Escape the Night

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By the time you reach the solution of Mignon G. Eberhart’s romantic murder mystery, Escape the Night, you may be asking yourself, “Who really cares?”

Set during World War II, the story follows a young woman who takes time off from her New York City-based job to return to family and friends on California’s Monterrey Peninsula.  Her real draw is an old love from her teenage years who has also come home.  And then the carnage begins.

From that point on, what follows is less thrilling than it sounds.  Too much takes place through long discussions among the friends gathered in the lounge of the family ranch house.  While they sip a few drinks, they speculate on which one of them may be the murderer.  Occasionally, police detectives may wander by to start making accusations.  But based on the flimsiest evidence, they usually change their minds before they leave.

Throughout the story, the suspense levels are low.  Even the love interest is settled way too soon.  So by the time of the big reveal, you may too indifferent to care who did what to whom.

Eberhart has a nice style that flows easily and doesn’t distract from her storyline.  And she has a pleasing vocabulary.  But in this case, her style doesn’t save a poorly-executed plot.

Eberhart was a prolific and successful author during much of the 20^th century.  Her first novel was published in 1929, the last one in 1988.  There must be some good stuff there.  So look a little further and take a miss on Escape the Night.

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