The blood-stained rope and towel, the stray slipper, the broken knife—and the disappearance of the lovely Jennie Brice—were enough to convince Mrs. Pitman that murder had been commited in her boardinghouse. The police, however, were another matter. Without a tangible body, there could be no official murder charge.
Mrs. Pitman ran a respectable establishment and was not about to harbor a killer on the premises. If the police couldn't see what was in front of their noses, then she would just have to take matters into her own hands. As the landlady, after all, she had the perfect excuse to do a little judicious snooping.
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"I have learned that there is a bit more variety and subtlety to Ms. Rinehart's choices of plot and settings than I thought when I read 'The Bat' two decades ago. Locating the story in Pittsburgh during the winter floods is unusual and adds interest to the boarding house(rather than drawing room) setting."
— Vicki (4 out of 5 stars)
“A money’s worth of chills and thrills.”
— Kirkus Reviews“Sometimes you have the good fortune to come upon a novel that’s like a suit tailored in Bond Street or an understated little black frock by a top designer, so exquisitely put together that you don’t quite realize you’re seeing something extra special until you take a second look. Even if the flood scenes were its only attraction, Jennie Brice would be well worth a second look.”
— Charlotte MacLeod in Had She But Known: A Biography of Mary Roberts Rinehart" Riveting mystery with unique setting: Early 20th century Pittsburgh in flood season. Made me want to re-read McCullough's The Johnstown Flood. "
— Catherine, 2/11/2014" This was my first read by this author. It won't be the last. I really like the way this turn of the centruy author includes day to day details of the lifestyle back then and the twists and turns her mysterys take. "
— Cindy, 1/21/2014" Bought this book on Cabbage Key Florida which is owned by the decendents of the author. A fun to read book especially if you enjoy the reading the stiff language of the upper class at turn of the century. I found it interesting that the author was known as the American Agatha Christie even though she published 14 years before Chrisie!! "
— Patricia, 1/8/2014" A good mystery, though told in a somewhat befuddled way. A quick read. "
— Beka, 12/9/2013" Delightful! Thinking about this book makes me smile. "
— Jeanette, 12/8/2013" A murder mystery with a twist -- quite entertaining -- author writes well and the plot had enough red herrings that I was not able to figure it out on my own. "
— Judy, 11/15/2013" evidence points to a murder, but where's the body, what's the motive? "
— Debbie, 9/8/2013" More like an elaborate game of CLUE than a mystery novel; short and easy read, but hardly worth the effort. "
— Deb, 8/21/2013" This is a great mystery set in turn of the century Pittsburgh. A great whodunit that was difficult to put down. "
— Kevin, 4/28/2013" This is a great book! I loved it. It kind of has a Sherlock Holmes feel to it! "
— Seneca, 1/30/2012" I thought this was another excellent Mary Roberts Rinehart mystery novel. Classic who-dunnit. Worth the read. "
— Tanya, 10/8/2011" Free Kindle book from Amazon. You get what you pay for. "
— Tony, 5/5/2011" More like an elaborate game of CLUE than a mystery novel; short and easy read, but hardly worth the effort. "
— Deb, 3/28/2011" Period novel. I felt like the story got tangled up at times but there was a plot. Delivery was just okay. "
— Susan, 9/10/2010" Period novel. I felt like the story got tangled up at times but there was a plot. Delivery was just okay. "
— Susan, 7/27/2010" A murder mystery with a twist -- quite entertaining -- author writes well and the plot had enough red herrings that I was not able to figure it out on my own. "
— Judy, 4/11/2010" Nice cozy mystery with a good dose of humor. The plot was a bit thin, but I'm definitely looking forward to reading more of Mary Roberts Rinehart's mysteries. <br/> <br/>(Oh, and the name in the title is Jennie Brice, not Jenny....) "
— Kalen, 2/21/2010" I thought this was another excellent Mary Roberts Rinehart mystery novel. Classic who-dunnit. Worth the read. "
— Tanya, 11/21/2009" Intriguing little mystery set against the backdrop of a flooded river "
— Jack, 9/19/2009" One of my favorite MRR novels. Rather different from the priveleged, upper-class characters of some of her other novels "
— Paula, 7/12/2009" Free Kindle book from Amazon. You get what you pay for. "
— Tony, 5/7/2009" Very good love Mary Roberts Rhinehart "
— Karen, 5/6/2009" One of my favorite MRR novels. Rather different from the priveleged, upper-class characters of some of her other novels "
— Paula, 7/26/2008" This one I really liked, not sure what it was about this particular novel of hers that I liked, but some thing about it intrigued me.. "
— Tobius, 8/9/2007" Rinehart at her best. Wonderful setting. Interesting characters. Twists and turns in the plot. The landlady suspects her tenant of murdering his wife. It looks like he did. Then it looks like he didn't. Is she really dead? Is she alive and hiding? Well done. "
— Kathy, 3/30/2007Mary Roberts Rinehart (1876–1958) was a novelist and playwright best known for her mystery stories, which combined humor with ingenuity. The success of her novels The Circular Staircase and The Man in Lower Ten established her reputation as an important American mystery writer. At one time she was the highest paid writer in America. In addition to mysteries, she wrote comic tales, plays, romances, and travel books, some of which reflected her experiences as a correspondent during World War I. One critic called her autobiography, My Story, her finest book.
C. M. Hébert is an Earphones Award winner and Audie Award nominee. She is the recording studio director for the Talking Books Program at the Library of Congress’ National Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. She lives in Silver Spring, Maryland, with her husband, daughter, cat, and assorted fish.