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Mrs. Bradley #9
St. Peter's Finger
Mrs. Beatrice Lestrange Bradley receives a visit from her barrister son, Ferdinand Lestrange, who brings with him a plea for help. The coastal convent and girls' school of Saint Peter's Finger reports that student Ursula Doyle has died under inexplicable circumstances. The poor girl was found in the filled tub of a guesthouse bathroom but the coroner discovers that she had died from carbon monoxide poisoning. Fearing public outcry at the suspicious death, the nuns ask the Home Office psychoanalyst to look into matters. Mrs. Bradley dutifully attends.
Arriving at the convent, the detective quickly learns that the flow of information runs differently here. Though the nuns don't withhold facts, neither do they extend them. Part of the difficulty lay in the circumstances: although none can believe little Ursula capable of committing the cardinal sin of suicide, the possibility of murder occurring at St. Peter's is particularly disagreeable. As facts continue to find against a ruling of accidental drowning, Mrs. Bradley is forced to start looking for a murderer.
A couple of outsiders fit nicely: the dead girl's aunt, Mrs. Maslin, moved one step closer to seeing Ursula's large inheritance bestowed to her own stepdaughter; Miss Bonnet, a visiting physical training mistress, certainly had the strength—and possibly a motive—for murder; and cousin Ulrica, an enigmatic girl with signs of religious mania, was the last person to see Ursula alive. Even simple-minded Sister Bridget, with affinities for a pet mouse and for starting fires, cannot be immediately ruled out. As a solution begins to form, Mrs. Bradley grows increasingly uneasy with the situation and warns the Mother Superior to take steps to avoid another crime. In so doing, the old sleuth will also have to act fast to preserve her own life.
Arriving at the convent, the detective quickly learns that the flow of information runs differently here. Though the nuns don't withhold facts, neither do they extend them. Part of the difficulty lay in the circumstances: although none can believe little Ursula capable of committing the cardinal sin of suicide, the possibility of murder occurring at St. Peter's is particularly disagreeable. As facts continue to find against a ruling of accidental drowning, Mrs. Bradley is forced to start looking for a murderer.
A couple of outsiders fit nicely: the dead girl's aunt, Mrs. Maslin, moved one step closer to seeing Ursula's large inheritance bestowed to her own stepdaughter; Miss Bonnet, a visiting physical training mistress, certainly had the strength—and possibly a motive—for murder; and cousin Ulrica, an enigmatic girl with signs of religious mania, was the last person to see Ursula alive. Even simple-minded Sister Bridget, with affinities for a pet mouse and for starting fires, cannot be immediately ruled out. As a solution begins to form, Mrs. Bradley grows increasingly uneasy with the situation and warns the Mother Superior to take steps to avoid another crime. In so doing, the old sleuth will also have to act fast to preserve her own life.
351 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1938
About the author
Gladys Mitchell
92 books130 followersAka Malcolm Torrie, Stephen Hockaby.
Born in Cowley, Oxford, in 1901, Gladys Maude Winifred Mitchell was the daughter of market gardener James Mitchell, and his wife, Annie.
She was educated at Rothschild School, Brentford and Green School, Isleworth, before attending Goldsmiths College and University College, London from 1919-1921.
She taught English, history and games at St Paul's School, Brentford, from 1921-26, and at St Anne's Senior Girls School, Ealing until 1939.
She earned an external diploma in European history from University College in 1926, beginning to write her novels at this point. Mitchell went on to teach at a number of other schools, including the Brentford Senior Girls School (1941-50), and the Matthew Arnold School, Staines (1953-61). She retired to Corfe Mullen, Dorset in 1961, where she lived until her death in 1983.
Although primarily remembered for her mystery novels, and for her detective creation, Mrs. Bradley, who featured in 66 of her novels, Mitchell also published ten children's books under her own name, historical fiction under the pseudonym Stephen Hockaby, and more detective fiction under the pseudonym Malcolm Torrie. She also wrote a great many short stories, all of which were first published in the Evening Standard.
She was awarded the Crime Writers' Association Silver Dagger Award in 1976.
Born in Cowley, Oxford, in 1901, Gladys Maude Winifred Mitchell was the daughter of market gardener James Mitchell, and his wife, Annie.
She was educated at Rothschild School, Brentford and Green School, Isleworth, before attending Goldsmiths College and University College, London from 1919-1921.
She taught English, history and games at St Paul's School, Brentford, from 1921-26, and at St Anne's Senior Girls School, Ealing until 1939.
She earned an external diploma in European history from University College in 1926, beginning to write her novels at this point. Mitchell went on to teach at a number of other schools, including the Brentford Senior Girls School (1941-50), and the Matthew Arnold School, Staines (1953-61). She retired to Corfe Mullen, Dorset in 1961, where she lived until her death in 1983.
Although primarily remembered for her mystery novels, and for her detective creation, Mrs. Bradley, who featured in 66 of her novels, Mitchell also published ten children's books under her own name, historical fiction under the pseudonym Stephen Hockaby, and more detective fiction under the pseudonym Malcolm Torrie. She also wrote a great many short stories, all of which were first published in the Evening Standard.
She was awarded the Crime Writers' Association Silver Dagger Award in 1976.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
May 18, 2014
Mrs Bradley is contacted by her son - Sir Ferdinand Lestrange, the eminent barrister - to look into the death of a young girl, Ursula. She apparently drowned in a bath at her convent school but the inquest verdict of suicide doesn't seem right to some of the people involved. This is a frightening and haunting mystery in which there are many undercurrents and forces at work that are far from obvious on the surface.
I'm still thinking about the story several hours after I finished reading it. The atmosphere in the convent is brought to life extremely well with the petty rules and restrictions influencing everyone's daily lives. The characters of the children are very well done as are the characters of the nuns. The really frightening ending is tense and nail biting and I found myself having a quick look at the list of the Mrs Bradley books to make sure she did actually survive this one!
This is an excellent and chilling crime story with three dimensional characters and interesting motivations and the hot house atmosphere of a small community is well realised. Recommended reading for anyone who enjoys their mysteries in the classic mould.
I'm still thinking about the story several hours after I finished reading it. The atmosphere in the convent is brought to life extremely well with the petty rules and restrictions influencing everyone's daily lives. The characters of the children are very well done as are the characters of the nuns. The really frightening ending is tense and nail biting and I found myself having a quick look at the list of the Mrs Bradley books to make sure she did actually survive this one!
This is an excellent and chilling crime story with three dimensional characters and interesting motivations and the hot house atmosphere of a small community is well realised. Recommended reading for anyone who enjoys their mysteries in the classic mould.
December 3, 2019
It's a long and winding road to the morally dubious denouement of Finger, where, if murder must be ignored, at least crime doesn't pay.
February 6, 2022
Nuns. I'm a sucker for nuns. Per usual a blizzard of red herrings and false clues, most provided by Mrs. Bradley herself. And the nuns knew who the murderer was all along, but were too kind to say. Christ on a bike!
November 23, 2012
The coroner bought it -- that Ursula Doyle, a docile, strictly obedient girl, should disobey one of the most harshly enforced rules and sneak into a bathroom at her convent school’s guest-house, turn on the gas tap and commit suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning in the bathtub. But the nuns at St. Peter's don’t believe it -- and neither does Mrs. Beatrice Lestrange Bradley.
At the request of her son and the convent’s Mother Superior, Mrs. Bradley investigates the death of 13-year-old Ursula. Ursula's grandfather, an Irishman who emigrated to America and raised a large, if shady, fortune, had been intending to leave the bulk of it to the now-dead Ursula. Ursula’s cousins -- the quiet, highly religious Ulrica Doyle, a year ahead of Ursula at St. Peter’s , and Mary Maslin, a dimwitted and lazy girl a year behind Ursula, who is also at the same convent school. Did either of them have a hand in the heiress’ death? And what about their families? Mary’s step-mother is very interested in the grandfather’s will, and she was staying at the guest-house the day of the crime. Add in the nuns, who are withholding as much information as they’re providing to Mrs. Bradley, and a bluff games mistress who found Ursula’s body and who was forced to resign her previous post because of large-scale thievery, and you’ll find yourself with a wide choice of suspects.
St. Peter’s Finger serves up several additional murder attempts before Mrs. Bradley neatly solves the mystery. As with all Mrs. Bradley mysteries, you’ll be kept guessing until the very end -- and a most dramatic and suspenseful ending at that. I’ve read as many Mrs. Bradley mysteries as I can find, and I’ve never yet been disappointed. If you like your British cozy served up with a side of irreverent humor and curmudgeonly attitude, you’ve come to the right place.
