From the Bookshelf of Retro Reads…

The Case Is Closed (Miss Silver, #2)

Patricia Wentworth

Start date: February 1, 2021

Finish date: February 28, 2021

Discussion: Group Reads

Discussion leader: Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽

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What Members Thought

Feb 01, 2021 Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: oldies-but-goodies, mystery

1937 murder mystery featuring the indomitable Miss Silver. The twist here is that a man has already been convicted of the murder and has been in jail for a year, but Hilary Carew accidentally bumps into the murdered man’s servant (there’s a lot of lucky—or sometimes very unlucky—accidental meetings in this book), and the woman’s oddly guilty words start to make Hilary wonder. One thing leads to another, and soon Miss Silver gets involved.

It has its moments, but the story also gets bogged down by ...more

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Feb 05, 2021 Barb in Maryland rated it liked it

Shelves: mystery-thriller-goodies, historical-fiction

3.5 stars

Geoffrey Grey has been convicted of murdering his uncle James. At the time the story opens Geoffrey has been in prison for a year. His wife, Marion, is slowly wasting away. Young Hilary Carew, Marion's cousin, deciding that she must find a way to prove Geoffrey's innocence, starts investigating; and off we go.
Hilary was a delight, full of spunk and drive; totally convinced the Geoffrey couldn't have done it. I loved her determination. I was not too fond of her fiance Henry at the beginn ...more

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Jan 29, 2021 Susan in NC rated it really liked it · review of another edition

4.5 stars for a very enjoyable golden age mystery - I love Miss Silver, and this book had a very appealing (well, two, actually) couple in Hillary and Henry (and Marion and Geoff, but since he’s in prison we don’t see them together- but her reactions to prison visits, and conversations with her cousin Hillary, reveal how much she loves Geoff).

This mystery opens as Hillary is escaping from an encounter at the railroad station with her former fiancé, Henry. She ducks into the nearest train and end 4.5 stars for a very enjoyable golden age mystery - I love Miss Silver, and this book had a very appealing (well, two, actually) couple in Hillary and Henry (and Marion and Geoff, but since he’s in prison we don’t see them together- but her reactions to prison visits, and conversations with her cousin Hillary, reveal how much she loves Geoff).

This mystery opens as Hillary is escaping from an encounter at the railroad station with her former fiancé, Henry. She ducks into the nearest train and ends up having a bizarre encounter with a weepy lady - at first she thinks she’s another nosy observer from her cousin Geoff’s murder trial, but then her questions indicate a familiarity with the family and the case.

When Hillary gets home and discusses the encounter with her cousin Marion, heartbroken over her husband’s imprisonment and losing their baby (this scene was very affecting, drew me right in), Marion thinks she knows who the lady is, shows Hillary a picture- oh, yes, that’s her! Turns out, it was Mrs. Mercer, former cook to the uncle Geoff was accused of killing the year before- her evidence, and that of her butler husband, Alfred, was the nail in the coffin for Geoff’s case, and he’s been serving his sentence in Dartmoor. Marion is heartbroken, convinced Geoff is slowly dying - even if he ever gets out, they’ll never have children...

Hillary is sure something has been overlooked, and starts investigating on her own; she’s a very appealing character, I really enjoyed her “inner imp” that came up with funny rhymes at the silliest times (sorry!). But her amateur efforts draw unwelcome attention, and in a very atmospheric, foggy, scary scene, she’s almost killed!

She calls in her beloved, stalwart Henry (who clearly loves her), and he contacts the delightful Miss Silver for help and advice. Things move along at a clip, and there is an exciting, very satisfying climax - I really enjoyed this one! Wentworth does an excellent job bringing out the humanity and suffering of all those involved in this closed case, and gives us a very satisfying solution.

Thanks to the Retro Reads group for bringing Miss Silver back to my attention after a less than riveting first read many years ago. We read one of her books last year, #7 I think, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and now this great mystery! Definitely want to read more...oh, and the audiobook with Diane Bishop narrating is very well done. ...more

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Feb 15, 2021 Infosifter rated it liked it

Genre readers always have to deal with tropes, some of which they may enjoy and some of which they may loath. This mystery has all the tropes that annoy me most, especially the one where a naïve heroine runs repeatedly into danger with no plan. 2.5 stars

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Feb 13, 2021 Elinor rated it really liked it · review of another edition

The plot was predictable, but the characters made up for it -- the delightful ditzy Hilary who just KNOWS the convicted murderer didn't do it and is hell bent on proving it, her long-suffering stuffed shirt boyfriend Henry, and the indomitable Miss Silver, a little old lady private investigator who aids the young couple in their quest. I read it straight through in two evenings, and will look for other books about Miss Silver. The author's writing style is simple and charming. ...more

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Nov 07, 2021 Laurie rated it liked it

I feel pretty much exactly the same way about every book in this series: I love the procedural part where witnesses are interviewed, timelines are gone over, and clues are laid out. I love the country houses with aging relatives who have recently and inexplicably Changed Their Will (or Threatened to Change Their Will, as the case may be). I love Miss Silver and the plucky heroine of each book.

What I don’t like: there are never enough suspects (partly because the author lets us into too many peop ...more

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May 01, 2011 Rachel Piper rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook

Hilary, the heroine here, is more sleuth-y and less wimpy than some of Wentworth's others. She gets knocked about and goes out and investigates on her own, and in the end disarms the murderer by hitting him in the face with a bottle of ink.

I wonder if Wentworth had just read The Scarlet Pimpernel when she wrote this; there are minor characters with the names Blakeney and St. Just. ...more

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