From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

Grey Mask (Miss Silver, #1)

Patricia Wentworth

Start date: March 1, 2017

Finish date: March 31, 2017

Discussion: Group reads

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Group reads

* November 2025 group read - Winner!
By Judy · 20 posts · 32 views

last updated Sep 17, 2025 08:43AM

* Sept 25: Lonesome Road (#3 Miss Silver Mysteries) by Patricia Wentworth
By Susan · 16 posts · 16 views

last updated Sep 19, 2025 01:03PM

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What Members Thought

Feb 20, 2017 Susan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Charles Moray goes abroad for several years after being jilted by his fiancee, Margaret Langton. Going to inspect his old house, he hears noises upstairs and stumbles upon a criminal gang. As he spies on them, he overhears them speaking of Margot Standing. She is an heiress, whose fortune they hope to steal and they speak of killing her. His immediate thought is to contact the police, when he recognises Margaret as one of the people in the room. Thrown into the mystery, unable to go to the polic ...more

50 likes · Like · see review

Mar 10, 2017 Lady Clementina ffinch-ffarowmore rated it liked it

Shelves: british, series, mystery, detective

The first of the Miss Silver series. Charles Moray, who returns after travelling abroad for four years, stumbles upon a conspiracy to do away with a young girl (Margot Standing) when he comes into his home and finds a mysterious gang having a meeting there. And much to his shock, his former fiancée, Margaret (her breaking off the engagement was the reason for his having gone away) is part of the gang. Because of Margaret’s involvement he is reluctant to approach the police, and sets off to inves ...more

11 likes · Like · see review

Feb 24, 2020 Lady Wesley rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-golden-age-or-similar, mystery-with-a-touch-of-romance

I adore Golden Age detective novels and decided to give Patricia Wentworth (1877-1961) a try. Grey Mask is the first in a series of 32 short novels featuring Miss Maud Silver, "sleuthess" who reminds the reader very much of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple. Interestingly, Miss Silver made her debut several years before Miss Marple.

Miss Silver is well known in the better circles of society, and she finds entree to the troubled households of the upper classes with little difficulty. In most of Miss

...more

8 likes · Like · see review

Feb 08, 2017 Kavita rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery, uk, golden-age-mystery

Charles Moray is back in England! After being jilted at the altar by the love of his life, he had spent four years travelling but after the death of his father, he is now back to get his inheritance. He visits his old house but instead of encountering childhood memories, he comes across a gang of criminals who are using his home to plot murder and theft. But what really astounds Charles is that it appears that his erstwhile fiancée, Margaret Langton, is also one of their number!

As Charles re-est ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

May 21, 2022 Jazzy Lemon rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, english-authors

And amidst all the excitement, Miss Silver's knitting needles see more than a fair amount of use. ...more

6 likes · Like · see review

Mar 20, 2017 Damaskcat rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This is one of the darkest of Patricia Wentworth's books which I have read. Charles Moray returns to the UK after a long absence following the breakup of his engagement to Margaret Langton. He decides to visit the house left to him by his father which has been shut up since his death. Even though the house is empty it soon becomes clear it is being used by a group of criminals as a meeting place. Charles hides in a cupboard and sees his former fiancée who appears to be part of the gang.

This leav ...more

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Jul 05, 2016 ShanDizzy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This was such a great romp. Looking forward to the next in the series.

1 like · Like · see review

Dec 28, 2019 Jackie rated it it was ok

I like Miss Silver but it was hard to like any of the other characters. Still, it held my interest enough that I finished it I find Patricia Wentworth writes well enough I will read more in the series. I've already read The Key and it was much better than this one. ...more

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