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Dark Lady
Gilbert Fowler only rented the cottage to work in. He knew a bloody murder had taken place there years ago. Fascinated by the clues that confronted him, the young scholar became a sleuth, seeking out the answer to a long-buried mystery....
- GenresMystery
141 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1960
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 9, 2016
Gilbert "Gib" Fowler heads to a cozy cottage for some peace and quiet so he can finish his graduate thesis in American Literature and then get ready to marry the love of his life. Except the cozy cottage was the scene of a ghastly murder about 80 years ago. It's not haunted exactly, but he can't avoid references to it and it does haunt him in a way. He soon discovers that he's much more interested in what happened to the beautiful, blonde Leslie Saxby after her brother-in-law Deane Saxby was tried and convicted of the bloody death of his wife than the portrait of rural American life found in the works of the turn of the century.
Deane Saxby was a great literary light of the time period which interests Fowler. That light was extinguished when he was tried and convicted of the murder of his wife. At the time, Saxby was overheard having a terrible row with his wife. Later that afternoon, she is found stabbed to death and Deane Saxby is nowhere to be found. When he is found at the train station, he appears to be shocked at the news of his wife's murder and when charged and brought to trial his first plea is "Not Guilty." But something happened to change his plea and he eventually pleaded guilty to second degree murder. He died of a prolonged illness while serving his life sentence in prison and everyone at the time thought justice had been served. But various bits of evidence just don't seem to add up. Fowler begins reconstructing the events of 1884 through conversations with old timers, newspaper clippings, photographs, and scrapbooks. He examines the murder, the suicide of Deane's brother, the inescapable influence of Leslie Saxby, and Deane's literary stories about the mysterious "Dark Lady" to come up with a different solution to the old crime.
This reminds me of Josephine Tey's A Daughter of Time. Inspector Grant, confined to his bed as he recovers from a broken leg, becomes fascinated with the portrait of Richard III and determines to get to the bottom of the murders of the princes in the tower. Starting with his faith in his ability to read faces, he doesn't believe that Richard was a killer. He uses an American researcher to investigate what records can be found. In Doris Miles Disney's Dark Lady (1960), Fowler becomes transfixed by the portrait of Leslie Saxby. Despite the fact that Deane Saxby was an American writer whose work Fowler admired, it is Leslie Saxby's portrait that draws the young scholar into the story. Fowler is a researcher in his own right, so he is the one who follows the clues laid in the newspaper reports and other materials.
Disney writes an excellent investigative story. It doesn't matter that the murder happened over 80 years prior to the book's present day. The story is fresh and the reader is very interested in what Fowler will discover as he delves into the past. The only thing lacking--from my perspective--was sufficient red herrings and suspects to make the mystery truly mystifying. If you begin with the premise that Deane was innocent, it isn't difficult to figure out the solution given all the events of that day and those which followed. As it is, Disney gives us a good solid ★★★ story.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
Deane Saxby was a great literary light of the time period which interests Fowler. That light was extinguished when he was tried and convicted of the murder of his wife. At the time, Saxby was overheard having a terrible row with his wife. Later that afternoon, she is found stabbed to death and Deane Saxby is nowhere to be found. When he is found at the train station, he appears to be shocked at the news of his wife's murder and when charged and brought to trial his first plea is "Not Guilty." But something happened to change his plea and he eventually pleaded guilty to second degree murder. He died of a prolonged illness while serving his life sentence in prison and everyone at the time thought justice had been served. But various bits of evidence just don't seem to add up. Fowler begins reconstructing the events of 1884 through conversations with old timers, newspaper clippings, photographs, and scrapbooks. He examines the murder, the suicide of Deane's brother, the inescapable influence of Leslie Saxby, and Deane's literary stories about the mysterious "Dark Lady" to come up with a different solution to the old crime.
This reminds me of Josephine Tey's A Daughter of Time. Inspector Grant, confined to his bed as he recovers from a broken leg, becomes fascinated with the portrait of Richard III and determines to get to the bottom of the murders of the princes in the tower. Starting with his faith in his ability to read faces, he doesn't believe that Richard was a killer. He uses an American researcher to investigate what records can be found. In Doris Miles Disney's Dark Lady (1960), Fowler becomes transfixed by the portrait of Leslie Saxby. Despite the fact that Deane Saxby was an American writer whose work Fowler admired, it is Leslie Saxby's portrait that draws the young scholar into the story. Fowler is a researcher in his own right, so he is the one who follows the clues laid in the newspaper reports and other materials.
Disney writes an excellent investigative story. It doesn't matter that the murder happened over 80 years prior to the book's present day. The story is fresh and the reader is very interested in what Fowler will discover as he delves into the past. The only thing lacking--from my perspective--was sufficient red herrings and suspects to make the mystery truly mystifying. If you begin with the premise that Deane was innocent, it isn't difficult to figure out the solution given all the events of that day and those which followed. As it is, Disney gives us a good solid ★★★ story.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
June 10, 2021
A writer rents a cottage where a famous writer murdered his wife 75 years ago. It isn’t long before he begins to doubt the circumstances of the murder and becomes obsessed with tracking down what really happened, as well as enthralled with the writer’s beautiful sister-in-law. Reminiscent of the writing of Daphne DuMaurier. Nicely paced, nicely written. I think I would have been a regular fan of Disney back in the sixties if I had stumbled across her then. Nothing outstanding, just dependable enjoyable reading.
February 25, 2015
A tale of forensic investigation into a past murder by a professor writing about the murderer (writer) while staying in the home and writing in the murder room!
Gilbert Fowler hopes to finish is PHD paper over the summer while staying in the home of a writer who he admires and is actually writing about. His curiosity about the murder keeps him asking and seeking information... certain details don't add up to him and he continues is search - and reveals the true murderer.
In the beginning I found it a bit slow, but little by little you get caught up in the mystery and digging through all the details. After a while, family members and friends help out as well. A well written and detailed story that you may figure out the who did it... but not having found the proof... until the end.
Gilbert Fowler hopes to finish is PHD paper over the summer while staying in the home of a writer who he admires and is actually writing about. His curiosity about the murder keeps him asking and seeking information... certain details don't add up to him and he continues is search - and reveals the true murderer.
In the beginning I found it a bit slow, but little by little you get caught up in the mystery and digging through all the details. After a while, family members and friends help out as well. A well written and detailed story that you may figure out the who did it... but not having found the proof... until the end.
October 8, 2016
Gilbert Fowler rents a cottage for a summer retreat to write his thesis on late 19th century American writers. He comes to find out this cottage is a scene of a 75-year-old wrongly solved murder.
I just didn't enjoy this Disney mystery! Even the live characters of the story seemed to be dead to me!
I just didn't enjoy this Disney mystery! Even the live characters of the story seemed to be dead to me!
February 28, 2026
Many years ago this was a mystery author I read -- found this on one of my book shelves and
thought I would revisit -- was OK but didn't ever really grab my interest -- finished it but
don't believe I will explore any more of this author if there are more of her books in my book cases.
thought I would revisit -- was OK but didn't ever really grab my interest -- finished it but
don't believe I will explore any more of this author if there are more of her books in my book cases.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews