The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart Published by SAGA Egmont on April 22, 2022 (first published 1908)
Source: Library
Genres: Vintage Mystery
Length: 7 hrs 11 mins
Pages: 178
Format: Audiobook
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Rachel Innes is a rich lady who has been taking care of her niece and nephew since their father died. The three of them decide to rent a house in the country and although everything seems to be alright in the beginning, strange events soon begin to occur. Her niece disappears then reappears a few days later. There is a murder they are involved in. They hear strange noises. Things fall down the stairs in the middle of the night. Will Rachel solve the mysteries and how will their summer end? Find out in "The Circular Staircase".
A couple of weekends ago we went to the Pittsburgh Book Fest, which was so much fun! One of the events I signed us up for was a presentation about Mary Roberts Rinehart, who was born and raised in Allegheny City, which eventually was annexed by Pittsburgh, and then built a house in Sewickley following the success of The Circular Staircase. She led a fascinating life, if you ever get the chance to read about her. Pitt actually holds the archives of her papers. So, I listened to The Circular Staircase in preparation. I’ve read it before but didn’t actually remember any of it.
Rachel Innes is a wealthy woman who has been the guardian of her niece and nephew for a long time. They are both young adults now and the three of them have decided to rent a place for the summer, and taken Rachel’s maid with them. The mansion, belonging to a banker and his family who are on vacation in California, is named Sunnyside, but from the first night there we know it’s not going to be a relaxing summer holiday.
The Circular Staircase has gothic elements with its bumps in the night and a creepy house, even if it looks lovey from the outside, but Rachel is a sceptic, and even if her maid is sure its ghosts, she knows that there has to be a logical explanation and is determined to find it. And then a man is found dead at the bottom of the staircase, and finding the solution becomes all the more important.
The story is a bit convoluted and I will admit to being a bit confused at one point. We’ve got a ton of characters, including some with hidden identities, and several subplots involving affairs, embezzlement, and a mysterious child. Rachel is narrating the story from her first person point of view, but looking back at that summer. Roberts Rinehart is credited with popularizing the “if I had only known then” trope in mysteries, and The Circular Staircase is a prime example. I love Rachel, or Aunt Ray, though. She’s bold and intelligent and willing to act on a hunch. Also, the interactions between her and her maid are downright funny.
i need to add more of Roberts Rinehart’s books to my tbr.
About Mary Roberts Rinehart
Mary Roberts Rinehart was a prolific author often called the American Agatha Christie. She is considered the source of the phrase “The butler did it”, although she did not actually use the phrase herself, and also considered to have invented the “Had-I-But-Known” school of mystery writing.
Rinehart wrote hundreds of short stories, poems, travelogues and special articles. Many of her books and plays were adapted for movies, such as The Bat (1926), The Bat Whispers (1930), and The Bat (1959). While many of her books were best-sellers, critics were most appreciative of her murder mysteries.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
My sister gave me a beautiful hardcover reprint of one of her books, which I put on my 20 Books of Summer list, so this is very timely!
I hope you enjoy it!