At the request of her son and the convent’s Mother Superior, Mrs. Bradley investigates the death of 13-year-old Ursula. Ursula's grandfather, an Irishman who emigrated to America and raised a large, if shady, fortune, had been intending to leave the bulk of it to the now-dead Ursula. Ursula’s cousins -- the quiet, highly religious Ulrica Doyle, a year ahead of Ursula at St. Peter’s , and Mary Maslin, a dimwitted and lazy girl a year behind Ursula, who is also at the same convent school. Did either of them have a hand in the heiress’ death? And what about their families? Mary’s step-mother is very interested in the grandfather’s will, and she was staying at the guest-house the day of the crime. Add in the nuns, who are withholding as much information as they’re providing to Mrs. Bradley, and a bluff games mistress who found Ursula’s body and who was forced to resign her previous post because of large-scale thievery, and you’ll find yourself with a wide choice of suspects.
St. Peter’s Finger serves up several additional murder attempts before Mrs. Bradley neatly solves the mystery. As with all Mrs. Bradley mysteries, you’ll be kept guessing until the very end -- and a most dramatic and suspenseful ending at that. I’ve read as many Mrs. Bradley mysteries as I can find, and I’ve never yet been disappointed. If you like your British cozy served up with a side of irreverent humor and curmudgeonly attitude, you’ve come to the right place.
June 13, 2024
Three and a half stars.
An extremely convoluted and complex plot. The action mostly takes place in a convent with lots of nuns called Mother This or Mother That and at times it was extremely difficult to remember which one did what. As usual, the excellent Mrs Bradley seemed to know everything without us, the poor readers, knowing quite how she knows. Although it is quite hard going at times Gladys ratchets up the tension really well towards the end.
Mrs Bradley and her chauffeur George are brilliant creations and the writing is of top quality so I forgive her all the vagaries of credibility.
I thoroughly enjoyed it but I doubt it's for everybody.
An extremely convoluted and complex plot. The action mostly takes place in a convent with lots of nuns called Mother This or Mother That and at times it was extremely difficult to remember which one did what. As usual, the excellent Mrs Bradley seemed to know everything without us, the poor readers, knowing quite how she knows. Although it is quite hard going at times Gladys ratchets up the tension really well towards the end.
Mrs Bradley and her chauffeur George are brilliant creations and the writing is of top quality so I forgive her all the vagaries of credibility.
I thoroughly enjoyed it but I doubt it's for everybody.
March 13, 2023
Best Mrs/Dame Bradley yet!!*
I have read most of this excellent detective series by Gladys Mitchell (in no particular order, due to the way that Amazon makes them available.) When I reread them, as I plan to do- I will read them in order- much more enjoyable that way! Having read so many of them, I have become used to the way that some of them were not particularly well done- the less-than-stellar ones seemed to have been written just to keep Dame Beatrice, Laura, her lovable, athletic sidekick/secretary, George the chauffeur/bodyguard, Robert Gavin- upwardly rising star cop, (who is always a telegram/phone call away to dig up anything too hard for his wife, Laura and the Boss, Dame Beatrice Adela Lestrange Bradley to figure out themselves) busy & possibly fulfill a contract? But... even the least favorites were always interesting to anyone who loves British crime stories. Some are like reading extensive travel guides- you will learn more about the place names and geography of Scotland than you ever knew existed, but even then, the plots, characters and denouements make them so much more interesting than a lot of the New Fiction that's out there today.
Gladys Mitchell must have been in an outstanding mood for the writing of St Peter's Finger...the setting, the insights into the character's minds were brilliant!
Not too many places to distract us, and the pace of this psychological thriller keeps the tension ratcheting up. In some of her stories it seems fairly obvious 'who done it'...but not in St Peter's Finger. The ending is surprising and is so ingeniously well thought out.... If you haven't discovered Gladys Mitchell's Mrs Bradley/Dame Beatrice series yet, but have gotten hooked on Albert Campion and Lord Peter Wimsey's understated British detective novels - what are you waiting for?
