The Cellar at No. 5

by Shelley Smith

Mrs Rampage lives by herself in a large house. Her daughter lives half a world away and her only other relative, has no time for the old lady. She is persuaded to take in a companion, a respectable widow named Mrs Roach.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

162 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1964

About the author

Pseudonym of Nancy Hermione Courlander Bodington.
Her sister Barbara published under the name Elizabeth Anthony.

Reviews

[Graham Watts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating psychological narrative about a nervous, acquisitive and suspicious woman taking in a lady companion who is on her uppers. Neither woman is remotely likeable and they gradually get on each other’s nerves! Both women meddling with each other’s possessions.

There is no murder mystery here and, indeed, no murder until virtually the end of the book. There is a homoerotic undertone to the companion’s relationship with another woman.

On the debit side, I found the book difficult to get into with confusions over the narrative flitting from characters’ surnames to their first names and back again.

On the plus side it was a very unusual entry to the British Library Crime series

[Adam Carson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written, but I never quite got into this book.

Mrs Roach moves in with elderly Mrs Rampage at her niece’s request to look after her. Tensions start to rise to the point of inevitable disaster.

In their own way, both of the main characters are quite unlikeable, and that alongside the sense of tension never really gave you anyone to root for.

I’d read more by this author, but I can’t say I enjoyed the plot here.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good creepy tale of two controlling women and their downward spiral

Good story of two women who become more and more resentful of the other .
Loved the depiction of the woman left and her descent into the madness after a grave act was carried out
Sense of building tensions and good descriptions so could envisage the house really well

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: aka The Party at No. 5. Mrs. Rampage lives alone; she takes in a tenant, a widow named Mrs. Roach. Seems OK; is it?

[dmayr · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cat and mouse game plays out in No. 5, where old Mrs. Rampage revel in her antiques while Mrs. Roach scrabble for shelter and food on the table. Shades of Ethel Lina White in the depiction of the characters and the horridness of it all.

[Jamie Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not really sure about this one. it wasn't bad, just a bit odd. Found it during a clear out. Don't recall buying it and it's not my normal type of book but it was ok

[Maria Steri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mi è piaciuto molto il modo in cui l'autrice ha delineato la psicologia dei personaggi, con grande realismo. La suspense resta alta fino alla fine. Un gran bel noir.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

For my full review click on the link below:
https://crossexaminingcrime.wordpress...