The Chinese Shawl

Miss Silver, Book 5

By: Patricia Wentworth

Narrated by: Diana Bishop

Tanis Lyle was one of those passionate women who always get their own way. Her cousin Laura hated her. Most women did. But men found her irresistible and she used them mercilessly. So when Tanis was found murdered there seemed to be any number of suspects on hand. But Miss Silver had her own suspicions…

©1943 Patricia Wentworth Turnbull (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

I didn’t guess.

What a great book. It was suspenseful and quite fun. I’m so glad I discovered Miss Silver

Return to form for the Miss Silver series

I found the previous installment in the Miss Silver series, “The Lonesome Road,” disappointing. This one marks a return to form. A young woman comes of age and is thrust into the middle of a two-decade family feud. Murder ensues. It’s also an interesting historical document as it is set and was written during WWII, so there are references to rationing, blackouts, etc. You know what you’re getting with a Miss Silver mystery, but it is tiresome that every book has a love story. You know the murderer won’t be either of the lovers, which makes it less interesting (Ngaio Marsh has the same failing - Agatha Christie does not). Diana Bishop is, as always, the perfect narrator.

Cozy Indeed

Would you listen to The Chinese Shawl again? Why?

No - as much as I love the Miss Silver books, they don't bear repeating.

Who was your favorite character and why?

If it had been a movie, I'd have enjoyed Tanis and Aunt Agnes

What does Diana Bishop bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Diana Bishop is a consummate narrator. She saves many a book.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No extremes in a cozy!

Any additional comments?

I love the term "cozy". It describes exactly what these books are. When you need a break from some tough reads, it's nice to be bundled up in an English cozy. I retreat to Miss Silver quite often and she always calms me.

Slow moving.

The story line is lost among a myriad of descriptive details. Length of people's eyelashes and colors in wallpaper just don't hold my attention.

Only one complaint

The Miss Silver stories are a mixed bag with some being very good and others just okay. I would say this is a pretty good one except for the ineptitude of the police Inspector. Usually the police in Wentworth's novels are shown as fairly capable when they do play a role but not in this book. Russell March, one of Miss Silver's former charges from her time as a governess is the officer in charge. Thankfully he relies on Miss Silver to run the show because he spends his entire time jumping to conclusions and refusing to thoroughly interview all participants. Many, many things he should have found out for himself but doesn't even suspect until clued in by Miss Silver. I did enjoy this story overall and the reader of course, is excellent, but I just wanted to shake the Inspector to stop him from being so useless.