Miss Silver Deals With Death (1991) - Plot & Excerpts
Meade Underwood believes her fiance drowned when their ship was torpedoed in the Atlantic, and is living in quiet grief with her aunt in an old Victorian mansion turned into eight flats. But Meade's story is only one of many; through the course of the book, we learn the stories of nearly all the inhabitants of Vandaleur House, because they all might have a bearing on the murder of top floor Carola Roland. Carola, a former showgirl with a taste for the nastiest revenge she can exact for any type of slight, has gone a step too far with someone...but who? Only Miss Silver can figure that out, if the police will just trust her.This is an earlier Miss Silver novel, and still has the feel that the author really wanted her heroine to be more than a little old lady solving country house murders; there's a whole backstory of previous crimes that ties into the current crime, in which Miss Silver has an interest. While I thought the whole story very well done--all the multitude of characters (while quite black and white) clearly delineated and distinct, and their stories beautifully intertwined and structured--it felt a bit like cheating to me to introduce the external element, because it didn't really relate to all the stories we were hearing about the residents. The reader didn't have the full information to try to solve the murder on his or her own, which is key for cozy mysteries. Still, an enjoyable story, mostly for how the police come to appreciate Miss Silver's qualities, and for the fact that the hero wasn't Wentworth's usual 'forceful' man. He was actually rather nice.
This should appeal to fans of Agatha Christie - those who like their mysteries without violence or sex, who revel in timetables and lengthy descriptions of the inhabitants of each apartment in the building. All of the clues you need to solve the case are here, and there's even a denouement where all the suspects are gathered into one room. However, this is not Miss Marple. Miss Silver solves the case, but we don't really see her personality in this book. No twittering while knitting fluffy baby booties, (though Miss Silver does knit), and no explanations about the fishmongers delivery boy who used to over-charge a tuppence for every delivery. Miss Silver remains a name only. Still there are a couple of sweet romances and several interesting characters to read about while you attempt to solve the mystery.
What do You think about Miss Silver Deals With Death (1991)?
The beginning of Maudie and Frank, still.... Bring a note card.I adore Miss Silver : a Victorian styled governess, now retired into the comfortable life of a private inquires agent, in the middle of WWII. With her polite, albeit sometimes deprecating cough, she puts the constables in their place, solves murders, and still manages to get her knitting done. This is her first encounter with the dear Frank Abbot. [Their relationship is utterly adorable and it is so much fun to see where it began]As for the case : BRING A NOTE CARD! There are so many people living in the building that is is a little hard to keep track of who is who and doing what. From the scheming Carola Roland's attempt at blackmail to a real blackmailer... From death number one to death number two... From the flats on the first floor to the flats on the seventh... This book will definitively keep you on your toes. It has more twists and turns than the building's staircase. But not to worry! When all is said and done Miss Silver has knitted out a solution and won the hearts of those involved. After all, one can't have too many woolen socks.
—R.J. Atman
