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The Miss Silver Mysteries Volume Two: In the Balance, The Chinese Shawl, and Miss Silver Deals with Death
The British governess-turned-sleuth solves three of her most intriguing cases, in this “timelessly charming” series (Charlotte MacLeod). Retired governess and teacher Maud Silver has found a new private detection. With her knitting needles and fondness for Tennyson, she may seem an unlikely sleuth, but Scotland Yard would be lost without her. “Patricia Wentworth has created a great detective in Miss Silver, the little old lady who nobody notices, but who in turn notices everything” (Paula Gosling, author of the Jack Stryker Mysteries). In the On a train back to London, Miss Silver meets a frightened new bride. Lisle Jerningham has fled her home after overhearing a seemingly sinister conversation. Her husband’s first wife died in an apparent accident, and the resultant infusion of cash saved his family home. Now he’s broke again. Will he attempt a second convenient mishap? The Chinese Actress Tanis Lyle may lack professional training, but her natural charisma seems to hypnotize all who meet her. The rising star has just finished filming her first motion picture. Unfortunately, it will turn out to be her last. Who did Tanis fail to charm? The answer could lie with a distant cousin and a long-standing family feud. Miss Silver Deals with In wartime London, the once grand Vandeleur House has been divided into flats, its glorious façade now concealing a nest of intrigue. When one inhabitant reports she’s being blackmailed by another, Miss Silver is brought in to sort out the suspects from the residents, which include a woman who lost her fiancé after their ship was struck by a Nazi torpedo and a sleepwalking maid with a curious past.
- GenresMystery
851 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 5, 2018
245 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Wentworth
162 books521 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 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 18, 2018
I have rediscovered Miss Silver. Her mysteries are the quintessential cozy British mystery in the Miss Marple style. All of these stories have the same format and type casting. They are formulaic in a way. Still each mystery is different and you really won't be sure of the solution until the end. In each book/novella there is a heroine that is an honest and naive young woman. The hero in each one is attracted to said heroine and falls in love at first sight. Of course, we have to have a villain(s) in which to choose the 'who done it'. There is also a butler, caregiver, and a group of friends that add into the mix. Each are a fast read. Recommend.
August 24, 2018
Fun but old fashioned
I’ll always enjoy a good Patricia Wentworth book, but more for pleasure than a challenge. I love her happy heroines.
I’ll always enjoy a good Patricia Wentworth book, but more for pleasure than a challenge. I love her happy heroines.
September 1, 2024
The second volume in the Miss Silver series. The only story that is really worth the read is The Chinese Shawl, although if you are a "must have all books in a series" buying the volume set on sale is a good deal. Otherwise, just buy the Shawl as a standalone.
IN THE BALANCE (2 stars)
The story begins with an exciting encounter of Miss Silver on the train meeting a married woman in trouble. Lisle has just overheard a horrible piece of gossip: that her husband had murdered his first wife and she is next.
From there the story quickly goes tepid. While this is a solidly written story, it just isn't that interesting. Lisle is pathetic. The villain is obvious. The resolution as expected.
For the reader who likes a traditional gothic: did newlywed marry the wrong man? And is he out to kill her for her money? you might find this a satisfying tale if you can get through the chapters that repeat things until your mind is numb.
Miss Silver's character is firmly established even though she isn't much in this book. This is also the first one with Randal March, the police Inspector who is a former student of Miss Silver's. He becomes a regular and a useful excuse for Miss Silver to intrude herself into other mysteries.
THE CHINESE SHAWL (4 stars)
A strong contender for a solid country house murder of a woman many others despise. One of the better Miss Silver stories with a heroine that isn't a total pushover, with the standard two young lovers, and a very good country house mystery in terms of a whodunit.
By this time in the series, Wentworth has really improved her writing style. The story has more action and less recap; Miss Silver is established as well as Inspector Randal March (and the two work together very well in this book); and the mystery itself is much tighter with a lot of suspects for the reader to consider, as well as some good red herrings.
On her twenty-first birthday Laura Fane comes into her inheritance, a manor house which her relative who is renting wants to buy. Despite her better sense she allows herself to be convinced to visit for the weekend with other new friends. It is past and current relationships that complicate her visit to an aunt she's never met, and things grow more tangled when one of the guests is murdered.
MISS SILVER DEALS WITH DEATH (2 stars)
A mystery overstuffed with characters with too many plots that fade away to nothing. I had to force myself through this one. The dead woman is far more interesting than our two lovers (with their very improbable reunion story).
Once again, Miss Silver is underused, and could have been removed altogether. This book introduces Inspector Lamb and his Sergeant Abbot. They have standalone stories and have an interesting dynamic that is far more entertaining than this mystery.
IN THE BALANCE (2 stars)
The story begins with an exciting encounter of Miss Silver on the train meeting a married woman in trouble. Lisle has just overheard a horrible piece of gossip: that her husband had murdered his first wife and she is next.
