Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Pantheon (1985), Edition: First Edition, Paperback
Description
Fiction. Literature. Mystery. Historical Fiction. HTML: Praise for Peter Dickinson's mysteries: "A literary magician controlling an appar-ently inexhaustible supply of effects."�Penelope Lively For best-selling author Lady Margaret, the past is no longer a pleasant memory. Her first lover's mysterious death and the seeming inevitability of her inheriting the family's stately home are cast in new light by secrets unwillingly revisited. The first in a series of reprints of Peter Dickinson's mysteries, this classic British mystery will win fans currently engrossed in Downton Ab-bey. Peter Dickinson has twice received the Crime Writers' As-sociation's Gold Dagger. He lives in England and is married to the novelist Robin McKinley..
User reviews
LibraryThing member pamelad
Lady Margaret Millett has been brought up as the heir to Cheadle, an enormous stately home that requires large and regular infusions of cash. But for a year in her twenties, the happiest of her life, Margaret writes for a magazine, a rival to Punch, and falls in love with the owner, the mysterious
Thirty years later, after a visit from an old colleague, Margaret resolves to make sense of the tragic events that ended her life with B.
Not bad, but the characters are two-dimensional.
Show More
B. Thirty years later, after a visit from an old colleague, Margaret resolves to make sense of the tragic events that ended her life with B.
Not bad, but the characters are two-dimensional.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Xleptodactylous
Not this one; too slow and irritating. Try another.
LibraryThing member AltheaAnn
When I was a kid, I loved Dickinson's 'Changes' trilogy, a post-apocalyptic sci-fi story set in Britain. I've read a few of his other books, including some of the short-stories he published with his wife, Robin McKinley (one of my very favorite authors), and always loved his sense of place and his
I was aware that he also wrote adult mystery novels, but hadn't read any. I picked this up thinking it was a mystery. However, it's really not. There is a murder... but it doesn't show up as a plot element until the latter part of the book. I have to admit that I found the plot structure in general to be a little weak, which is the reason I went down to 3 stars.
However, there are things I loved about this book so much that I've already talked about it and recommended it to people. Although the book has no fantasy or mythological elements, it has that same vivid, wonderful sense of time and place that I've come to associate with Dickinson's writing. The book truly opens a window into an unglimpsed world... and lets you feel like you're just about ready to step through that window.
The main character is a society girl who ends up getting a job writing a satirical column in the society pages of a weekly magazine. Dickinson himself worked at the magazine 'Punch' for many years, and undoubtedly his portrayal of what it was like to work a a magazine in the 50's informs this novel. And that's what I really loved about this book: the view of a segment of society, the milieu of the magazine, the humor and interactions... it's wonderful.
The plot hooks on the affair the girl has with her older boss, and the fallout from it that occurs much later, in the 1980's, once she has become a successful and established businesswoman. While I liked seeing her success, the first part of the book was what really caught my interest.
Show More
capturing of the feel of mythology. I was aware that he also wrote adult mystery novels, but hadn't read any. I picked this up thinking it was a mystery. However, it's really not. There is a murder... but it doesn't show up as a plot element until the latter part of the book. I have to admit that I found the plot structure in general to be a little weak, which is the reason I went down to 3 stars.
However, there are things I loved about this book so much that I've already talked about it and recommended it to people. Although the book has no fantasy or mythological elements, it has that same vivid, wonderful sense of time and place that I've come to associate with Dickinson's writing. The book truly opens a window into an unglimpsed world... and lets you feel like you're just about ready to step through that window.
The main character is a society girl who ends up getting a job writing a satirical column in the society pages of a weekly magazine. Dickinson himself worked at the magazine 'Punch' for many years, and undoubtedly his portrayal of what it was like to work a a magazine in the 50's informs this novel. And that's what I really loved about this book: the view of a segment of society, the milieu of the magazine, the humor and interactions... it's wonderful.
The plot hooks on the affair the girl has with her older boss, and the fallout from it that occurs much later, in the 1980's, once she has become a successful and established businesswoman. While I liked seeing her success, the first part of the book was what really caught my interest.
Show Less
LibraryThing member maryhollis
I read most of Peter Dickinson's books many years ago, so when I found this book, I was eager to read it and see if Dickinson's writing still cast the same spell.
I can see why, at one time, I was seeking everything that Dickinson wrote....he is a very good writer. I was a bit disappointed that I
I can see why, at one time, I was seeking everything that Dickinson wrote....he is a very good writer. I was a bit disappointed that I
Show More
chose this book. As I recall King and Joker and the Glass-sided Antcase had greater depth. All in all, a nice memory sojourn. Show Less
LibraryThing member ritaer
lover's death caused by twin sister
Subjects
Original publication date
1984
Physical description
6.8 inches
ISBN
0394741005 / 9780394741000