I have read most of this excellent detective series by Gladys Mitchell (in no particular order, due to the way that Amazon makes them available.) When I reread them, as I plan to do- I will read them in order- much more enjoyable that way! Having read so many of them, I have become used to the way that some of them were not particularly well done- the less-than-stellar ones seemed to have been written just to keep Dame Beatrice, Laura, her lovable, athletic sidekick/secretary, George the chauffeur/bodyguard, Robert Gavin- upwardly rising star cop, (who is always a telegram/phone call away to dig up anything too hard for his wife, Laura and the Boss, Dame Beatrice Adela Lestrange Bradley to figure out themselves) busy & possibly fulfill a contract? But... even the least favorites were always interesting to anyone who loves British crime stories. Some are like reading extensive travel guides- you will learn more about the place names and geography of Scotland than you ever knew existed, but even then, the plots, characters and denouements make them so much more interesting than a lot of the New Fiction that's out there today.
Gladys Mitchell must have been in an outstanding mood for the writing of St Peter's Finger...the setting, the insights into the character's minds were brilliant!
Not too many places to distract us, and the pace of this psychological thriller keeps the tension ratcheting up. In some of her stories it seems fairly obvious 'who done it'...but not in St Peter's Finger. The ending is surprising and is so ingeniously well thought out.... If you haven't discovered Gladys Mitchell's Mrs Bradley/Dame Beatrice series yet, but have gotten hooked on Albert Campion and Lord Peter Wimsey's understated British detective novels - what are you waiting for?
May 19, 2019
I can now understand why opinions on the merits of Gladys Mitchell as a writer of detective fiction are so polarised, this being the first I have read. Having watched some of the TV adaptations with Diana Rigg, and heard the two radio plays featuring Mary Wimbush, I was not immediately led to the novels, finding the character of Mrs Lestrange-Bradley a bit much to take. Here, she comes over as unique, but less of a caricature and a grotesque.
The plot, with many strands, not just involving the suspicious death of a child, is complex enough without being impenetrable. The setting, in a convent which runs both a boarding school and an orphanage, is excellently done and the huge cast of characters is deftly-handled.
A thoroughly enjoyable introduction for me to this writer whose output was, apparently, very uneven in quality.
The plot, with many strands, not just involving the suspicious death of a child, is complex enough without being impenetrable. The setting, in a convent which runs both a boarding school and an orphanage, is excellently done and the huge cast of characters is deftly-handled.
A thoroughly enjoyable introduction for me to this writer whose output was, apparently, very uneven in quality.
July 4, 2022
For some reason it took me a rather long time to finish this book, renewing it three times from my library. The pace was slow, even dragging, particularly in the beginning. Our psychoanalyst turned amateur detective travels to a convent/orphanage to investigate the death of a young girl. Was it suicide, an accident, or murder? The majority of the book is spent questioning the nuns and young girls about their whereabouts, etc. Not exactly exciting stuff. And the book felt far too bloated at 350 pages. For a story that never really deeply developed, with some minor red herrings thrown in, it probably would have worked better as a short story or novella. The highlight for me was the relationship between our detective Mrs. Bradley and her chauffeur and sidekick George. I would be interested in reading other books in this series for more about them, if nothing else.
February 14, 2020
A hugely dated work I fear, without the style or sang froid of her contemporaries, Gladys Mitchell has undoubtedly her rabid fans. I shall not join them.
For good Lord this was a struggle to get through! A cast of thousands, with a investigator defined by irritatingly repetitive cliche (if she 'cackled' once more I was throwing the book against the wall) and so many pieces on the chess board I simply gave up and skipped and skimmed to the unlikely denouement and a weird why-did-I-bother feeling.
Even so...nuggets I caught as deft and effective concentrated on the characterization of singular players and the suppressed will and blind loyalty required in Catholicism.
But not, overall, an experience I wish to repeat.
For good Lord this was a struggle to get through! A cast of thousands, with a investigator defined by irritatingly repetitive cliche (if she 'cackled' once more I was throwing the book against the wall) and so many pieces on the chess board I simply gave up and skipped and skimmed to the unlikely denouement and a weird why-did-I-bother feeling.
Even so...nuggets I caught as deft and effective concentrated on the characterization of singular players and the suppressed will and blind loyalty required in Catholicism.
But not, overall, an experience I wish to repeat.
