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A review by melissa_who_reads
The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart
2.0
Mary Roberts Rinehart is the reason the "Had-I-But-Known" genre of mysteries was invented: she is the master, and probably the originator. This story, published in 1908, takes place in a rented summer place in what is presumably upstate New York (but not too far upstate): Miss Rachel Innes and her household rent Sunnyside, and are subjected to noises at night, a body at the bottom of the circular staircase, and burning stables - meanwhile, her niece is in love with a bank cashier who is suspected of defaulting with the securities of the bank, and her nephew is in love with the stepdaughter of the man who is president of the bank - and incidentally the owner of the rented house.
But it is hard to get past the casual racism of the upper class people in this story, particularly the narrators- it was written in 1908, it is absolutely authentic, but it is hard to stomach. The butler is African American, and ... well, the condescension and racism in describing him are remarkable (I would like to say to modern eyes, but there are some white people living who would probably agree with the both the classism and racism of the main characters, more's the pity).
So, a period piece, and one that's hard to read without wincing.
But it is hard to get past the casual racism of the upper class people in this story, particularly the narrators- it was written in 1908, it is absolutely authentic, but it is hard to stomach. The butler is African American, and ... well, the condescension and racism in describing him are remarkable (I would like to say to modern eyes, but there are some white people living who would probably agree with the both the classism and racism of the main characters, more's the pity).
So, a period piece, and one that's hard to read without wincing.