The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion

I’m posting early as I’m on a train heading out of town tomorrow. Collins has tied up all the loose ends.

What did you think about the book?

Were you surprised by the twists?

I was disappointed in the ending. The police already said the cut could not have been made by his own hand. And the father of a 14-year-old girl whose mother had already died would just kill himself because someone refused to marry him, and that's better than him being murdered?

Lori wrote: "I was disappointed in the ending. The police already said the cut could not have been made by his own hand. And the father of a 14-year-old girl whose mother had already died would just kill himsel..."

Agreed-I know it isn't a conventional murder mystery but this just seems to be an easy out when he didn't know what to do with his murder. Also, it just seemed a weak overall conclusion-Mirabel goes through this weird metamorphosis from womanizer and captivating speaker to weak and sickly, Miss Jethro wouldn't come forward at some point, even to have a private word with he police/coroner so that Mirabel wasn't pursued for the rest of his life? It was a fun read, but I was quite disappointed in the plotting of the ending.

Same. I gave it four stars because I enjoyed the book overall. But there should have been a murderer, and I would have liked for Mirabel to recover and maybe go abroad again. It is fun to imagine Francine in the convent. Perhaps that life will actually agree with her.

When Mrs. Rook confided that she had a lover, I thought Collins was setting up Mr. Rook as the murderer. He could have been made to suspect Mr. Brown of being the lover, and the story would have been better. Or the broke lover could have murdered him for the pocketbook.

I’m a Collins’s fan, and admit I agree with you. I accidentally read a description in preparing the research which told me the ending. That’s why I didn’t post it. First time I’ve been a bit disappointed

Still making up my mind about how much I enjoyed it. The suspense had been ratcheted up to a very high level so the outcome was rather disappointing.

I did enjoy Collin’s characters especially Emily and Alban.

(Emily)’ "Do you expect to see Mr. Alban Morris, when we get back?" she asked.
"I should like to see him, miss—if you have no objection."
"Tell him I am ashamed of myself! and say I ask his pardon with all my heart!"
"The Lord be praised!" Mrs. Ellmother burst out—and then, when it was too late, remembered the conventional restraints appropriate to the occasion.

Emily’s desire to avenge her father’s death became the focus of her life and she was single minded enough not to let others influence her decisions. That turned out to be both a positive and a negative for Emily because she thought she could trust Mirabel after Alban had, in her eyes, deceived her.

The series of emotions that Emily had to endure culminated with her having the courage to admit that she was wrong about Alban. Alban’s resilience in remaining steadfast to Emily’s cause, putting her first in almost everything he did, finally earned its reward.

The fates of Mirabel and Francine were less appealing to me. Although this might sound harsh on Mirabel, both of them got off lightly in my opinion. Both caused the others a great deal of unnecessary suffering. At least Mirabel’s death meant that young ladies of Europe were not in danger of being invaded by those wandering arms. Also the nasty Mrs. Rook who actually committed a crime by stealing the pocket book waltzed away to a better life it seemed. Well Collins did have an unconventional view of life

I agree with you Trev the villains of the story seemed to get off pretty easily.

I enjoyed the book, and I’m glad that Emily and Alban ended up together. But the last few chapters of the book seemed rushed and contrived, as if Collins hadn’t made up his mind how to end the book but had to rush because of a deadline. I can’t imagine the evil Francine being fulfilled by convent life, but I was okay with Mirabel’s nervous collapse since he had previously shown his extreme fear and cowardice. A good read that a stronger ending could have improved.