Miss Maud Silver Books In Order

Publication Order of Miss Silver Books

Miss Maud Silver is a fictional main character in series mystery novels written by bestselling British author Patricia Wentworth. Miss Silver is a former governor turned a private investigator. Just like Miss Marple, a fictional character featured in 12 of Agatha Christie’s crime books and several short stories, Miss Silver’s age and physical appearance make her appear harmless. Some crime fiction readers admire Miss Silver believing that while Miss Marple by Christie Agatha may receive all the attention in the world, the neglected Silver is the fine deal- a stand-up woman, a professional investigator, and a true predecessor of all female private detectives. Other readers disagree claiming that; Miss Silver has none of Miss Marple credibility.

Patricia Wentworth began publication of Miss Silver series in 1928 when Grey Mask, the series debut novel was published. The series lasted thirty-two books concluding in 1961 after The Girl in the Cellar was published.

Grey Mask

Grey Mask is the debut novel in Miss Silver series by Patricia Wentworth. The story opens up with Charles Moray finally returning home to England after spending years overseas. He had left England because his girlfriend, his childhood sweetheart had ditched him on the eve of their wedding without any explanation at all and he returns to England because his father had died.

He arrives home at night, without informing anyone that he was coming, he is shocked to find that a gang headed by a man only known as Greg Mask- given the name because anyone never saw him without his mask disguise. Thinking fast enough, Charles slips silently into his childhood hiding place that allows him to see and eavesdrop on their conversation. He overhears them talking about getting rid of an heiress to get her inheritance, and he inclined to act, but he knew that it could be possible after he caught sight of his former lover, Margaret Langton.

Meanwhile, Margot Standing’s rich dad had been lost at sea leaving her to inherit a fortune. However there was a complication, and the family solicitor explained to her that her father had never left any will, and there was also no evidence that he was married to Margot mother, and also there was no evidence that she was his daughter. Unless proof was found, her slothful cousin Egbert would inherit her father’s property and when he proposed she left home determined to she could prosper on her own.

She didn’t realize that she was the target of the Grey Mask man and his gang who wanted to get rid of her and make sure that she would absolutely not inherit, not a single dime. Charles pursues Margaret in efforts to find out what was going on. Margaret found Margot, at the low end of life because life had played a lethal trick on her and she took her in. Charles gets to know who Margot is and steps in to help.

The first book in Miss Silver series is a fast-paced, well-written story with an intriguing storyline. Patricia Wentworth did a fantastic job in creating a great cast of both primary and secondary characters. First, there is Margot, a spoiled heiress, and a target of the man in Grey Mask. She is oblivious to practicalities and the feeling of other people, ultimately irrepressible, a non-stop talker but also good-natured. She is a character who is easy to like, the kind of character that entertains the readers. There is Margaret, also one of the most exciting characters in the story. Even though she is also a part of the criminal gang that plans to get rid of Margot, she is good natured and also wants to protect Margot Standing. Additionally, even though she claims that she can never “resurrect” her love affair with Charles, it is also evidently clear that she cares for him.

Then there is a private investigator, Miss Silver. Even though this series is named after her, she does not play a center stage in the debut novel. This first book focuses more on Charles, but most of Silver’s activities happen from the readers view without getting a glimpse of how she works or how she learns all that she does. But what makes this story unique and interesting is the fact that, Miss Silvers investigating style is more active than Miss Marple (aforementioned in the first paragraph). A friend advises Charles to approach Miss Silver at a time when he was only finding more questions than answers.

Additionally, what you will love in this particular book is how the author, Patricia Wentworth crafted serious questions, about Margaret life as a single lady and the choices that she often made. About Margot vulnerability and the position she had been left in, and the consequences of our ignorance to our own history.

The Case Is Closed

The Case Is Closed is the second book in Miss Silver series by Patricia Wentworth. We are introduced to Geoffrey Grey and Marion who had once a beautiful marriage. Geoffrey was famous, thanks to his uncle�s accounting firm, and Marion was a part-time model until the day she became pregnant with their first child.

One evening, Geoffrey receives a call from his uncle’s home, and when he arrives, he finds his uncle dead at his desk. A gun that he had left in his uncle care when he married Marion is lying on the floor. He picks up the gun and then hears a woman scream outside the door between the hall and the office, then followed by a heavy pounding on the door. Geoffrey opens the door, to find Mr. & Mrs. Mercer his uncle’s butler and cook respectively.

Fast forward, and we find Geoffrey in prison, and his wife has a miscarriage and is only but a shape of her former self. Then there is Hilary, Marion’s cousin and a big supporter of Geoffrey. She doesn’t believe that Geoffrey committed the crime. Estranged from her fiancé Henry and blocked by Marion’s denial to talk about what happened, Hilary commits to investigating on her own.

Published in 1937, exactly nine years after Grey Mask, the second book in Miss Silver series is a brilliant read and a worthy read for anyone interested in the fascinating tales from the Golden Age of mystery writing.

One Response to “Miss Maud Silver”

1. Alex smith: 8 months ago

   I like miss silver books but can’t remember which book is the first cade. I remember reading about her retiringfrom being a governess and an expupil comes for help. Do you know which one it is. I have a number of the series but they are not easy to find

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