From there the story quickly goes tepid. While this is a solidly written story, it just isn't that interesting. Lisle is pathetic. The villain is obvious. The resolution as expected.
For the reader who likes a traditional gothic: did newlywed marry the wrong man? And is he out to kill her for her money? you might find this a satisfying tale if you can get through the chapters that repeat things until your mind is numb.
Miss Silver's character is firmly established even though she isn't much in this book. This is also the first one with Randal March, the police Inspector who is a former student of Miss Silver's. He becomes a regular and a useful excuse for Miss Silver to intrude herself into other mysteries.
THE CHINESE SHAWL (4 stars)
A strong contender for a solid country house murder of a woman many others despise. One of the better Miss Silver stories with a heroine that isn't a total pushover, with the standard two young lovers, and a very good country house mystery in terms of a whodunit.
By this time in the series, Wentworth has really improved her writing style. The story has more action and less recap; Miss Silver is established as well as Inspector Randal March (and the two work together very well in this book); and the mystery itself is much tighter with a lot of suspects for the reader to consider, as well as some good red herrings.
On her twenty-first birthday Laura Fane comes into her inheritance, a manor house which her relative who is renting wants to buy. Despite her better sense she allows herself to be convinced to visit for the weekend with other new friends. It is past and current relationships that complicate her visit to an aunt she's never met, and things grow more tangled when one of the guests is murdered.
MISS SILVER DEALS WITH DEATH (2 stars)
A mystery overstuffed with characters with too many plots that fade away to nothing. I had to force myself through this one. The dead woman is far more interesting than our two lovers (with their very improbable reunion story).
Once again, Miss Silver is underused, and could have been removed altogether. This book introduces Inspector Lamb and his Sergeant Abbot. They have standalone stories and have an interesting dynamic that is far more entertaining than this mystery.
January 23, 2019
I like the Miss Silver mysteries, and this is a good collection. I liked In the Balance, not because of Miss Silver's detection -- indeed, she seemed superfluous in this novel -- but for the narration of the thought process of a woman afraid of her own imminent death. The Chinese Shawl was excellent, Miss Silver at her best. Miss Silver Deals with Death was interesting as a mystery -- the 1930s equivalent of an English country house murder, it's a London house converted into flats -- but I was annoyed that the opening character whose head we're inside of mostly drops out of the novel.
June 7, 2021
Very enjoyable mysteries.
After reading the reviews mentioning a favorable comparison to Miss Maple, I happily sat down to read "In the Balance.". While a nice story I saw no resemblance to Miss Maple at all....only a brief, inconsequential appearance of Miss Silver. But it was an interesting story so on to the next. Now I see the comparison! While no one quite matches Miss Maple, I quite enjoyed Miss Silver in " The Chinese Shawl" and "Miss Silver Deals With Death.".
After reading the reviews mentioning a favorable comparison to Miss Maple, I happily sat down to read "In the Balance.". While a nice story I saw no resemblance to Miss Maple at all....only a brief, inconsequential appearance of Miss Silver. But it was an interesting story so on to the next. Now I see the comparison! While no one quite matches Miss Maple, I quite enjoyed Miss Silver in " The Chinese Shawl" and "Miss Silver Deals With Death.".
May 12, 2022
Miss Silver Volume Two
Loved the mysteries. Miss Silver method of finding information and tracking that information to get the facts of the case ate incredible. Her power of observation, putting together a puzzle and obtaining information makes her a first rate private enquiry agent. Loved the books.
Loved the mysteries. Miss Silver method of finding information and tracking that information to get the facts of the case ate incredible. Her power of observation, putting together a puzzle and obtaining information makes her a first rate private enquiry agent. Loved the books.
December 20, 2021
Good fun as usual
One warning: Dated book with a politically incorrect reference to slaves spoken by a character. Otherwise good fun. Enjoyable light reading with good characterizations. The likable people are innocent. The unlikable people are dead or guilty.
One warning: Dated book with a politically incorrect reference to slaves spoken by a character. Otherwise good fun. Enjoyable light reading with good characterizations. The likable people are innocent. The unlikable people are dead or guilty.
May 19, 2023
I fell in love with Miss Silver
Retired governess and school-teacher, Maude Silver easily inserts herself, in her latest vocation of detective, into situations, and is thorough and observes well. In the end, an unexpected criminal is caught.
Retired governess and school-teacher, Maude Silver easily inserts herself, in her latest vocation of detective, into situations, and is thorough and observes well. In the end, an unexpected criminal is caught.
July 25, 2021
If you’ve read all of the Agatha Christie Miss Marple mysteries and are looking for something similar, you’ll love the Miss Silver mysteries!! Highly recommend👍🏻
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August 15, 2018I've already read the individual volumes of this collection but couldn't resist the $1.99 Kindle offer.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews