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Miss Silver #12
Wicked Uncle
Miss Silver investigates the murder of one of Britain’s most powerful men
Dorinda Brown takes a job working for the wealthy Porlock family on a whim, and quickly finds it to be the hardest position she has ever had. The father, Gregory, is a charming tyrant—just the sort of man her aunt always warned her about. His wife is an overfed fool, entirely blind to the defects of her despicable son, and unsympathetic to the pain he causes his governesses.
All that Dorinda can stand, for she needs the job. But when murder comes to the Porlock house, it brings along much more unpleasantness. There is a question of blackmail, first of all, and a shocking realization about Dorinda’s past. All told, it adds up to a frightful mystery—the sort that only Miss Maud Silver, the governess-turned-detective, can solve.
277 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1947
303 people are currently reading
503 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Wentworth
165 books524 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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July 1, 2018
Out in the countryside in a huge country manor, a weekend party is launched. The tone is hostile, suspicious, resentful, and even vicious. But why?
Dorinda is there because in her capacity as the new secretary for the neighbour lady next door, she was invited along with her employers. Her distant cousin and self-appointed ‘guardian’ Justin is there because his high-society friend Moira asked him to drive her down when she had been implored by the host to show up.
Everyone is in some way connected to the host – either through friends or other people. Yet many people do not even know who their host really is. All they know is that he has a hold over them in some way and he has arranged this weekend for both his amusement and to collect what he can from his ‘guests’.
Blackmail. Such an ugly word with ugly connotations. In our world today, blackmail is rare. With people hanging out their every thought and deed on social media, there’s not much hope that blackmail material could be found, let alone frighten people into paying money.
In 1947, when this book was written, people were much more sensitive to social ostracism and tended to keep their secrets to themselves. Especially when they involved things such as nefarious business dealings, or connections to foreign spies in the war, or jewelry sold that wasn’t quite one’s own, or a later will being hidden in favour of an earlier will, or a dead husband reappearing to threaten a more recent second marriage.
Through a bad experience, Dorinda has the good fortune to meet Miss Silver, so when a murder occurs and she is required to stay on at the house, she asks that Miss Silver come to help – either just as a calming presence, or to solve the murder.
Towards the end, we are given enough clues to pretty much figure out who murdered whom. It is in the gathering of evidence sufficient to make an arrest that Miss Silver and Chief Inspector Lamb, outwardly at odds but inwardly in perfect attunement, manage to ensure that the evidence is sound and that justice will be done.
This is my 12th outing with Miss Silver in Patricia Wentworth’s famous series. My goal is to ultimately read them all. These books are fun, filled with interesting people, and Miss Silver! I don’t know of any other investigator who quotes Lord Tennyson so appropriately.
Dorinda is there because in her capacity as the new secretary for the neighbour lady next door, she was invited along with her employers. Her distant cousin and self-appointed ‘guardian’ Justin is there because his high-society friend Moira asked him to drive her down when she had been implored by the host to show up.
Everyone is in some way connected to the host – either through friends or other people. Yet many people do not even know who their host really is. All they know is that he has a hold over them in some way and he has arranged this weekend for both his amusement and to collect what he can from his ‘guests’.
Blackmail. Such an ugly word with ugly connotations. In our world today, blackmail is rare. With people hanging out their every thought and deed on social media, there’s not much hope that blackmail material could be found, let alone frighten people into paying money.
In 1947, when this book was written, people were much more sensitive to social ostracism and tended to keep their secrets to themselves. Especially when they involved things such as nefarious business dealings, or connections to foreign spies in the war, or jewelry sold that wasn’t quite one’s own, or a later will being hidden in favour of an earlier will, or a dead husband reappearing to threaten a more recent second marriage.
Through a bad experience, Dorinda has the good fortune to meet Miss Silver, so when a murder occurs and she is required to stay on at the house, she asks that Miss Silver come to help – either just as a calming presence, or to solve the murder.
Towards the end, we are given enough clues to pretty much figure out who murdered whom. It is in the gathering of evidence sufficient to make an arrest that Miss Silver and Chief Inspector Lamb, outwardly at odds but inwardly in perfect attunement, manage to ensure that the evidence is sound and that justice will be done.
This is my 12th outing with Miss Silver in Patricia Wentworth’s famous series. My goal is to ultimately read them all. These books are fun, filled with interesting people, and Miss Silver! I don’t know of any other investigator who quotes Lord Tennyson so appropriately.
September 12, 2025
“‘Blackmail, my dear – just a little simple, innocent blackmail.’”
Genial and charming Gregory Porlock has made blackmail his main source of income, and when he invites a bunch of different people to his manor for the weekend, he does this with a view to enjoying and enriching himself simultaneously. Seeking to have some little private chitchat with nearly every one of his guests on the day of their arrival, he makes it clear to them that he knows one of their secrets and that his silence will come at a certain cost, and he likes not only the prospect of incoming money but also the feeling of power he derives from his friendly proposals. However, during a parlour game with his unwilling guests, the lights suddenly go out and when they go on again, there is a third blade between Porlock’s shoulder blades – and nearly everyone in the room had good reason to stick it there.
Wicked Uncle, also known as Spotlight is the first Patricia Wentworth mystery featuring the elderly sleuth Miss Maud Silver I have ever read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it – at least, most of it – because the mystery is well-crafted and Miss Silver uses a great deal of ratiocination to get some of the points, like, for example, where to look for fingerprints, clear. What I do not understand, however, is why the police allow an old lady so much influence in their murder investigation, all the more so since she is not concerned in the murder and brought into the story via a coincidence in a department store. Maybe, it would have been advisable not to start midway in the series but with one of the first books in which her special relationship with the police might be established? It should also be added that Wentworth has a deft hand in providing her readers with the necessary information in an elegant way, far superior to the repetitiveness of Ngaio Marsh in such cases: For example not all of Porlock’s conversations with his blackmail victims are given first hand and in chronological order so that Wentworth avoids straining the reader’s patience with an accumulation of similar scenes.
There is one point, though, that marred the overall positive reading experience for me, and that was the relationship between Dorinda Brown, a plucky young lady with her heart in the right place, and her remote cousin Justin Leigh, a rather self-important snob, who addresses her as “child” and regards her with a sense of protector- and private ownership, constantly patronizing her. Having not the faintest sense of humour in a brain too full of himself, Justin is yet looked up to with undue admiration and humility by Dorinda, who even speaks to him like this, ”’You like everything to be perfect, so you would have to marry a girl who would never, never make a mistake.’”
Dorinda, where the devil are his slippers?
Genial and charming Gregory Porlock has made blackmail his main source of income, and when he invites a bunch of different people to his manor for the weekend, he does this with a view to enjoying and enriching himself simultaneously. Seeking to have some little private chitchat with nearly every one of his guests on the day of their arrival, he makes it clear to them that he knows one of their secrets and that his silence will come at a certain cost, and he likes not only the prospect of incoming money but also the feeling of power he derives from his friendly proposals. However, during a parlour game with his unwilling guests, the lights suddenly go out and when they go on again, there is a third blade between Porlock’s shoulder blades – and nearly everyone in the room had good reason to stick it there.
Wicked Uncle, also known as Spotlight is the first Patricia Wentworth mystery featuring the elderly sleuth Miss Maud Silver I have ever read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it – at least, most of it – because the mystery is well-crafted and Miss Silver uses a great deal of ratiocination to get some of the points, like, for example, where to look for fingerprints, clear. What I do not understand, however, is why the police allow an old lady so much influence in their murder investigation, all the more so since she is not concerned in the murder and brought into the story via a coincidence in a department store. Maybe, it would have been advisable not to start midway in the series but with one of the first books in which her special relationship with the police might be established? It should also be added that Wentworth has a deft hand in providing her readers with the necessary information in an elegant way, far superior to the repetitiveness of Ngaio Marsh in such cases: For example not all of Porlock’s conversations with his blackmail victims are given first hand and in chronological order so that Wentworth avoids straining the reader’s patience with an accumulation of similar scenes.
There is one point, though, that marred the overall positive reading experience for me, and that was the relationship between Dorinda Brown, a plucky young lady with her heart in the right place, and her remote cousin Justin Leigh, a rather self-important snob, who addresses her as “child” and regards her with a sense of protector- and private ownership, constantly patronizing her. Having not the faintest sense of humour in a brain too full of himself, Justin is yet looked up to with undue admiration and humility by Dorinda, who even speaks to him like this, ”’You like everything to be perfect, so you would have to marry a girl who would never, never make a mistake.’”
Dorinda, where the devil are his slippers?
November 5, 2023
Wonderful stuff. The housework just has to wait! 😉
December 21, 2020
There wasn’t any mistake: The name of the photographer was glaringly legible— “Charles Rowbecker and Son, Norwood.” It was the twin photograph of the one in Aunt Mary’s album. It was, incredibly but indisputably, a photograph of the Wicked Uncle.
October 1, 2018
This is a 'turn the page' mystery, almost a suspense. There are a lot of characters, but Ms. Wentworth does a good job of keeping them straight. I like the mystery format. The reader gets the characters and the mystery and Scotland Yard. Then, Miss Silver magically appears on the scene and solves the case. Miss Silver seems secondary to the story even though she comes through at the end. Recommend.
May 29, 2012
Lovely and pleasant little mystery that kept me guessing until the end. I adore Miss Maudie Silver.
July 2, 2016
This is the first book I've read in the series that started to get the least bit repetitious. It did not detract from my enjoyment however.
January 19, 2018
I love Patricia Wentworth's cosy detective stories, starring the inimitable Miss Silver as an early role model for the self-supporting woman whose life doesn't revolve around her family. They vary wildly in quality and I've read them all a dozen times so know who did it in every case, but still I return to them every time I want something cosy to snuggle down to in winter or something light (yet sensational!) to read on the train. It's the period detail I love - the clothes, the houses, the old-fashioned lifestyles, the prickly servants - along with an often sentimental and overblown romance arc. Occasionally, you get particularly entertaining character portraits or dry political asides thrown in for good measure. Wentworth is never going to measure up to Agatha Christie, but her books hold their own and different pleasures.
Spotlight has several points in its favour. For starters, the inevitable young heroine is in this case both poor and self-supporting. (Far too many of the books' heroines are either wealthy young debutantes or poor dependents with no intention of earning their own living. I'm particularly puzzled by Hilary in The Case Is Closed, who is not in school and thus apparently old enough to work, but instead lives with/sponges off her fragile cousin Marion, who wears herself to the bone working as a model while Hilary never thinks to help the household budget by getting a job herself.) But I digress. Spotlight's Dorinda Brown is a charming heroine - poor but adventurous, courageous and possessed of a sense of humour. She never lets her poor circumstances get her down, a very likeable trait. And her try-anything approach to life kick-starts the narrative as she takes a job as nanny to the perennially exhausted Linnet Bishop and her spoiled son Marty.
