3.5* ( )

hardback

Jenny Hill has learned she is the sole heir of Alington estate — land and monies. She was raised in a cottage across the road from it by a maiden lady, while other Alington family members occupied the property. She had never been told of her true parentage, nor was it common knowledge.

Jenny found out by accident one night, by overhearing a conversation between the current mistress of the manor and her oldest son. She also found out deception was their plan to keep her from her inheritance.

In a panic, she ran away from the situation and wound up meeting a young man who was a distant relative, with no vested interest, and who was willing to help her.

When a murder occurs, Miss Silver is asked to come and investigate on the part of the accused. There is a question if there somehow may be a tie to the secrecy of the Alington inheritance situation.

Again, Miss Silver questions all and looks for loops and disparities in peoples’ alibies, tells that let her know someone is lying. In a small village, where she comes from, secrets are hard to keep. It is the same where the crime happened.

I’ve enjoyed a number of books from Patricia Wentworth’s Miss Silver series. ( )

A young woman grows up in an English village knowing that she is the illegitimate daughter of the heir to the wealthy Forbes family. Sadly he is killed in World War II before he can marry her (comparatively) lower-class mother. When the mother dies giving birth to Jenny, the child is brought up by her parent's old governess, who cares for her with much love and affection. But when the governess is felled by a hit-and-run accident, she manages before she dies to whisper to Jenny that her mother and father really were married — making Jenny the heiress to the Forbes estate and not the poor relation who is condescendingly offered a job looking after the family's young children. But Jenny has to wonder: Is it true about her parents? How can she prove it? And who else knows the truth — and what would they be willing to do to make sure it stays a secret?

Maybe it's because we are approaching the end of the Miss Silver series (this is the penultimate book) but I found myself thoroughly enjoying this entry. It's true that there really isn't much of a mystery here; it's quite clear early on who the villain is, and the victim sadly is not one of the patented Wentworth "they had it coming" variety. But Jenny is an appealing main character, and the obligatory romance is not as eye-rollingly silly as they sometimes are in this series. And who could fail to be charmed by young ruffian Dicky Pratt, who turns out to hold the key that Miss Silver, in concert with her willing acolyte, Detective Inspector Frank Abbott, needs to unlock the solution? ( )

A new to me author and an old series started in the 30s in England. I will continue reading the Miss Silver series as I enjoyed this book very much. Jenny Hill's parents died during the war and she raised by her mother's governess. When she finds out she is the heir to the big house across the road, her life is in danger and she must run away. Who she finds is remarkable and she considers herself safe for the time being. But when a neighbor girl is murdered, could it have been Jenny the murderer wanted to kill instead? From a slower time, this book was still a great read and I enjoyed the thoughts of each character as the plot progressed. ( )