The Case of Jennie Brice Mary Roberts Rinehart Books
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The Case of Jennie Brice is a crime novel by the American writer Mary Roberts Rinehart (1876–1956) set in 1904 in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania (which since 1907 has been a part of the city of Pittsburgh). It tells the story of a blood-stained rope and towel, and a missing tenant, Jenny Brice—all of which convince Mrs. Pittman that a murder has been committed in her boarding house. But without a body, the police say there is no case. Pittman tries to ferret out the killer by using the key to Jennie's apartment to investigate.
The Case of Jennie Brice Mary Roberts Rinehart Books
Mary Roberts Rinehart is often called the "American Agatha Christie" in spite of the fact that she was publishing popular mysteries more than 15 years before Christie's first book appeared. I don't see much similarity between them. Whereas Christie's books were simply mysteries (except for the novels she published under a pseudonym) Rinehart wrote novels with a mystery in them.Like her first successful book (THE CIRCULAR STAIRCASE) this one is narrated by a lonely, ageing woman. Strange when you consider that Rinehart was a happily married young woman with a houseful of children at that time. But whereas the narrator of the first book was wealthy, Mrs. Pitman was born into a wealthy family before an unwise marriage separated her from her relatives and from a comfortable life. Widowed now, she has returned to her childhood home of Pittsburgh and rents a large house that's cheap because during the annual spring floods, the Allegheny River often spills over into the basement and first floor. She exists by taking in borders.
In the days before rivers were dammed and controlled, spring flooding was a regular event and caused great hardship for the poor families living along rivers. On the other hand, it kept the rents cheap. And in the first half of the 20th century, apartment buildings (except for "tenements") were for those with high incomes. Others rented a room or two in a private home and "board" (breakfast and supper) was part of the deal. Running a boarding house was one of the very few ways that a "respectable" woman could earn a living.
An actress named Jennie Brice disappears during the flood and Mrs. Pitman is convinced that her unemployed husband is the murderer. However, there are complications, including a handsome young newspaper reporter who's in love with Mrs. Pitman's niece. In spite of some dated writing techniques (especially the "if only we had known" foreshadowing for which this author is famous) it's a tender story and shows an unusually wide knowledge of human nature for such a young author. Rinehart was a professional and her books are carefully crafted and never sloppy. It's a damned shame that the same can't be said for the people who converted this one into an ebook. Several paragraphs are missing at the end of the book. I don't think it will ruin it for you, but you might want to consider purchasing a different ebook version.
If you are a Rinehart fan or think you might become one, you shouldn't miss JENNIE BRICE. It's a classic.
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The Case of Jennie Brice Mary Roberts Rinehart Books Reviews
There were quite a few interesting twists and turns to keep me wondering what would happen next. The ending did surprise me a bit.
I very much enjoyed this book and found the setting (early 1920's) only added to the charm of the story.
The plot revolves around a small-time actress who disappears one night from a boarding house during a flood. Where is she? Is she alive or dead? Why did she disappear? Is her husband involved?
The plot is simple as is the setting. Some people may find it too simplistic (no agonizing psychological drama or overdone action) but it is very enjoyable and an easy read. No overdone violence or gristly crime-scene descriptions. Just a nice little mystery for a dark and stormy night.
Wow, I really enjoyed this old book. Plot was great, well thought-out - well executed. Very interesting reading, the author's tone that is. I love mysteries, and this was top notch. I've heard nothing but good things about this author, and being a Christie fan, after having read this one (my first of Reinhart's), I know I want to read all of her mysteries. I know she wrote other types also, but since she is known as the American Agatha Christie, I'm assuming there are plenty that are of the mystery venue for me to enjoy. If this book was any indication, I'm in for some very good mystery reading. Highly recommend.