August 30, 2021
#9 in the Mrs Adela Bradley mystery series. A fully qualified medical doctor and a psychoanalyst (Freudian), she is a consultant for the Home Office and an amateur detective who teams with her chauffeur George Cuddleup and her secretary Laura Menzies to solve mysteries who don't join the series until later.
In a convent/orphanage/school a 13 year old child (heiress to a large fortune) is found dead, poisoned by carbon-monoxide, and a verdict of suicide given. Mrs Bradley is brought in to help the convent by finding out what happened. The convent wants it to be an accidental death while she views it as a murder. She realizes that several people stand to benefit by the death of the child.
In a convent/orphanage/school a 13 year old child (heiress to a large fortune) is found dead, poisoned by carbon-monoxide, and a verdict of suicide given. Mrs Bradley is brought in to help the convent by finding out what happened. The convent wants it to be an accidental death while she views it as a murder. She realizes that several people stand to benefit by the death of the child.
July 26, 2022
I liked this one better than some of her other ones; there are parts where I thought "she doesn't like people in general very much, does she?" because Mitchell is a little more willing to throw slurs around than I am totally comfortable with. But this one was remarkably free from ethnic slurs, which was a relief. Don't agree with her thesis for the book which seems to be that religion is the foundation of morality, and those raised by atheists may be dangerously unbalanced. The morality of the story was very odd - especially at the end .... but it was interesting.
June 19, 2023
C+:
The first Mrs. Bradley book I've read.
I had heard that Mitchell's work was eccentric, but I was not expecting the sleuth herself to be so offhand and rude, and the lurching psychological insights she gives to feel so incredibly dated and extreme (is there any excuse for the reasoning behind the last chapter of the novel?) The "logic" behind that ending half-ruined what was a mostly well-deduced mystery with three genuinely strong suspects. I will probably try another in the series at a later date, but yeah... odd!
The first Mrs. Bradley book I've read.
I had heard that Mitchell's work was eccentric, but I was not expecting the sleuth herself to be so offhand and rude, and the lurching psychological insights she gives to feel so incredibly dated and extreme (is there any excuse for the reasoning behind the last chapter of the novel?) The "logic" behind that ending half-ruined what was a mostly well-deduced mystery with three genuinely strong suspects. I will probably try another in the series at a later date, but yeah... odd!
February 20, 2019
pretty intriguing mystery. love the characters in this - from the orphans to the nuns.
Want to read
December 20, 2019Synopsis: a child is found poisoned by carbon-monoxide, and the verdict is suicide. Mrs. Bradley is certain it's murder and she has suspects.
May 12, 2020
Enjoyed this book but found the Nuns names confusing and the motivations a little the same. I still liked the book but thought that it not one of Gladys Mitchell best.
September 20, 2022
Great read; absolutely delightful. This was recommended by Steve Donoghue on his booktube channel, and I am grateful. I look forward to reading many more of her works.
February 17, 2023
Good setting and cast of characters. Circumstances for the final confession a bit contrived.
September 24, 2016
Gladys Mitchell wrote some fine mysteries featuring psychologist/sleuth Beatrice Lestrange Bradly and I think this is one of the best. It takes the formidable Mrs. Bradley right out of her natural element and pits her against a breed of human with which she's unfamiliar - Roman Catholic nuns.
St Peter's Finger is a sea-side convent which runs both a boarding/day school for girls whose parents can afford the fees and an orphanage. Many of the "orphans" simply lack family who can care for them ( or who want to .) Kindly Father Thomas sends these girls to the nuns in hope of giving them a better life. But in 1930's England, a "better life" for the poor doesn't include the notion of equality. The paying students and the orphans are kept separate and the orphanage is run on austere (harsh by our standards) lines. Some of the girls become institutionalized and are afraid of returning to the outside world. Others - like the "refreshingly unregenerate" Bessie - can't wait to get away.
It's among the paying students that trouble breaks out. Three cousins - granddaughters of a rich American - are boarders and one is found dead under suspicious circumstances. There's an out-cry among the locals. Do they really believe that the nuns are neglectful or is it a symptom of anti-Catholic prejudice - still very strong in England at that time? Mrs. Bradley is called in at the request of her lawyer-son, who's a friend of Father Thomas. She has no prejudice against the nuns, but finds their secretive ways baffling.
