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bunnieslikediamonds's review against another edition
4.0
Fun vintage mystery with a colorful set of characters.
Faustina Crayle is a timid, anemic art teacher at a renowned girls' school, "the sort of person who is always taking vitamin pills without the slightest effect", in the words of her more worldly collegue Alice. When Faustina is abruptly fired by the headmistress she begs her for an explanation ("People will think I've done something horrible! That I'm a kleptomaniac or a Lesbian!") but is only given lots of cryptic insinuations and fearful glances. Her wonderfully named friend Gisela von Hohenems is mystified and enlists the help of her refined detective-psychologist boyfriend, Dr. Basil Willing. The dashing doctor is as intrigued as the reader by the strange rumours surrounding the seemingly hapless Faustina. Why are people afraid of her? Why do they look at her so very strangely whenever she appears?
The obvious starting point to solve this mystery is the first volume of Goethe's Memoirs, which every character in the book is familiar with. Then follows some delightful sleuthing and a few untimely deaths, very charmingly presented. The ending wraps up nicely with just enough ambiguity to tickle the imagination.
Faustina Crayle is a timid, anemic art teacher at a renowned girls' school, "the sort of person who is always taking vitamin pills without the slightest effect", in the words of her more worldly collegue Alice. When Faustina is abruptly fired by the headmistress she begs her for an explanation ("People will think I've done something horrible! That I'm a kleptomaniac or a Lesbian!") but is only given lots of cryptic insinuations and fearful glances. Her wonderfully named friend Gisela von Hohenems is mystified and enlists the help of her refined detective-psychologist boyfriend, Dr. Basil Willing. The dashing doctor is as intrigued as the reader by the strange rumours surrounding the seemingly hapless Faustina. Why are people afraid of her? Why do they look at her so very strangely whenever she appears?
The obvious starting point to solve this mystery is the first volume of Goethe's Memoirs, which every character in the book is familiar with. Then follows some delightful sleuthing and a few untimely deaths, very charmingly presented. The ending wraps up nicely with just enough ambiguity to tickle the imagination.
mg_libros's review against another edition
4.0
88/2022 Un reflejo velado en el cristal. Helen McCloy. Hoja de Lata. 240 páginas. Traducido por Raquel García Rojas.
A la pobre Faustina la han despedido por segunda vez de un colegio porque ""pasan cosas raras"". Parece estar siempre en dos sitios a la vez, se materializa en sitios donde no contaban con ella y genera a su alrededor y sin quererlo tanta tensión, que se ha vuelto a quedar sin trabajo. Su amiga Gisela, por curiosidad, pide ayuda a su novio para saber qué hay de cierto en esto que parece que hace Faustina. Y luego pasan más cosas.
Una mezcla de negra y gótica, por ese componente sobrenatural, que se lee del tirón y que me ha tenido entretenidísima. Todo bien. Hoja de Lata se va a la lista de editoriales a las que no perder de vista.
A la pobre Faustina la han despedido por segunda vez de un colegio porque ""pasan cosas raras"". Parece estar siempre en dos sitios a la vez, se materializa en sitios donde no contaban con ella y genera a su alrededor y sin quererlo tanta tensión, que se ha vuelto a quedar sin trabajo. Su amiga Gisela, por curiosidad, pide ayuda a su novio para saber qué hay de cierto en esto que parece que hace Faustina. Y luego pasan más cosas.
Una mezcla de negra y gótica, por ese componente sobrenatural, que se lee del tirón y que me ha tenido entretenidísima. Todo bien. Hoja de Lata se va a la lista de editoriales a las que no perder de vista.
ilariam's review against another edition
3.0
"Quelli che non possono colpire i propri nemici nella realtà, colpiscono i fantasmi dei loro nemici nella sicurezza e libertà della propria mente".
L’unire il “giallo” con l’elemento sovrannaturale non è poi una novità: non l’hanno già fatto forse anche Conan Doyle (Il mastino dei Baskerville) o Carr?
