The Second Latchkey

by A.M. Williamson

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Genres: Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Mystery

270 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1920

About the author

Alice Muriel Williamson, English-American novelist

Reviews

[Hannah]

ebook here https://archive.org/details/secondlat...

Also on Librivox

This has to be one of the most unusual stories I've read. It begins with a jewel thief in England and ends on a ranch in Texas! But all in all it was really interesting.

[Mbuye]

The Williamson duo wrote surprisingly popular novels, mostly before the First World War - surprisingly, because their fiction by today's unforgiving standards appears sentimental and unsophisticated. Nevertheless, the subjects range from comedy to romance, crime and detection, as well as travelogues, as the couple were fond of motoring, the craze in the days when cars were still a novelty.

The Second Latchkey is one of their most successful crime novels, and one wonders if the intention was to underline the principle of marrying in haste to repent at leisure. The plot complications include jewel-heists, impoverished peers, wealthy and mysterious young men, a naïve heroine, and the classic lady of the Roaring 20's, the Vamp. This is more melodramatic than usual, and certainly rams home a lesson, which is unlike their usual style.

Since I am a sucker for vintage classic mysteries, I greatly enjoy the Williamson novels. Fortunately, a large number of their books are available on Gutenberg. The British Mysteries Ultimate Collection also includes a number of their best works.

[Julia]

I really liked this story, and it was a very unusual set-up for a romance mystery. The young woman was sick to death of her life as a companion to an ungrateful older woman, so she took a dangerous chance on finding love with a stranger who needed help. The story starts in a stodgy old house in England, moves along to a magnificent mansion, lovely hotels, a cruise ship, a long train trip, and a Texas ranch on the Mexican border. Ruses, anger revenge, jealousy, loyalty, love, and the hope of forgiveness and reconciliation all play their parts in this novel.

[Anita]

A damsel running away from a dull life....a knight to the rescue ...but is he really a knight ? An interesting read ....

[Deborah]

I really liked this book.

[Helen]

This book was published in 1920, so that has to be taken into consideration. Personally, I love these old bloodless mysteries. This one starts off like the old 'It Takes a Thief' TV series and ends like a Zane Grey western. I actually liked it more than the 3 stars, but it isn't exactly great literature. If you like jewel thieves in England and ranchers in Texas, you will like this book. (The readers on librivox.org were really good.)

[Kayleigh]

One of my utmost favourites. I've read it three times. The main character makes a choice and finds the adventure she has always been looking for.

[Joan]

It was fun.

[Manjuu PriyaKK]

Nice book to read.