All Reviews by Linda Otto
Miss Cayley's Adventures
by Grant Allen
How original! Stunning, actually, for the time. The heroine reminds me quite a bit of famed fictional Egyptologist Amelia Peabody (current series by Elizabeth Peters). Lois Cayley is proof against any number of dastardly villains (like Peabody, but whereas Peabody needs to be duly equipped with her ubiquitous umbrella, Lois has no weaponry at all besides her very sharp wits). Lois is such a strong role model that I wondered all of the time that I was reading the book if societally repressed young girls kept her adventures under their pillows to be read in secret? I wouldn't be the least bit suprised! An amazing bit of independent womanhood from a time when woman were considered as nothing more than bubble-headed children...and written by a man! Enjoy!
Hushed Up!
by William le Queux
It is surprising that Le Queux has been forgotten when you look at the large body of work he left behind.
I've read several of his other books--all page turners--and this one is no exception. A lot of his writing (I suppose just a reflection of the time) is over the top, but you are very willing to overlook that because the scullduggery is moving at warp speed, and you can't wait to find out what is really going on. Enjoy!
The Clue of the Twisted Candles
by Edgar Wallace
I love T.X. Meredith! I want to read more books featuring him, but I can't find any others. I enjoyed this, chiefly because of the clever and the urbane T.X. (he has all the good dialogue!).
This is the first book I have read by Edgar Wallace, and I was a little taken aback by the viciousness of his villain--definitely painted with a black brush, no shades of grey--which gave him a one-dimensional, subhuman quality. Are all of Wallace's evildoers painted completely black? I will have to try another one of his books to find out. Enjoy.
Daisy's Aunt
by E.F. Benson
I did not find the fascinating Mrs. Halton so very fascinating. I wanted to. I adore E. F. Benson. I think his Lucia stories are nothing short of brilliant, but this was not even close to what he was capable of producing. Read his Lucia Series. It is truly unforgettable.
Seven Keys to Baldpate
by Earl Derr Biggers
Oh, yes, you have to read this! What fun. Who are these people? Is anybody who he/she says he is? Why are they converging on this "closed" inn? In a way, it reminded me of the movie "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World." I enjoyed it thoroughly, as I did Biggers other work on Manybooks, "The Agony Column," which is not to be missed. Enjoy.
An Amiable Charlatan
by E. Phillips Oppenheim
Loved it!! The previous reviewer was right. It was a page turner and great fun! An upper class Brit gets mixed up with a father and daughter team of self-professed "adventurers" with consequences that will keep you reading....
Its a winner. Enjoy!
Winnie Childs
by C.N. & A.M. Williamson
More escapist fare from the Williamsons. Young man meets young English lady on board boat for America. Misunderstandings ensue. She endures hardships until he finds her. Predictable, but no matter how trite the plot, I always enjoy the Williamsons. Enjoy.
Six Girls
by Fannie Belle Irving
This is a very sweet story, nicely written. It does resemble Little Women. It is a very pleasant way to spend a few escapist hours. Enjoy.
My Friend the Chauffeur
by C.N. Williamson and A.M. Williamson
Ah, yes. Another Williamson travelogue with a light, witty, and frothy plot. You can't beat the Williamsons for escapist fare. When I want to get away from literally everything, I find I often turn to Williamson books. Enjoy.
The Second Latchkey
by C.N. Williamson and A.M. Williamson
I was surprised by this offering by the Williamson husband and wife writing team. Their typical cotton candy travelogue plot didn't appear in this book. Instead, we have a young (hopelessly and almost incredibly innocent) girl who is taken in by a man who clearly cannot be all that he seems to be to her. I found it interesting even though the heroine's stupidity seemed over the top (perhaps things were simpler in the early 1900s). Somehow I always like the Williamsons no matter what they write.
