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bobpony's review against another edition
4.0
Very enjoyable whodunnit. Love the setting - early 19th century Pittsburgh, and the rivers are having an annual flood. It's fascinating to see how the characters adapt and cope with the flood waters. And the story is interesting too.
elusivity's review against another edition
3.0
3.5.STARS that I cannot round up to 4
A very compact, quick little story. The setting is fantastic and atmospheric: in the midst of the annual flood in Pittsburgh that sweeps into people's houses, such that one needed to travel by boat from hall to hall, to the street and beyond.
Meanwhile, Mrs Pittman's life slightly overlaps with her family, albeit unobtrusively. The only one who recognized her was their old Butler, but her niece Alma bonds with her as a kind stranger through which she met her young lover, Mr Howell.
Later, Mr Howell confesses that the whole ordeal was hatched to bring (1) some notoriety for the theater where the murdered woman was employed, and (2) some juicy story for Me Howell's newspaper. However ! Mr Holcombe reveals that the husband had took advantage of the hoax to really kill his wife, and Mr Howell had been leading another young woman, veiled and wordless, to a hiding place, where she too was later killed by her treacherous, married lover.
The murder story was alright, with a reasonable amount of twists and turns, and an outlandish but interesting resolution. My most favorite part, though, is Mrs Pittman's story as a woman who matter-of-factly accepts that she'd made her bed and is prepared to lie in it (i.e. her family cutting all ties with her, etc), but works hard at her drudgery of a life. I enjoy the subtle humor of her thoughts, her kindness, her rivalry with the woman down the street who has salvage rights over all her furniture that are swept out by the flood... And is rewarded eventually by reconnecting with the old Butler, with her niece, and in time, Mr Holcombe.
A very compact, quick little story. The setting is fantastic and atmospheric: in the midst of the annual flood in Pittsburgh that sweeps into people's houses, such that one needed to travel by boat from hall to hall, to the street and beyond.
Spoiler
In this setting, the wife of an theater couple vanished in the night, never to be seen again, until a headless body surfaces downstream. The narrator, Mrs Pittman, is an older lady, born in a well-to-do family but wedded for love not money, and now forced to make her living by renting out rooms to borders in this cheap, often flooded part of town. Her unease brings her to the attention of Mr. Holcome, a retired gentleman whose hobby is detection. The police becomes involved. The missing wife story becomes the talk of the Town. The husband is suspected, and put to jail, and the jury judged him guilty of murder. Even though there was evidence that the wife had been seen elsewhere, and sent some typed letters, but that trace of her also vanished..Meanwhile, Mrs Pittman's life slightly overlaps with her family, albeit unobtrusively. The only one who recognized her was their old Butler, but her niece Alma bonds with her as a kind stranger through which she met her young lover, Mr Howell.
Later, Mr Howell confesses that the whole ordeal was hatched to bring (1) some notoriety for the theater where the murdered woman was employed, and (2) some juicy story for Me Howell's newspaper. However ! Mr Holcombe reveals that the husband had took advantage of the hoax to really kill his wife, and Mr Howell had been leading another young woman, veiled and wordless, to a hiding place, where she too was later killed by her treacherous, married lover.
The murder story was alright, with a reasonable amount of twists and turns, and an outlandish but interesting resolution. My most favorite part, though, is Mrs Pittman's story as a woman who matter-of-factly accepts that she'd made her bed and is prepared to lie in it (i.e. her family cutting all ties with her, etc), but works hard at her drudgery of a life. I enjoy the subtle humor of her thoughts, her kindness, her rivalry with the woman down the street who has salvage rights over all her furniture that are swept out by the flood... And is rewarded eventually by reconnecting with the old Butler, with her niece, and in time, Mr Holcombe.
rebzreads100's review against another edition
4.0
Ive Been looking for this book for so long, I started reading it a few years ago and didn’t finish because I had to return it and could never remember the name! The setting was very unique!
marystevens's review against another edition
3.0
Clever enjoyable early 20th century mystery set in a boarding house in the flood prone area of Pittsburgh.
thereadingbel's review against another edition
3.0
The story takes place at a modest boarding house in the poor side of Pittsburgh, during the flood season. The flood has risen halfway up the first floor in Bess Pitman's boarding house, causing her to relocate her boarders - Philip Ladley and his wife Jennie who is an actress with the stage name of Jennie Brice, and Zacaharia Reynolds to the second floor.
The Pitmans don't get along. Jennie has mentioned to her fellow actors that she expects him to kill her. They argue in the boarding house, and the next morning she is missing - and Philip is not too concerned, and vague as to her whereabouts. Bess Pitman immediately suspects murder has been done.
Mr. Holcombe, retired merchant with a heart for animals, is in the neighborhood feeding cats and dogs stranded by the flood. He comes in to feed the Ladley's dog, Peter; and Bess fills him in. Mr. Holcombe is an amateur investigator, and immediately brings in his newspaper reporter friend Ellis Howell.
There are clues to Jennie's whereabouts, but she cannot be located. A body washes up in the flood but cannot be identified is it her?
This story is short and sweet and quick read.
The Pitmans don't get along. Jennie has mentioned to her fellow actors that she expects him to kill her. They argue in the boarding house, and the next morning she is missing - and Philip is not too concerned, and vague as to her whereabouts. Bess Pitman immediately suspects murder has been done.
Mr. Holcombe, retired merchant with a heart for animals, is in the neighborhood feeding cats and dogs stranded by the flood. He comes in to feed the Ladley's dog, Peter; and Bess fills him in. Mr. Holcombe is an amateur investigator, and immediately brings in his newspaper reporter friend Ellis Howell.
There are clues to Jennie's whereabouts, but she cannot be located. A body washes up in the flood but cannot be identified is it her?
This story is short and sweet and quick read.
kargoforth's review against another edition
3.0
I read this in snippets when I had time. It was an interesting mystery, a classic who-dun-it. It is very readable and ends in a cute fashion.
ker95's review against another edition
3.0
classic 1913 mystery - loved the view of Pittsburgh during that time with periodic flooding and the acceptance of the people who lived there. The writing is excellent, explaining why the author is considered one of the masters of early mystery. Certainly dated, but very interesting and a good read. Download for computer, Kindle or other free at www.manybooks.net
nadyne's review against another edition
4.0
First sentence: "We have just had another flood, bad enough, but only a foot or two of water on the first floor."
Last sentence: "I think I shall do it."
I needed something light and short to read, and this short story was ideal. A nice, short and relaxing read. Mary Roberts Rinehart (August 12, 1876-September 22, 1958) has written other short stories, and I will definitely read some more of them when I am in the mood.
Last sentence: "I think I shall do it."
I needed something light and short to read, and this short story was ideal. A nice, short and relaxing read. Mary Roberts Rinehart (August 12, 1876-September 22, 1958) has written other short stories, and I will definitely read some more of them when I am in the mood.