Lonesome Road by Patricia Wentworth - Miss Silver's third appearance

The third book about governess-turned-sleuth Miss Silver begins, as several do, with an individual who is nervous about seeking help; she hesitates at the very ordinary Montague Mansions building and regrets having come, yet musters her wits to continue and is encouraged by Miss Silver’s quiet confidence to share hitherto secret worries.

Rachel Treherne is no different but finally she reveals her fear – she has inherited great wealth from her father, who left instructions for her to update her will every year, and she now believes there have been attempts on her life – possibly by a member of her household. Miss Silver offers to come to stay and investigate but warns:

“It is very necessary that no one should imagine I am anything but a private visitor.”

Rachel Treherne smiled again.

“Oh, but I am always asking people down – all sorts of people. It will be quite easy – I like having people who can’t afford to go away, and–“ She stopped short and colored vividly.

But Miss Maud Silver was not at all offended.

“I shall do very well as a gentlewoman of restricted means . . . . ”

Rachel’s house is full of family, some of whom she has invited and some of whom stay only to coax money out of their sister/aunt/cousin. Rachel feels guilty about having been her father’s sole heir so is more generous to these relatives than they deserve. Her reward? One of them is trying to kill her before she changes her will again!

Rachel spends the entire book wringing her hands; while any of us would be distressed by attempts on our life, I hope we would demonstrate a little more spirit and enjoy our wealth a little more! Her favorite relative, Caroline, a young cousin, is similarly and annoyingly passive, and it is no surprise to learn she is being blackmailed and whimpers rather than investigating. However, Wentworth’s mini-portraits of the characters are spot-on as always and it is easy to recognize who is worthy and who is not (clue: asking for money is never a good sign). There is a lot of description of Miss Silver’s dowdy outfits in this book, whereas later in the series her garments are more affectionately described:

Miss Silver came into the room in the kind of garment affected by elderly ladies who frequent boarding houses. It was quite obviously a summer dress that it had been dyed black. Some jet trimming now adorned the neck and wrists. A long, old-fashioned gold chain descended into her lap as she took the chair on the other side of the fire. Her neat, abundant hair was tightly controlled by an unusually firm net. She wore black Cashmere stockings and glacé shoes with beaded toes. A broad old-fashioned gold bracelet set with a carbuncle encircled her left wrist, and a formidable brooch with a design of the Prince of Wales’ feathers carried out in hair and seed pearls surrounded by a plaited border of black enamel also picked out with pearls hung like a large targe upon her bosom. She carried a black satin work-bag turned back with bright rose-pink.

Here's a targe!

My spell-check and I do not even recognize the word ‘targe’ which turns out to be an archaic term for target and, here, refers to a type of shield used by Scottish Highlanders. It occurred to me in this reading that Miss Silver needs to charge more for her detecting so she can buy some decent clothes!

As always, Miss Silver is never shy about sharing her love of Tennyson, and the quotation I love comes in handy with nervous new clients:

“All my work is extremely confidential. As Lord Tennyson so beautifully puts it, 'Oh, trust me all in all or not at all.' I very frequently quote those lines to my clients. A great poet, now sadly neglected. And really very practical, because it is no use expecting me to help you if you will not tell me how I can do so.”

Miss Silver’s former profession enables her to be firm when needed but she surprised me in this book by telling Rachel Treherne that she did not enjoy being a governess. Well, I am sure it is more entertaining to be a detective featured in 32 books! This is my tenth mystery of the year for the Cloak and Dagger Reading Challenge. I am trying to read this series in order for the first time. Here is a link to my other Wentworth reviews.

I forgot that Moira from Clothes in Books also read Lonesome Road recently with greater insight on Miss Silver’s garb.

Title: Lonesome Road: A Miss Silver Mystery
Author: Patricia Wentworth
Publication: Warner, mass market paperback, originally published in 1939. I think this was one of the first Miss Silvers I owned.
Genre: Mystery/series
Source: Personal copy

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