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May152011
GUEST REVIEW: ‘In The Dead of Winter’ by Abbey Pen Baker
by Carolyn • Posted in 3.5 Star Reviews, Authors A-D, Book Reviews, Guest Review, Mystery|Thriller|Crime
Title: In the Dead of Winter: A Myrl Adler Norton Mystery
Author: Abbey Pen Baker
Publisher: The Irregular Special Press
Publication Date: 2010
Paperback: 290 pages
Genre: Mystery
Source: Review Copy
Guest Review by Sarah
RATING: 7/10
GOODREADS SUMMARY:
Myrl Adler Norton was, by all accounts, one of the most remarkable women of the twentieth century. The daughter of the acclaimed opera singer Irene Adler, she was a respected professor of logic at Smith College as well as one of the most famous consulting detectives of all time. The books of her exploits, written by her lifelong friend and confidante Faye Martin Tullis, are among the most popular in the history of detective literature. Now, with this previously undiscovered manuscript, the true story behind the meeting of these two friends and their first case comes to light.
In 1918, while a student at Smith College, Faye first encountered Myrl, an enigmatic figure with an interesting past. When a local actress is found dead amid bizarre circumstances, Myrl takes an interest in the murder, and the two travel to Brattleboro, Vermont, to investigate. There they uncover a twisted conspiracy, one far more dangerous than simple murder – and learn the truth about Myrl’s real father, the world’s most famous consulting detective.
REVIEW:
‘In the Dead of Winter: A Myrl Adler Norton Mystery’ is the first in a series of books by Abbey Pen Baker. It follows the first meeting between Myrl Adler Norton and Faye Martin Tullis, a duo who we are told go onto to become a legendary detective pair. The story, beginning in 1918 is set against a backdrop of the end of the first world war and the burgeoning movement among women to obtain the vote. Myrl and Faye find themselves pulled into a murder case which becomes much more complicated, gruesome and dangerous than it initially seemed.
I found the plot of this novel really gripping and although some elements did seem somewhat far fetched, I thought that the author actually succeeds in making these appear believable.
The novel is set between the town of Northampton (where Myrl is a teacher at Smith College and Faye is one of her students) and the small Vermont town of Brattleboro home to a prominent theatre group and some illustrious goings on.
Alyssa Dansen, the victim in the case in connected to both places and despite being found dead in Northampton; it is to Brattleboro that the two ladies are drawn with Myrl certain that the key to the mystery lies there.
Mryl and Faye are interesting characters, I find it significant that Myrl was a teacher and Faye a student in 1918, as this must have been quite unusual for the time. Both characters seem to aid each other with Myrl being headstrong and relentless in her pursuit for the truth and Faye a more laid back character. They seem to make a superb detective pair. The revelations about Myrl’s family are not only shocking they also shed some light on her unusual character.
My favourite part of the book are the dramatic twists that the story takes, I felt that I did not want to put the book down. This is a great book full of intrigue, suspense and some surprising characters.
VERDICT:
I really enjoyed this book and would happily recommend it to others, particularly people interested in the mystery genre.
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1 Comment
Fabulous review. That time period really intrigues me.
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