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krobart's review against another edition
4.0
See my review here:
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2019/05/23/review-1354-weekend-at-thrackley/
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2019/05/23/review-1354-weekend-at-thrackley/
jacki_f's review against another edition
3.0
This is a country house mystery that was first published in 1934. Edwin Carson is a mysterious and unpleasant man who summons a group of people who he doesn't know to come to stay for the weekend. When they arrive they are impressed with the luxurious estate and the impeccable service. But Carson has an ulterior motive for inviting them. Before the weekend is over more than one person will be dead, but this isn't really a murder mystery. The mystery is more about why everyone was invited, particularly the penniless Jim Henderson, and whether Carson will get away with his plans.
I enjoyed the humour in this - other reviewers have compared it to Wodehouse. There are many witty one liners and throw away descriptions that made me smile. The plot is pretty unsatisfying though. Carson is like a Bond villain, the kind who has built an elaborate lair and wants his nemesis to understand and bear witness to his crimes rather than just be eliminated. It was a moderately enjoyable read but no classic.
I enjoyed the humour in this - other reviewers have compared it to Wodehouse. There are many witty one liners and throw away descriptions that made me smile. The plot is pretty unsatisfying though. Carson is like a Bond villain, the kind who has built an elaborate lair and wants his nemesis to understand and bear witness to his crimes rather than just be eliminated. It was a moderately enjoyable read but no classic.
djnatedagreat's review against another edition
3.0
I was expecting a "Who dun it" murder mystery for some reason, but that's not what this book is. I wouldn't give it any awards, but still an easy, fun read about a mysterious invitation that leads to a hot-mess of a weekend at Thrackley.
ashleylm's review against another edition
2.0
For some reason I had expected this to be a current novel that had a sort of post-modern take on the golden age mystery. As the novel increasingly revealed itself to not be that at all, I took a gander and saw it was simply an old mystery, and unfortunately one which did nothing to hold my attention. And my new rule (life is short!) is to dispense with those and move to something else. I did all my required reading long, long ago, and don't have to keep that up.
It turns out (from reading reviews here) that this book was also intended to be funny, nay, even Wodehousian in its ambition. I would never in a million years have guessed that from reading the text itself.
(5* = amazing, terrific book, one of my all-time favourites, 4* = very good book, 3* = good book, but nothing to particularly rave about, 2* = disappointing book, and 1* = awful, just awful. As a statistician I know most books are 3s, but I am biased in my selection and end up mostly with 4s, thank goodness.)
It turns out (from reading reviews here) that this book was also intended to be funny, nay, even Wodehousian in its ambition. I would never in a million years have guessed that from reading the text itself.
(5* = amazing, terrific book, one of my all-time favourites, 4* = very good book, 3* = good book, but nothing to particularly rave about, 2* = disappointing book, and 1* = awful, just awful. As a statistician I know most books are 3s, but I am biased in my selection and end up mostly with 4s, thank goodness.)
fictionfan's review against another edition
3.0
There’s only one word for it...
When Jim Henderson receives an invitation to spend the weekend at Thrackley, the country house of a man called Edwin Carson, he’s puzzled. Although the older man claims to have been a friend of Jim’s long dead father, Jim doesn’t remember ever meeting him or even hearing his name. However, Jim’s found it difficult to get employment since he came back from the war, so the idea of some free food and free accommodation are very welcome, especially when he discovers his old school friend Freddie Usher has also been invited. Carson is a collector of jewels, and it’s not long before the reader discovers his methods of collection aren’t always honest. Over the course of the weekend, Jim will find himself surrounded by thefts, missing persons, murder and attractive women.
When I say that I preferred this to the only other book of Melville’s that I’ve read, Quick Curtain, I have to qualify that by pointing out that I thought Quick Curtain was pretty awful. This one isn’t awful, but it’s not good either. The plot is a mess, full of inconsistencies, holes, continuity errors and coincidences. There’s no mystery aspect since we know early on that Carson is a villain, so it all comes down to whether he’ll escape or be caught. It’s redeemed somewhat by the enjoyable banter between Jim and his old school friend, and by the light-hearted romance that Jim has with Carson’s daughter, Mary. This keeps it readable, so that despite my harrumphing every time the plot took another leap away from credibility, I managed to stick with it quite easily to the end.
And what an end! Sometimes the word silly doesn’t cut it, while farcical implies a level of skill that is distinctly missing here. Throw in a lot of big reveals, have some terrible things happen and no one seeming to much care, have the police totally laid back about the various criminal acts that have been carried out by the guests, and really, what is the right word to describe this shambles? The one that seems best to fit is preposterous. And what’s even more preposterous is that it seems to have been quite a hit when it came out, even being made into a movie. Note to self: don’t watch it...
So not awful, but close...
2½ stars for me, generously rounded up.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, the British Library.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
When Jim Henderson receives an invitation to spend the weekend at Thrackley, the country house of a man called Edwin Carson, he’s puzzled. Although the older man claims to have been a friend of Jim’s long dead father, Jim doesn’t remember ever meeting him or even hearing his name. However, Jim’s found it difficult to get employment since he came back from the war, so the idea of some free food and free accommodation are very welcome, especially when he discovers his old school friend Freddie Usher has also been invited. Carson is a collector of jewels, and it’s not long before the reader discovers his methods of collection aren’t always honest. Over the course of the weekend, Jim will find himself surrounded by thefts, missing persons, murder and attractive women.
When I say that I preferred this to the only other book of Melville’s that I’ve read, Quick Curtain, I have to qualify that by pointing out that I thought Quick Curtain was pretty awful. This one isn’t awful, but it’s not good either. The plot is a mess, full of inconsistencies, holes, continuity errors and coincidences. There’s no mystery aspect since we know early on that Carson is a villain, so it all comes down to whether he’ll escape or be caught. It’s redeemed somewhat by the enjoyable banter between Jim and his old school friend, and by the light-hearted romance that Jim has with Carson’s daughter, Mary. This keeps it readable, so that despite my harrumphing every time the plot took another leap away from credibility, I managed to stick with it quite easily to the end.
And what an end! Sometimes the word silly doesn’t cut it, while farcical implies a level of skill that is distinctly missing here. Throw in a lot of big reveals, have some terrible things happen and no one seeming to much care, have the police totally laid back about the various criminal acts that have been carried out by the guests, and really, what is the right word to describe this shambles? The one that seems best to fit is preposterous. And what’s even more preposterous is that it seems to have been quite a hit when it came out, even being made into a movie. Note to self: don’t watch it...
So not awful, but close...
2½ stars for me, generously rounded up.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, the British Library.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
imthektx's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this! Gave me Agatha Christie vibes, and I especially enjoyed some of the witty banter.
taylorelm's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
fernandie's review against another edition
3.0
Note: I accessed digital review copies of this book through Edelweiss and NetGalley.
vsbedford's review against another edition
4.0
A country house mystery that takes a bit of a left turn into some interesting and charming territory - we've got all our stock characters, but presented with a lot of humor through a cracked lens. The main sleuth, Jim Henderson, annoys a bit in his defense of the love interest, Mary Carson, as these characters often do. But, in a nice twist, Ms. Carson and the majority of other female characters are super active and take large roles in solving the case. A very good time.
I received an ecopy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ecopy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.