As so often with Patricia Wentworth, this makes for a Gothic start to the story, but we are not entering the territory of Jane Eyre and Linnet's husband Martin is neither a sinister villain nor a charming seducer. I rather like his understated character. Instead, we are introduced to the Bishops' debonair neighbour Gregory Porlock, who it is swiftly revealed is blackmailing almost everyone he knows. This isn't a spoiler - the blackmailing basis of the plot is flagged up in the blurb. And as I've reflected before, along with an inheritance plot, blackmail is the perfect opportunity to assemble lots of suspects in one place, all with the same motive for murder.
In this instance, Gregory obligingly decides to host a party at his country home and invite many of his victims, one of whom then murders him. The question is who? His victims are introduced with a real effort to differentiate them and draw convincing character portraits. I particularly like Moira, the society girl who is beautiful and reckless but also intelligent and generous. Her relationship with her elderly aunt is sensitively portrayed, as is her friendship with dashing young man about town Justin Leigh who just happens to be a cousin of Dorinda Brown...
Anyone who reads a lot of Patricia Wentworth will instantly recognise the handy cousin relationship she deploys frequently to create connections between characters and allow them to stay in the same house for plot convenience. She seems to use it to cover almost any distant family relationship and it certainly doesn't signal a relationship so close that marriage is out of the question. This is important when the young man in question has the surname of Leigh, one of Wentworth's favourite choices for the hero.
A prolonged house-party cooping up Dorinda, Justin and Moira together in the aftermath of a murder is therefore bound to be good value, irrespective of the murder plot. Miss Silver is imported into the story through an admittedly rather implausible scenario. Dorinda is given back-story issues which are frankly even more implausible and could have been profitably left out. But it doesn't matter because by this stage I'm engrossed in the romantic arc.
I'd say the eventual whodunit reveal is a minor disappointment - some Patricia Wentworths have genuinely compelling and intriguing villains, but this isn't one of them. But it doesn't spoil the story for me. And one of the things I like about her books is that she takes the trouble to tie up the loose ends for all the main characters and often the supporting ones as well, usually ensuring that the downtrodden ones get their moment in the sun and the unpleasant ones get their comeuppance. An entertaining read and I recommend it if you like cosy crime.
Spotlight has several points in its favour. For starters, the inevitable young heroine is in this case both poor and self-supporting. (Far too many of the books' heroines are either wealthy young debutantes or poor dependents with no intention of earning their own living. I'm particularly puzzled by Hilary in The Case Is Closed, who is not in school and thus apparently old enough to work, but instead lives with/sponges off her fragile cousin Marion, who wears herself to the bone working as a model while Hilary never thinks to help the household budget by getting a job herself.) But I digress. Spotlight's Dorinda Brown is a charming heroine - poor but adventurous, courageous and possessed of a sense of humour. She never lets her poor circumstances get her down, a very likeable trait. And her try-anything approach to life kick-starts the narrative as she takes a job as nanny to the perennially exhausted Linnet Bishop and her spoiled son Marty.
As so often with Patricia Wentworth, this makes for a Gothic start to the story, but we are not entering the territory of Jane Eyre and Linnet's husband Martin is neither a sinister villain nor a charming seducer. I rather like his understated character. Instead, we are introduced to the Bishops' debonair neighbour Gregory Porlock, who it is swiftly revealed is blackmailing almost everyone he knows. This isn't a spoiler - the blackmailing basis of the plot is flagged up in the blurb. And as I've reflected before, along with an inheritance plot, blackmail is the perfect opportunity to assemble lots of suspects in one place, all with the same motive for murder.
In this instance, Gregory obligingly decides to host a party at his country home and invite many of his victims, one of whom then murders him. The question is who? His victims are introduced with a real effort to differentiate them and draw convincing character portraits. I particularly like Moira, the society girl who is beautiful and reckless but also intelligent and generous. Her relationship with her elderly aunt is sensitively portrayed, as is her friendship with dashing young man about town Justin Leigh who just happens to be a cousin of Dorinda Brown...
Anyone who reads a lot of Patricia Wentworth will instantly recognise the handy cousin relationship she deploys frequently to create connections between characters and allow them to stay in the same house for plot convenience. She seems to use it to cover almost any distant family relationship and it certainly doesn't signal a relationship so close that marriage is out of the question. This is important when the young man in question has the surname of Leigh, one of Wentworth's favourite choices for the hero.
A prolonged house-party cooping up Dorinda, Justin and Moira together in the aftermath of a murder is therefore bound to be good value, irrespective of the murder plot. Miss Silver is imported into the story through an admittedly rather implausible scenario. Dorinda is given back-story issues which are frankly even more implausible and could have been profitably left out. But it doesn't matter because by this stage I'm engrossed in the romantic arc.
I'd say the eventual whodunit reveal is a minor disappointment - some Patricia Wentworths have genuinely compelling and intriguing villains, but this isn't one of them. But it doesn't spoil the story for me. And one of the things I like about her books is that she takes the trouble to tie up the loose ends for all the main characters and often the supporting ones as well, usually ensuring that the downtrodden ones get their moment in the sun and the unpleasant ones get their comeuppance. An entertaining read and I recommend it if you like cosy crime.
