Soon She Must Die

by Anna Clarke

Jane Bates, a young nurse, encourages romance between Robert, her English professor lover, and her wealthy young charge, who is dying of leukemia

178 pages, Hardcover

First published December 31, 1983

About the author

Anna Clarke was born in Cape Town and educated in Montreal and Oxford. She holds degrees in economics and English literature and has held a wide variety of jobs, mostly in publishing and university administration.

Reviews

[Lukanyo · Rating 2 out of 5]

The young and beautiful Rosemund Morgan, heiress to the Morgan fortune is soon to die of leukemia. Surrounded in her vast Victorian mansion by family members eagerly awaiting her death, she confides only in the dependable Raymond Quick, to execute her will. The contents of the will are fairly set in stone. Until the vivacious Jane Bates tactfully inserts herself into the family affair.

Jane Bates, a young nurse dreams of a life of wealth and ease. Her handsome and emotionally guarded boyfriend, Robert Fenninan cannot afford the life she desires nor share in these ideals. Desperation attracts opportune, as she finds herself caring for a soon to be deceased heiress of a formidable fortune. By introducing Rosamund to Robert, Jane devises a plot to gain this large inheritance. Stunned by her beauty and stirred by a sense of familiarity, Robert falls hopelessly in love with Rosumand. Marveled by his love and devotion and its absence of ulterior motives, Rosamund’s zest for life is reawakened. Jane’s plan is well in action. However, there are obstacles she is unaware of. Jane is not the only conniver guised by a seemingly innocent nature.

In this light mystery novel, Anna Clarke tells a story of love and money as well as principle and desperation. The question that lies is, which of these elements will prevail? Unconventional to the genre, each of the characters motives and actions are overtly expressed leaving only the characters in the dark. Clarke engages her audience with an unfixed narrative voice, switching between first person and an omniscient narrator. She juggles this dynamic narration with effective control, giving both an objective and personally insightful account of each scene through its characters.

The novel doesn’t wholly represent itself in all the ways that a riveting mystery should. Holding suspense within the first few chapters, the anticipation wanes towards the end. There’s an element of betrayal to the reader if they were like me, expecting a cozy mystery. Nothing was mysterious about it. Clarke’s poised wisdom in expressing impertinent themes of humanity is commendable. Expressed through her characters with appreciative brevity are philosophical musings of ‘accepting fate’ and the power of ‘passionate conviction.’

However, whilst reading the novel I often asked myself, is it really a mystery novel? Is that truly what Clarke was getting at here? Perhaps the few lines of medicinal detection ticked the box for her, but I’d rather call this the substratum of an intellectual soap opera: the soppy moments of love and crying in the rain; the pathetic meddling of greedy cousins who can barely cover their tracks and the pitiful attempts of creating a shock factor that could barely lift my drooping eyes let alone evoke a gasp. With all the respect to redefining categorical genres, I can’t say the blurred line between dramatic romance and mystery was fully appreciated. A mystery enmeshed in a love story— granted. However, now I know why a mystery should never be enmeshed with a love story. The parallel Clarke makes between Henry James’, The Wings of the Dove with its vastly similar if not essentially replicated plot could have been a clever angle to a cliché story line. However, the lack of calculation in how Clarke introduces the drivers of her plot, highlights the Clarke’s unclear intentions for the reader and the story’s impact. Do we appreciate the star-crossed lovers? Or the craft of the plot. Unfortunately, there’s not much to work with if we consider the latter.

If you want a love story, there are better ones. If you want a mystery, there are better ones. If you want a slightly intelligent story to help you or your grandmother fall asleep— this isn’t all too bad!

[Nadia | Mon Vàng Vàng · Rating 2 out of 5]

Một cuốn sách mà mình đọc từ đầu đến cuối mà không hiểu cái chi cả luôn. Cách đặt vấn đề của tác giả rất ổn, nhưng những tình tiết sau thật sự là rối tinh rối mù, và cũng không rõ ràng hay như thế nào nữa. Chắc cũng một phần bị ảnh hưởng bởi văn phong dịch nữa, nhưng thật sự là mình không thể đánh giá cao quyển này. Cả cuốn sách như là một mớ bòng bong về việc đấu tranh nội tâm và những suy nghĩ thật sự khó thông cảm của tất cả tuyến nhân vật luôn.
Không dám recommend cho ai cả luôn. Lí do duy nhất mình đọc cuốn này là vì có hỗ trợ cho bên diễn đàn làm ebook nên mới đọc để check lỗi chính tả, chứ không nghĩ sẽ đọc lại lần 2 đâu.

[Traci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quirky early 80s murder in London. The mystery isn't who did it - it's who's going to do it. And why. Puts a little twist on the love or money question with a fun literary reference at its heart.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really unusual and totally not what I expected. Clarke provides and then overturns all the cliches of this type of mystery.