October 21 - Endless Night - SPOILER Thread

[Tara]

I was struck in my re-read with the supernatural elements of the book, particularly in the last section after we learn Michael is the killer. It seems as though Mrs. Lee truly had some psychical powers in the sense that she instinctively knew that Ellie was in danger, although it was from her husband and not the land directly. I also found it interesting that when Michael saw Ellie's ghost, he kept saying that she couldn't see him because he wasn't there. You would expect the normal reaction to such an occurrence to assume that the ghost isn't really there, and therefore can't look at you. Has his mind just snapped, or does that have some other meaning?

[Susan in NC]

Tara wrote: "I was struck in my re-read with the supernatural elements of the book, particularly in the last section after we learn Michael is the killer. It seems as though Mrs. Lee truly had some psychical po..."

I wondered about that also, he definitely cracked up at the end, so I just assumed that was the beginning of it.

[Lady Clementina]

Tara wrote: "I was struck in my re-read with the supernatural elements of the book, particularly in the last section after we learn Michael is the killer. It seems as though Mrs. Lee truly had some psychical po..."

I wondered if that meant he'd been found out and would be there no more?

[Susan in NC]

Lady Clementina wrote: "Tara wrote: "I was struck in my re-read with the supernatural elements of the book, particularly in the last section after we learn Michael is the killer. It seems as though Mrs. Lee truly had some..."

That makes sense - we know he’s killed at least once before, but that didn’t seem to “haunt” him, so this could be a sign, his past is catching up with him.

[Tracey]

Judy wrote: "Until I got towards the end, I was thinking I would like to see a TV or film adaptation - not sure if I would want to bother now though. Has anyone seen one? I see there was a 1970s version with Ha..."

The front cover of paperback copy I have features Hayley Mills looking rather scared, with Hywel Bennett looking alarmed. Britt Ekland is on the back cover, looking as if she is hanging a picture. I am quite intrigued by this version, not sure if it is easily available to watch though.

[ChrisGA]

Lots of insightful comments about this one. Enjoyed everyone's speculations It was definitely creepy. So gothic---innocent young heroine in spooky surroundings with trusted man who turns out to be a bad guy.

[Susan in NC]

ChrisGA wrote: "Lots of insightful comments about this one. Enjoyed everyone's speculations It was definitely creepy. So gothic---innocent young heroine in spooky surroundings with trusted man who turns out to be ..."

And trusted best friend/aide-de-camp, who has made herself indispensable to a vulnerable, isolated young woman in need of a true friend- seemed like the deeper betrayal to me! In some ways Ellie was an old soul, other ways she seemed young for her age, still young enough to idolize, almost crush on (platonically) a dear friend.

[Michaela]

Finally read this, and found the first half rather boring, then it picked up pace. I was suspicious of Greta from her appearance on, but knowing Christie I didn´t think she was in it till Ellie died. Then I thought that she and Michael had planned it from the start. The description isn´t bad except for the end. I wouldn´t necessarily call it a mystery.

[Judy]

This is a comment by Gretchen moved over from the other thread.

This is the perfect gothic type tale for Halloween. And in the end he kills them and his mother knew all along oh man! I knew some thing was up the way he talked and acted but for him to actually so far as to kill her man! I agree the"perfect house" and the "perfect life" yeah you knew you were being set up for something.

[Rosina]

Kimberly Reads Books wrote: "Judy wrote: "Odd how they keep putting Miss Marple into stories where she doesn't belong! This one isn't at all a Miss Marple type of story."

This drove me crazy! There are several where they adde..."

Reading Destination Unknown I started imagining that they would have slipped Miss Marple in in place of Miss Hetherington - or in place of Hilary!

[Wayne]

I do not understand Andrew Lippencott's silence wrt to the evidence he had of Michael Rogers' lie about not knowing Greta.

[Lady Clementina]

Wayne wrote: "I do not understand Andrew Lippencott's silence wrt to the evidence he had of Michael Rogers' lie about not knowing Greta."

Prhaps he only found it after the murder.

[Wayne]

Lady Clementina wrote: "Wayne wrote: "I do not understand Andrew Lippencott's silence wrt to the evidence he had of Michael Rogers' lie about not knowing Greta."

Prhaps he only found it after the murder."

Yep, but then. in my opinion, after Ellie's death, he had even more reason to divulge this bit of info.