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Miss Silver #1
Grey Mask
After Charles was jilted at the altar by Margaret, he discovers that she is mixed up in a vicious kidnapping plot masterminded by a sinister figure in a grey mask. Charles turns to Miss Silver to uncover the strange truth behind Margaret's complicity, and the identity of the terrifying and mysterious individual behind the grey mask.
252 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1928
1210 people are currently reading
5552 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Wentworth
192books494followersPatricia Wentworth--born Dora Amy Elles--was a British crime fiction writer.
She was educated privately and at Blackheath High School in London. After the death of her first husband, George F. Dillon, in 1906, she settled in Camberley, Surrey. She married George Oliver Turnbull in 1920 and they had one daughter.
She wrote a series of 32 classic-style whodunnits featuring Miss Silver, the first of which was published in 1928, and the last in 1961, the year of her death.
Miss Silver, a retired governess-turned private detective, is sometimes compared to Jane Marple, the elderly detective created by Agatha Christie. She works closely with Scotland Yard, especially Inspector Frank Abbott and is fond of quoting the poet Tennyson.
Wentworth also wrote 34 books outside of that series.
She was educated privately and at Blackheath High School in London. After the death of her first husband, George F. Dillon, in 1906, she settled in Camberley, Surrey. She married George Oliver Turnbull in 1920 and they had one daughter.
She wrote a series of 32 classic-style whodunnits featuring Miss Silver, the first of which was published in 1928, and the last in 1961, the year of her death.
Miss Silver, a retired governess-turned private detective, is sometimes compared to Jane Marple, the elderly detective created by Agatha Christie. She works closely with Scotland Yard, especially Inspector Frank Abbott and is fond of quoting the poet Tennyson.
Wentworth also wrote 34 books outside of that series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 614 reviews
December 19, 2021
3.5 stars. This 1928 British mystery reminds me a little of an early Agatha Christie novel (I imagine that's not just a coincidence), complete with a Miss Marple-type character in Miss Maud Silver, a small lady with mouse-colored hair, knitting needles and an extremely sharp mind. Surprisingly, though, Grey Mask predates the first Miss Marple book by a couple of years.
Charles Moray, a wealthy young man, has never recovered from being jilted just a few days before their wedding by Margaret Langton. He went off and traveled the world for four years to drown his sorrows, and is just now returning to England. When he gets to his closed-up home, he finds (and secretly listens in on, through a convenient peephole) some people discussing a criminal enterprise - including a possible murder - led by a man in a sinister, featureless grey rubber mask.
The worst shock is when Charles sees his ex-fiancee Margaret show up to report to Grey Mask. Because Charles still has Feelings, though with a lot of anger mixed in.
What's going on, and how can Charles extricate Margaret from this mess? He doesn't want to involve the police, for fear of ruining Margaret's life. Miss Silver to the rescue!
Grey Mask is a little dated. There's a lovely and incredibly silly 18-year-old girl ...
(not Margaret, but a rich girl with hardly two brain cells to rub together, who is the person that the criminals are considering murdering). And there's more than enough melodrama, romantic tension and virtuous self-sacrifice to fill my quota for the week - but it's a pretty good mystery for a 90+ year old book. It sucked me right in and spit me out around 2:30 am. Miss Silver actually plays a fairly minor role in this book, though my guess is her role becomes more prominent in the later books.
You can get a free copy of this and several other Miss Silver mysteries in ebook form, . While you're at it, take a look at for an interesting discussion of the differences between Miss Silver and Miss Marple, and a general analysis of the Miss Silver mysteries. My favorite part was this:
Charles Moray, a wealthy young man, has never recovered from being jilted just a few days before their wedding by Margaret Langton. He went off and traveled the world for four years to drown his sorrows, and is just now returning to England. When he gets to his closed-up home, he finds (and secretly listens in on, through a convenient peephole) some people discussing a criminal enterprise - including a possible murder - led by a man in a sinister, featureless grey rubber mask.
The worst shock is when Charles sees his ex-fiancee Margaret show up to report to Grey Mask. Because Charles still has Feelings, though with a lot of anger mixed in.
What's going on, and how can Charles extricate Margaret from this mess? He doesn't want to involve the police, for fear of ruining Margaret's life. Miss Silver to the rescue!
Grey Mask is a little dated. There's a lovely and incredibly silly 18-year-old girl ...
(not Margaret, but a rich girl with hardly two brain cells to rub together, who is the person that the criminals are considering murdering). And there's more than enough melodrama, romantic tension and virtuous self-sacrifice to fill my quota for the week - but it's a pretty good mystery for a 90+ year old book. It sucked me right in and spit me out around 2:30 am. Miss Silver actually plays a fairly minor role in this book, though my guess is her role becomes more prominent in the later books.
You can get a free copy of this and several other Miss Silver mysteries in ebook form, . While you're at it, take a look at for an interesting discussion of the differences between Miss Silver and Miss Marple, and a general analysis of the Miss Silver mysteries. My favorite part was this:
Every Miss Silver mystery has at its heart a romantic couple (not a romance necessarily). This couple must and will unite; under no circumstances will either party die or prove to be a villain, and if a crime was committed by either, it will have been in ignorance, and with no lasting ill-effects. (Such foreknowledge about the end has never diminished my enjoyment of the books–the romance triumphant is as much part of the series as Miss Silver’s velvet coatee, or the creepy brooch with the hair of her grandparents).I'll definitely read a few more of these sometime.
July 30, 2017
If the Miss Silver series of books were ever made into a TV series, and if I were the casting director, I would beg and plead to have Linda Hunt [Henrietta (Hetty) Lange on NCIS: Los Angeles] play the part of Miss Silver. As soon as I first ‘met� Miss Silver in the book, Hetty Lange popped into my head. Small in stature, wickedly smart, and like a combination of a ninja and Yoda, Miss Silver knows � or can find out � pretty much anything to solve people’s predicaments.
In The Grey Mask there is a very sinister conspiracy occurring. Lives have been lost and other lives are seriously in danger. These people refer to each other by numbers rather than names, which adds to the sinister tone and somehow makes them even more frightening.
Charles happens upon a conversation between the leader of this group (who wears a grey mask) and different “numbers� who come to report to him. He can tell by what he overhears that something is not right and he wants to figure it out but is reluctant to go to the police when he discovers his ex-fiancee is one of those people who are referred to by number rather than by name. She also reports something (although he couldn’t hear what) to The Grey Mask.