In Come in uno specchio, però, Helen McCloy decide volontariamente di lasciare in sospeso la soluzione finale, o meglio, viene fornita una spiegazione razionale, ma mancano delle prove definitive che possano inchiodare con certezza il “colpevole”. È come se al lettore venisse lasciata la possibilità di scegliere tra l’interpretazione sensata di Basil Willing, psichiatra-investigatore, e una (plausibile per alcuni) chiamata in causa per il sovrannaturale.
Certo, lo stratagemma usato dall’"assassino" è piuttosto inconsueto, e sicuramente deve aver avuto dalla sua una buona dose di fortuna; forse anche questo contribuisce ad un senso di insoddisfazione giunti alla fine del libro, per lo meno per chi predilige una ricostruzione inattaccabile degli eventi, piuttosto che una serie di (s)fortunate coincidenze.
D’altra parte, il richiamo al tema del “doppio” nelle sue radici culturali e antropologiche, come pure nella tradizione folkloristica, è sicuramente affascinante.
Peccato che un po’ troppi personaggi del romanzo dimostrino di essere fin troppo ferrati sull’argomento, oltre che darsi spesso e volentieri ad approfondite interpretazioni psicologiche, quasi che Basil non fosse l’unico specialista in psichiatria...
La prosa è molto piacevole, e il libro si legge tutto d’un fiato.
Non male anche alcune riflessioni, sicuramente ancora attuali...
"Dove non c’è proprietà non c’è matrimonio, e dove non c’è matrimonio non c’è vizio."
"Le chiamate hostess o modelle e ve le sposate senza pensarci su due volte. Il vostro unico termine di biasimo, “sgualdrina”, di solito è preceduto dall’aggettivo “lurida” e lo riferite solo alle donnacce di strada, malandate e senza soldi. La vostra generazione tollera qualsiasi cedimento morale, ma non sa perdonare il fallimento economico."
In conclusione, un mystery con elementi che lo contraddistinguono all’interno della vasta concorrenza, ben scritto, con riferimenti e suggestioni piuttosto interessanti, che potrebbe però non soddisfare del tutto i puristi del ragionamento critico.
"Né io né lei sapremo mai l’intera verità riguardo a questa faccenda. È tutto un mistero. E un piccolo enigma in più non può aggiungere o togliere molto."
L’unire il “giallo” con l’elemento sovrannaturale non è poi una novità: non l’hanno già fatto forse anche Conan Doyle (Il mastino dei Baskerville) o Carr?
In Come in uno specchio, però, Helen McCloy decide volontariamente di lasciare in sospeso la soluzione finale, o meglio, viene fornita una spiegazione razionale, ma mancano delle prove definitive che possano inchiodare con certezza il “colpevole”. È come se al lettore venisse lasciata la possibilità di scegliere tra l’interpretazione sensata di Basil Willing, psichiatra-investigatore, e una (plausibile per alcuni) chiamata in causa per il sovrannaturale.
Certo, lo stratagemma usato dall’"assassino" è piuttosto inconsueto, e sicuramente deve aver avuto dalla sua una buona dose di fortuna; forse anche questo contribuisce ad un senso di insoddisfazione giunti alla fine del libro, per lo meno per chi predilige una ricostruzione inattaccabile degli eventi, piuttosto che una serie di (s)fortunate coincidenze.
D’altra parte, il richiamo al tema del “doppio” nelle sue radici culturali e antropologiche, come pure nella tradizione folkloristica, è sicuramente affascinante.
Peccato che un po’ troppi personaggi del romanzo dimostrino di essere fin troppo ferrati sull’argomento, oltre che darsi spesso e volentieri ad approfondite interpretazioni psicologiche, quasi che Basil non fosse l’unico specialista in psichiatria...
La prosa è molto piacevole, e il libro si legge tutto d’un fiato.
Non male anche alcune riflessioni, sicuramente ancora attuali...
"Dove non c’è proprietà non c’è matrimonio, e dove non c’è matrimonio non c’è vizio."
"Le chiamate hostess o modelle e ve le sposate senza pensarci su due volte. Il vostro unico termine di biasimo, “sgualdrina”, di solito è preceduto dall’aggettivo “lurida” e lo riferite solo alle donnacce di strada, malandate e senza soldi. La vostra generazione tollera qualsiasi cedimento morale, ma non sa perdonare il fallimento economico."
