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4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
187 global ratings
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4 star
23%
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2 star
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Patto
5.0 out of 5 stars A femme fatale has a fatal encounter
Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2016
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Tanis Lyle has a certain something that drives men mad. She herself is immune to falling in love. She finds it more fun to steal other women's boyfriends and break up marriages. We sense she's setting herself up to be murdered by a rejected admirer or a jealous wife. So it's no surprise when she's shot dead.

As it happens Miss Silver is a guest in the house. And the superintendent investigating the murder was a young charge of hers when Miss Silver was a governess (before she become a private investigator). So the investigation is full of fun exchanges between these two. It's amusing to hear Miss Silver gently chiding the Superintendent over his hasty judgments.

There are hostile undercurrents in the household, fueled by a complicated family feud. Love at first sight plays a big part in the plot, as do mad infatuations and resentments that date back over twenty years. Misbehaving servants also play their part. Eavesdropping is rampant.

I found The Chinese Shawl a thoroughly enjoyable Miss Silver mystery. The plot is clever. And Patricia Wentworth does a masterful job of misdirecting our suspicions. As the tension mounts, Miss Silver's knitting is seriously challenged. Some of her stitches actually go wrong.

First published in 1943, The Chinese Shawl has a certain wartime atmosphere, which fascinated me.
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LindaH
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent story
Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2018
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Finally!! My old computer would not allow me to send reviews., and I am happy to announce that it has gone to that vast computer wasteland located.......somewhere. But, I digress. This is an excellent addition to the Miss Silver series. It concerns a young lady who has inherited an old English mansion replete with crazy, conniving, long lost relatives determined to cheat her out of her inheritance. It is obvious who will be the victim, but nothing else is so obvious. The Chinese shawl plays an important part in the mystery. I do recommend this story to anyone who enjoys well written English mysteries.
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Jacquelyn Bailey
5.0 out of 5 stars Old hates, New love
Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2016
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THE CHINESE SHAWL is one of my favorite Miss Silver books. Years ago, Oliver Fane jilted his cousin Agnes and ran off with another woman. Decades later, his daughter Laura accepts an invitation from Agnes Fane, hoping that they can put the family feud that resulted to rest. Alas, old resentments are not so easily exorcised. During the following weekend, there will be new love, old hate, and murder. Fortunately, Miss Maud Silver is on hand to straighten everything out. I enjoy the characterizations in this book--Miss Agnes Fane is a towering character--and I like the way clues that seem to point one way actually point another. I highly recommend THE CHINESE SHAWL.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Old Grudges, Estrangement, Romance, and Murder
Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2019
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Laura Fane, orphaned at an early age, has long been estranged from her father's family. Suddenly, she receives an offer to buy the family estate from the relative who has been living there for many years, a relative who bears a grudge against Laura's parents. Laura accepts an invitation to visit the estate, which she has never seen, while she considers the offer. There are other guests present. A murder occurs. Suspects abound. Miss Silver, who is one of the guests, is called upon to investigate.
The mystery is engrossing, and there are plot twists that keep the reader guessing. There is also romance. I highly recommend this book to those who like British cozy mysteries. If you like Miss Jane Marple, you will like Miss Maud Silver.
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CaptiveBooks
5.0 out of 5 stars Why was I born too late - and - not in England?
Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2016
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I usually like to read series in order, but I have bounced around with this one based on how quickly I could order the format I wanted and get the material to me ASAP! So far Patricia Wentworth has not let me down. Each book stands well on its own with richly developed characters and plot. Love her descriptions of England and the dialogue makes me feel like I am right there with them. I envision spending the winter locked away in my library by the fire finishing off the rest of the books (in order if I can!) - while I am excited there are so many, I am also quite sad that ultimately there will be too few!
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Ron Stephens
5.0 out of 5 stars Even if you figure it out ......
Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2019
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this book will still be excellent. Wentworth does, I think, the best job I have ever read of developing three-dimensional characters and letting the reader learn about them before there ever is a crime. Our feelings get engaged with each of them yet each in a different way. By the end there has been so much tragedy but there is a redemption for at least some of it. And oddly enough one large question remains unanswered but without that being a flaw, rather poetic justice.
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Montana Mackay
3.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable but Messy Writing
Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2016
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This is the story of Laura Fane, whose parents died while she was quite young and who left her an ancient and historic estate called The Priory. Laura doesn't have enough income to maintain The Priory but instead rents it to her wealthy Aunt Agnes. There is a lot of bitterness in the family over old wounds, and this bitterness and self-centeredness are personified most strongly in Aunt Agnes' other niece, Tanis Lyle. Pretty much everyone in the book (except Agnes and her cronies) would like to see Tanis dead, and sure enough we all get our wish. I did enjoy this book but was tripped up by the bumpy shifts in POV (point of view). It is definitely possible to shift from one character's POV to the POV of another character, but it is usually confined to the top two leading characters. In this murder mystery, we find ourselves looking at the world through the eyes of a wide variety of people, including chambermaids. It's just a bit too messy for me. And Miss Silver (the spinster/amateur detective) is "OK" but so stereotyped. She keeps addressing her colleague, Superintendent Marsh, as "my dear Randall," while constantly clicking away with her knitting needles. The book had its strengths (Laura Fane was very believable) but overall it just felt messy.
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Top reviews from other countries

JH
5.0 out of 5 stars ... Wentworth years ago in paperback form and I am delighted they’ve made it to Kindle as I am enjoying ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 5, 2018
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I first read Patricia Wentworth years ago in paperback form and I am delighted they’ve made it to Kindle as I am enjoying them all again. I like her style of writing and her characters are much warmer and ‘real’ than Agatha Christie’s. I also enjoy reading books contemporary to the time they were written as opposed to a modern author writing about that era - quite a difference in the feel of a story I find, however well researched.
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Damaskcat
5.0 out of 5 stars A Family Feud
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 4, 2011
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Laura Fane has inherited a house called The Priory on her twenty first birthday. It is currently rented by her aunt Agnes Fane but the various parts of the Fane family have been at odds since Laura's mother ran off with Agnes' fiancé. Agnes wants her other niece Tanis Lyle to inherit The Priory and is putting pressure on Laura to sell to her. In order to end the feud Laura is invited down to stay with Agnes.

Then the problems start. Tanis is found dead and any of the house party guests could have been the murderer. Maud Silver is staying in the house in order to investigate some petty thefts which have been taking place so she is in an ideal position to try and work out who is the murderer. The novel features Randal Marsh before he reaches the dizzy heights of Chief Constable.

There are many undercurrents throughout this novel and the whole atmosphere is very dark but believable. The characters are well drawn and throughout it all Maud Silver knits for her many friends and relations and watches the people around her for the small things which give them away. One of the best of the Miss Silver novels in my opinion.
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Staffan Lindström
2.0 out of 5 stars Weak
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 21, 2017
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I hope this is not a representative P. Wentworth. It is shows no strength in creating character (they are cardboard) and atmosphere, and the solution is weak indeed: the murderer tells it all overheard by Miss Silver. Despite what some reviewers say this is very far below Agatha Christie.
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Daisy
4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 3, 2020
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An easy read with lively cast of characters. Guessed the twist in the plot before the reveal, but it was enjoyable none the less
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Ron
5.0 out of 5 stars NIce read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 2, 2019
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Nice mystery to keep in my library. I will read again many thanks
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