There is a touch of romance among the protagonists and a very foolish young woman whose compulsive prattling puts everyone in jeopardy, including herself. Although some of the devices in this novel would be scorned by many hard core mystery fans, I found them refreshing � simply because they “aren’t done� any more.
This fast-paced read was published in 1928 and I am so impressed by Patricia Wentworth’s writing. It is crisp, brisk, and even some of the slang has found its way back to us through all these decades. I loved this story and am looking forward to reading more of the Miss Silver series � with any luck, I will make it through all 32 books before the 100th Anniversary of this, her first!
In The Grey Mask there is a very sinister conspiracy occurring. Lives have been lost and other lives are seriously in danger. These people refer to each other by numbers rather than names, which adds to the sinister tone and somehow makes them even more frightening.
Charles happens upon a conversation between the leader of this group (who wears a grey mask) and different “numbers� who come to report to him. He can tell by what he overhears that something is not right and he wants to figure it out but is reluctant to go to the police when he discovers his ex-fiancee is one of those people who are referred to by number rather than by name. She also reports something (although he couldn’t hear what) to The Grey Mask.
There is a touch of romance among the protagonists and a very foolish young woman whose compulsive prattling puts everyone in jeopardy, including herself. Although some of the devices in this novel would be scorned by many hard core mystery fans, I found them refreshing � simply because they “aren’t done� any more.
This fast-paced read was published in 1928 and I am so impressed by Patricia Wentworth’s writing. It is crisp, brisk, and even some of the slang has found its way back to us through all these decades. I loved this story and am looking forward to reading more of the Miss Silver series � with any luck, I will make it through all 32 books before the 100th Anniversary of this, her first!
February 20, 2017
Charles Moray goes abroad for several years after being jilted by his fiancee, Margaret Langton. Going to inspect his old house, he hears noises upstairs and stumbles upon a criminal gang. As he spies on them, he overhears them speaking of Margot Standing. She is an heiress, whose fortune they hope to steal and they speak of killing her. His immediate thought is to contact the police, when he recognises Margaret as one of the people in the room. Thrown into the mystery, unable to go to the police for fear of Margaret's involvement, he turns to Miss Maud Silver. Miss Silver seems to spend most of her time knitting, yet she is at every scene and knows exactly what is going on - she reminded me of one of Lord Peter Wimsey's old biddies, only she is most certainly in charge herself.
I love golden age mysteries and this had everything - lost and found heiresses, people disappearing, masked criminals, London foggy streets, snippets of letters and intrigue at every turn. Margot is a delightful child, making it harder for people to look after her by blabbing every secret possible to everyone she comes across and the whole book is very tongue in cheek, but utterly enjoyable to read. I will certainly read more by this author and this is the first in the series which features Miss Silver.
I love golden age mysteries and this had everything - lost and found heiresses, people disappearing, masked criminals, London foggy streets, snippets of letters and intrigue at every turn. Margot is a delightful child, making it harder for people to look after her by blabbing every secret possible to everyone she comes across and the whole book is very tongue in cheek, but utterly enjoyable to read. I will certainly read more by this author and this is the first in the series which features Miss Silver.
April 23, 2019
3.5�
Just love the cover!
Join Miss Silver as she unravels the mystery of the Grey Mask Gang!
This Miss Silver was very different to the Miss Silver who appeared in the other Wentworth I've read In the latter,she was a replica of the better known Miss Marple. In this novel, while still an avid knitter, Miss Silver is far more enigmatic figure and does a lot of her sleuthing from home.
Since I love the torrid drama of old black & white movies I enjoyed the melodramatic romance between Margaret & Charlie.
Margot though
was like the chocolates she relentlessly consumed- loved at first, but after a while she was just too much. I loved her being called a flapper. This book was the most period of period pieces.
A couple of things genuinely surprised me. (including the identity of Grey Mask) Were we given enough clues to solve the mystery? I don't think so but I did enjoy coming along for the ride.
Finally anyone surprised that Margaret was lugging a desk around London streets might be relieved to see what it most probably looked like (although my googling found some gorgeous examples I've chosen quite a plain one.)
Good fun and one of the better first in Golden Age Mysteries series I've read.
More than happy to read more in the series.
Just love the cover!
Join Miss Silver as she unravels the mystery of the Grey Mask Gang!
This Miss Silver was very different to the Miss Silver who appeared in the other Wentworth I've read In the latter,she was a replica of the better known Miss Marple. In this novel, while still an avid knitter, Miss Silver is far more enigmatic figure and does a lot of her sleuthing from home.
Since I love the torrid drama of old black & white movies I enjoyed the melodramatic romance between Margaret & Charlie.
Margot though
was like the chocolates she relentlessly consumed- loved at first, but after a while she was just too much. I loved her being called a flapper. This book was the most period of period pieces.
A couple of things genuinely surprised me. (including the identity of Grey Mask) Were we given enough clues to solve the mystery? I don't think so but I did enjoy coming along for the ride.
Finally anyone surprised that Margaret was lugging a desk around London streets might be relieved to see what it most probably looked like (although my googling found some gorgeous examples I've chosen quite a plain one.)
Good fun and one of the better first in Golden Age Mysteries series I've read.
More than happy to read more in the series.
July 10, 2018
Dear Open Road Media:
As a reader I know I cannot possibly discover and read all the fantastic books out there. If I allowed that thought to bog me down, I would be one depressed lady. That said, you have introduced me to my newest obsession - Miss Silver - and I cannot believe I have lived 30 years without her.
What do I love about Miss Silver? First, she's a quiet character. Grey Mask doesn't revolve around her but the other characters in the story. She appears, almost inconspicuously, at the proper times to give aid. She is insightful and intelligent, humble but confident.
Wentworth's storytelling is fun and intriguing, and for the first time in a long while, I was really sad to near the end of a book. When I discovered there were more Miss Silver books, I was thrilled.
I love mysteries. I love a good series. To discover a fresh series, particularly a vintage one, with over 30 books... well, it's a singular pleasure. Thanks for making such great content available.
