three girls decide to share a flat in Chelsea: Denny, the sensible daughter of a famous actress; Chess, the long, lean, temperamental daughter of an Earl; Marya, the beautiful daughter of an Argentinian millionaire. The light-hearted story of their life together and of the men they meet is suddenly interrupted by the death of Mr. Flower, their meek little landlord. When Denny realizes she may have an important clue to the murderer’s identity, her life is also in danger . . .

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Romance

197 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1959

About the author

Violet Elizabeth Vandyke was born on 10 November 1903 in Calcutta, British Raj, daughter of British parents, Elizabeth Lynch and Frederick Reginald Vandyke, a colonial officer. During the Great War she studied music in London, but refused a musical career and returned to India where she married in 1928 Henry Dunlop Raymond Mallock Cadell, and they had a son and daughter. After she was widowed ten years later, she returned to England.

Elizabeth wrote her first book 'My Dear Aunt Flora' during the Second World War in 1946, there after producing another 51 light-hearted, humourous and romantic books which won her a faithful readership in England and America. In addition to England and India, many of her books are set in Spain, France, and Portugal. She finally settled in Portugal, where her married daughter still lived.

She died on 9 October 1989, aged eighty-five.

Reviews

[Booklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite mysteries.

[Bookosaurus (A book a day keeps reality away) · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a story of three girls, all with distinguished, rich parents but somehow struggling to make rent. This book is pure fluff, but the good sort of fluff. The pages are brimming with delight and charm that would induce you to overlook the thin, flimsy plot. Although this book was written back in 1959, I think it would qualify as a chick-lit. It has all the elements of a chick-lit: girl friendships, girl troubles, girls looking out for one another and a teeny-weeny romance, woven together in a breezy storyline.

Overall, I think I prefer the old chick-lit compared to the contemporary ones. The women in the older ones had a dignity and strength of character, which somehow I find missing in contemporary heroines. So I will dig out more books by this author and other similar authors from her time.

I heartily recommend this author to anyone looking for a short, fun read, with a sensible heroine.

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lame

Three air-head girls with 1950s views of men, marriage and morality take part in a limp mystery which never takes off until the denouement when in an explosion of activity we learn who and why. It is short enough to be expensive candy fluff. If you are a fan you will enjoy, otherwise you might want to save your money.

[Sep · Rating 4 out of 5]

A murder mystery complete with dashing lovers, long-lost parents and London in the 1950s.

[Jodi · Rating 2 out of 5]

It had potential but it felt rushed and like the author didn't really care about it. Cadell has written much better stuff.

[Miki · Rating 2 out of 5]

I purchased a10-book boxed set of this writer's books on Amazon for .99 cents. The first was rather odd and more like a short story stretched into a novella than a full length book. The second was this one, which was, well, different. I'm not really sure I even liked it, and furthermore, even less sure I want to finish.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Elizabeth Cadell but this is not one of her better books. It started off well enough but neither the characters nor the mystery were developed properly. The tale meandered toward the end when the threads were all picked up and connected in the last twenty or so pages. They can't all be winners like The Corner Shop or Shadows on the Water, but this was a disappointment.

[Terri · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is one story in a collection of 5 of Ms Cadell's stories. So far, I can tell why they've all been grouped together. Story just doesn't have the depth that most of her other books do. It's ok for a fast, calm read, but really didn't hold my interest much.

[Morggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of humor. The protagonist's observations and comments regarding other characters or situations was simply hilarious.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've enjoyed most of Cadell's books. In this one, I liked the main characters, but I felt the ending was rushed.

[Ymt01]

Nice story about three girls sharing a flat, the random murder mystery element was unnecessary

[ladydusk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let's say 3.5.

The "romance" was a touch less romantic than in some of the others. I liked Denny and the cast of characters and the story around them although it was a little slow.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would you risk your beloved's life to catch a murderer? So much could go wrong! Be very wary!

[Sharon Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great!!

Wonderful story. Quick love interest. Interesting mystery. Actually more than one mystery. Elizabeth Cavell is one of my favorite authors and I'm so happy the family decided to publish all her out of print books