Why have I never heard of Celia Fremlin before? This book is great! When I first read a review of it last year, I could only find an expensive used copy, but another blogger this year (sorry, I don’t remember who) set me looking again, and I found an inexpensive set of three novels, including this one.
Meg gets an urgent message from her older sister Isabel asking her to drop everything and come see her at a vacation caravan site on the seaside. The telegram simply tells her that Mildred, their much older half-sister, is in trouble.
After talking it over with her friend, Freddy, Meg travels to the run-down caravan park to learn that Mildred’s problems have to do with Uncle Paul. Fifteen years ago, when Meg was a child, Mildred married Uncle Paul, and they spent their honeymoon in a cottage just a few miles away. It turned out, however, that Uncle Paul was not only already married but he was wanted for attempted murder of his wife for her money, and Mildred was also wealthy.
Now it is the end of Uncle Paul’s 15-year sentence. Mildred seems to think he will be coming to get his revenge, but she has perversely rented their old holiday cottage.
Both of Meg’s sisters seem permanently distressed. Isabel worries constantly about her husband Philip’s reaction to everything, while Mildred is often alarmed enough to scream. Meg talks Mildred into returning to town and looking for different lodging, which she finds for her at a comfortable hotel. She also finds Freddy there.
Her sisters’ alarm seems to be contagious, though. When she arrived at the cottage, she found Mildred all aquiver because she had been hearing footsteps—Uncle Paul’s footsteps. Isabel is hardly less nervous. And Meg learns that she may also be in danger, because she was the one who recognized Uncle Paul in an old newspaper.
Fremlin manages to work a good deal of suspense from what seems like trivial incidents, and from fears that Uncle Paul could be any of several men around. But just when I was deciding that everything was in their heads, things got going.
This book reminded me of a lot of Mary Stewart’s combinations of suspense and a bit of romance that I’ve always loved. The writing style is sprightly, the dialogue is witty, and the characters are vivid. Finally, Meg is an engaging, intelligent heroine.
What? Me Read? 
Now this sounds like a book I might enjoy! Your description of the writing as sprightly along with witty dialogue and an engaging, intelligent heroine? Yeah, that’s right up my alley. As long as we aren’t talking crime novels of course. LOL But this one sounds like a general mystery novel. 😉 I’m going to look around and see if I can find it anywhere. 🙂
Oh, good. I think you’ll like it.
I enjoyed this one too and loved the way she captured the feel of a typical British seaside holiday in the 1950s. I’ve read two other books by Celia Fremlin and they were great as well, so I’m looking forward to reading more.
Yes, I have read the other two in the set and ordered another one.
So glad you enjoyed this – I loved it too! I have a feeling she may have been out of print for a while till these new editions with the great covers came out. I’ve got another one of hers, The Hours Before Dawn, which I’m hoping to read very soon – is that one of the ones you have? I’ve heard it’s very good too.
I have that one, too. I think she is so much better than some of the male writers who have remained famous. It stinks! I’m glad they brought her out now.
I loved this too, and need to get on with her others!
I have read three of the four I could get my hands on, and they were all great. Reviews upcoming!