In conclusione, un mystery con elementi che lo contraddistinguono all’interno della vasta concorrenza, ben scritto, con riferimenti e suggestioni piuttosto interessanti, che potrebbe però non soddisfare del tutto i puristi del ragionamento critico.
"Né io né lei sapremo mai l’intera verità riguardo a questa faccenda. È tutto un mistero. E un piccolo enigma in più non può aggiungere o togliere molto."
_jose__'s review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
toniherrero's review against another edition
4.0
4/5
Fins ara desconeixia qui era Helen McCloy, però havia sentit a parlar d'«Un reflejo velado en el cristal». Coses bones, per descomptat. De fet, venia amb unes expectatives molt altes, ja que del llibre només n'havia sentit meravelles.
He gaudit moltíssim de la novel·la. Com a mínim fins ben entrat el tram final. Es tracta de la típica trama de misteri en un internat de noies de mitjans s.XX: la Faustina Crayle, una de les professores, és acomiadada sense raó aparent i s'organitza un rebombori que la directora no vol que s'esbombi portes enllà. Tot l'assumpte està rodejat d'un misteri sobrenatural que el Dr. Basil Willing, promès d'una companya de la Faustina i protagonista de diverses novel·les de misteri de Helen McCloy, s'encarregarà d'investigar.
El lector se submergeix ràpidament en aquest ambient delicat i en aparença segur que és l'internat de Brereton, on les descripcions dels jardins i les estances en què conviuen les noies conviden a imaginar un paradís aïllat. Però aviat albirem un aire malsà i claustrofòbic, una por supersticiosa que s'instal·la al recinte i no s'esvaeix fins que la Faustina abandona l'edifici. Serà ella la causa d'aquests mals? Es tracta d'algú que busca venjança o fer-li mal? Hi ha quelcom obscur i malaltís que habita murs endins?
L'autora sap mantenir molt bé el misteri durant un bon grapat de pàgines, deixant entreveure algun tipus de raó sobrenatural que no troba fonament ni s'acaba de manifestar del tot. Serveixi d'exemple del curós ús que fa de l'equidistància i la tensió narrativa el següent text: …no hay nada que sea «sobrenatural». Todo lo que ocurre es natural, sea o no sea aceptable para la ciencia.
Ara bé, el desencís ha arribat en el meu cas en el tram final, quan en Basil s'acosta a la resolució del cas. Soc del parer que és millor insinuar que mostrar. Tot i que l'autora sembla voler mantenir-se neutral acaba per decantar-se per un bàndol, encara que no sigui de forma taxativa. Malgrat això, la prosa és enlluernadora i les descripcions són molt visuals, cosa que fa poc probable no gaudir del relat. Més enllà de poder reproduir fins al mínim detall els vestits de les protagonistes, Helen McCloy té el do de captivar-nos amb una història d'aire de clàssic que —això cal remarcar-ho— manté una vigència absoluta tot i que es va escriure fa més de setanta anys.
Fins ara desconeixia qui era Helen McCloy, però havia sentit a parlar d'«Un reflejo velado en el cristal». Coses bones, per descomptat. De fet, venia amb unes expectatives molt altes, ja que del llibre només n'havia sentit meravelles.
He gaudit moltíssim de la novel·la. Com a mínim fins ben entrat el tram final. Es tracta de la típica trama de misteri en un internat de noies de mitjans s.XX: la Faustina Crayle, una de les professores, és acomiadada sense raó aparent i s'organitza un rebombori que la directora no vol que s'esbombi portes enllà. Tot l'assumpte està rodejat d'un misteri sobrenatural que el Dr. Basil Willing, promès d'una companya de la Faustina i protagonista de diverses novel·les de misteri de Helen McCloy, s'encarregarà d'investigar.
