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

Jan 05, 2020 BrokenTune rated it liked it · review of another edition

Well, well. I had low expectations for this book and only really looked forward to it because it was planned buddy read.

So, imagine my surprise when I actually enjoyed this story despite its entirely bonkers plot and even despite its utterly, utterly stupid main character. Margot really was the epitome of an obnoxious airhead and I am still amazed that she actually survived the plot without being killed off.

I certainly hoped for this on every single page.

To be fair, imagining plot twists in w ...more

16 likes · Like · see review

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

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

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

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

2 likes · Like · see review

Feb 28, 2017 Jill rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I loved it. Fast paced right from the start and all the way through. Absorbing plot, spoilt only by some incredibly stupid character (I don't think she had to be as stupid as she was portrayed to get the same results). Miss Silver was great, but I would have liked some explanation of how she managed to work . Saying that I thought it was a truly enjoyable read. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Dec 11, 2021 Geraldine Byrne rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Classic effortlessly charming mystery

How i missed this author before I can't imagine but thoroughly enjoyed this classic detective story.
Charles returns to England 4cyears after Margaret jilted him, convinced he's over her. Fate throws them together in a tangled web of criminal gangs, a missing heiress and tangled inheritance. The mild but extremely clever Miss Silver is at hand to help him find his way.
Action, wit, romance and a sense of time and place that makes this a charming read. Looking ...more

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Jan 11, 2017 SewingandCaring rated it it was amazing

Shelves: detectives

Not your average detective story by a long shot, I guessed one big thing but not the three other big things that were hiding behind it. Not because of red herrings but because of the way the plot twisted. Audible narration was pitch perfect.

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