Sincerely,
The Picky Girl
So...what's all the fuss about? I requested Grey Mask from NetGalley and fell hopelessly in love. Grey Mask is the start of this series, written by Wentworth in 1928. Charles Moray leaves home after being jilted by Margaret Langton on the eve of their wedding and returns four years later to find his home open and a strange meeting taking place. Watching through a childhood hideout, he sees a man in a grey mask talking to several different people - calling each by a number. When Charles hears them discussing "removing" a girl if a "certificate" is found, he is shocked. He is even more shocked when he recognizes one of the agents - his former fiancee.
When he reads about Margot Standing, whose millionaire father dies leaving her inheritance in the balance because of a missing marriage certificate, he puts two and two together and approaches Miss Silver, a private investigator with a high success rate in missing jewelry. He is skeptical until Miss Silver astutely guesses he will not go to the police because of his former love.
This book is so fantastic, and I really urge you to pick it up for your e-reader, or see if your library has a copy. You will not be disappointed.
As a reader I know I cannot possibly discover and read all the fantastic books out there. If I allowed that thought to bog me down, I would be one depressed lady. That said, you have introduced me to my newest obsession - Miss Silver - and I cannot believe I have lived 30 years without her.
What do I love about Miss Silver? First, she's a quiet character. Grey Mask doesn't revolve around her but the other characters in the story. She appears, almost inconspicuously, at the proper times to give aid. She is insightful and intelligent, humble but confident.
Wentworth's storytelling is fun and intriguing, and for the first time in a long while, I was really sad to near the end of a book. When I discovered there were more Miss Silver books, I was thrilled.
I love mysteries. I love a good series. To discover a fresh series, particularly a vintage one, with over 30 books... well, it's a singular pleasure. Thanks for making such great content available.
Sincerely,
The Picky Girl
So...what's all the fuss about? I requested Grey Mask from NetGalley and fell hopelessly in love. Grey Mask is the start of this series, written by Wentworth in 1928. Charles Moray leaves home after being jilted by Margaret Langton on the eve of their wedding and returns four years later to find his home open and a strange meeting taking place. Watching through a childhood hideout, he sees a man in a grey mask talking to several different people - calling each by a number. When Charles hears them discussing "removing" a girl if a "certificate" is found, he is shocked. He is even more shocked when he recognizes one of the agents - his former fiancee.
When he reads about Margot Standing, whose millionaire father dies leaving her inheritance in the balance because of a missing marriage certificate, he puts two and two together and approaches Miss Silver, a private investigator with a high success rate in missing jewelry. He is skeptical until Miss Silver astutely guesses he will not go to the police because of his former love.
This book is so fantastic, and I really urge you to pick it up for your e-reader, or see if your library has a copy. You will not be disappointed.
May 4, 2018
"‘He’s got lovely eyelashes. Charles was frightfully cross because I told him they were yards longer than his.� ‘Men don’t have eyelashes,� said Archie sternly. ‘It’s not done.�"
This was a delightful and charming cozy mystery! Written in 1928, the Miss Silver mystery series was recommended years ago by a friend who shared my love of Golden Age mysteries. I can't think why I didn't start it sooner, but I challenged myself this year to start five new series so it spurred me forward. It was so easy to pick up and put down; light reading. I was even able to read a big chunk of it on a long boat ride on the River Shannon in Ireland, and while hanging out in coffee shops when I would greedily hook up to WiFi so my devices could sync.
What I always love about mysteries of this age are the references to a good meal, scalding and restorative tea, the humor, and of course the British angle. I'm usually not too surprised about how they end or who the culprits were, but in this case I really had no clue! Great start to a long series! Looking forward to savoring the rest.
April 23, 2017
Grey Mask is the first in one of the classic Golden Age detective mystery series, one that seems to have been largely forgotten. I really enjoyed it, apart from some excessive use of the word "frightfully" and one character who was unbelievably silly.
This is my first author from the era, so I'm not sure if this is normal or not, but Miss Silver (the detective) is just a minor side character. Her clients are the main characters here, and she pops up to help along the way. I don't even know enough about her to know whether I like her or not. I'm curious to see whether this pattern continues in the series.
As far as the mystery goes, it wasn't one that I really tried to figure out. I just went a long for the ride, learning things as the characters did, often being told them by Miss Silver or someone else. So it wasn't the puzzle kind of mystery for me. Still entertaining though.
I definitely plan to read on, but I also need to read some of the more well-known Golden Age authors for comparison. For now, this is 4 stars for entertainment value.
This is my first author from the era, so I'm not sure if this is normal or not, but Miss Silver (the detective) is just a minor side character. Her clients are the main characters here, and she pops up to help along the way. I don't even know enough about her to know whether I like her or not. I'm curious to see whether this pattern continues in the series.
As far as the mystery goes, it wasn't one that I really tried to figure out. I just went a long for the ride, learning things as the characters did, often being told them by Miss Silver or someone else. So it wasn't the puzzle kind of mystery for me. Still entertaining though.
I definitely plan to read on, but I also need to read some of the more well-known Golden Age authors for comparison. For now, this is 4 stars for entertainment value.
November 9, 2019
Published in 1928, this is the first one in a British Golden Age detective mystery series. It is written in the classic whodunit style, which I love. If you love Agatha Christie, then you will love this one too, the writing and plot really reminds me a lot of Christie, and both authors wrote in the same time period. Miss Silver, a former governess and teacher, now owns her own professional detective agency, is just a minor side character who pops up to help along the way. She is a strong, independent, and intelligent female character, not the typical swooning female that was typical of the time period, and this was great to see. She is not the main character though, her clients are the main mystery story. This was not a predictable mystery, it was exciting and entertaining with twists and turns. It was better than the majority of the new novels I have been reading lately. I look forward to reading more in this series, there are 32 total in the Miss Silver series, though my library only has a few of them. I very highly recommend! Thank you to my friend Jaline, it was her review that led me to read this awesome book.
June 7, 2012
The comparison of Grey Mask to 's Miss Marple is a natural one, although Miss Silver's debut actually preceded Miss Marple's. Yet, Grey Mask put me more in mind of 's Roderick Alleyn novels. Both are more slyly humorous. Miss Maud Silver, a retired governess with a propensity to quote Tennyson, is also considerably more formidable and professional in aspect than the deceptively fuzzy Miss Marple.
Don't get me wrong: Lovers of any of the Miss Jane Marple cozies will love Miss Maud Silver, as well. It's a terrible pity that Miss Silver is so much less well known than Miss Marple, Hercules Poirot, ' Lord Peter Wimsey, Roderick Alleyn, or 's Alan Grant. With any luck, that can change.
