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tracey_stewart's review against another edition
3.0
This was kind of an odd one. I love Mary Roberts Rinehart – but this one was not quite up to where I expected it to be. Unfortunately it's one of those books where the unsolved mystery is more interesting than the solution. It's a great setup – rather dull lawyer fellow (with vivid best friend – I liked that the kind of boring one was the narrator) goes off to get some very important papers for a very important case, and on the train ride home has them stolen. And also comes in as the best suspect for a murder in his Pullman car. Luckily for him, the train suffers a horrific accident, so he has the chance to avoid immediate investigation, and also to fall in love – with his best friend's girl.
The writing is entertaining; characterization works, and all the red herrings and wrong suspects that litter the landscape make for a good yarn. Everything eventually pulls together and gets cleared up – and I admit to disappointment at the wrap-up. Sometimes the journey is just more fun than the destination.
One warning: this is very much of its time. In a couple of ways, actually – it startled me when the narrator talks about choosing a hansom cab; the involvement of the train made me think for some reason that it was a Golden Age book, from the forties or so. Then there's the line "Pittsburg without smoke wouldn't be Pittsburg, any more than New York without prohibition would be New York." So – Pittsburgh used to be spelled without the "H", and it's during Prohibition. Check.
But just in case you go into this thinking it's just a very well-written historical mystery that uses some great details to let you know when it's set – well, reality will hit you like the Ice Bucket Challenge when words are used to refer to non-white races that would probably not be used today, even by the most dedicated anti-anachronistic writer. Yeah. It was first published in 1909. Things were different then. It can be (to use a period-appropriate adjective) delightful – but it can be cringe-worthy as well. Which was also the case with a few remarks about women, too, which – come now, Ms. Rinehart.
The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review.
The writing is entertaining; characterization works, and all the red herrings and wrong suspects that litter the landscape make for a good yarn. Everything eventually pulls together and gets cleared up – and I admit to disappointment at the wrap-up. Sometimes the journey is just more fun than the destination.
One warning: this is very much of its time. In a couple of ways, actually – it startled me when the narrator talks about choosing a hansom cab; the involvement of the train made me think for some reason that it was a Golden Age book, from the forties or so. Then there's the line "Pittsburg without smoke wouldn't be Pittsburg, any more than New York without prohibition would be New York." So – Pittsburgh used to be spelled without the "H", and it's during Prohibition. Check.
But just in case you go into this thinking it's just a very well-written historical mystery that uses some great details to let you know when it's set – well, reality will hit you like the Ice Bucket Challenge when words are used to refer to non-white races that would probably not be used today, even by the most dedicated anti-anachronistic writer. Yeah. It was first published in 1909. Things were different then. It can be (to use a period-appropriate adjective) delightful – but it can be cringe-worthy as well. Which was also the case with a few remarks about women, too, which – come now, Ms. Rinehart.
The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review.
staticdisplay's review against another edition
3.0
I read this because I've been watching some classic movies (The Bat Whispers; The Bat) and I found out it was based on this author's writing. So this is listed as Miss Cornelia Van Gorder #1 which I have no idea where that is coming from because she definitely doesn't appear in this story, as far as I noticed. Anyway, this story is so strange: we're barely introduced to the main character, who tells us that he doesn't really know how to tell a story but here we go. So, we follow him through a mysterious meeting regarding some forged notes (we never learn too much about Bronson or his forgeries, but he's presented as fairly sinister), a train crash, and some investigations. There are several instances of casual racism which sucks and was my primary issue with this story; also didn't find the love story too interesting. Otherwise, the characters were fairly dynamic. There was a spooky moment in a seemingly abandoned mansion during a thunderstorm. The resolution was full of surprises!
dlmoldovan's review against another edition
3.0
Overall, I found this book enjoyable. But, it was a little too convoluted. The story was interesting, the characters were interesting, the mystery was interesting, but there were so many twists and turns that I wonder how in the world the author managed to keep it all straight herself. It did keep me from guessing who the murderer was, but took away part of my enjoyment in the book. And I have to say that I looked everywhere for her books, most of which have been out of print for years, and I managed to find them through Amazon Kindle. I don't like reading e-books, but when on vacation, they're perfect as I can't pack too many books with all the new weight restrictions.
monkreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
sarahelisewrites's review against another edition
3.0
A mystery where all signs point to... half the witnesses?
This was a convoluted story and not too interesting - but I'm near incapable at stopping a book, so I did make it to the end! It wrapped up well (and nicely for the characters), though never became particularly compelling.
This was a convoluted story and not too interesting - but I'm near incapable at stopping a book, so I did make it to the end! It wrapped up well (and nicely for the characters), though never became particularly compelling.
miklosha's review against another edition
2.0
The only other book I read by Rinehart was "The Circular Staircase" and I expected a quasi-equivalent mystery/thriller comparable. In short, I was disappointed; The man in the lower ten was convoluted, confusing, and strangely anti-climatic.
I"ll give her another chance and maybe she really is the "american Agatha Christie"
I"ll give her another chance and maybe she really is the "american Agatha Christie"
kentcryptid's review against another edition
4.0
A likeable, humorous hero, and a story with a bit more dynamism than Mary Roberts Rinehart's usual mysteries.
fernandie's review against another edition
3.0
Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
quietjenn's review against another edition
3.0
I mostly enjoyed this very vintage American mystery, although there were a few bits that felt convuluted. And I was rather irked by what a damsel in distress the female character was - although I guess that's the only way the boy gets to be hero. Still, it seemed a wee bit exaggerated, even for the time (and the morals of said time).
vsbedford's review against another edition
2.0
I don't know if it's the hot weather or if I'm losing it but this novel was impenetrable for me - 20 pages in and I couldn't make heads or tails of the characters or where they were going or who was what and why. And when the the love interest appears, purely in photograph, with hands clasped demurely in front of her youthful, slim figure my eyes nearly rolled out of my head; what I wouldn't give for a heroine that's like a smooth 20 pounds overweight. I understand that this novel is both using and subverting the male detective tropes of its day but I found this hard cheese indeed. Perhaps Ms. Rinehart's not for me,however, as I didn't care for The Circular Staircase either. For completists only.
I received an ecopy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ecopy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.