The Case of William Smith (Miss Silver Mystery Book 13)

This is the story of a man who returned from war without his memory. It isn't very realistic but it is a lot of fun, a perfect gentle read to renew the mind and spirits, as we discover how he is restored to all he has lost.I first discovered the Miss Silver stories many years ago. I loved their upper-crust characters, their manners and their refined sensibilities. It seemed like a revelation of how to be posh - and also a revelation of why I am not posh! I also love the combination of mystery and romance and the strong moral tone. It makes the world a safer and more comprehensible place, to me at least. Nowadays I find the stories old-fashioned and somewhat like fairy tales. However, I still get hooked and find them really engrossing. The plot of this book is naïve and a modern editor would demand a few changes before even considering it fit for publication. Nevertheless, it is ingenious and touching and I do enjoy the glimpse of a time simultaneously more innocent and actually more sophisticated than our technological jungle. It has been commented that the past we are nostalgic for never existed, and that may be true, but I've had a few glimpses of upper-crust life where these standards still apply and I admired it. I'll go in reading and enjoying the Miss Silver books. (Patricia Wentworth did write other mysteries but, without the stabilising presence of Miss Silver, they do tend to degenerate into mere silliness.)

Always enjoy this book. Comforting to know the wicked will be discovered and all resolved happily in the end. cosy mystery

I enjoyed this book, the characters, as ever, are well drawn and the plot quite intricate.

Brilliant story.

I love these cosy crime stories, weirdly reassuring.

Again some interesting twists and turns. Another book that the ending is not obvious from the beginning. Although written decades ago it reads very easily for the current time

I love Miss Silver but this book was atypical and I didn't enjoy it quite so much, mainly because I saw the twist coming from miles away. That said, it was as well written as always, I just thought the premise a bit contrived.

Arrived quickly.