Don't get me wrong: Lovers of any of the Miss Jane Marple cozies will love Miss Maud Silver, as well. It's a terrible pity that Miss Silver is so much less well known than Miss Marple, Hercules Poirot, ' Lord Peter Wimsey, Roderick Alleyn, or 's Alan Grant. With any luck, that can change.
April 3, 2018
Rating: 3* of five
In the 90 years since this was written, I think its central premise...that people will do anything to avoid embarrassment...has proved an evergreen turned inside out. Reality TV takes everyone's dirtiest and smelliest laundry public. The characters in this book would have expired in smallish heaps of the honour-vapours at their great-grandchildren's idea of entertainment.
Miss Silver is clearly carrying the pertussis bacterium. Her cough is ever-present. I remember from reading these books in the 1980s how irritating I found it.
The identity of Grey Mask was pretty obvious to me from the first time they appear in mufti, so to speak. One amusing piece of retrospective theater is enough to make my day, and it takes place in the very first scene.
There are over 30 of these little marvies. They are all, au fond, the same book. Either you like that book or you don't. Don't read this one and think, "oh well, maybe the others are better" because they really aren't. I like them. They're quiet and peaceful little murder plots for silly and quite overblown stakes. Miss Silver is more of a sleuth than Marple ever was, in that she sallies forth in her colourless shmattes and her mouse-fur coloured hair and those blah gray eyes that see every-goddamned-thing and doesn't seem to rely as much on chitter-chatter from every ladies' maid in 1920s London.
Try one. If it's not to your taste, well it didn't cost much.
In the 90 years since this was written, I think its central premise...that people will do anything to avoid embarrassment...has proved an evergreen turned inside out. Reality TV takes everyone's dirtiest and smelliest laundry public. The characters in this book would have expired in smallish heaps of the honour-vapours at their great-grandchildren's idea of entertainment.
Miss Silver is clearly carrying the pertussis bacterium. Her cough is ever-present. I remember from reading these books in the 1980s how irritating I found it.
The identity of Grey Mask was pretty obvious to me from the first time they appear in mufti, so to speak. One amusing piece of retrospective theater is enough to make my day, and it takes place in the very first scene.
There are over 30 of these little marvies. They are all, au fond, the same book. Either you like that book or you don't. Don't read this one and think, "oh well, maybe the others are better" because they really aren't. I like them. They're quiet and peaceful little murder plots for silly and quite overblown stakes. Miss Silver is more of a sleuth than Marple ever was, in that she sallies forth in her colourless shmattes and her mouse-fur coloured hair and those blah gray eyes that see every-goddamned-thing and doesn't seem to rely as much on chitter-chatter from every ladies' maid in 1920s London.
Try one. If it's not to your taste, well it didn't cost much.
Read
July 7, 2020A somewhat uneasy start for Miss Silver's life, since this is much more a thriller than a mystery. It's got many of my most beloved pulp tropes (lost will, criminal gang at all levels of society, person operating under Terrible Duress), and there's a pretty good central romance where the protags are allowed to be kind of dickish.
But it's pretty much ruined by the goddamn intolerable Margot, a youthful winsome moron of the type Wentworth writes far too often (including in , very similar). The problem is, while Margot is explicitly and consciously shown to be thick as mince and horrendously self-centred, Wentworth evidently believes at a deep level that this is okay as long as she's beautiful. Or, to be as charitable as possible, maybe she's showing how being pretty can be a free pass in society because so many people will excuse your crappy behaviour, even the author. IDK.
In any event, the reader is stuck with a plot where we're supposed to hope this excruciating nuisance *doesn't* get murdered, and sorry, no.
But it's pretty much ruined by the goddamn intolerable Margot, a youthful winsome moron of the type Wentworth writes far too often (including in , very similar). The problem is, while Margot is explicitly and consciously shown to be thick as mince and horrendously self-centred, Wentworth evidently believes at a deep level that this is okay as long as she's beautiful. Or, to be as charitable as possible, maybe she's showing how being pretty can be a free pass in society because so many people will excuse your crappy behaviour, even the author. IDK.
In any event, the reader is stuck with a plot where we're supposed to hope this excruciating nuisance *doesn't* get murdered, and sorry, no.
January 5, 2020
Well, well. I had low expectations for this book and only really looked forward to it because it was planned buddy read.
So, imagine my surprise when I actually enjoyed this story despite its entirely bonkers plot and even despite its utterly, utterly stupid main character. Margot really was the epitome of an obnoxious airhead and I am still amazed that she actually survived the plot without being killed off.
I certainly hoped for this on every single page.
To be fair, imagining plot twists in which Margot met with an untimely end was part of the fun of reading the story.
Luckily, there were some other characters that I actually liked reading about: Margaret was one of them. She had some depth.
Archie was another. He had some spirit. Even tho his choice of love interest is beyond my ability to understand. Why, Archie? Why?
As for the plot itself? It was bonkers. There was a time I got completely lost, but I think at that time I had already given up on The Grey Mask featuring any credible or logical train of thought. And sometimes this is just the kind of book one needs.
So, imagine my surprise when I actually enjoyed this story despite its entirely bonkers plot and even despite its utterly, utterly stupid main character. Margot really was the epitome of an obnoxious airhead and I am still amazed that she actually survived the plot without being killed off.
I certainly hoped for this on every single page.
To be fair, imagining plot twists in which Margot met with an untimely end was part of the fun of reading the story.
Luckily, there were some other characters that I actually liked reading about: Margaret was one of them. She had some depth.
Archie was another. He had some spirit. Even tho his choice of love interest is beyond my ability to understand. Why, Archie? Why?
As for the plot itself? It was bonkers. There was a time I got completely lost, but I think at that time I had already given up on The Grey Mask featuring any credible or logical train of thought. And sometimes this is just the kind of book one needs.
February 6, 2011
I really quite enjoy these cosy little mysteries. I like Maud Silver, I enjoy some of the bizarre characters and the unfolding of the action.
This is easily the silliest one. Many of these books have the protagonists, particularly the women, behaving very stupidly, often becoming estranged from the hero because they valiantly keep secrets which no sane person would keep. These grand noble secrets are usually clumsily necessary to the plot, and utterly ridiculous and frustrating. The big secret the heroine keeps to herself in Grey Mask is particularly grating. Also, a main character (poor little heiress) is honestly too dumb to live. As well as being unbelievably moronic, she also knows NOTHING about her father's life and doesn't even know her mothers name! Apparently this information cannot be obtained.
