The Dower House Mystery

By: Patricia Wentworth

Narrated by: Anne Hancock

Amabel Grey, a widow with a modest income, needs money. Fast. Her spoiled daughter Daphne has an opportunity to go with friends on holiday, and she's convinced it will end with a lucrative marriage proposal. But where to find 200 pounds?

Amabel refuses to borrow money she knows she can't repay and visits a lawyer friend to ask about ideas for employment. She overhears a client requesting the lawyer find someone to live in his Dower House for six months. The stipend is 200 pounds! And she knows the house, having visited 20 years before. The catch? Previous tenants have been driven away by strange happenings, and the village is convinced the place is haunted. The owner wants the rumors to stop.

Will strange noises, closing doors, and rising mist in the hallways intimidate the determined Amabel? Who or what is trying to scare her away and why?

Listeners of The Astonishing Adventure of Jane Smith will again encounter Jane, her anarchist uncle, and Criminal Investigations Chief "Piggy" LeMesurier. The Dower House's inhabitants and neighbors include a long-lost love of Amabel's.

Public Domain (P)2021 Anne Hancock

Critic reviews

"This classic British whodunit from the Golden Age of mysteries has been recorded to delight another generation. A comely middle-aged widow agrees to reside in what is reputed to be a haunted house for six months to earn money for her spoiled daughter. With panache and practiced skill, narrator Anne Hancock evokes the gloom of the old Dower House, with its peculiar staff and disconcerting neighboring families. Hancock brings to life the winsome widow and endows her with a rational, cultured voice. She also produces many other compelling portrayals, including those of family retainers, local residents, and people of differing ages, genders, and social background. This is a nostalgic treat." (D.L.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine, published June 2021)

Nice Gothic

Interesting premise, totally predictable ending but getting there is an enjoyable listen. The selfish spoiled daughter was irritating but necessary to drive the plot. In keeping with the genre, it ends with HEA all around (except for the bad guys). Narrator does a fine job.

Nice old school mystery!

The narrator did an excellent job and the cozy style story was really very good! The plot was decent but not having read any of of this author’s previous mysteries I found the introduction of a couple of “deus ex machina” characters near the end who I guess are regulars
In her books (?) a little disconcerting. NBD, it was an enjoyable book!

Fun!

I loved it! Anne Hancock is the best reader! I enjoyed every minute of this engaging, charming, and very British mystery.

The Dower House Mystery

I thoroughly enjoyed the story and performance. I highly recommend it. Listen and enjoy.

The Dower House Mystery

Patricia Wentworth always pleases. I love her books and although I’ve read most of them, I will continue to get them in audible as well and listen to them again.