January 6, 2018
I think it must take a certain type of person to be a blackmailer, a person who gets a kick out of the fear of others.
When the dastardly Gregory Porlock has a large house party, half the people sitting down to dinner with him have good reason to dislike and fear him. Soon it is a job for Lamb, Abbott, and Miss Silver, trying to find out who hated him enough to want him dead..
I was fairly certain I knew who it was about half way through, not because I followed all the diagrams and descriptions of who was standing in the hall with the dagger, but because there were only two people who had the right temperament to do the job.
There is always a romance, or two, in these books. Sometimes I wish the girls were not such passive characters. Dorinda was particularly damp.
When the dastardly Gregory Porlock has a large house party, half the people sitting down to dinner with him have good reason to dislike and fear him. Soon it is a job for Lamb, Abbott, and Miss Silver, trying to find out who hated him enough to want him dead..
I was fairly certain I knew who it was about half way through, not because I followed all the diagrams and descriptions of who was standing in the hall with the dagger, but because there were only two people who had the right temperament to do the job.
There is always a romance, or two, in these books. Sometimes I wish the girls were not such passive characters. Dorinda was particularly damp.
November 13, 2021
2020: repeat listen.
A really good Golden-era whodunit set in a country house with a blackmailing villain, lots of red herrings, a gentle - in the background - romance happening; and Miss Silver comes to stay to help solve the back-to-back murders.
2021: repeat late-night listen. Greg/ Glen is the Uncle, friend, or spouse you can absolutely do without.
A really good Golden-era whodunit set in a country house with a blackmailing villain, lots of red herrings, a gentle - in the background - romance happening; and Miss Silver comes to stay to help solve the back-to-back murders.
2021: repeat late-night listen. Greg/ Glen is the Uncle, friend, or spouse you can absolutely do without.
August 6, 2025
A very typical old-fashioned Golden Age whodunnit mystery set in a big house in the English countryside. It's entertaining enough, but the slightly misogynist undertone makes it feel a bit dated.
August 20, 2024
I liked this country house mystery! The first half introduces the characters and Patricia Wentworth writes such interesting characters too. The second half is the investigation by Lamb and Abbott and of course Miss Silver. There was no suspense, no thrills - just a very good solid mystery with a lot of suspects, a relaxing read.
It's lovely that Miss SIlver can now knit with pink wool (in proper balls) now that the war is over!
It's lovely that Miss SIlver can now knit with pink wool (in proper balls) now that the war is over!
January 11, 2020
Dorinda Brown is in love with her one remaining relative, her distant cousin Justin, but is too naïve to realize that he loves her too. When she takes a job as social secretary to the wealthy Mrs. Oakland, Justin contrives to get an invitation to the same house-party so he can decide if it's a suitable job for Dorinda. Unfortunately, the host of the party--Greg Porlock--is really Glen Porteous, who married and stole from Dorinda's guardian and now-dead aunt, and Dorinda instantly recognizes him. When he's murdered, Dorinda asks for Miss Silver to stay in the house with her and the others. There's one more murder before Miss Silver clears the innocent and fingers the guilty, although her methods may not be, strictly speaking, fair to the reader.
September 26, 2025
I probably should have mentioned before that the Miss Silver mysteries are always a hybrid of mystery and romance. There's a formula: young woman, not conventionally beautiful but attractive, and young man (perhaps slightly older) are in love, although they don't always realize it right away. They become involved in a mystery, sometimes with some danger to the young woman; and Miss Silver is called in.
SPOILER ALERT!
There is a happy ending. Justice is served. Love triumphs.
Wicked Uncle is set a couple of years after World War II, and wartime crimes play a part in the plot, as do family drama and, of course, young love. Some will find these books hopelessly dated, but I enjoy them; they're a quick comfort read. If you like this sort of thing, you will like the Miss Silver books.
SPOILER ALERT!
There is a happy ending. Justice is served. Love triumphs.
Wicked Uncle is set a couple of years after World War II, and wartime crimes play a part in the plot, as do family drama and, of course, young love. Some will find these books hopelessly dated, but I enjoy them; they're a quick comfort read. If you like this sort of thing, you will like the Miss Silver books.
February 20, 2017
A good standard entry in this series, seen mainly through the eyes and thoughts of young Dorinda Brown, pleased to get a job as nanny. But when her young charge turns out to have a snapshot of her disappeared/dead wicked uncle, and when she is charged with shoplifting, things get worrying ...
Then when the menacing Gregory Porlock invites a group of unacquainted friends, including Dorinda, to his home, the house party takes on a sinister edge. The host himself is stabbed in the back, and it becomes clear to all that he was a blackmailer. But who thrust the fatal knife is up to Miss Silver to discover.
Then when the menacing Gregory Porlock invites a group of unacquainted friends, including Dorinda, to his home, the house party takes on a sinister edge. The host himself is stabbed in the back, and it becomes clear to all that he was a blackmailer. But who thrust the fatal knife is up to Miss Silver to discover.
January 24, 2021
This might be my all time favorite Miss Silver novel. Young, penniless Dorinda Brown takes a job as a lady's companion to ditzy, feathery Mrs. Oakley, charged with answering her phone (Mrs. O. can't handle it) and doing the shopping. It's not long before she realizes that somehow, Mrs. Oakley's neighbor is the "wicked uncle" of Dorinda's past, the man who broke her aunt's heart and took all her money. He's also blackmailing everyone at his house party. He is, of course, murdered.
