The Clock Strikes Twelve (Miss Silver, #7) in Retro Reads

Jan 26, 2020 Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, england, oldies-but-goodies

3.75 stars. It's New Year's Eve 1941, and the wealthy Paradine family and their various relatives and in-laws have gathered at James Paradine's mansion to celebrate. But James has a surprise: he tells the family that someone has "betrayed the family interests" ... and that he knows who that person is, and the guilty person has until midnight to come to James' office and work things out with him. Several people go to his office, but for different reasons. And by the next morning, someone is murde ...more

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May 20, 2015 Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-murder-crime-20th-century, female-gumshoe

My vision while reading this was that I was in an old black & white movie. I could hear the crackle of the film as I watched the action unfold on the screen. & there we were with a dinner party of what turn out to be all the suspects & The Future Corpse doing everything short of putting a sign that says "Murder Me!" on his back. The crime happen & as usual in the Golden Age crimes, no one wastes too much time on lower class actions like grief.

It's all moving along at a very pleasant, if somewhat ...more

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Jan 31, 2020 Susan in NC rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Very enjoyable country house murder mystery - I look forward to reading more of Miss Silver! I think I read one of her mysteries many years ago, but it didn’t make much of an impression; I very much enjoyed this mystery, read with the Retro Reads group, and look forward to reading more of her books.

This mystery opens on New Year’s Eve, 1941, as members of the Paradine family gather to ring in the new year. James Paradine, the imposing patriarch of the family, makes a shocking announcement at din Very enjoyable country house murder mystery - I look forward to reading more of Miss Silver! I think I read one of her mysteries many years ago, but it didn’t make much of an impression; I very much enjoyed this mystery, read with the Retro Reads group, and look forward to reading more of her books.

This mystery opens on New Year’s Eve, 1941, as members of the Paradine family gather to ring in the new year. James Paradine, the imposing patriarch of the family, makes a shocking announcement at dinner that shakes up the entire family – important plans have been stolen from his study, to do with the war effort. He says he knows who took the plans, and will be in his study until midnight - he expects them to come and confess and return the plans. Miss Silver is called in after Mr. Paradine is found dead the next morning.

Like many families, the Paradines have their share of scandals, old secrets, and heartbreaks - it’s a real pleasure to watch Miss Silver work! Like my favorite Agatha Christie heroine, Miss Marple, Miss Silver unobtrusively sits, knitting, and listening. She is a former nanny, so has life experiences similar to Miss Marple, that allow her to make sound judgments about human nature, the characters around her, and their likely motivations and actions. Both are spinster ladies who have spent their lives observing the small human dramas that make up lives and motives - they generally are unshockable and very wise and observant. Miss Silver, as a former nanny, has the automatic authority that influences people - if they’re innocent she makes them feel comforted and safe, and if they’re guilty, she looks through them unflinchingly and makes them want to confess!

It’s a real treat to read about her and watch her work with local police, who for a change are not clueless clodhoppers! Inspector Vyner is a sharp detective, and provides a master class early in the case on how to separate a weak witness out of the family herd, and get her to spill what she knows. There is dry, understated humor, and a couple of love stories, but they are not allowed to overwhelm the mystery - I think they are very well handled and resolved, and add nicely to the plot. ...more

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Jan 27, 2020 Barb in Maryland rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, mystery-thriller-goodies

3.5 stars for this entertaining Golden Age mystery.
Wentworth's version of savvy spinster sleuth, Miss Silver, is a delight; she's the reason for that half-star.
Otherwise, this is one of those country house/limited number of suspects stories, with each suspect having, in theory, a good reason to commit the murder.

I can't believe I never read any of Wentworth's mysteries back when I was first reading Christie and Sayers. I shall have to correct that omission. ...more

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Jun 20, 2018 Tuesdayschild rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2018-read, audio, repeat-listen-or-read, 2018-brit-trip, cosy-mystery, 2020-audio, 2020-read, wwll, mystery-historical

06/18 4*

01/20 4+* repeat listen. As it's summertime and I'm in the frame of mind to enjoy lighter listening this book garnered itself a plus ...... winter time listens have to work harder for bonus points :)
The mother by adoption in this book sure is a piece of work and Wentworth has purposely crafted her to be despised, she is possessive, jealous, manipulative, and a class act narcissist. That portion of the story reminded me of the surrogate mother in Nemesis by Agatha Christie, this listen t ...more

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Jan 04, 2022 Lynnie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2022, golden-age-detective-story

I've been reading the Miss Silver books in order but skipped number 6 to read this one as it starts on New Year's Eve. This was very good and Miss Silver was at her best. Ten suspects, a lush country house setting and plenty of red herrings - a fabulous whodunit. ...more

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Aug 05, 2024 Jackie rated it really liked it

I enjoyed this re-read enormously and think there is a case to be made that Wentworth deserves to be as famous as Agatha Christie.

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Aug 31, 2007 CLM rated it liked it

Shelves: 20th-century, re-read, uk, mystery, series, cousins

Not as good upon reread. I prefer Wentworth's brave resolute heroines than the ones who are always sobbing or fainting. ...more

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Nov 11, 2021 Laurie rated it it was ok

By far my least favorite Patricia Wentworth book I’ve read so far (I’m reading the series out of order). The ending was telegraphed a mile off and while I pretty much always dislike Wentworth’s star-crossed lovers, I particularly hated this pair. All the men in this story are whiny jerks, and the ingenue is painfully weak and wilting.

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May 28, 2015 Lesley rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery-detective, mystery-crime, golden-age-mysteries

An old school English mystery from the Golden Age. Wentworth and Christie both created their female amatuer sleuths within months of each other. Miss Silver is similar to Christie's Miss Marple - even down to her knitting! The difference in their method is Silver overtly investigates, while Marple is more a fluffy little old lady observing. I don't recall having read any of Wentworth's mysteries before. I enjoyed the mystery and felt it picked up when Miss Silver entered the story. I liked the n ...more

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