| Plot Summary of The Case is Closed |
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"Geoffrey Grey has been in prison for a year, convicted of killing his uncle, James Everton. Hilary Carew, his wife Marion's cousin, has a encounter on a train with one of the principal witnesses against him, Mrs Mercer, who seems regretful, distressed and deathly afraid of her husband. Hilary suspects she was coerced to lie at the trial, and impulsively decides to investigate. She begins with the trial transcripts.
Geoffrey claimed he had found his uncle dead in his study and picked up a pistol from the floor. Mrs Mercer, Everton's housekeeper, testified she had seen Geoffrey with the pistol only seconds after hearing the fatal shot. Geoffrey's motive was alleged to be anger that his uncle had changed his will, cutting him out. Since Everton's new heir Bertram and everyone else involved had good alibis, the case was open and shut.
Hilary interviews Mrs Thompson, the deaf neighbour, and Mrs Ashley, the daily help, but they only confirm the case against Geoffrey. Then Mr Mercer waylays her and tries to convince her his wife is out of her mind. Hilary goes to her still-smitten ex-fiancé Henry for help, and finds that Bertram has been saying the same thing to him. The coincidence seems suspicious. Anxious to speak to Mrs Mercer again, Hilary tries to track her down, but narrowly escapes being deliberately run over.
Meanwhile Henry, though still sceptical, has engaged Miss Silver, a professional sleuth. Highly efficient despite her prissy manner, she quickly uncovers irregularities in the Mercers' marriage, and solves the mystery of the changed will. Her next step is to break the seemingly solid alibi of the guilty party. "
Maureen Evans, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of The Case is Closed |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book
descript. of violence and chases - 10%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 50%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40%
Tone of story
- very upbeat
How difficult to spot villain?
- Somewhat obvious
Time/era of story:
- 1930's-1950's
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- 50%
Misc. Murder Plotlets
- butler provides unemotional service
- "All in the family" murder
- solving long-past murder
- Proving innocence of very obvious suspect
Kind of investigator
- skilled citizen investigator
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot?
- feelings towards lover
Crime Thriller
Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
Is Romance a MAJOR (25%+) part of story?
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Female
Profession/status:
- homemaker
Age:
- 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
How much violence does he/she use?
- none
Ethnicity/Race
- British
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- servant
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist
- money/treasure
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Europe
Yes
European country:
- England/UK
City?
Yes
City:
- London
Style
Part of a series?
Yes
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths?
- 2
Amount of dialog
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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