These absurd Plot holes are particularly intrusive in this novel compared to later ones. But, look, I have still enjoyed it. The character of the detective is really quite charming. Very enjoyable mental chewing gum.
This is easily the silliest one. Many of these books have the protagonists, particularly the women, behaving very stupidly, often becoming estranged from the hero because they valiantly keep secrets which no sane person would keep. These grand noble secrets are usually clumsily necessary to the plot, and utterly ridiculous and frustrating. The big secret the heroine keeps to herself in Grey Mask is particularly grating. Also, a main character (poor little heiress) is honestly too dumb to live. As well as being unbelievably moronic, she also knows NOTHING about her father's life and doesn't even know her mothers name! Apparently this information cannot be obtained.
These absurd Plot holes are particularly intrusive in this novel compared to later ones. But, look, I have still enjoyed it. The character of the detective is really quite charming. Very enjoyable mental chewing gum.
Read
September 25, 2021DNF� just not that interested enough to finish. I loved the “classic who-dunit� vibe but it’s just a tad slow.
March 12, 2017
The first of the Miss Silver series. Charles Moray, who returns after travelling abroad for four years, stumbles upon a conspiracy to do away with a young girl (Margot Standing) when he comes into his home and finds a mysterious gang having a meeting there. And much to his shock, his former fiancée, Margaret (her breaking off the engagement was the reason for his having gone away) is part of the gang. Because of Margaret’s involvement he is reluctant to approach the police, and sets off to investigate on his own, also seeking help from Miss Maud Silver, a detective who has helped many ladies out of scrapes in the past. Though he tries to keep things from Miss Silver, she is almost always a step ahead of him and knows much more than he expects her to (except at a point at the end where I had expected her to know something which she didn’t and which felt a little out of line with how she appears in the rest of the book).
Miss Silver is also not centre stage in this one—Charles is more that—and while she knows and finds out a lot, it seems to happen away from the readers view (almost magically), without us seeing how she works or learns all she does. But we do know her investigating style is more active than Miss Marple. It makes an interesting comparison.
This was a fun mystery (I did guess (not very early on though) whodunit) though it felt a bit like I was reading a teen/YA mystery at many points (very Nancy Drewy—The book also had shades of others like No Name (in Miss Margot Standing’s situation—though there could not be a greater contrast between her and Collins� heroines) and also of the Seven Dials Mystery.) But there were plenty of surprises along the way, which made it a very enjoyable read.
Miss Silver is also not centre stage in this one—Charles is more that—and while she knows and finds out a lot, it seems to happen away from the readers view (almost magically), without us seeing how she works or learns all she does. But we do know her investigating style is more active than Miss Marple. It makes an interesting comparison.
This was a fun mystery (I did guess (not very early on though) whodunit) though it felt a bit like I was reading a teen/YA mystery at many points (very Nancy Drewy—The book also had shades of others like No Name (in Miss Margot Standing’s situation—though there could not be a greater contrast between her and Collins� heroines) and also of the Seven Dials Mystery.) But there were plenty of surprises along the way, which made it a very enjoyable read.
February 21, 2021
"I'm afraid you will have to pay the penalty for knowing that I am the Grey Man."
Such a fun romp of a mystery. Charles Moray returns to England. He's been absent from his homeland for four years after being summarily jilted by his fiancee. Upon returning to his shut up home, he discovers a gang of thieves using a room in house to plan a their schemes. A masked Grey Man is leading the gang who respond by their assigned number. No names. Charles is shocked when he hears his ex- fiancee's voice responding as "Number Twenty-Six".
The entire matter becomes complicated by the appearance of an heiress on the run, would be assassins following her trail, and his preoccupation with discovering what the Grey Man is to his ex-fiancee. Charles contacts Miss Maud Silver to help him solve the case. Knitting needles in tow, Miss Silver comes to the rescue.
Such a fun romp of a mystery. Charles Moray returns to England. He's been absent from his homeland for four years after being summarily jilted by his fiancee. Upon returning to his shut up home, he discovers a gang of thieves using a room in house to plan a their schemes. A masked Grey Man is leading the gang who respond by their assigned number. No names. Charles is shocked when he hears his ex- fiancee's voice responding as "Number Twenty-Six".
The entire matter becomes complicated by the appearance of an heiress on the run, would be assassins following her trail, and his preoccupation with discovering what the Grey Man is to his ex-fiancee. Charles contacts Miss Maud Silver to help him solve the case. Knitting needles in tow, Miss Silver comes to the rescue.
July 15, 2020
Update: Since posting this review I've gone on to read dozens of books by Patricia Wentworth and she's now one of my favorite authors. Start with a later book in the Miss Silver series and pretend like this one doesn't exist.
I was pretty disappointed in this particular mystery but felt like there was real potential in the writing. Does anyone have Miss Silver mystery they love and want to recommend for me to try next?
I was pretty disappointed in this particular mystery but felt like there was real potential in the writing. Does anyone have Miss Silver mystery they love and want to recommend for me to try next?
February 23, 2017
A fun frolic from the 1920s about secret criminal organizations. There is humor and romance.
December 1, 2014
I'd seen Patricia Wentworth's books in the library, I'd picked up a couple in charity shops, but it was that had me seeking out the first book in the series and starting to read.
I do like a golden age mystery, I was curious to meet a lady detective who predated Miss Marple by a few years, and, as checking the catalogue reassured me that my library has most of the books, I wasn't too worried about the possibility of falling in love with this particular series .
There are thirty-two books in total, and they were published between 1928 and 1961.
Now, let's start at the beginning.
The story opens with Charles Moray returning to his family home in England after a long absence overseas. He had left because his fiancée, his childhood sweetheart, had jilted him on the eve of their wedding with no explanation at all, and he had returned because his father had died. That hinted at story possibilities, but the actual story came as a surprise.
Charles arrived home at night, without telling anyone he was coming, and he was shocked to find that a gang, led by a man known only as Grey Mask, so-called because he was never seen without his disguise. Thinking quickly, Charles slipped silently into a childhood hiding place that allowed him to watch and listen. He heard talk of to getting rid of an heiress to get her inheritance; his inclination was to act, but he knew that he could not when he caught sight of Margaret Langton, his former fiancée.