This book has some of my favorite scenes in any Wentworth book - Dorinda is rescued in a department store by Miss Silver; she buys the perfect dress with the man who is obviously in love with her; the return of a pawned ruby bracelet to it's rightful owner; and the murder involves luminous paint and an array of fingerprints, clues and suspects so skillfully managed I actually forget the murderer every time I re-read it. Young love is of course realized and justice is served, and Miss Silver provides the moral intelligence to solve the crime. Bravo.
This book has some of my favorite scenes in any Wentworth book - Dorinda is rescued in a department store by Miss Silver; she buys the perfect dress with the man who is obviously in love with her; the return of a pawned ruby bracelet to it's rightful owner; and the murder involves luminous paint and an array of fingerprints, clues and suspects so skillfully managed I actually forget the murderer every time I re-read it. Young love is of course realized and justice is served, and Miss Silver provides the moral intelligence to solve the crime. Bravo.
September 8, 2022
Miss Silver and Miss Marple could be best buds! Another excellent offering from Ms. Wentworth. I love the way she writes her characters, her plots are in-depth but not complicated, there are plenty of red herrings, atmosphere, British country house ambiance and you'll never guess who-dunnit! I especially enjoyed the role of the butler in this one. I highly recommend this book, or any book by Ms. Wentworth.
April 10, 2020
Another thorny case (this time the question is whether it might be a suicide or a murder) for the knit-happy Miss Silver, one she solves in record time by listening at doors and adding up the clues. All ends as it should, with the world less one vindictive, gold-digging young wife, and life at the manor peaceful once more. >^..^<
September 27, 2021
Another great mystery with uncanny atmosphere, steady build up and an interesting resolution. The end could have been better but still it wasn't disappointing. Great pick up if you want a cozy mystery read.
February 4, 2024
Another good Miss Silver story.
August 3, 2025
okej misterijica, malo icky jer rođaci planiraju venčanje, a maude silver je možda trunčicu živahnija od miss marple
March 19, 2024
A love interest so controlling I felt physically ill, and the mystery is meh
October 28, 2024
Dorinda Brown needs a job. She lost her parents when young and went to live with her Aunt Mary and her husband (always known as the "Wicked Uncle"). The Wicked Uncle took Aunt Mary for everything he could and then left her. So when Aunt Mary died there was just a tiny annuity left which doesn't quite meet her needs. So she takes a position with the wealthy Oakley family as a secretary to Linnet Oakley, whose nerves won't allow her to answer the telephone or see most people in person. It's not exactly the best thing going in the way of jobs, but beggars can't be choosers.
When the Oakleys go to their country house, they are invited to dinner by their neighbor Gregory Porlock and he insists that they bring along Dorinda because his numbers are uneven. Before the party, Mrs. Oakley sends Dorinda to town to buy a suitable frock (nothing the poor girl has with her will "do") and some luminous paint for her son's playroom clock. While at the high-end shop (which carries everything from "suitable frocks" to luminous paint), Dorinda is accused of shoplifting. If not for Miss Silver, she would have been carted off to the police station and been forced to miss the dinner party. But Miss Silver saw another woman slip her hand into Dorinda's pocket and plant the item in question. The real question is--why? Miss Silver is sure that something nasty is afoot and gives Dorinda her card; telling her to call on the elderly sleuth if anything should come up.
So, Dorinda makes it back to the Oakleys in time for the party and off they go to Porlock's house. The last person Dorinda expects to see as her host is her Wicked Uncle (only his name should be Glen Porteous). And wicked he is. He's blackmailing just about everybody on the guest list--from Mrs. Oakley over the fact that they were once married...but never divorced to Mr. Tote who carried on some shady black market business during the war to Moira Lane who purloined her aunt's bracelet and pawned it to Mr. Masterman who may have caused his aunt's death and certainly has suppressed her will to Leonard Carroll who probably sold secrets to the enemy during the war. Porlock (as we'll continue to call him) has pleasant little chats with all of them to let them know he has the goods on them and they'd pay up--with money or juicy gossip--or he'll just have to let the proper authorities know.
When the lights go out unexpectedly during a game of charades, none of us should be surprised that Porlock is found dead from a stab in the back after the lights come back on. All we need to find out is which of his victims couldn't take the pressure and did away with the source of their trouble? Chief Inspector Lamb and Detective Sergeant Lamb are soon on the spot to find out. And Miss Silver arrives soon as well after Dorinda calls her in. And it is Miss Maud Silver who points the police in the right direction.
This was a prime example of Wentworth's Miss Silver mysteries. Young woman in the thick of things--check. Personable man for her to wind up romantically involved with--check. {This means they did not do it--check. Nor really a spoiler because this is the general set-up in Wentworth mysteries.} Miss Silver knitting in hand and cough at the ready--check. Though I must say that I didn't notice Miss Silver coughing nearly as much this time around. Inspector Lamb blustering about--claiming not to be happy about Miss Silver's involvement; irritated by Abbott's educated ways; but ultimately following Miss Silver's lead--check. There are plenty of suspects and motives and red herrings spread about to keep armchair detectives busy. All making for a nice mystery outing.