As with all of Mitchell's books, the mystery is less important than the characters. The personalities, quirks, and backgrounds of the various nuns are explored in loving detail. These are not just cardboard figures in habits, but real women with real emotions. They include a famous actress and several respected artists and most of them are women who could have been successful professionals. Although not a Roman Catholic herself, Mitchell clearly respected the religious life and was sympathetic to those who choose it. But the "Rule of Silence" prevents the free-flowing gossip during which Mrs. Bradley normally picks up so many clues. The nuns are women who are accustomed to keeping their thoughts to themselves.
With typical humor, Mitchell makes the part-time Physical Education teacher one of the most prominent suspects. She was a "Games Mistress" herself (although she also taught English) and she seems to have enjoyed poking fun at her profession. But there's a serious side, also. This woman is a teacher who isn't suited to be one and who doesn't really like teaching and it shows in her treatment of the students. Mitchell felt strongly that education was a career that should be open only to those who loved it as much as she did.
I think this is one of the most intriguing of a wonderful series. Mrs Bradley's driver George is in fine form - whether he's searching for evidence or debating the merits of Dickens with his employer. The shockingly violent ending isn't typical of Mitchell's books, but it's handled with her usual verve. Don't miss this one.
St Peter's Finger is a sea-side convent which runs both a boarding/day school for girls whose parents can afford the fees and an orphanage. Many of the "orphans" simply lack family who can care for them ( or who want to .) Kindly Father Thomas sends these girls to the nuns in hope of giving them a better life. But in 1930's England, a "better life" for the poor doesn't include the notion of equality. The paying students and the orphans are kept separate and the orphanage is run on austere (harsh by our standards) lines. Some of the girls become institutionalized and are afraid of returning to the outside world. Others - like the "refreshingly unregenerate" Bessie - can't wait to get away.
It's among the paying students that trouble breaks out. Three cousins - granddaughters of a rich American - are boarders and one is found dead under suspicious circumstances. There's an out-cry among the locals. Do they really believe that the nuns are neglectful or is it a symptom of anti-Catholic prejudice - still very strong in England at that time? Mrs. Bradley is called in at the request of her lawyer-son, who's a friend of Father Thomas. She has no prejudice against the nuns, but finds their secretive ways baffling.
As with all of Mitchell's books, the mystery is less important than the characters. The personalities, quirks, and backgrounds of the various nuns are explored in loving detail. These are not just cardboard figures in habits, but real women with real emotions. They include a famous actress and several respected artists and most of them are women who could have been successful professionals. Although not a Roman Catholic herself, Mitchell clearly respected the religious life and was sympathetic to those who choose it. But the "Rule of Silence" prevents the free-flowing gossip during which Mrs. Bradley normally picks up so many clues. The nuns are women who are accustomed to keeping their thoughts to themselves.
With typical humor, Mitchell makes the part-time Physical Education teacher one of the most prominent suspects. She was a "Games Mistress" herself (although she also taught English) and she seems to have enjoyed poking fun at her profession. But there's a serious side, also. This woman is a teacher who isn't suited to be one and who doesn't really like teaching and it shows in her treatment of the students. Mitchell felt strongly that education was a career that should be open only to those who loved it as much as she did.
I think this is one of the most intriguing of a wonderful series. Mrs Bradley's driver George is in fine form - whether he's searching for evidence or debating the merits of Dickens with his employer. The shockingly violent ending isn't typical of Mitchell's books, but it's handled with her usual verve. Don't miss this one.
August 21, 2012
Watching Dame Diana Rigg play Mrs. Bradley made me want more of the same so I picked up this book. The characters’ names were the same: Mrs. Bradley was there and her chauffeur/confidante George but they seemed to be much blander imitations of the strong-willed, intelligent, ahead-of-their-time Mrs. Bradley and George. Sorely disappointing.
Even if I attempt to take this mystery on its own and divorce it from my expectations based on the Mystery! episodes, it does not rate well. The mystery itself is only somewhat interesting and Mrs. Bradley takes forever to solve it. Keeping the characters straight (specifically the flocks of nuns) was difficult since none are interesting or memorable.
I was by far more relieved than fulfilled upon finishing the book. Maybe Mrs. Bradley morphs into the irascible character on film later in the series but she sure was uninteresting in this book.
