I love to read whodunnit type of mysteries in the classic tradition of Agatha Christie. Unfortunately, Withering Heights by Dorothy Cannell is not one of them.
I read the first in this Ellie Haskell series, Thin Woman, a while ago. I didn’t love it, but I thought I’d try another book by this author. The cover of the book was pink and pretty. This proves true not to judge a book by its cover. After reading Withering Heights, I decided I will not read any more by this author.
Withering Heights is her 11th mystery featuring Ellie Haskell, so I am sure some may find the books intriguing. But for me, her style of writing is too verbose. There’s too much useless dialogue and asides that do not contribute to the story or to the characters. I was half way through the book before the intrigue began. The criminal was not clever, the resolution was not satisfying, and the heroine was not all that likable.
Let me know if you’ve read any clean, clever mysteries that you recommend.