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Importance Of Being Ernestine
 
 

Importance Of Being Ernestine (Hardcover)

by Dorothy Cannell (Author) "Mata Hari and the other devious divas of history had nothing on me! ..." (more)
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)

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Product Description

From Publishers Weekly

In her dozenth delight, Agatha nominee Cannell dishes up a dizzy spoof of American hard-boiled private-eye fiction (after 2001's Bridesmaids Revisited). Ellie Haskell attempts a surprise for her husband, Ben, by redecorating his study, but when her gift seemingly bombs, she seeks comfort and wisdom from her worldly daily, Mrs. Roxy Malloy. Mrs. Malloy has been moonlighting as Girl Friday to a local PI, "Milk" Jugg, and Ellie's nocturnal visit to Jugg's office coincides with the appearance of a new client, Lady Krumley. Mrs. Malloy graciously allows Ellie to act as her assistant in Jugg's absence, and they plunge fearlessly and fecklessly into Lady Krumley's case. Many years widowed, Lady Krumley once sacked a parlor maid, Flossie, whom she suspected of having stolen a valuable brooch. Flossie also managed to get herself in the family way while at Moultty Towers, and later expired from tuberculosis while trying to care for herself and her daughter, Ernestine. With her dying breath, Flossie cursed the Krumley family, and various Krumleys have recently shuffled off the mortal coil in amusingly eccentric ways. Lady Krumley wants to find the missing Ernestine and right ancient wrongs, hoping to avert any further mysterious accidents. Using Ellie's cover as an interior designer, the two gumshoes besiege the denizens of Moultty Towers, and the game is afoot. Cannell orchestrates plenty of laughs along with a clever plot, merrily winking at readers as she pokes fun at numerous genre conventions.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From Library Journal

Series sleuth Ellie Haskell (Bridesmaids Revisited) teams up with Mrs. Malloy, her housekeeper, when they bump into a private detective's intended client. Wealthy old Lady Krumley believes that the illegitimate daughter of a parlor maid wrongfully dismissed 30 years ago has begun killing members of the Krumley family in revenge. Totally charming.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Crazy for Cannell, May 7 2004
By A Customer
Dorothy Cannell is witty and fun. Her leading lady is a hit. I love reading Cannell's books--they're a fun ride of English murder and mystery. I literally laugh out loud. If your're looking for a lighthearted mystery to spend your time on, it would be worthwhile investing in this series. Start at the beginning though to get the best taste for the storyline. I wait with bated breath for the next one to come out!
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3.0 out of 5 stars Talent, wit -- so what's missing?, May 14 2003
By R. D. Waters "rdwaters" (Newton, NC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This is the first book I have read of Cannell's and I like it very much, but not without some reservations. Her writing is tight and often very funny. Yet there is something just not quite right about the character portrayal.

I think somehow that Cannell is too reserved in her portraits, especially the main characters of Mrs. Malloy and Ellie. In the right situation I think Cannell should let Ellie go "over the top" so to speak. Everything is so muted even when the situation is totally absurd. When she does allow the characters to exhibit a little more life, as in the scene where the sleuthing duo meet the hilarious Merryweathers, the pages seem to come to life.

Elsewhere, Ellie's observations as the narrative voice just seem lifeless. I think one example that stands out is the bird attack (shades of Hitchcock) on Ellie -- she is in danger and narrates it so matter of fact that it is hard to buy it. Was she in serious danger? Was she truly frightened? Did she feel like Tippi Hedren? It is a dramatic/comedic opportunity lost.

Still, Cannell writes well in general and the story is clever indeed. I will probably try one more of her Ellie Haskell series to see if this one (her 12th I believe) was just created at a point in time where Cannell ran out of steam even as the publishing deadline loomed. The potential is just too great not to give her another shot.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Witty and fast-moving., Aug 11 2002
Ellie Haskell and her housekeeper, Mrs. Malloy are visiting in the detective's office Malloy cleans when a late client drops in. An elderly aristocrat claims that her family is suffering from a curse left behind by a falsely accused maid. The woman, believing that Ellie and Malloy are detectives, asks them to investigate. A gunman attempts to persuade them to drop the case, but only makes them more anxious to find the truth.

Egged on by her friend, Ellie agrees and the two women set off on a proper English play of manners. There are no end of suspects: a nephew who may have killed his parents with an exploding train set; the nephew's wife who is interested in blackmail; actresses turned maid; the elderly lady herself; and the mysteriously missing Ernestine. It takes continued efforts for Ellie and Malloy to get to the truth--and still make it home in time for Ellie to take care of her family.

Author Dorothy Cannell writes a funny, fast-paced novel. The character dialogue kept me chuckling, as did the rather mad-cap action. The mystery itself won't pose much of a challenge for hard-core cozy readers, but in the case of THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ERNESTINE, getting there is where the fun is. And there is plenty of fun in this charming novel.

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Most recent customer reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun
Ellie Haskell is in deep trouble. She has just finished redoing her husband Ben's office. She sent all of his beloved and crummy furnishings to charity and now he hates the new... Read more
Published on Jul 27 2002 by Moe811

3.0 out of 5 stars It just lays there
Cannell's latest installment in the Ellie Haskell series, "The Importance of Being Ernestine" bears out the old saying that anticipation is greater than reality. Read more
Published on Jun 30 2002 by J. C. Brown

4.0 out of 5 stars amusing amateur sleuth
Ellie Haskell proudly shows her husband Ben his redecorated home office. However instead of the praise she expected from her spouse, he is irate as he cuts into her for... Read more
Published on Jun 8 2002 by Harriet Klausner

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