The Importance of Being Ernestine

Ellie Haskell Mystery #10

by Dorothy Cannell

The Importance of Being Ernestine: An Ellie Haskell Mystery

Genres: Mystery, Humor, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, British Literature, Crime

248 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

(from Fantastic Fiction online)

Dorothy Cannell was born in London, England, and now lives in Belfast, Maine. Dorothy Cannell writes mysteries featuring Ellie Haskell, interior decorator and Ben Haskell, writer and chef, and Hyacinth and Primrose Tramwell, a pair of dotty sisters and owners of the Flowers Detection Agency.

(from Internet Book List)

Dorothy Cannell, a mother of four, grandmother of ten, and owner of a King Charles Spaniel, was born in England and moved to the United States when she was twenty. After living in Peoria, Illinois, for years, she and her husband recently moved to Belfast, Maine. Her first Ellie Haskell novel, The Thin Woman, was selected as one of the 100 Favorite Mysteries of the Twentieth Century by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association.

Reviews

[Arimathea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the Ellie Haskell series when it started, but this book was not the best entry. And the proofreading was abysmal. Wrong words ("straightened" rather than "straitened", "throws" rather than "throes"), at least one instance where quotation marks weren't included, plot requiring more disbelief than I'm willing to give, and why did she send away the van at the end?

[Rita Schultz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first Dorothy Cannell and will probably be my last. It was given to me by a friend but it's too light for me. The plot itself was interesting but I just couldn't handle some of the ridiculous characters, such as Mrs. Malloy, and their silly banter.

[Corey Schenck · Rating 2 out of 5]

Utterly confusing and scattershot. Inexplicably, I was able to decipher through the muddled plot who did it, as it managed to also be hopelessly predictable. This is a book that makes you think nearly anyone could be an author.

[Moonkiszt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my cuppa. Dull, predictable, too much of . . .Ellie and the keeper of the detective's office aren't going to be my choice again. . .very sleepy.

[Whitney Denney · Rating 3 out of 5]

A "cozy mystery" whodunnit. I had a hard time reading it because I had a hard time distinguishing character voices in the dialogue. Perhaps I didn't relate well to the characters; they seemed implausible, acting in uncharacteristic ways. Can you be silly in one area and a sharp observer in another? Ellie didn't seem consistent to me. And, I felt the subplots competed with the main plot for attention.

[Clarice Stasz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cannell is cunning and humorous, so I looked forward to another episode in the adventures of Ellie Haskell. I was swept up in her characterizations, and the wacky lead-in to the actual mystery. Halfway through the book, however, I was frustrated by the lack of forward motion in favor of clever dialogue. I tossed the volume aside. I no longer cared what the two snoops might discover.

[Lizzytish · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had read this series about 6 years ago and realized I never read this book.
Ellie ends up detecting with her housekeeper who is working for a detective who happens to be on vacation. They need to track down the daughter of a previously mistreated parlor maid. The dialogue is snappy, but gets old after awhile. Good mystery though.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cast of characters gets a little confusing, but this was a fun read. You can't help but love the two main characters. They're both a hot mess and a lot of fun. I'm not quite certain that the mysteries themselves make sense but who cares. Just go along for the ride.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was the first I'd read from this series, but I now plan to read the rest of them; the delightfully quirky characters made up for the spelling errors (mostly words spelled like their homophones) that would typically turn me off.

[cynthia Byrne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really dopey sort of British tale involving housekeepers, butlers, rich dowagers, etc. that I just don’t care for. It’s supposed to be funny and is mildly amusing, but just not my cuppa.

[Kaethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cannell hits the same sweet spot Wodehouse did, only with more female characters.

And also, I find the dedications to the grandchildren to be equally charming.

Personal copy

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite. I’ve read Cannell before but this one was very wordy, to the point of babbling on.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a delightful surprise. I have never read anything by Ms. Cannell in spite of the fact that I have seen her in person several times at Magna Cum Murder (at Ball State) in Muncie, Indiana. She will be at Magna again in October but this year it will be in Indianapolis and I am looking forward to letting her know how much I enjoyed this book. I read this for my Mystery Book Club at my local library and this is the 10th book in the series so I was unfamiliar with the characters but from the reviews that I've read, they are reappearing. In this particular tale, Ellie Haskell, who is an interior decorator, redoes her husband's study--replacing his old typewriter with a brand new computer. Ben is not happy and to avoid more argument than they've already had, Ellie takes off to visit with her part time housekeeper, Roxy Malloy who is currently spending her time watching the office of P. I. "Milk" Juggs. As they sit drinking Milk's bourbon and smoking his cigarettes, a late client, Lady Krumley, appears. She assumes that the 2 women are the private investigators and tells them her story. Many of her family members are dying from very unusual things (i.e. falling into a well, bungee jumping, etc.) and she is certain that it all stems from the fact that a young woman in her employ some 30 years ago was fired for stealing a brooch. The young woman had a child but died young and Lady Krumley is certain that she made a death bed curse towards her family--especially since just days before she found the long lost brooch. Now she wants to find the child of her former maid to compensate her in some way for the ill treatment of her mother. This book is so funny!!! These two bumbling women are just a hoot, constantly getting into predicaments and causing an uproar but they do eventually solve the case. If you enjoy mysteries and some slapstick humor, try this book!

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Importance of Being Ernestine by Dorothy Cannell is book 10 of the Ellie Haskell cozy mystery series set in contemporary England. Ellie and her housekeeper Mrs. Malloy have been solving mysteries all through the series, so it’s no surprise they’re teamed up to solve another; this time however they actually pose as private detectives.

