The Treasure at Poldarrow Point by Clara Benson - SPOILER Thread

[Susan]

This is Book 3 in the Angela Marchmont series.

When Angela Marchmont goes to Cornwall on doctor's orders she is looking forward to a nice rest and nothing more exciting than a little sea-bathing. But her plans for a quiet holiday are dashed when she is caught up in the hunt for a diamond necklace which, according to legend, has been hidden in the old smugglers' house at Poldarrow Point for over a century.

Aided by the house's elderly owner, an irrepressible twelve-year-old, and a handsome Scotland Yard detective, Angela soon finds herself embroiled in the most perplexing of mysteries. Who is the author of the anonymous letters? Why is someone breaking into the house at night? And is it really true that a notorious jewel-thief is after the treasure too? Angela must use all her powers of deduction to solve the case and find the necklace—before someone else does.

Please feel free to post spoilers in this thread.

[Judy]

While I really enjoyed this book overall, I remember wondering why Angela was so ready to take the Scotland Yard detective at face value - I know he is handsome, but surely it would have been worth contacting her pals at the Yard to check on his identity much earlier on!

[Jill]

Judy wrote: "While I really enjoyed this book overall, I remember wondering why Angela was so ready to take the Scotland Yard detective at face value - I know he is handsome, but surely it would have been worth..."

Exactly. I just thought that would have been one of the first things she would have done, when things began to happen

[Judy]

Yes, I do wonder if this could have been handled better - perhaps by him borrowing the identity of a real detective?!

[Susan]

I think she should have heard alarm bells sooner. It was noted that the residents of Poldarrow Point did not encourage visitors and yet Angela was immediately welcomed, asked to tea and confided in. She is usually much more savvy. I know she was ill and, to be fair, not looking for a mystery to solve, but she really seemed disengaged in this novel. I have enjoyed the series so far and will read on, but this was a definite dud for me.

[Judy]

That's true about the residents. I don't think plotting is always this author's strongest point, to be honest, but I love her witty style of writing and her characters, so I can overlook it!

[Sandy]

I think this would have worked as a children's book, with Barbara as the major character. Angela, playing the obtuse adult, didn't pick up on any clues (i.e. Miss Trout was a known recluse), and judged the handsome stranger by looks and manners (perhaps flattery helped). But as an adult book I found it too simplistic. Its not that I worked out all the role playing but I knew nothing was as it seemed.

The ending may be a fatal blow for me: letting the jewel thief dig up the necklace! Angela did not seem concerned he may have walked off with it. Then there is my fear that he, with Barbara, may become reoccurring characters.

[Lady Clementina]

Sandy wrote: "I think this would have worked as a children's book, with Barbara as the major character. Angela, playing the obtuse adult, didn't pick up on any clues (i.e. Miss Trout was a known recluse), and ju..."

I agree Sandy- this felt very like an Enid Blyton book to me (I also mentioned this in the non-spoiler thread) complete with secret passages (the Cornish coast), picnics, treasure hunts and all.

[Lady Clementina]

Like i'm sure all of you did, I guessed Mr Simpson would be the thief and that Miss Trout was not Miss Trout, but I didn't figure out the jewel robbery part of it. But still, it didn't spoil the fun for me.