The Case is Closed (1937)

One of the worst so far. The basic "Men are too stupid so I the idiot female will take care of everything" . ( )

One of the things I really like about this series is how skilful Patricia Wentworth is in building tension throughout the book. The story starts when, trying to hide from her ex-fiancée, Hilary catches the wrong train and encounters a women who seems to know all about her cousin-in-law's murder trial and conviction. At first Hilary dismisses the woman a being one of those ghoulish women who'd followed the case, but it quickly becomes apparent that she is involved and may have evidence that could prove her cousin-in-law's innocence. Miss Silver makes her appearance quite a way into the book, but quickly uncovers fairly significant evidence. ( )

An intriguing, mostly enjoyable old fashioned mystery and crime. Sometimes too old fashioned for me - there were times when I felt very angry with some of the characters, and some of their views. I may just have picked the wrong time to read this; perhaps in a more relaxed mood I would just have suspended disbelief properly and followed the story along happily without the irritation. I'll be keeping this copy anyway because I like the format, and will give it another try. ( )

When Hilary gets on the wrong train, she meets a woman who, appearing afraid of her husband, nervously asks after Hilary's cousin Marion. The woman turns out to be Mrs Mercer, the housekeeper whose evidence helped to convict Marion's husband for the murder of his uncle. Hilary believes there is something fishy about Mrs Mercer and her evidence, but people keep telling her the case is closed. Hilary turns to her ex-fiance Henry for assistance in what is becoming a dangerous investigation, and Henry in turn employs Miss Silver to investigate.
The Miss Silver novels mostly run to a formula but it's one I enjoy. Miss Silver herself is an old fashioned (even for her own time) but very intelligent detective who manages to solve cases that stump the police while getting her knitting done.