The Case of Jennie Brice by Mary Roberts Rinehart was written in 1912. This tale is told from the standpoint of a past-her-prime manager of a boarding house. The events portrayed occurred during and after a flood that takes place in 1907. It was fairly easy to read, with a nice plot twist at the end. Also, it was fairly short, just an afternoon's read. Add ½ star if you have special interest in the "lower Allegheny" area (south of?) Pittsburgh.
This book grabbed me immediately because of the startling setting. We find ourselves in a boarding house, whose owner is narrating her concerns that a murder has been committed. But, lo! There are people rowing boats down the hallway of her establishment and tying up at the stairway on the second floor! You see, her town suffers annual flooding, and she is resigned to the fact that every year, her basement is subterranean and her first floor tenants must be housed on the upper floors. And, oh, yes, when the water goes down, she knows she'll have to re-paper the walls. Not to mention that any of her furniture and other items that are swept out in the floor are apt to be nabbed by her neighbor, Molly Maguire, who will have finder's rights to them.
But back to the murder, if there is a murder, and our narrator isn't certain. But it seems that the actor couple, originally housed on the first floor, but now sheltering in a second floor room with her own obsidian clock, is no longer a couple. The wife is missing and so is the clock. This would be unnerving in normal times, but now there is the brooding fear that perhaps a body is floating around in the underwater regions of the first floor or even the basement. And the clock, well, it won't float, so not even Molly Maguire is likely to find it.
So is there a murder, or is there not? This well told little tale keeps us in suspense until the end -- just the way we like it, don't we?
--Debra Anne Wintsmith, author of Precious Jewels, A Seventh-Day Adventist Family Saga and voracious reader of other people's books.
A woman disappears from a rooming house during an annual flood in Pittsburgh. The landlady is sure some mischief has been done, and with the encouragement of a gentleman she meets, she goes to the police. It is presumed the woman has been murdered. Through many twists and turns in the story, a body is eventually discovered in the flood waters, but the head and one hand are missing. Can a man be convicted on purely circumstantial evidence? I highly recommend this book that will keep the reader fully engaged to the end.
Mary Roberts Rinehart is often called the "American Agatha Christie" in spite of the fact that she was publishing popular mysteries more than 15 years before Christie's first book appeared. I don't see much similarity between them. Whereas Christie's books were simply mysteries (except for the novels she published under a pseudonym) Rinehart wrote novels with a mystery in them.
Like her first successful book (THE CIRCULAR STAIRCASE) this one is narrated by a lonely, ageing woman. Strange when you consider that Rinehart was a happily married young woman with a houseful of children at that time. But whereas the narrator of the first book was wealthy, Mrs. Pitman was born into a wealthy family before an unwise marriage separated her from her relatives and from a comfortable life. Widowed now, she has returned to her childhood home of Pittsburgh and rents a large house that's cheap because during the annual spring floods, the Allegheny River often spills over into the basement and first floor. She exists by taking in borders.
In the days before rivers were dammed and controlled, spring flooding was a regular event and caused great hardship for the poor families living along rivers. On the other hand, it kept the rents cheap. And in the first half of the 20th century, apartment buildings (except for "tenements") were for those with high incomes. Others rented a room or two in a private home and "board" (breakfast and supper) was part of the deal. Running a boarding house was one of the very few ways that a "respectable" woman could earn a living.
An actress named Jennie Brice disappears during the flood and Mrs. Pitman is convinced that her unemployed husband is the murderer. However, there are complications, including a handsome young newspaper reporter who's in love with Mrs. Pitman's niece. In spite of some dated writing techniques (especially the "if only we had known" foreshadowing for which this author is famous) it's a tender story and shows an unusually wide knowledge of human nature for such a young author. Rinehart was a professional and her books are carefully crafted and never sloppy. It's a damned shame that the same can't be said for the people who converted this one into an ebook. Several paragraphs are missing at the end of the book. I don't think it will ruin it for you, but you might want to consider purchasing a different ebook version.
If you are a Rinehart fan or think you might become one, you shouldn't miss JENNIE BRICE. It's a classic.
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