Number Seventeen
by Louis Tracy
I love Winter and Fourneaux, and I enjoyed every word of this book. One strange quirk--does this author always call the manservant "Bates" in every book? Actually, it doesn't matter, the book is so much fun. Enjoy.
The Postmaster's Daughter
by Louis Tracy
Oh, yes. This is the third Louis Tracy novel that I have read featuring those two redoubtable detectives Winter & Furneaux. I must have more!!
I love these books. I have been reading mysteries for over 50 years (starting with Nancy Drew and her chums), and I don't know how I missed these. They are wonderful! If you are going to read them, start with "The Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley." It seems that that is the book that introduces the two detectives as the descriptions given are much more elaborate than in the two books following, which are (in order) "Number Seventeen" and "The Postmaster's Daughter." For heaven's sake, if you are a mystery buff, don't miss these! Enjoy.
Fantômas
by Pierre Souvestre
I am so pleased to see Fantomas in the Manybooks library. I listened to this several years ago as an audiobook. At the time I had decided (before listening) that it sounded ridiculous and too far-fetched to hold my attention. Was I wrong! I loved every second of it (once I got into it). Since that time, I have wished to read the entire series, but I cannot find all of them. I hope Manybooks can find them.
Fantomas is the name given by the French top police officials to a master criminal so clever that some believe him to be nothing more than a phantom. He is no phantom. He is diabolical, and as you read deeper into the books, you can't wait to see what his imagination will contrive. He simply plays with the police. Great fun.
This is my concept of what pulp fiction should be. I heartily recommend it. Enjoy!
The Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley
by Louis Tracy
I could read Furneaux and Winter books forever. I want more! I am now going to read the two other novels I see on Manybooks that feature these two wonderful characters. They are Number Seventeen and The Postmaster's Daughter. I'm going to download them right now!
The House of a Thousand Candles
by Meredith Nicholson
I enjoyed this thoroughly. It is sort of a Boy's Own adventure story--lots of action and secrets (including secret passages and tunnels). Lots of fun. I don't want to give away much of the plot, but I heartily recommend it.
Romance Island
by Zona Gale
I read this because the previous reviewer (whose reviews I always enjoy and usually find spot on) likened it to a distaff representation of Edgar Rice Burroughs. That was enough to hook me, as I view E. R. B. as a genius. Well, I guess I expected too much. It is not a bad book. A fanciful story, I guess I would call it, but I would not compare it on any level with anything written by Burroughs unless perhaps to say that the romance is overwritten (our hero asks for three lumps of sugar in his tea, not because he usually takes three but because he wants the thrill of watching her fingers as she serves him--sheesh!) as was Burroughs wont also. Did I say over the top? Nevertheless, I can't say I wouldn't recommend it--only don't expect too much so you won't be disappointed.
The Slave of Silence
by Fred M. White
Fred outdid himself with this one! All deception, all the time. The plot is very complex (I'm not going to say anything about it because it would spoil it), and it really kept me guessing and turning those pages. Try it, you'll like it.
The Lion's Mouse
by Charles Norris Williamson
This is something a little different from the Williamsons. Usually their books are light and frothy confections, but this one has very little lightness about it. It is a fast-paced and somewhat suspenseful tale of a beautiful woman who enlists the help of a stranger on a train, marries him (she, of course, fell in love with him instantly as he did with her) and tries like crazy to keep her "matter of life and death" secret from him with the help of a young friend. It keeps you going right to the end. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Great escapism.
The Motor Maid
by Alice Muriel Williamson
Wonderful! As light and rich and delicious as whipped cream. The Williamsons never disappoint. Their fiction /travelogues are always delightful. Enjoy!
Set in Silver
by C.N. Williamson and A.M. Williamson
I truly enjoy the books by the Williamsons as perfect escapist romantic fare. The characters are well drawn, the plots move right along, and there is always a marvelously happy ending. When you don't feel like suspense or any type of stress from what you are reading you can always rely on a Williamson book to take you away from life's cares.
The plots are very similar. There is usually some type of misunderstanding or mistaken identity situation that is the conflict to be overcome before the romance can go forward. The writing is light and fun and truly delightful. Enjoy.
The Haunted Pajamas
by Francis Perry Elliott
I didn't like this one. Perhaps it is because I have read just about everything written by Wodehouse, and this book comes off as a bad Wodehouse parody. It is overdone. Badly overdone in my opinion...and did I say silly? Silly not in a clever, funny way but in a stupid way. However, I have given it to my husband to read (he is not such an avid admirer of Wodehouse), and if he thinks it is great, I will force him to write a review to redeem my poor opinion.
The Red Seal
by Natalie Sumner Lincoln
I like Natalie Sumner Lincoln's books. They are great escapist experiences and keep you guessing right up to the end. I highly recommend this one. Enjoy.
The Adventures of Sally
by Pelham Grenville Wodehouse
I liked it. Although it is not among Plum's belly-laugh-a minute madcap romps, it is good. I reallly liked the more sedate, more realistic characters. Usually the Wodehouse characters are so outlandishly drawn that it is hard to picture them as real people that one can relate to. This book showed me a different side of Wodehouse, and it is a style of writing I would like to read again. Try it!
The Powers and Maxine
by Charles Norris Williamson
If you are looking for great literature, this is not it. But...if you are looking for a an escapist novel that cries out for popcorn and a comfy chair, you've found the right book. A nice way to spend a rainy evening--a complex plot with lots of twists and turns but all the while you have not a single doubt but that everything will magically turn out right in the end. Enjoy!
The Golden Silence
by C.N. Williamson and A.M. Williamson
Interesting read. I like the Williamson books. This one has quite a bit of derring-do as part of the love story/mystery. If you have any experience with the New Thought spiritual movement you will recognize its message throughout the Williamson works--not preachy, just present. Enjoy!
Bat Wing
by Sax Rohmer
Only so-so. I liked Fire Tongue much better, I guess because it continues the Oriental flavor of the Fu Manchu series more than does Bat Wing. Also--Bat wing seemed to be no mystery to me at all. I had it figured out very early in the book and the rest was nothing more than verification.
The Crooked House
by Brandon Fleming
My goodness! This is a ride! Just when you are sure that you've figured it out, be assured that you haven't! Enjoy.
The Albert Gate Mystery
by Louis Tracy
I like Reginald Brett. I also liked the Stowmarket Mystery in which he showed off his Sherlockian powers. I wish that there were more Brett books available. This one is definitely worth reading. It keeps you turning the pages and never bores! Enjoy.
Midnight
by Octavus Roy Cohen
A very clever mystery that keeps you guessing all the way to the end. David Carroll, famous detective, is on the trail of a clever murderer. I don't want to explain much of the plot because the action takes place right from the start and it would spoil the enjoyment of allowing the surprises to reveal themselves to the reader. It is very much worth reading. I wish Manybooks had more books by Octavus Roy Cohen. Enjoy!
The Filigree Ball
by Anna Katharine Green
This was terrific! It soon becomes clear that what at first seems so obvious is not obvious at all. It really keeps you turning the pages! I really like Anna Katherine Green. She can out plot Agatha Christie when she wants to do so. I am pleased that her works are available on Manybooks.
Three Margarets
by Laura E. Richards
Charming. Very light and wholesome reading with just enough adventure to keep you turning the pages. Apparently, it follows the author's Hildegarde series. I'm going to have to have a look at that. I highly recommend it.
Margaret Montfort
by Laura E. Richards
Second book in the Margaret series. I think I liked it even better than the first one--The Three Margarets. Very heartwarming story.
Queen Hildegarde
by Laura E. Richards
I started reading the Margaret series by this author and then realized that the Hildegarde series came first and seems to lead in to the Margaret books as a character from the Hildegarde series shows up in the Margaret books. It is a very well-written, heartwarming story of a highly conceited city girl who finds herself and her integrity during a summer in the country. If that sounds dull, it isn't. You really care about the characters and there's even some adventure concerning a long lost treasure. Excellent!
