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62nd out of 2,591 books
—
902 voters
The Tightrope Walker
"A superb book."
THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE
When quiet, shy Amelia Jones reads a desperate message that has fallen out of a barrel organ in the antique shop she just bought, she can't forget the words, "They're going to kill me soon..." Armed only with the woman's first name and the note written years before, Amelia begins a journey into the past, a search that takes her from the...more
THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE
When quiet, shy Amelia Jones reads a desperate message that has fallen out of a barrel organ in the antique shop she just bought, she can't forget the words, "They're going to kill me soon..." Armed only with the woman's first name and the note written years before, Amelia begins a journey into the past, a search that takes her from the...more
Paperback, 223 pages
Published
October 12th 1986
by Fawcett
(first published 1979)
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I read this book again recently. I'm not much of a mystery reader. This is a mystery, but there's a lot of other things going on, too. There's a love story, Amelia's search for peace and confidence, some really interesting side characters like Daisy, and most of all, what I think the book is really about. I think that at its heart The Tightrope Walker is about the relationship between an author and a reader.
***Spoiler Alert***
The book is deeply concerned with a book Amelia read as a child which...more
***Spoiler Alert***
The book is deeply concerned with a book Amelia read as a child which...more
Nov 30, 2010
Spotsalots
added it
This was an enjoyable mystery. I notice, however, that as time goes by I get pickier about historical accuracy/ambiance, and given that the book is copyright 1979 and Gilman is a prolific writer (ie I don't suppose she spent ten years writing this), it didn't feel true to period. Now on the one hand I think that Gilman avoids setting most of her books too squarely within a particular time in order to avoid them rapidly feeling dated, and that is fine, but here we have a murder from 1965 and dete...more
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This is the most original plot in all my years reading. It sparks a chase for a related novel; hard to come by and worth the hunt! Amelia bought an antique store and found a note inside an instrument. Someone expected to be killed in a cover-up! If the note were real, it bore no date and only a first name. What would you do?
It took time to synch with this protagonist but the tremendously unique adventure is memorable. It picks up pace. An unusual scenario carrying into real life is Amelia's favo...more
It took time to synch with this protagonist but the tremendously unique adventure is memorable. It picks up pace. An unusual scenario carrying into real life is Amelia's favo...more
Enjoyable, but what I consider to be fluff. Reminded me quite a bit of Barbara Michaels, in that those are mysteries with a hint of romance that aren't in any way mentally taxing.
I have loved The Maze in the Heart of the Castle since I was young, so the many references to it in this book made perfect sense to me, but I suspect those who have never read it would still do fine with The Tightrope Walker. Familiarity with the plot and characters of Maze does not matter much here, just that the read...more
I have loved The Maze in the Heart of the Castle since I was young, so the many references to it in this book made perfect sense to me, but I suspect those who have never read it would still do fine with The Tightrope Walker. Familiarity with the plot and characters of Maze does not matter much here, just that the read...more
"Sometimes I think we're all tightrope walkers suspended on a wire two thousand feet in the air, and so long as we never look down we're okay, but some of us lose momentum and look down for a second and are never quite the same again: we know." Thus begins the journey of Amelia Jones to solve a decades old murder based on a note found in an old hurdy gurdy. Some authors have an amazing gift for writing which is hard to put into words and has to be experienced to be understood. I believe that Dor...more
I actually liked this little novel a lot. Usually Gilman's characters are a little hollow, but this one it worked for me because the character's perspective was similar enough to mine.
The progagonist has been exposed to the worst of human nature very early on, and she struggles throughout the story to reconcile these experiences with the possibility of a 'healthy' life. She goes to a shrink, learns the lingo, reads the books, and basically concludes that being a decent human being is just like b...more
The progagonist has been exposed to the worst of human nature very early on, and she struggles throughout the story to reconcile these experiences with the possibility of a 'healthy' life. She goes to a shrink, learns the lingo, reads the books, and basically concludes that being a decent human being is just like b...more
This was probably 3.5 or 4 stars. It was actually less plausible than the other mysteries by Gilman that I've read, but an enjoyable way to while away the afternoon. There was a LOT of exposition, which was really the only thing wrong with it. There were long passages from court testimony and some other sections that, while important, dragged. The action scenes were very good and the characterization quite fun. One of those decent reads when you need something you know will at least be good enou...more
The heartbreaking thing about this book is that the book at it's centre, "The Maze in the Heart of the Castle", sounds like the world's most wonderful book, but then the author went and actually wrote "The Maze..." later, what emeraged was an okay book, but one that's much more painful and depressing than it ought to have been. You finish this book wanting despirately to read "The Maze...", but you really shouldn't, because you'll only be depressed. Other than that, however, this is a fine myste...more
A delightful old fashioned story about Amelia Jones, a somewhat naive young woman, who buys a second-hand shop. While playing a "hurdy-gurdy" she discovers a note hidden in it, indicating that the writer feared being killed. The girl decides she must find the woman, and ultimately the murderer. It turns out that the woman is an author who had great influence on Amelia in her lonely childhood. While on her adventures, Amelia meets a young man, and predictably falls in love. Somewhat different fro...more
This is the second or third time I've read this book, and I'm pretty sure it won't be the last.
I have a weakness for books where characters are just living their lives, make some sudden, life-altering discovery & pursue a mystery.
I really love and admire Amelia Jones, her quirky impulse to buy an antique shop and investigate a mystery. The other characters that come into her life are equally interesting, and I love seeing the subtle influences they have over her.
