The Haunted Lady (Hilda Adams Mysteries, #2)

by Mary Roberts Rinehart

Otto Penzler (Introduction)

• ISBN10: 161316159X
• ISBN13: 9781613161593
• Publish Date: 21 May 2020 (first published 1 October 1985)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Penzler Publishers
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 288
• Language: English

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

The Haunted Lady is the fourth Hilda Adams mystery by Mary Roberts Rinehart. Originally released in 1942, this reformat and re-release from Penzler as part of the American Mystery Classics series was released 7th April, is 288 pages and available in ebook format (other editions available in other formats). It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

Although ostensibly the fourth book in the series, these lovely classic mysteries can be read in any order. Rinehart was a really adept writer and all of these tales are wonderfully convoluted, the clues are fair-play, and the puzzles delightful.

As always, the introduction by mystery maven Otto Penzler, is erudite, incisive, informative, and interesting.

Three and a half stars. Worth a look for fans of the author, and for the insighful history lesson from Mr. Penzler. It's also very nice to see these classics (however dated) being re-released for a new generation of fans.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Witty and Sarcastic Bookclub]

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

To my chagrin, I have to admit that I hadn’t read any of Mary Roberts Rinehart’s writing before this year. The author’s name sounded vaguely familiar, but it was only recently that I heard her being called the “American Agatha Christie.” Of course, that little phrase made me curious.

Hilda Adams is a nurse with a sharp eye and good problem-solving skills. In this particular book, she’s asked by the police- who she’s worked well with previously- to stay nights with the wealthy, older Mrs. Fairbanks, who is convinced that someone is trying to kill her. Hilda reluctantly agrees, expecting nothing more than the paranoia of a lonely woman. Instead, she finds herself in the middle of a who dunnit, one that takes place within a locked room. I truly love locked room mysteries!

I thought the mystery itself was clever, and the author planted the clues along the way, so that- were I smart enough- I might have solved it on my own. Alas, I am not. Thankfully, Hilda was also on the case! The cast of suspects felt a little flat to me, however. I was hoping for more from them, as far as personality goes. I struggled to feel the sense of excitement or tension that I often find in Agatha Christie’s books. Hilda herself was fun to read, though. She was a no-nonsense sort, but she was also far from impervious to nerves.

I enjoyed the book, but I didn’t love it. It was a fun read, and a good way to pass some time, but I wasn’t blown away.

Have you read this book? What did you think?