I Spy
by Natalie Sumner Lincoln
This is a great combination of romance, spy vs. spy, and general intrigue. Who are the good and bad guys? Is everyone who they seem to be? You are never really sure until the end. I heartily recommend it. I love books that keep me guessing, and I am going to read more by Natalie Lincoln.
The Grand Babylon Hotel
by Arnold Bennett
This is great fun. In some strange way it reminded me of a significantly more sophisticated Nancy Drew book, and I don't mean that in a derogative sense. This is a fun mystery. We have the clever American millionaire and his intrepid daughter (Carson and Nancy Drew types for sure) sleuthing for all they are worth in one of the finest European hotels. All kinds of intrigues occur and the adventure is fast and furious. There is even a love interest for the daughter (ala Ned Nickerson) who joins the investigating. It really keeps you turning the pages. Don't misunderstand--it is not a girly book. The mystery is the thing! I really enjoyed it.
The Black Box
by E. Phillips Oppenheim
This book reminds me of the old Republic Pictures movie serials--cliffhangers abound. It moves right along with one adventure after another for Sanford Quest, the greatest criminologist of the age. There are two main plot lines which merge into one along with romance mixed in with the ever present danger. Give it a try, I enjoyed it.
The Adventures of Jimmie Dale
by Frank L. Packard
This was my first venture into what I think is considered pulp fiction. Oh my. It is a hoot. At first I couldn't understand why every 20 pages or so the author would reiterate who Jimmie Dale was, his difficult mission, and what a wonderful hero he was. Then it dawned on me that this must have been serialized. If all of that would have been edited out when the episodes were released in book form, the number of pages would probably have been halved. As to the story line. It is absolutely preposterous. Perhaps that is the norm for pulp fiction? Whatever the case, it was funny--perhaps unintentionally? Worth reading just for the absurdity. Jimmie Dale--who by the way is always referred to as Jimmie Dale, never Dale or Jimmie--is a very rich young gentleman about town who lives a double life. His other personal is as the Grey Seal a true hero who is misunderstood by the police who believe him to be an archcriminal. He works for a mysterious woman whom he has never seen but who leaves him written directives that he dare not refuse because whe knows his real identity. He has all sorts of disguises that allow him to infiltrate the criminal underworld. It is truly ridiculous, and as silly as it sounds, I am glad that I read it! Enjoy?
Sight Unseen
by Mary Roberts Rinehart
Wonderful! I have never read anyone who writes about how narrow-minded, uptight people meet the occult better than Rinehart. Part of it is that she has the hidebound characters down pat. Seeing how they react when forced to look outside of their carefully constructed mental "boxes" is great fun. Very good comic touches. She is a must read. I want more.
The Stowmarket Mystery
by Louis Tracy
I really enjoyed this mystery. Reginald Brett is very suave and debonair, the story itself is quite complex, and even though you know Brett will triumph in the end, the story keeps you wanting to read more. I liked it so much that I just downloaded the Albert Gate Mystery (further adventures of Reginald Brett, barrister detective). Enjoy!
Mademoiselle of Monte Carlo
by William le Queux
This book is such a product of its time. An innocent and naive young man is caught in a web of deception and has to rely on the wit of the Sparrow (a Robin Hood-like Moriarty) to save him from the noose that is tightening around him. I enjoyed it and will read more by LeQueux
The Red House Mystery
by A.A. Milne
Oh yes, I did like this one. I wish Milne had written more mysteries. He seems to have a real flair. I wanted to read more about the sleuthing of Antony Gillingham and his Watson, Bill Beverley.
The Hampstead Mystery
by John R. Watson
Very well done! It has a different perspective than most detective stories. Usually the police detectives are written as team players, but in this story it is every man for himself. I enjoyed it all the way through to the end.