El lector se submergeix ràpidament en aquest ambient delicat i en aparença segur que és l'internat de Brereton, on les descripcions dels jardins i les estances en què conviuen les noies conviden a imaginar un paradís aïllat. Però aviat albirem un aire malsà i claustrofòbic, una por supersticiosa que s'instal·la al recinte i no s'esvaeix fins que la Faustina abandona l'edifici. Serà ella la causa d'aquests mals? Es tracta d'algú que busca venjança o fer-li mal? Hi ha quelcom obscur i malaltís que habita murs endins?
L'autora sap mantenir molt bé el misteri durant un bon grapat de pàgines, deixant entreveure algun tipus de raó sobrenatural que no troba fonament ni s'acaba de manifestar del tot. Serveixi d'exemple del curós ús que fa de l'equidistància i la tensió narrativa el següent text: …no hay nada que sea «sobrenatural». Todo lo que ocurre es natural, sea o no sea aceptable para la ciencia.
Ara bé, el desencís ha arribat en el meu cas en el tram final, quan en Basil s'acosta a la resolució del cas. Soc del parer que és millor insinuar que mostrar. Tot i que l'autora sembla voler mantenir-se neutral acaba per decantar-se per un bàndol, encara que no sigui de forma taxativa. Malgrat això, la prosa és enlluernadora i les descripcions són molt visuals, cosa que fa poc probable no gaudir del relat. Més enllà de poder reproduir fins al mínim detall els vestits de les protagonistes, Helen McCloy té el do de captivar-nos amb una història d'aire de clàssic que —això cal remarcar-ho— manté una vigència absoluta tot i que es va escriure fa més de setanta anys.
mambo's review
3.0
What a strangely odd book. I found this a lite slow to start, there’s a fair amount of musing between characters and jostling back and forth of plot but for a short read this is a nice dive into a 60s mystery.
More than anything I enjoyed reading something in this setting of a girl’s school and the various descriptions of hotels and businesses of New York. This book has aged into an interesting time capsule and this became a highlight for me.
The plot itself moves glacially at first, however the small cast of characters allows this story to unfold pretty organically. Dr. Willing, the self appointed investigator, is a comfortable protagonist and leads this story to a pretty interesting end.
More than anything I enjoyed reading something in this setting of a girl’s school and the various descriptions of hotels and businesses of New York. This book has aged into an interesting time capsule and this became a highlight for me.
The plot itself moves glacially at first, however the small cast of characters allows this story to unfold pretty organically. Dr. Willing, the self appointed investigator, is a comfortable protagonist and leads this story to a pretty interesting end.
vandana_onmyshelf's review
2.0
Through A Glass, Darkly by Helen Mccloy is about a young teacher named Faustina Crayle employed at an elite girls school. She is called in by the headmistress Mrs. Lightwood and learns that she has been dismissed from her five weeks employment with a six months severance pay. Despite numerous pleadings by Ms. Crayle she is given no concrete reasons as to her dismissal. She confides in her only friend at the school Gisela Von hohenams about her predicament and we also realise the same happened to her in her first job as well. Gisela assures her help and requests her fiance Dr. Basil willing, a psychiatrist and a sleuth to get to its bottom. Meanwhile we learn why Ms. Crayle lost her job pertaining to the most peculiar supernatural element, which is both baffling and strange at the same time. In between all this two people die. Once Dr.Willings arrive he slowly starts piecing together all the evidence and circumstance that leads to the unmasking of the mystery.
full review on www.bibliogyan.com
full review on www.bibliogyan.com
tansy's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
4.0
A surprisingly Gothic mystery about a persecuted teacher at a girls' boarding school. The atmosphere works well and makes a supernatural explanation for events seem plausible, but this is positioned as a crime book, not a ghost story, so it's pretty easy to guess what the rational explanation is. That said, the ending is intriguingly ambivalent as the murderer maintains his innocence and suggests there was something supernatural afoot after all. It's left to the reader to decide who they believe.
bev_reads_mysteries's review against another edition
4.0
Through a Glass, Darkly by Helen Mccloy opens with Faustina Crayle being dismissed from her post as an art instructor at an elite girls' school. The headmistress, Mrs. Lightfoot refuses to give a reason beyond the fact that Miss Crayle "does not quite blend with the essential spirit of Brereton." She does, however, give the art instructor six months' pay after only five weeks of work. Evidence indeed that she wishes her gone and spare no expense.