There's something inspiring...more
I have a weakness for books where characters are just living their lives, make some sudden, life-altering discovery & pursue a mystery.
I really love and admire Amelia Jones, her quirky impulse to buy an antique shop and investigate a mystery. The other characters that come into her life are equally interesting, and I love seeing the subtle influences they have over her.
There's something inspiring...more
I loved this book and go back every few years to read it. When Amelia Jones finds a note in an old hurdy-gurdy that says, "They're going to kill me soon . . ." she sets out on a path that changes her life. With a great hook, it's a short fast-paced intriguing mystery with a little romance thrown in. Mostly I loved the characters, especially the way Amelia evolves from an invisible, terrified, lonely young woman to an attractive, brave, determined one who discovers love along with her own inner s...more
Love this book, very much a psychological thriller. The main character is a very shy woman, who lives in thein the sixties (1960s!), is encouraged to find her true self. She finds out about an author she's always loved, and launches an investigation. How she changes, whom she meets, everything about this book is well worth reading. Most remarkably, the book at the heart of this book, A Maze In the Heart of the Castle, got so many questions from Gilman's fans, that she wound up writing the book h...more
Amelia finds a note in a hurdy-gurdy and traces the owner to her mysterious death. I love this book, and I love the book within the book. I'm enchanted by Amelia and I adore Joe. It's a rare book that's alternately charming and heart-wrenching and chilling. I read it first a very long time ago, and all my rereads are wrapped in the reader I used to be, and I can't imagine not loving it.
I enjoy the style of Gilman and there was an interesting story line. I had previously read Gilman's Mrs. Pollafax novels, which were quite different, and expected to like this, too. I was not disappointed. Gilman's books provide a wealth of information regarding foreign countries, various religions, character studies, and a view of the 1970's current history. It was a nice read.
If you enjoy a brook across three decades,it is a 4-star book, no matter how fluffy. I particularly liked the story-within-a-story aspect. Although, I immediately must add the caveat that I consider the Mrs Pollifax series, though fun, as only worth three stars. So I will say that having enjoyed this book for more than three decades, I consider this book worth four stars.
This book is kind of cool in that past and present entertwine. Amelia buys an antique shop and sets about restoring things (no pun intended). She find a note in one of her antiques and begins looking into the past because the note reads "They're going to kill me soon." It's a good psychological thriller/mystery. It's also a bit creepy.
I love Dorothy Gilman's writing, and this book in particular! It's just as enjoyable today as it was when this book was published over 25 years ago. Her prim, outwardly naive writing style charms me, and somehow she always made it work, even in action-packed murder mysteries with bullets flying. (She was also the author of the "Mrs. Pollifax" series, stories about a grandmother who becomes a spy in her 60s.)
The Tightrope Walker is not only an absorbing mystery with a main character who's both vu...more
The Tightrope Walker is not only an absorbing mystery with a main character who's both vu...more
I did really enjoy this novel. Good, solid characters. Good story. But I just couldn't give it 5 starts because I looked at some of the other books I gave 5 stars to and couldn't say that this one was as good as those. Plus, I know what Dorothy Gilman is capable of. Her Mrs. Polifax character is absolutley superb!
I picked this up thinking it was a Pollifax novel. After I got over my initial disappointment I rather enjoyed it. The plot deals with uncovering a family secret involving the murder of a writer. The mystery is easily solved before the end but it was still an entertaining diversion.
Overall, and enjoyable read. I liked the main character, and I liked the central mystery. It's a little dated but then, it was written in 1979. It was actually fun contrasting how you'd investigate a mystery like this today. The internet really has changed everything!
I really enjoyed this novel. When juxtaposed against Uncertain Voyage, this heroine- although it is still in some ways a bildungsroman- is much less obnoxious than Melissa is. She is not really obnoxious at all. So, woot! The guy is quite amusing too. I must say... good book!
One of Gilman's stand alone works. A unique mystery with a little romance. I wish there was a sequel because I liked the characters a great deal!
Een feel-good thriller die ik om de zoveel tijd weer eens herlees.
Net als die Ms Pollifax boeken van haar (de eerste set dan).
Heerlijk.
Net als die Ms Pollifax boeken van haar (de eerste set dan).
Heerlijk.
Dorothy Gilman is a treasure. All of her Mrs. Polifax novels were a joy to read. This is the first I have read of her non-Polifax novels and plan to read all of them.
Dorothy Gilman is one of my favorite authors. Her main books are the Mrs. Pollifax series, which are all excellent, but I really liked The Tightrope Walker. It is a mystery, adventure, and romance all tied in together, which is typical of her books. She throws some humor in too - an added bonus.
This book was better than my inability to stay awake while reading it. Predictable but a cute read.
Jun 02, 2010
Rebecca Belknap
added it
recommended by a friend. Another old title, but I like the psychological component to the murder mystery.
Great adventure. I liked the idea of owing an antique shop and the mystery of the Hurdy Gurdy was great.
I like all of Ms Gilman's books that I have read. This one is another annual reread.
An antique owner searches for answers to a mystery in the past. Enjoyable reading.
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Dorothy Gilman started writing when she was 9. At 11, she competed against 10 to 16-year-olds in a story contest and won first place. Dorothy worked as an art teacher and telephone operator before becoming an author. She wrote children’s stories for more than ten years under the name Dorothy Gilman Butters and then began writing adult novels about Mrs. Pollifax–a retired grandmother who becomes a...more
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