Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Teaser Tuesday 165: The Window at the White Cat

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

* Grab your current book or recent read.
* Share a few "teaser" sentences from somewhere in the book.
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author so that other participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teaser!


This weekend I started a vintage mystery book by Mary Roberts Rinehart, The Window at the White Cat. Rinehart is often called the "American Agatha Christie," though she was 14 years older than her contemporary. Both lived and wrote into their 80s. Rinehart wrote hundreds of short stories, poems, and articles, and many of her books and plays were adapted for movies, such as The Bat (1926), The Bat Whispers (1930), and The Bat (1959, starring Vincent Price). She is considered the source of the phrase "the butler did it", although the phrase was not used in her writing. It comes from Tim Kelly's adaptation of Rinehart's novel The Door into the musical "The Butler Did It, Singing."

This is the first book of hers I have read, and I am sure it won't be the last. In addition to a great mystery, I am loving her voice and writing style. Many of her books are available for free download at Amazon or Project Gutenberg. Here are a couple teasers from about the middle of The Window of the White Cat, both from the same chapter:



I don’t believe in the man who is never afraid: he doesn’t deserve the credit he gets. It’s the fellow who is scared to death, whose knees knock together, and who totters rather than walks into danger, who is the real hero. Not that I was as bad as that, but I would have liked to know where the electric switch was, and to have seen the trap before I put my head in.

~*~*~*~*~

The next moment the solid earth slipped from under my feet, I threw out my hand, and it met a cold wall, smooth as glass. Then I fell—fell an incalculable distance, and the blackness of the night came over me and smothered me.


(Chapter XI)



ABOUT THE BOOK:
Genre: Vintage mystery

Attorney Jack Knox adored the beautiful Margery Fleming, but unfortunately she adored the less-than-reputable Harry Wardrop. If that wasn’t enough of a headache for Jack, Margery’s father, a corrupt politician named Allan Fleming, suddenly vanished. And when he discovered Fleming’s body at the shoddy social club called The White Cat, things took a decidedly nasty turn.

While Jack went looking for answers, Margery took refuge with her two eccentric aunts, Lavinia and Jane. Now, in addition to trying to find Fleming’s killer, Jack was faced with the sudden disappearance of Aunt Jane. There was only one clue left behind—a bloody handprint. Who would want to kill Aunt Jane and why? Jack is sure of only one thing—he has to put the pieces of this baffling puzzle together before someone starts searching for his remains . . .





24 comments:

Beth said...

Great teasers! I'm adding this to my TBR list. Here is my teaser for this week.

Unknown said...

I like vintage mysteries, and this one sounds like a nice read.

My TT post.

Karen and Gerard said...

Poor guy! Here's ours: http://www.ourstack.blogspot.com/2013/03/tuesday-teasers-3-this-week.html

Yvonne said...

This sounds really good. I haven't read any vintage mysteries, but it sounds like something I would like.

Laurel-Rain Snow said...

Oh, wow! Now I must read this author...I've been ogling her books for awhile.

Thanks for sharing...and here's MY TUESDAY MEMES

Alice Audrey said...

"Vintage Mystery." I like that phrase.

Anonymous said...

Nice teasers, interesting.

http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2013/03/teaser-tuesday_12.html

Heather said...

Thanks, Beth - I'm glad you enjoyed, and hope you will check out this book or others by this author.

Heather said...

Majanka: If you like older, classic mysteries, definitely give this author a try. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.

Heather said...

Karen and Gerard: Poor guy indeed! Jack really takes quite a beating throughout the course of this story.

Heather said...

Yvonne: Based on our mutual appreciation for cozies, I think you would like this book and author. Feel free to blame me for enabling. *G*

Heather said...

Laurel-Rain: So glad I finally inspired you to give this author a try--especially if you've been "ogling" her work for quite a while. You can be sure I'll be looking for more of her books. *VBG*

Heather said...

Alice: Why thank you. I thought it rather appropriate. *G*

Heather said...

Tribute Books Mama: Thank you!

Melissa O. said...

Great teasers! Funny, mine is from an Agatha Christie mystery today! I'm not sure I can feel their similarity from the teasers you posted, but perhaps I'll have to give the "American Agatha Christie" a try!

Here's my TT post!

Heather said...

Thanks, Melissa! They certainly have their own unique writing styles and voices, as does another contemporary of Christie and Rinehart, Dorothy L Sayers.

Sandra Nachlinger said...

This sounds like a book I'd love -- especially for free! Thank you for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment.

Heather said...

Sandy: LOL...free is always good. I think this is an author you might like.

Nash Nordin said...

Interesting teaser. Haven't heard of this book before. Thanks for sharing!

Heather said...

Hi Nash! Happy to introduce you to a "new" author. *g*

Eustacia Tan said...

Ooh, this looks like an awesome book! I can't wait to get it from Project Gutenberg~

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

^_^

Heather said...

Eustacia: I really liked this one, and look forward to reading more by this author. I hope you will enjoy her books as well.

kayerj said...

that sounds like a really good book

Heather said...

Thanks, Kelley, it was. Would definitely recommend it!