Meanwhile, Margot Standing's wealthy father had been lost at sea, leaving her to inherit a fortune. But there was a complication; the family solicitor explained that her father had left no will, no evidence of his marriage to the mother Margot had never known, and no evidence that she was his daughter. Unless proof could be found her indolent cousin Egbert would inherit; she hated him, and when he proposed she left home, determined to show that she could succeed on her own.
She didn't know that she was the target of the Grey Mask Gang, who wanted to get her out of the way to be absolutely sure that she would not, could not inherit.
Charles was pursuing Margaret, trying to find out what was going on. Margaret found Margot, at a low ebb because life had played a cruel trick on her, and took her in. Charles realised who Margot was, and stepped in.
That was how the three principals came together.
There was a degree of silliness in the story, there was a degree of coincidence in the coming together of the characters, but the story worked. It was well written, the plot was intriguing, and the characters were engaging.
Charles drove the plot.
Margot was spoiled, she was oblivious to practicalities and the feelings of others, she talked non-stop and she was completely irrepressible, She could have been infuriating, but because her position was so horrible and because she was so good natured, it was easy to like her and to be entertained by her. The letters she wrote to her school-friend overseas were brilliant!
Margaret was the most interesting and intriguing character. She was mixed up with the criminal gang, but she wanted to protect Margot Standing; she said that she did want to resume her relationship with Charles Moray, but it was clear that she cared about him; she would not explain why she jilted Charles, why she lived as she did, why she was involved with the Grey Mask gang.
And then of course there is the detective, Miss Silver, who I haven't mentioned yet because her presence in the story was very low key. A friend advised Charles to approach her at a time when he was finding more questions than answers, and she acted for him. It was clear that she watched people and had them watched, that she carried out research and had some excellent sources, but she didn't offer explanations and often it seemed that she was guiding Charles, steering him towards a solution rather than presenting him with answers. I really liked that, and I hope it continues through the series.
Something else I particularly liked was the way Patricia Wentworth threaded serious questions - about Margaret's life as a single woman and the choices that she made, about Margot's vulnerability and the position she had been left in, and most of all about the consequences of not knowing our own history - through an classic golden age style mystery. The story is bold, but its author clearly understands where subtlety is required.
I guessed Grey Mask's identity, but there was always more than enough happening to keep me interested, there was a great twist at the end that I really didn't see coming, and there a very well executed and suspenseful final drama.
There were one or two loose ends, and there's a question or two I'd like to ask the author, but nothing that spoiled the book for me.
It's a book to be enjoyed not a book to be analysed, and now that I've read this first book in the series I'm definitely planning on reading more.
I do like a golden age mystery, I was curious to meet a lady detective who predated Miss Marple by a few years, and, as checking the catalogue reassured me that my library has most of the books, I wasn't too worried about the possibility of falling in love with this particular series .
There are thirty-two books in total, and they were published between 1928 and 1961.
Now, let's start at the beginning.
The story opens with Charles Moray returning to his family home in England after a long absence overseas. He had left because his fiancée, his childhood sweetheart, had jilted him on the eve of their wedding with no explanation at all, and he had returned because his father had died. That hinted at story possibilities, but the actual story came as a surprise.
Charles arrived home at night, without telling anyone he was coming, and he was shocked to find that a gang, led by a man known only as Grey Mask, so-called because he was never seen without his disguise. Thinking quickly, Charles slipped silently into a childhood hiding place that allowed him to watch and listen. He heard talk of to getting rid of an heiress to get her inheritance; his inclination was to act, but he knew that he could not when he caught sight of Margaret Langton, his former fiancée.
Meanwhile, Margot Standing's wealthy father had been lost at sea, leaving her to inherit a fortune. But there was a complication; the family solicitor explained that her father had left no will, no evidence of his marriage to the mother Margot had never known, and no evidence that she was his daughter. Unless proof could be found her indolent cousin Egbert would inherit; she hated him, and when he proposed she left home, determined to show that she could succeed on her own.
She didn't know that she was the target of the Grey Mask Gang, who wanted to get her out of the way to be absolutely sure that she would not, could not inherit.
Charles was pursuing Margaret, trying to find out what was going on. Margaret found Margot, at a low ebb because life had played a cruel trick on her, and took her in. Charles realised who Margot was, and stepped in.
That was how the three principals came together.
There was a degree of silliness in the story, there was a degree of coincidence in the coming together of the characters, but the story worked. It was well written, the plot was intriguing, and the characters were engaging.
Charles drove the plot.
Margot was spoiled, she was oblivious to practicalities and the feelings of others, she talked non-stop and she was completely irrepressible, She could have been infuriating, but because her position was so horrible and because she was so good natured, it was easy to like her and to be entertained by her. The letters she wrote to her school-friend overseas were brilliant!
Margaret was the most interesting and intriguing character. She was mixed up with the criminal gang, but she wanted to protect Margot Standing; she said that she did want to resume her relationship with Charles Moray, but it was clear that she cared about him; she would not explain why she jilted Charles, why she lived as she did, why she was involved with the Grey Mask gang.
And then of course there is the detective, Miss Silver, who I haven't mentioned yet because her presence in the story was very low key. A friend advised Charles to approach her at a time when he was finding more questions than answers, and she acted for him. It was clear that she watched people and had them watched, that she carried out research and had some excellent sources, but she didn't offer explanations and often it seemed that she was guiding Charles, steering him towards a solution rather than presenting him with answers. I really liked that, and I hope it continues through the series.
Something else I particularly liked was the way Patricia Wentworth threaded serious questions - about Margaret's life as a single woman and the choices that she made, about Margot's vulnerability and the position she had been left in, and most of all about the consequences of not knowing our own history - through an classic golden age style mystery. The story is bold, but its author clearly understands where subtlety is required.
I guessed Grey Mask's identity, but there was always more than enough happening to keep me interested, there was a great twist at the end that I really didn't see coming, and there a very well executed and suspenseful final drama.
There were one or two loose ends, and there's a question or two I'd like to ask the author, but nothing that spoiled the book for me.
It's a book to be enjoyed not a book to be analysed, and now that I've read this first book in the series I'm definitely planning on reading more.
September 8, 2019
Someone pitched Miss Silver to me as a "female Sherlock Holmes" and you see, that is where the problem began. It put expectations in my head.
