The Wall

This is Mary Roberts Rinehart at the top of her game! It has everything you expect from her mystery novels -- life among the affluent in the 1930s, a feisty, independent woman no longer very young, a family to whom she's devoted, faithful servants who play leading roles, crusty local characters, an incipient romance with an unlikely (or is he?) suitor, and a wonderful setting, both natural and social, that the author brings to life. Marcia's ex-sister-in-law shows up one day, intent on causing trouble and demanding a large sum of money. The family is at their summer home, and each of the summer residents on the rural island will play a role in the mystery that unfolds. Everyone seems to have some sort of sordid link to the woman. No one is untouched by the tragedies that follow one upon the other. I can highly recommend this novel!

As usual, Rinehart spins, beautifully, a dazzling, multilayered story of complex human relations, murder, and its aftermath among the survivors. Sheriff Shand is a wonderful creation, from start to finish. There are fairly serious weaknesses in the plot that have to be swallowed along the way, but it's worth tolerating them.

Love her mysteries. They keep you guessing till the last minute. They are set in the early 20th century so you have no internet, wifi or cellphones to help solve the mystery. Usually her characters are well off. They always have servants and second homes, but it is the people who make the story so interesting. My favorite of her books is The Door, but this one is almost as good. There Is a murder with plenty of suspects and a very chaste love story. Of course one of the "lovers" is a suspect. I don't know how she does it, but even though it seems very calm, it is a real page turner.

Loved this book as an adolescent, but it did not hold up well over the years. I really like having Audible, and the narrator's voice is pleasant to listen to and easy to follow the storyline, which character is talking, etc. I have just matured beyond the the writing, as often happens when re-reading a book you read when much younger.

I've recently ordered all my old favorite Rinehart mysteries since over a period of about 50 years all mine simply got lost. I'm enjoying them all over again, had read them many times all those years ago so they are fresh to me now. The Wall is one of my favorites. It fits the pattern of several of her books. The attractive unmarried sister who is the heroine, the rather bland, not very successful brother, the gorgeous selfish sister or sister in law who puts them all through hell till someone does away with her and, of course, a bit of romance for the heroine. Rinehart's books are always well written and you can't put them down. Even the fact that most of them are set in a time when most of us were not even born yet they still hold fascination. She is on a par with Agatha Christie but her stories are a bit darker with not the lighter touch of most Christie books. If you've never read Rinehart and you can obtain a copy of The Wall, The Swimming Pool, The Yellow Room etc., then do so at once.

This was a very nice edition with an excellent forward. Mary Roberts Rinehart was recommended to me by my mother and I have been reading and re-reading her books for years.

One of my favorite authors, from an era from a different century, the American version of Downtown Abby. Her narrative style of writing has you walking beside her from page one. read a bio of Mary Roberts Rinehart; she was a nurse married to a doctor in the early 1900s who took up writhing as they were heavily in debt. Apparently she was successful.

It was I good condition! It was a book that I intend to read!

I’ve lately been re-reading all the Mary Roberts Rinehart books I can find. Perhaps it’s my age, but I prefer a mystery with interesting, but clear plot; and characters at least some of whom I can like. Another pet peeve of mine is a group of characters all with such similar names and personalities that I have to make a chart for myself to keep them straight. None of that with a Rinehart book!