"Our train got snowed up and I and some others tried to walk across country to another station, Hemmersby, but the snow was so bad that we got lost, and then I fainted like a fool, twisting my foot, and a young man carried me to the house where we now are and may have to stay till the snow stops if it ever will. It's funny because although no one is here the tea was laid and the fires going....Of course, it's a funny situation."
Heavy snowfall forces seven strangers to seek shelter in a deserted country house. Only, one of the seven might be a murderer. And there's something strange, almost eerie, about the portrait over the mantel as well as the house. One man, who claims to be psychic, says it's haunted. And where are the house's inhabitants? It's a mystery. Outside it just keeps snowing and snowing. And did I mention it's Christmas Eve?
My thoughts: I always enjoy reading these British Library Crime Classics! There's an old-fashioned charm about them that I really like. They're not usually super suspenseful, but there's always a puzzle to be solved and some thoughtful sleuthing to be done. I appreciate the 1930s dialogue. And the plucky characters, too. They're never perfect reads, but they're always good fun. I enjoyed this one a lot.
Happy Reading!
Other British Library Crime Classics:
This was not bad but not the best I've read. Myself I really appreciate how well authors could write back then.
ReplyDeleteThey really could, couldn't they? I like that about these books, too. :)
DeleteI can sense a bit of Agatha Christie vibe there and of course it piques my curiosity. :)
ReplyDeleteThere's definitely a Christie vibe with this one...although her books are a little bit better. :)
DeleteOh, this sounds perfect. I need to track this down.
ReplyDeleteIt was a fun one! I really liked several of the characters. :)
DeleteI always enjoy the British Library Crime Classics too. This one sounds perfect for this time of year!
ReplyDeleteIt was fun with all the snow! And one of the characters kept trying to add a bit of Christmas cheer to the group which was also fun. :)
DeleteI'm glad it was enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mary! :)
DeleteI feel exactly the same way about the ones I've read. They're never awesome, necessarily, but I always seem to enjoy them! Maybe it's the feeling of stepping back in time. anyway, love the sound of this!
ReplyDeleteI think that feeling of stepping back in time is what I like so much about these mysteries. What a good way to phrase it!
DeleteSome I've enjoyed, others less so, but I love this cover with all the snow and the train!
ReplyDeleteIsn't that a great cover? And I know what you mean...some of these classic mysteries are less than stellar.
DeleteThis sounds like a fun read. I need check out some of the British Library Crime Classics. I love mysteries like this. :)
ReplyDeleteThese books are fun to read. Especially if you like old-fashioned mysteries. :)
DeleteInteresting tale. Back in those days, haunted house stories were really popular. I remember enjoying books and stories featuring traditional haunted house stories, but that kind of changed for all of us when people like Stephen King and a few others upped the ante and made them a little too gory for the taste of some.
ReplyDeleteAnd there's definitely no gore in this one. Just stranded people trying to figure out why the house is empty.
DeleteThese do sound like fun!
ReplyDeleteI like them. :)
DeleteHi Lark, this book sounds really good and I agree reminiscent of Agatha Christie. I love classic British mysteries and they are perfect reading for the winter months.
ReplyDeleteThey are perfect reading when it's cold and dreary outside. They always remind me of warm fires and hot chocolate for some reason. :)
DeleteThis sounds like such a fun escape!
ReplyDeleteIt is a very fun escape. :D
DeleteI love old fashion mysteries like this. I need to find this book. Thank-you!!
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy it! If you can't find this one, there are lots of other British Library Crime Classics out there. :)
DeleteI do like these sort of books, it’s sounds like my cup of tea!
ReplyDeleteI'm kind of hooked on them myself. :)
DeleteI need to read more of these types of books. They sound so good!
ReplyDeleteI think they're a lot of fun. And there's so many to choose from! :)
DeleteI've only read a couple of these books but it's so great that these re-discovered classics are being published again. I just got one actually for my reading group's first read of the year. This one sounds so good. I need to remember this title so I can share with my group.
ReplyDeleteI love that they've republished so many of these classic mysteries. :)
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