I really enjoyed Dorinda's character in this, although she did seem just a little bit slow on the uptake when it came to Justin Leigh and who he really was in love with. And even though she loved him, she seemed intent on pushing him into Moira Lane's arms because "Moira's the type of girl you should be with." But I did like the way she refused to be talked into being the nanny for the horrid little Marty in addition to being Mrs. Oakley's secretary. She may have been desperate for a job...but she wasn't that desperate. I did figure out who did it--but I didn't catch all the clues. So, good for Wentworth for keeping some of the secrets to herself until the wrap up.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
When the Oakleys go to their country house, they are invited to dinner by their neighbor Gregory Porlock and he insists that they bring along Dorinda because his numbers are uneven. Before the party, Mrs. Oakley sends Dorinda to town to buy a suitable frock (nothing the poor girl has with her will "do") and some luminous paint for her son's playroom clock. While at the high-end shop (which carries everything from "suitable frocks" to luminous paint), Dorinda is accused of shoplifting. If not for Miss Silver, she would have been carted off to the police station and been forced to miss the dinner party. But Miss Silver saw another woman slip her hand into Dorinda's pocket and plant the item in question. The real question is--why? Miss Silver is sure that something nasty is afoot and gives Dorinda her card; telling her to call on the elderly sleuth if anything should come up.
So, Dorinda makes it back to the Oakleys in time for the party and off they go to Porlock's house. The last person Dorinda expects to see as her host is her Wicked Uncle (only his name should be Glen Porteous). And wicked he is. He's blackmailing just about everybody on the guest list--from Mrs. Oakley over the fact that they were once married...but never divorced to Mr. Tote who carried on some shady black market business during the war to Moira Lane who purloined her aunt's bracelet and pawned it to Mr. Masterman who may have caused his aunt's death and certainly has suppressed her will to Leonard Carroll who probably sold secrets to the enemy during the war. Porlock (as we'll continue to call him) has pleasant little chats with all of them to let them know he has the goods on them and they'd pay up--with money or juicy gossip--or he'll just have to let the proper authorities know.
When the lights go out unexpectedly during a game of charades, none of us should be surprised that Porlock is found dead from a stab in the back after the lights come back on. All we need to find out is which of his victims couldn't take the pressure and did away with the source of their trouble? Chief Inspector Lamb and Detective Sergeant Lamb are soon on the spot to find out. And Miss Silver arrives soon as well after Dorinda calls her in. And it is Miss Maud Silver who points the police in the right direction.
This was a prime example of Wentworth's Miss Silver mysteries. Young woman in the thick of things--check. Personable man for her to wind up romantically involved with--check. {This means they did not do it--check. Nor really a spoiler because this is the general set-up in Wentworth mysteries.} Miss Silver knitting in hand and cough at the ready--check. Though I must say that I didn't notice Miss Silver coughing nearly as much this time around. Inspector Lamb blustering about--claiming not to be happy about Miss Silver's involvement; irritated by Abbott's educated ways; but ultimately following Miss Silver's lead--check. There are plenty of suspects and motives and red herrings spread about to keep armchair detectives busy. All making for a nice mystery outing.
I really enjoyed Dorinda's character in this, although she did seem just a little bit slow on the uptake when it came to Justin Leigh and who he really was in love with. And even though she loved him, she seemed intent on pushing him into Moira Lane's arms because "Moira's the type of girl you should be with." But I did like the way she refused to be talked into being the nanny for the horrid little Marty in addition to being Mrs. Oakley's secretary. She may have been desperate for a job...but she wasn't that desperate. I did figure out who did it--but I didn't catch all the clues. So, good for Wentworth for keeping some of the secrets to herself until the wrap up.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
January 31, 2019
How utterly disagreeable can one person be!!! Gregory Porlock was the limit!!! When he was murdered, I felt as did Sargeant Abbott did "If Porlock was a blackmailer, almost anyone may have bumped him off. seems a pity anyone should be hanged for it."
Of course, the inimitable Miss Silver with her keen eye solved the case.
The manager raised his eyebrows. "Very convenient for the young woman, I am sure. Quite a good idea, if you're going shoplifting, to have someone handly to swear you couldn't have done it." Miss Silver turned upon him the look before which the hardiest of her pupils had been wont to quail. It was a look which had daunted the evildoer on many occasion. Since then Chief Detective Inspector Lamb himself had been halted by it and brought to unwilling apology. it went straight through the manager's self-esteem and stripped him to his bare bones. He found them chilly and uncertain of their footing. When you have been kept together by conventions and clothed with observances, it is very disintegrating to be left without them. "I beg your pardon," said Miss Maud Silver. The manager found himself apologizing. She had spoken quite quietly, and he knew now that she was neither an eccentric duchess nor any lesser member of the aristocracy. But the authority behind that quiet tone had him rattled. He paused in his not very well chosen phrases and discovered that he was being addressed. He had the quite unwarranted feeling that he was being addressed from a platform. He had the unusual feeling of being something rather lowly in the scale of creation. Miss Silver treated this frame of mind with firmness. "You would, perhaps, care for me to furnish you with proofs of my credibility as a witness. This is my business card."
Frank Abbott's admiration of Miss Silver is heartwarming. Strictly off the record, I don't mind telling you something of a highly confidential nature." He dropped his voice to a whisper and said, "She knows everything...You can take it from me that as far as she is concerned the human race is glass-fronted. She looks right through the shop window into the back premises and detects the skeleton in the cupboard. So next time you think of committing a crime you'd better give her a wide berth. You have been warned. It is only the fact that I have a perfectly blameless conscience that enables me to meet her eye."
Of course, the inimitable Miss Silver with her keen eye solved the case.