Faustina confides in her only friend at the school, Gisela von Hohenems, who suggests she consult a lawyer. When Faustina demurs, Gisela tells her boyfriend, Dr. Basil Willing--famous psychologist and medical assistant to the district attorney, about it. He insists on meeting Faustina and convinces her to allow him to represent her with Mrs. Lightfoot. His interview with the headmistress is very surprising. It seems that Faustina has become the center of rumors about a doppelganger. Several maids and a few of the girls have claimed to see Miss Crayle in two places at once. A few parents have pulled their girls out of the school because of the unhealthy atmosphere. The practical Mrs. Lightfoot could find no plausible explanation for the incidents and rather than investigate or allow the rumors to create even more havoc with her school's reputation she decided to ask Miss Crayle to leave.
As Willing investigates, he discovers that this isn't the first time Faustina has been dismissed from a school because of doppelganger rumors. He will have to sift the supernatural from everyday villainy as he follows a trail littered with superstition and jewels; doubles and demimondaines. There is a tale that says She who sees who own double is about to die...and despite Willing's efforts and his instructions to stay put in a hotel while he investigates, Faustina insists on making a trip to her beach cottage. A trip from which she never returns. Did she truly see her double? Or is there a more solid human agent behind her death? Willing brings us the answer...but the ending is a bit unsettling nonetheless.
McCloy's power to create atmosphere are at their strongest in this book. Even though we're quite sure that there's some human deviltry behind Faustina Crayle's plight, Mccloy still manages to make the idea of a doppelganger seem almost possible. And the ending leaves us just a little unsure that Dr. Willing has completely explained everything. Yes, it all hangs together. And, yes, I do believe that X really did orchestrate the whole thing and for the reasons given...but what if Dr. Willing is wrong? There's a nice shivery feeling to that thought.
A nicely done, atmospheric piece that also happens to be an excellent detective novel. Often thought to be McCloy's masterpiece, Through a Glass Darkly is certainly the best I've read by McCloy so far.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
Faustina confides in her only friend at the school, Gisela von Hohenems, who suggests she consult a lawyer. When Faustina demurs, Gisela tells her boyfriend, Dr. Basil Willing--famous psychologist and medical assistant to the district attorney, about it. He insists on meeting Faustina and convinces her to allow him to represent her with Mrs. Lightfoot. His interview with the headmistress is very surprising. It seems that Faustina has become the center of rumors about a doppelganger. Several maids and a few of the girls have claimed to see Miss Crayle in two places at once. A few parents have pulled their girls out of the school because of the unhealthy atmosphere. The practical Mrs. Lightfoot could find no plausible explanation for the incidents and rather than investigate or allow the rumors to create even more havoc with her school's reputation she decided to ask Miss Crayle to leave.
As Willing investigates, he discovers that this isn't the first time Faustina has been dismissed from a school because of doppelganger rumors. He will have to sift the supernatural from everyday villainy as he follows a trail littered with superstition and jewels; doubles and demimondaines. There is a tale that says She who sees who own double is about to die...and despite Willing's efforts and his instructions to stay put in a hotel while he investigates, Faustina insists on making a trip to her beach cottage. A trip from which she never returns. Did she truly see her double? Or is there a more solid human agent behind her death? Willing brings us the answer...but the ending is a bit unsettling nonetheless.
McCloy's power to create atmosphere are at their strongest in this book. Even though we're quite sure that there's some human deviltry behind Faustina Crayle's plight, Mccloy still manages to make the idea of a doppelganger seem almost possible. And the ending leaves us just a little unsure that Dr. Willing has completely explained everything. Yes, it all hangs together. And, yes, I do believe that X really did orchestrate the whole thing and for the reasons given...but what if Dr. Willing is wrong? There's a nice shivery feeling to that thought.
A nicely done, atmospheric piece that also happens to be an excellent detective novel. Often thought to be McCloy's masterpiece, Through a Glass Darkly is certainly the best I've read by McCloy so far.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
claire_barker's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
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