For example, I expected a book titled "Grey Mask: A Miss Silvery Mystery" to predominantly feature a character named Miss Silver. In reality, I can probably count on one hand the number of times the woman appears in the story.
I would also expect Miss Silver to take the lead in uncovering Grey Mask. She does not.
I would expect Miss Silver to be nearly infallible, or at least aware when her clients found themselves in danger. She was not.
The story is really that of Charles, a young man recently returned from abroad, who uncovers a conspiracy to do away with a young heiress. He is a likable character, as are his companions in this tale. The only one who really doesn't fit is...Miss Silver. I think I would rate this one higher without her character at all.
I'm assuming she gets more of a role in later books? This is quite the series.
For example, I expected a book titled "Grey Mask: A Miss Silvery Mystery" to predominantly feature a character named Miss Silver. In reality, I can probably count on one hand the number of times the woman appears in the story.
I would also expect Miss Silver to take the lead in uncovering Grey Mask. She does not.
I would expect Miss Silver to be nearly infallible, or at least aware when her clients found themselves in danger. She was not.
The story is really that of Charles, a young man recently returned from abroad, who uncovers a conspiracy to do away with a young heiress. He is a likable character, as are his companions in this tale. The only one who really doesn't fit is...Miss Silver. I think I would rate this one higher without her character at all.
I'm assuming she gets more of a role in later books? This is quite the series.
November 17, 2023
There are 32 books in this series. And my local library has them all!
Also available for free download at Faded Page.
Also available for free download at Faded Page.
February 26, 2017
Definitely not for me.
This book was written almost fifteen years before I was born. This old British English language was very hard for me to read, kept stopping and and looking up the words I didn't understand. Plot and characters didn't capture my interest.
This book was written almost fifteen years before I was born. This old British English language was very hard for me to read, kept stopping and and looking up the words I didn't understand. Plot and characters didn't capture my interest.
September 29, 2018
GREY MASK (MISS SILVER: #1)
Written by Patricia Wentworth
1928; Open Road Media Mystery (256 Pages)
Genre: mystery, female detective, series, cozy
Rating: ★★★★
Margot Standing finds out her father has died and not provided for her future, as his lawyer claims there is no will. As Margot has no proof her parents were ever married her claim over her father’s estate is now in the hands of her Egbert. Egbert was not liked by father or daughter seems cavalier over his uncle’s death and fortune. Overhearing a conversation between her cousin and a strange man Margot discovers her life is in jeopardy. They wish to have her removed so there is no obstacle to the Standing fortune.
Meanwhile Charles Moray has returned home to take over this family estate. After his finacee, Margaret breaks off their engagement he travels to the East to rid his mind of her. Upon his late night visit to his family home he walks upon strangers conspiring the death of a young heiress. Charles is all ready to call the police when he spies Margaret among them and soon finds himself hiring a woman detective. As Margaret, Charles and Margot try to figure out the mystery, Miss Maude Silver has it all figured out, all while knitting a jumper.
A fun novel from the late 1920s. If you like the old classic black and white mysteries, old time radio shows or novels like Agatha Christie you are in for a treat. Wentworth writes an engaging mystery but I wish we knew more about Miss. Silver. Like Miss. Marple she is not the story but around the mystery. I cannot wait to see where this series goes.
***I received an eARC from NETGALLEY***
Written by Patricia Wentworth
1928; Open Road Media Mystery (256 Pages)
Genre: mystery, female detective, series, cozy
Rating: ★★★★
Margot Standing finds out her father has died and not provided for her future, as his lawyer claims there is no will. As Margot has no proof her parents were ever married her claim over her father’s estate is now in the hands of her Egbert. Egbert was not liked by father or daughter seems cavalier over his uncle’s death and fortune. Overhearing a conversation between her cousin and a strange man Margot discovers her life is in jeopardy. They wish to have her removed so there is no obstacle to the Standing fortune.
Meanwhile Charles Moray has returned home to take over this family estate. After his finacee, Margaret breaks off their engagement he travels to the East to rid his mind of her. Upon his late night visit to his family home he walks upon strangers conspiring the death of a young heiress. Charles is all ready to call the police when he spies Margaret among them and soon finds himself hiring a woman detective. As Margaret, Charles and Margot try to figure out the mystery, Miss Maude Silver has it all figured out, all while knitting a jumper.
A fun novel from the late 1920s. If you like the old classic black and white mysteries, old time radio shows or novels like Agatha Christie you are in for a treat. Wentworth writes an engaging mystery but I wish we knew more about Miss. Silver. Like Miss. Marple she is not the story but around the mystery. I cannot wait to see where this series goes.
***I received an eARC from NETGALLEY***
February 10, 2023
As always, a phenomenal read with a heroine in distress!
February 6, 2022
I adore Golden Age detective novels and decided to give Patricia Wentworth (1877-1961) a try. Grey Mask is the first in a series of 32 short novels featuring Miss Maud Silver, "sleuthess" who reminds the reader very much of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple. Interestingly, Miss Silver made her debut several years before Miss Marple.
This book follows that formula, but it seemed most implausible that Miss Silver could have known so much about the details of people involved in the mystery. The reader is not shown how Miss Silver goes about her sleuthing, other than she occasionally turns out to have followed a suspect. The reader is deprived of the satisfaction that accompanies the answer to that all-important question, "How did she figure that out?"
Nevertheless, I enjoyed the book very much. The characters were neatly drawn, the plot was complex (I identified the villain about the same time as everybody in the book), and the romance was satisfactorily concluded.
I like to read historical romance and mysteries, but this book was a contemporary when it was written. Thus, it was especially interesting to read a novel set in 1920s London and written in 1928.
Since this series is in the public domain and , I expect that I shall continue to curl up from time to time and follow the adventures of Miss Silver.
-------------
*Swanson, Jean; James, Dean (1998). Killer Books: A Reader's Guide to Exploring the Popular World of Mystery and Suspense. New York: Berkley.
Miss Silver is well known in the better circles of society, and she finds entree to the troubled households of the upper classes with little difficulty. In most of Miss Silver's cases there is a young couple whose romance seems ill-fated because of the murder to be solved, but in Miss Silver's competent hands the case is solved, the young couple is exonerated, and all is right in this very traditional world. *
This book follows that formula, but it seemed most implausible that Miss Silver could have known so much about the details of people involved in the mystery. The reader is not shown how Miss Silver goes about her sleuthing, other than she occasionally turns out to have followed a suspect. The reader is deprived of the satisfaction that accompanies the answer to that all-important question, "How did she figure that out?"