The manager raised his eyebrows. "Very convenient for the young woman, I am sure. Quite a good idea, if you're going shoplifting, to have someone handly to swear you couldn't have done it." Miss Silver turned upon him the look before which the hardiest of her pupils had been wont to quail. It was a look which had daunted the evildoer on many occasion. Since then Chief Detective Inspector Lamb himself had been halted by it and brought to unwilling apology. it went straight through the manager's self-esteem and stripped him to his bare bones. He found them chilly and uncertain of their footing. When you have been kept together by conventions and clothed with observances, it is very disintegrating to be left without them. "I beg your pardon," said Miss Maud Silver. The manager found himself apologizing. She had spoken quite quietly, and he knew now that she was neither an eccentric duchess nor any lesser member of the aristocracy. But the authority behind that quiet tone had him rattled. He paused in his not very well chosen phrases and discovered that he was being addressed. He had the quite unwarranted feeling that he was being addressed from a platform. He had the unusual feeling of being something rather lowly in the scale of creation. Miss Silver treated this frame of mind with firmness. "You would, perhaps, care for me to furnish you with proofs of my credibility as a witness. This is my business card."
Frank Abbott's admiration of Miss Silver is heartwarming. Strictly off the record, I don't mind telling you something of a highly confidential nature." He dropped his voice to a whisper and said, "She knows everything...You can take it from me that as far as she is concerned the human race is glass-fronted. She looks right through the shop window into the back premises and detects the skeleton in the cupboard. So next time you think of committing a crime you'd better give her a wide berth. You have been warned. It is only the fact that I have a perfectly blameless conscience that enables me to meet her eye."
November 21, 2012
Dorinda Brown takes a job working for a wealthy family on a whim, and quickly finds it to be the hardest position she has ever had. The father is always working. His wife is entirely blind to the defects of her despicable son, and unsympathetic to the pain he causes his governesses.
All that Dorinda can stand, for she needs the job. But when murder comes to town, it brings along much more unpleasantness. There is a question of blackmail, first of all, and a shocking realization about Dorinda’s past. All told, it adds up to a frightful mystery—the sort that only Miss Maud Silver, the governess-turned-detective, can solve.
I downloaded this as an audio book without realizing it was a Maude Silver. The series is a pleasant British cozy which would be enjoyable except I had forgotten that Maude Silver "coughs" continually. The device is repeated so often it becomes as irritating as a pebble in one's shoe.
I recommend the book to mystery fans and writers only because of the structure, which is unusual.
All that Dorinda can stand, for she needs the job. But when murder comes to town, it brings along much more unpleasantness. There is a question of blackmail, first of all, and a shocking realization about Dorinda’s past. All told, it adds up to a frightful mystery—the sort that only Miss Maud Silver, the governess-turned-detective, can solve.
I downloaded this as an audio book without realizing it was a Maude Silver. The series is a pleasant British cozy which would be enjoyable except I had forgotten that Maude Silver "coughs" continually. The device is repeated so often it becomes as irritating as a pebble in one's shoe.
I recommend the book to mystery fans and writers only because of the structure, which is unusual.
February 10, 2021
Like a lot of Patricia Wentworth books involving Maud Silver "Spotlight" is a bit hit and miss but I can't deny that he is very good at creating characters that you hope and know will get their comeuppance sooner or later. In the case it is Gregory Porlock better known as the Wicked Uncle. Another Wentworth stable is a young woman who through circumstances beyond their control as lost out on money due to her and is struggling to make ends meet but a young suitor will come to their rescue and they will live happily ever after. I found the book enjoyable in parts and while other parts were mind numbingly boring. This book is a must if you like cosy murder mysteries.
November 7, 2017
Light, non-tense who-dun-it. Clever enough to keep one guessing. Not many of the men in this book are admirable; most of their attached women are suffering ... Greg Porlock is not a nice man, and no one mourns him when he is stabbed in the middle of the back one evening during a round of charades. The problem is too many of the guests have good reason to wish him dead ... so who stabbed him in the dark?
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January 25, 2021Another lovely Miss Silver story!
I read my very first Miss Silver story around 30 years ago.
I became addicted to the author's writing style, her portrayal of the characters who appear in every book and her cleverly crafted plots.
It was only when I retired 5 years ago that I had the time to devote to reading all her books. Always liked their reassuring predictability. In this chaotic and frightening world, there's always something very comforting about Miss Silver!
I read my very first Miss Silver story around 30 years ago.
I became addicted to the author's writing style, her portrayal of the characters who appear in every book and her cleverly crafted plots.
It was only when I retired 5 years ago that I had the time to devote to reading all her books. Always liked their reassuring predictability. In this chaotic and frightening world, there's always something very comforting about Miss Silver!
August 9, 2023
Gregory Porlock was obviously not a crime fiction fan - if he had been, he'd have known it was asking for trouble to arrange a house party for all the people he was blackmailing! Seasoned crime fiction fans will not be surprised to learn that he ends up getting murdered - but by whom?
This was another very enjoyable tale. There was a good mix of characters, and I especially liked the range of blackmail victims, from the downright nasty to the misguided or stupid. Wentworth also provides an interesting range of responses, both to the blackmail and to the murder. Some characters are only concerned with getting away with past crimes and getting on with their lives, while others change during the course of the book.
