The Case of William Smith

William Smith wakes up one day in a German prison hospital with no memory of his life before that moment. Although everyone calls him "William Smith", he somehow knows that's not his real name. But he bows to the inevitable and proceeds with his new life from that moment on.

For the next seven years, he lives his life one day at a time, carving and painting his wooden toys and hoping that things will straighten out eventually. When mysterious attempts on his life start happening, his loved ones become concerned. Enter Miss Silver, who will with any luck unravel the tangled threads.

I found this story positively entrancing. It was almost as if I was waking up from a long bout of amnesia just like the title character, getting little tidbits show more of fresh information and new insights at regular intervals. I was absolutely torn between wanting to finish the book as soon as possible to find out how everything works out and not wanting to finish it so that I could enjoy every last bit of the narrative for as long as possible. show less

The man everyone calls William Smith knows nothing about his life before he woke up in a German hospital in 1942, with a British army ID tag in that name around his neck. His memory of everything that came before has vanished. When he's released from a POW camp at the end of the war he returns to England and travels to the village that was home to the real William Smith, only to have everyone there tell him he's not their William. He winds up in London making whimsical wooden animals for a toy shop. It's there that he meets and falls in love at first sight with Katharine Eversley, who is likewise smitten. The only thing marring their happiness in each other is William's inability to remember his real identity, and the vexing fact that show more someone keeps trying to kill him. Are those two things related, and will William and Katharine figure out the truth before the killer succeeds in his quest?

Wentworth did the whole "missing person turns up alive after the fog of war" bit in an earlier book, but it's rendered much more plausibly here, with a solution whose entirety is not nearly as obvious as it was in the previous tale. The characters are for the most part eminently likable, and the villains suitably villainous.

Oh! And Miss Silver is here, too, and a good thing since this is a billed as "A Miss Silver Mystery". As usual, Wentworth takes her time introducing her mousy little governess-turned-detective, but once she's on the case the solution isn't far away. More prominent is Detective Inspector Frank Abbott, who we've met in previous cases. His role here is the one thing that strained credulity just a bit. Still, it's nothing that brisk mental shake and a cuppa couldn't dislodge, so no real quibbles from me. show less

William Smith can’t remember anything prior to 1942. He’s lost his memory during the war. Smith was the name on the ID tag he was wearing, so Smith it was.

He’s found work at Tattlecombe’s Toy Bazaar as a toy designer and maker. He has impressed Mr. Tattlecombe to the extent that when Tattlecombe is laid up from a traffic accident, Smith is designated to manage the business.

Katharine Eversley applies and is hired for a job at the store. The two grow close, working along-side each other and William finds himself wanting to know more about who he really is, as he wants to ask Katharine to marry him. There is something about her strikes a memory, but not enough to solve William’s identity problem.

An encounter with Inspector Frank show more Abbott, introduces Smith to Miss Silver, a lady who can investigate his earlier years and find out his true background. She can also help find out who is trying to kill him. There have been a couple of strange accidents that have happened.

A story of greed, family murder, memories and some romance thrown in. Another enjoyable read in the Miss Silver series. show less

4.5*

One of the best Miss Silver mysteries! The plot has several twists and though convoluted is never confused. My only complaint is that Miss Silver herself is in it so little.

A pleasant, most cozy mystery. I wouldn't call it the most gripping mystery ever, but comforting to read. I enjoyed following the main characters and what happens to them.

This is the first Miss Silver mystery I've read. Miss Silver is a Miss Marple copy and not as memorable, so in that aspect, I was a bit disappointed. Perhaps she has a more distinct character or presence in the other books.

One of the best Miss Silver mysteries! The plot has several twists and though convoluted is never confused. My only complaint is that Miss Silver herself is in it so little.

An interesting idea, William Smith is an ex-POW who woke up in a German hospital in 1942 with no memory, except he knows his name isn't William Smith. Following the end of the war he returns to London and builds a new life. All seems well, until he has couple of narrow escapes from death, could someone be trying to kill him. and why? Wentworth's plot works quite well, the mystery of who is trying to kill Smith and why is almost secondary to the question of will he regain his memories, and when? An enjoyable read.