Because her ladyship’s elderly relatives around the world are dying, Lady Krumley of Moultty Towers feels that “dark forces” are carrying out a former housemaid’s deathbed curse. The most recent death at the Krumley mansion does seem suspicious. Ellie’s housekeeper Mrs. Malloy recently began working for a private investigator “Milk” Jugg, who’s on vacation, so Ellie and Mrs. Malloy take Lady Krumley’s case. Their objective: find Ernestine, the housemaid’s illegitimate offspring.

This is a very gentle cozy, no violence or suspense. The weather provides atmosphere: “The moon huddled behind a threadbare blanket of cloud. It was no longer raining, but the wind shook the trees as if intent on rattling some sense into their leafless heads.” The plot takes a back seat to the comical banter between Ellie and Mrs. Malloy: “And if he don't make me his Girl Friday on the spot it'll shock me back to me old hair color, sure as my name is Roxie Malloy.”

Ellie and Ben appreciate the small joys of life: “Ben and I were both avid readers. Not much for television, we enjoyed many an evening--especially in wintertime--locked in our own separate worlds yet linked by that special silence that can be better than any amount of talking.”

The Importance of Being Ernestine is mild entertainment for a longtime fan of the Ellie Haskell series. If not familiar with the series, definitely start with the first book, The Thin Woman, where the primary characters and relationships are introduced.

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another in the Ellie Haskell of the English coastal village of Chitterron Fells mystery. In this mystery, Ellie and her outlandish housekeeper, Mrs. Roxie Malloy, become involved in another mystery. Mrs. Malloy has started working for a private investigator and, while Ellie is visiting Mrs. Malloy in the office, a client mistakes them as investigators working for him and they take on her case. The case is a bit convoluted involving events 40 years earlier, a curse on a family, and older members of that family dying.

As usual, Mrs. Malloy provides much of the humor through her character and Ellie's comments. I enjoyed this one in the series because there is more mystery involved and less of the clutzy Ellie who continually wisecracks her way through things and is continually starting things she doesn't finish or messes up.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a Ellie Haskell mystery. Ellie and her housekeeper cohort, Mrs. Maloy, take on the case of Lady Krumley who believes she is suffering the results of a curse put upon her by a former maid who was fired by Lady Krumley years earlier. Ellie and Mrs. Maloy are asked to track down the out of wedlock child that was born to this maid so that their client might make restitution to the maid's surviving daughter (Ernestine). Ms. Cannell writes this story with wit and humor and at times you will find yourself laughing out loud at the characters and situations. Hence, the reason I like this writer and her books. They are, in terms of murder mysteries, written with a light touch. Dark mysteries these are not.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still reading, but I dont' know if this is in keeping with the play of which the title is a play on words, but I keep finding similes used for the proper word in sentences, but not in spoken sentences. In narrative where you would no expect it. Is this poor editing or a rouse on the part of the editor to remind us of the origin of the title? I don't know, but there are enough to make me won't to grab my pencil and make corrections. Other wise, a 'cute' story thus far.

This was a good mystery for the genre. I read a lot in the genre of P.D. James, Agatha Chhristie, Margaret Atwood - mysteries that are a bit "heavier," so to speak. This was a light read for me, but it was entertaining and was a pleasant diversion. Nice for people who like mystery without the forensic details.

[Rachel N. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ellie Haskell has a quarrel with her husband Ben over her redecorating his study. Ellie then pays a late night call on her housekeeper Mrs. Malloy who is spending most of her time working for a private detective. When a client shows up late Ellie and Mrs. Malloy decide to help Lady Krumley find the daughter of a housekeeper who was wrongly fired and whose spirit Mrs. Krumley now believes is killing family members. A lighthearted, cozy mystery.

[Jeannine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another enjoyable British cozy. I guess I'm getting dotty cause I kept thinking the characters were familiar and didn't realize, until a third of the way through, that I read the first book in this series a while ago. A lot has happened since this is #10 in the series so I have some catching up to do. I found it hard to get into the plot of this one at first but it picks up and was enjoyable.

[Phair · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loved the first Ellie book to pieces but she has now become too settled and predictable. Mrs Malloy is the wilder and more interesting character here. Like Cannell's titles but don't feel compelled to grab future books as soon as they appear.

[Denise · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok, but I thought it was a little slow at times. I couldn't identify with the characters as much as I would have liked. Overall, a basic British cozy mystery, without violence or blood. Would be good as an introduction for readers new to the cozy mystery genre.

[Jackie]

It’s cozy and witty with no violence or suspense. It was a little slow at times and punctuation was a big stumbling block for me as quotation marks would be missing so I had to backtrack to distinguish when the character stopped talking and the narrative picked up.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third novel I have read in the Ellie Haskell series. I really enjoyed this one. I'm looking forward to reading more of these books.

[Cws]

M Can

[The Flooze · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute mystery with lots of humor and a good plot. Cannell is great for an easy read with just enough challenge to keep your brain humming along. Plus, I love the titles.

[Janet]

I love Dorothy Cannell's Ellie Haskell books. This is the usual silly delight. Pure froth.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Chugged through this altho I had a little trouble concentrating. Doubt I'd read another by this author.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Completely silly, light cozy mystery series about a wealthy young woman and her cleaning lady who solve mysteries together.

[Katie Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Ellie Haskell books - None of them are as fun as the first in the series, The Thin Woman, but they all are quick, snappy reads. Highly recommend the series.

[Gail · Rating 2 out of 5]

entertaining, but stretches a bit for the wrap up