Nevertheless, I enjoyed the book very much. The characters were neatly drawn, the plot was complex (I identified the villain about the same time as everybody in the book), and the romance was satisfactorily concluded.
I like to read historical romance and mysteries, but this book was a contemporary when it was written. Thus, it was especially interesting to read a novel set in 1920s London and written in 1928.
Since this series is in the public domain and , I expect that I shall continue to curl up from time to time and follow the adventures of Miss Silver.
-------------
*Swanson, Jean; James, Dean (1998). Killer Books: A Reader's Guide to Exploring the Popular World of Mystery and Suspense. New York: Berkley.
July 22, 2020
I was looking for a great diversionary read and I found this on Kindle Unlimited. It did not disappoint. Well-written, classic crime drama with the feel of The 39 Steps. A page turner and quite fun.
January 8, 2020
A bit clunky, but interesting as an early example of a female sleuth who seems to find out an amazing amount of information and still has time to get a lot of knitting done.
January 25, 2023
A definite page-turner. I can’t remember when I last read a detective novel that wasn’t also a murder mystery, so the premise of a criminal mastermind a la Professor Moriarty pulling all the strings but never getting implicated in any of his crimes made for a great change of pace. It might be a fair criticism to say that the plot, especially the ending is over the top, but not when you realize just how much of a fairy tale the story is. Just scratching the structural surface, it’s got the bride-bridegroom AND parent-child patterns, a wedding at the end, and a final judgment. And who wouldn’t want a “magical helper� like Miss Silver? My only wish is that she had been in the story more. But I suppose that’s fitting since I felt the same way about my first Miss Marple book. Only a couple years separates the literary creation of these two clever elderly lady detectives. Just imagine if they joined forces!
(The Literary Life Podcast 2023 Reading Challenge � Detective novel new to you)
(The Literary Life Podcast 2023 Reading Challenge � Detective novel new to you)
February 26, 2017
Charles Moray is back in England! After being jilted at the altar by the love of his life, he had spent four years travelling but after the death of his father, he is now back to get his inheritance. He visits his old house but instead of encountering childhood memories, he comes across a gang of criminals who are using his home to plot murder and theft. But what really astounds Charles is that it appears that his erstwhile fiancée, Margaret Langton, is also one of their number!
As Charles re-establishes contact with all his old friends and acquaintances, he also befriends Margaret. When they come across a missing heiress, Charles' ability to deal with grey masked men plotting murder becomes of primary importance. Can he save the day for everyone? Who is the man in the grey mask?
As a purely vintage classic, I found Grey Mask highly enjoyable. It had all the elements I enjoy - mystery, humour, historical allusions, atmosphere, and a strong feeling of comfort. The mystery itself is rather far-fetched. I mean, come on, how many people in grey masks have ever plotted crime in empty manor houses?
I liked Charles as a character, and the other secondary characters were fun too, though not too well developed. The only character who didn't make sense was Margot Standing. One would expect her to behave like an eighteen year old woman, not a eight year old kid. Miss Silver herself was not much in the picture and could even have been left out altogether. But she did sort of solve the problem of how Charles managed to find out things. Though we never get to see how Miss Silver finds things out!
I enjoyed this book and it was a pure comfort read.
As Charles re-establishes contact with all his old friends and acquaintances, he also befriends Margaret. When they come across a missing heiress, Charles' ability to deal with grey masked men plotting murder becomes of primary importance. Can he save the day for everyone? Who is the man in the grey mask?
As a purely vintage classic, I found Grey Mask highly enjoyable. It had all the elements I enjoy - mystery, humour, historical allusions, atmosphere, and a strong feeling of comfort. The mystery itself is rather far-fetched. I mean, come on, how many people in grey masks have ever plotted crime in empty manor houses?
I liked Charles as a character, and the other secondary characters were fun too, though not too well developed. The only character who didn't make sense was Margot Standing. One would expect her to behave like an eighteen year old woman, not a eight year old kid. Miss Silver herself was not much in the picture and could even have been left out altogether. But she did sort of solve the problem of how Charles managed to find out things. Though we never get to see how Miss Silver finds things out!
I enjoyed this book and it was a pure comfort read.
February 3, 2024
2.5 stars
This book was published in 1929, and I’m not sure if it hasn’t aged well or if I haven’t. Probably both.
Perhaps I’ve just read too many classic mysteries and have lost my tolerance for tortuous, torturous plots; for multiple conversations overheard through keyholes; for archvillains who don’t just kill the heroes when they get the chance but instead explain to them why they did what they did in boring monologues, then leave the heroes to die a slow death unobserved, and so unwittingly give them the chance to escape.
Maybe if I were 15 again, and this was my first mystery from this era, and I hadn’t read her contemporary Agatha Christie (who feels superior at writing, characterization, and storytelling), I would have been totally engrossed. As it was, I just felt I’d seen the plot structure and the character types a few too many times --and done better -- to get pulled in.
Wentworth’s most famous sleuth, Miss Silver, makes her first appearance in this book. She’s interesting enough in a B-grade Miss Marple way. Though she doesn't play that big of a role in this novel nor really pop out as a memorable detective, I can see her potential for later books in which I presume she moves more front and center.
This book was published in 1929, and I’m not sure if it hasn’t aged well or if I haven’t. Probably both.
Perhaps I’ve just read too many classic mysteries and have lost my tolerance for tortuous, torturous plots; for multiple conversations overheard through keyholes; for archvillains who don’t just kill the heroes when they get the chance but instead explain to them why they did what they did in boring monologues, then leave the heroes to die a slow death unobserved, and so unwittingly give them the chance to escape.
Maybe if I were 15 again, and this was my first mystery from this era, and I hadn’t read her contemporary Agatha Christie (who feels superior at writing, characterization, and storytelling), I would have been totally engrossed. As it was, I just felt I’d seen the plot structure and the character types a few too many times --and done better -- to get pulled in.
Wentworth’s most famous sleuth, Miss Silver, makes her first appearance in this book. She’s interesting enough in a B-grade Miss Marple way. Though she doesn't play that big of a role in this novel nor really pop out as a memorable detective, I can see her potential for later books in which I presume she moves more front and center.
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