The Red House
by Edith Nesbit
This was fun. Light romance with very likable characters moving from a very small house into a 29 room mansion that has been allowed to deteriorate. Very enjoyable.
The Crimson Blind
by Fred M. White
I enjoyed this very much. It is a well-told, complicated mystery that keeps you interested until the end.
That Mainwaring Affair
by A. Maynard Barbour
Very well done. Complex story that expands as it goes. Highly recommended.
Jennie Baxter, Journalist
by Robert Barr
After you suspend disbelief--I mean, really, a beautiful young reporter who solves problems on an international scale--this was fun. Intrigue, adventure, spies, a dashing hero, and...yes...girl does get boy in the end (of course). Enjoy!
The Bittermeads Mystery
by E.R. Punshon
This was terrific! I stayed up way too late one night with this one--it really keeps you turning the pages. Mile-a-minute action, adventure, and romance. Very well written. From the first page onward, I was hooked. I can't tell you much about the story--don't want to give anything away. Take my word for it. This one is not to be missed!
The Apartment Next Door
by William Andrew Johnston
I enjoyed this book. However, a better title for it would be "Jane, Girl Spy." During WWI, Jane--a young woman of marriageable age--is recuited to "watch" the people in the next door apartment. Of course, she is a marvel--effortlessly solving problems that stump long-time espionage agents--but if you can overlook the silliness of that aspect of the story, it is great fun. Adventure, intrigue, and, of course, romance. It's a fun, light read.
The Great Temptation
by Richard Marsh
Oh, my. This one keeps you going from the first page. I enjoyed it immensely. A case of mistaken identity results in a young affianced couple risking everything for a chance to "have it all." Spies, plots, and counterplots--is anyone who they seem to be? There is danger everywhere, and only quick thinking can save an innocent girl and her fiance from certain death when they pit themselves against a ruthless band of criminals. Definitely a must read. Once again, I stayed up way too late with this one. Enjoy.
The Agony Column
by Earl Derr Biggers
Such fun! I enjoyed every minute of it. Excellent, short read. Leaves you wanting more.
Holocaust House
by Norbert Davis
This was fun! Sort of a tongue-in-cheek approach to the hard-boiled mystery that saves it from the tired "gin mill" and "dolly" category. I'm starting the next one -- Mouse in the Mountain immediately.
The Mouse in the Mountain
by Norbert Davis
Terrific! I loved it. Read "Holocaust House" (the short story that introduces Doan & Carstairs) first to get a feel for the characters. Davis writes well, and the books are such fun! I wish there were more of them.
Three Weeks
by Elinor Glyn
Today's romance writers should all be forced to study Elinor Glyn. She is glorious. This book is an amazing read. She really knows how to keep you turning the pages. Enjoy!
The Visits of Elizabeth
by Elinor Glyn
Another Elinor Glyn winner. Light, witty, elegant prose that leaves you wanting more. Enjoy!
His Hour
by Elinor Glyn
Elinor Glyn does it again. A good light read. A prototype for today's romance stories of the innocent damsel who is
visiting a foreign country. How can she help falling in love with the oh-so-dashing prince. Enjoy!
The Red Thumb Mark
by R. Austin Freeman
Thorndyke is wonderful! A worthy successor to Sherlock Holmes. This is great sport--all of the "scientific" methods used to solve crime are impressive when one considers the era when it was written...and it isn't so overwritten like many of the books of the time. Good plot, good characters. Some great comedy. Excellent all around. Enjoy!
The Ashiel Mystery
by Mrs Charles Bryce
Good read. It has everything--disguises, secret passages, romance and, of course, mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Murder at Bridge
by Anne Austin
Grat fun! If you don't get the in-your-face clue at the very beginning, this one will really keep you guessing. So many suspects and so many motives. I would definitely like to read more by Anne Austin.