Dorinda Brown, the heroine, is attractive rather than beautiful, very sensible and down to earth. She is also poor and works for her living and has no idea how to 'dress well', unusual traits in a Wentworth heroine who usually dresses in 'good' clothes even if they are very old. She loves her distant cousin, Justin Leigh, but is resigned to him marrying someone else who has 'perfect taste' and always knows the right way to behave. This makes for some funny scenes, as Justin is obviously in love with her, but Dorinda is blissfully oblivious. At one point, she mentions that Justin is like an older brother to her and is surprised and puzzled when he is annoyed by that! And while we have the usual 'non proposal' at the end of the book, with Justin dropping hints about wanting to be married to 'someone' and asking Dorinda what she thinks about it, he does end up telling her that he loves her and asking her to marry him, rather than assuming/telling her that she will, which is an improvement on most of Wentworth's heroes.
It loses a star because of the improbably way Miss Silver is 'shoehorned' in to the story. Early on in the book, there is an attempt to frame Dorinda with a shoplifting charge. Miss Silver 'just happens' to be in the same store at the same time and sees another woman slipping some stolen items into Dorinda's coat pocket and is able to clear Dorinda's name. She then gives Dorinda her address in case of further trouble, so of course Dorinda calls her in after the murder. While the shoplifting incident does link in to the rest of the story, I found it was a coincidence too far to have Miss Silver turning up on the spot like that.
This was another very enjoyable tale. There was a good mix of characters, and I especially liked the range of blackmail victims, from the downright nasty to the misguided or stupid. Wentworth also provides an interesting range of responses, both to the blackmail and to the murder. Some characters are only concerned with getting away with past crimes and getting on with their lives, while others change during the course of the book.
Dorinda Brown, the heroine, is attractive rather than beautiful, very sensible and down to earth. She is also poor and works for her living and has no idea how to 'dress well', unusual traits in a Wentworth heroine who usually dresses in 'good' clothes even if they are very old. She loves her distant cousin, Justin Leigh, but is resigned to him marrying someone else who has 'perfect taste' and always knows the right way to behave. This makes for some funny scenes, as Justin is obviously in love with her, but Dorinda is blissfully oblivious. At one point, she mentions that Justin is like an older brother to her and is surprised and puzzled when he is annoyed by that! And while we have the usual 'non proposal' at the end of the book, with Justin dropping hints about wanting to be married to 'someone' and asking Dorinda what she thinks about it, he does end up telling her that he loves her and asking her to marry him, rather than assuming/telling her that she will, which is an improvement on most of Wentworth's heroes.
It loses a star because of the improbably way Miss Silver is 'shoehorned' in to the story. Early on in the book, there is an attempt to frame Dorinda with a shoplifting charge. Miss Silver 'just happens' to be in the same store at the same time and sees another woman slipping some stolen items into Dorinda's coat pocket and is able to clear Dorinda's name. She then gives Dorinda her address in case of further trouble, so of course Dorinda calls her in after the murder. While the shoplifting incident does link in to the rest of the story, I found it was a coincidence too far to have Miss Silver turning up on the spot like that.
January 7, 2023
I was recommended Patricia Wentworth after reading an Ngaio Marsh book a few months ago. Having had various issues with that one, I thoroughly enjoyed this introduction to Wentworth.
Gregory Porlock is a blackmailer, who invites the various people he's got stuff on to his home for a dinner party. He obviously goads someone too far, and he is murdered during the course of the evening. Miss Silver gets involved through a set of unlikely events and, in between bouts of knitting, soon sets things to rights.
I enjoyed this an awful lot. Wentworth sets the stage carefully, introducing us to Porlock and each of his guests and making us dislike the man intensely. The murder doesn't happen until over a hundred pages in, and then the police investigation is the focus for quite some time. It's not until well over half way through the book that Miss Silver makes her main entrance (although she'd had a cameo earlier).
I loved the interplay between her and police sergeant Frank Abbott. By this point in the series, Miss Silver is a known feature at Scotland Yard and the young Frank has taken a great shine to her, calling her his "revered preceptress". His boss, chief inspector Lamb is less affectionate, but still respects her abilities a lot.
It was a great story, with good characterisation, and I'm impressed with how deftly Wentworth handled a large cast. I wasn't wild about the very paternalistic relationship between Dorinda Brown and her cousin, Justin Leigh, but it's very much of the period. Anyway, I shall definitely be looking out for more of Miss Silver's handiwork.
Gregory Porlock is a blackmailer, who invites the various people he's got stuff on to his home for a dinner party. He obviously goads someone too far, and he is murdered during the course of the evening. Miss Silver gets involved through a set of unlikely events and, in between bouts of knitting, soon sets things to rights.
I enjoyed this an awful lot. Wentworth sets the stage carefully, introducing us to Porlock and each of his guests and making us dislike the man intensely. The murder doesn't happen until over a hundred pages in, and then the police investigation is the focus for quite some time. It's not until well over half way through the book that Miss Silver makes her main entrance (although she'd had a cameo earlier).
I loved the interplay between her and police sergeant Frank Abbott. By this point in the series, Miss Silver is a known feature at Scotland Yard and the young Frank has taken a great shine to her, calling her his "revered preceptress". His boss, chief inspector Lamb is less affectionate, but still respects her abilities a lot.
It was a great story, with good characterisation, and I'm impressed with how deftly Wentworth handled a large cast. I wasn't wild about the very paternalistic relationship between Dorinda Brown and her cousin, Justin Leigh, but it's very much of the period. Anyway, I shall definitely be looking out for more of Miss Silver's handiwork.
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