Even if I attempt to take this mystery on its own and divorce it from my expectations based on the Mystery! episodes, it does not rate well. The mystery itself is only somewhat interesting and Mrs. Bradley takes forever to solve it. Keeping the characters straight (specifically the flocks of nuns) was difficult since none are interesting or memorable.
I was by far more relieved than fulfilled upon finishing the book. Maybe Mrs. Bradley morphs into the irascible character on film later in the series but she sure was uninteresting in this book.
May 8, 2016
Despite the setting of a rambling convent near the sea, with its almost bewildering cast of orphans, school children, and nuns, St. Peter's Finger is an exercise in sustained menace, with twistings and turnings which uncannily approximate deduction in real life. A school-girl has been found drowned in a bath in the convent's guest-house, but is the death accident, suicide... or murder? Mrs. Bradley is at the top of her crocodilian form, and George, her driver and factotum, takes a welcome and prominent role in the story. Top notch characterization, some lovely passages of description, and the curiously alien world of the convent drive the tale forward, and the whole tale is let down only slightly by the conclusion, which I found unsatisfying and for which I would probably remove a half-star. Still, one of the best of the Gladys Mitchell titles that I have read in some while.
Full review to follow.
Full review to follow.
February 20, 2015
Gladys Mitchell at her strongest! Great plot, strong suspects, motives and characters although it did become difficult to keep track of all the Sisters at times.
What was really interesting about this was how Mrs. Bradley talked about 'the Religious' as if they were a separate entity. I am not sure whether this was the reaction of Mrs. Bradley's scientific method to a completely foreign mode of thought or Mitchell communicating a common prejudice against Catholics, but it was so prominent throughout the story that I almost wonder if this was written in response to a particular incident.
What was really interesting about this was how Mrs. Bradley talked about 'the Religious' as if they were a separate entity. I am not sure whether this was the reaction of Mrs. Bradley's scientific method to a completely foreign mode of thought or Mitchell communicating a common prejudice against Catholics, but it was so prominent throughout the story that I almost wonder if this was written in response to a particular incident.
December 30, 2012
There are rampant Gladys Mitchell fans the world over, and altho I loved the tv series with Diana Rigg as Beatrice noble lady detective, this book is pretty pedantic.
I'll try another one to see if that is the general style or just this book. Good social observations and characters, but encased in bone dry prose.
I'll try another one to see if that is the general style or just this book. Good social observations and characters, but encased in bone dry prose.
April 7, 2014
Stiff characterizations. Unfortunately, Mrs. Bradley comes of as being ugly, rude and unsympathetic. The only thing I actually enjoyed was the picture she painted of the nuns with their tight-lipped loyalty to each other and their order. The mystery itself was not very mysterious, but certainly a pleasant distraction if you want something that isn't too taxing on a rainy day.
August 26, 2016
Another brilliant offering from Mrs. Bradley
You will have to pay close attention to the names and movements of the players, and even then, best of luck to figuring out what one hand is doing, etc.
Really excellent writing all the way around. Each book can be read as a stand alone, but I am in for series.
You will have to pay close attention to the names and movements of the players, and even then, best of luck to figuring out what one hand is doing, etc.
Really excellent writing all the way around. Each book can be read as a stand alone, but I am in for series.
January 2, 2012
One of Gladys Mitchell's better cases, Dame Beatrice Lestrange Bradly goes to a convent to find if a student killed herself, or was it murder. While suspects abound if you follow the clues the answer is there for you. A good read.
April 9, 2013
Mrs. Bradley, written, comes off a bit like a nasty parody of Miss Marple -- she's ugly and knits badly. (I prefer to think of her as Diana Rigg in the PBS series.) And of course the psychology is very dated. The A story wasn't bad, just weird. The B story was better.
December 14, 2014
This is the second book I have read by this author, and neither of the solutions to the mysteries made much sense.
This one was somewhat better because it focused on the actions of the detective instead of a random character in the book, and the writing was less choppy.
This one was somewhat better because it focused on the actions of the detective instead of a random character in the book, and the writing was less choppy.
April 11, 2014
disappointing. she's written better.
May 2, 2017
I am still not sure whether, in general, I like the main character or not. She was less eccentric and more human in this book than in others in the series, but she was also less insightful and less interesting. The book plodded along with flocks of characters and not much exposition. I know she's supposed to be using psychology, but a few actual clues would have moved the story along.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews