The Wheel Spins by Ethel Lina White
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I loved this one & wish I had had the time to review this book straight after I finished it! You know, when I was sitting on the edge of my seat with the excitement. It has been a while since I book made me feel like that.
Iris Carr would appear to have everything going for her. She is young, beautiful, bright and wealthy. But she is also bored & disenchanted with both her life style & the so called friends she is holidaying in Europe with. She decides to let these leeches travel back to England without her. Iris has a couple of adventures that make her feel somewhat vulnerable, before she boards the train for home.
The train is crowded, uncomfortable & Iris isn’t getting the attention that, with unconscious arrogance, she takes for granted. Luckily she is befriended by an experienced traveller, sprightly governess Miss Froy. Luckily until – Tah Dah! – The Lady Vanishes.
Although you may have seen this plotline a thousand times before, don’t forget that in 1936 (original date of publication) this idea would have been fresh and new. I also see a secondary theme selfishness. Watch out for this.
My only criticisms are that the ending seemed a bit drawn out, then pouf! All over. & Max is a bit of a wet noodle. I wanted to reach into my computer monitor & throttle him!
From the film, The Lady Vanishes. Michael Redgrave & Margaret Lockwood.
But all-in-all, a rattling good yarn!
Carol - She's So Novel! 