Hilda Adams has just gotten home from her last job when the phone rings again. She doesn't want to take the case but she knows the name Eliza Fairbanks and she remembers seeing the wedding of Fairbanks' daughter (though the marriage eventually ended in divorce.) So Hilda packs up herself and puts a cover on her birdcage and heads over to the Fairbanks mansion.It seems that Eliza has reported a high number of animals entering her room, bats and rats, as well as mysterious happenings like her closet door opening when no one is there. The only one who believes her is her granddaughter, Jan.
But then Eliza is murdered and Hilda is left in the house. Possibly with a killer. For sure with a lot of people, all of whom are lying to her for one reason or another.
A decent story but some parts to slog through. Hilda was pretty kick ass (especially for the time she was written in) even though she made some missteps in this story.
Three and a half stars
This book will be reissued on April 7th
ARC kindly provided by American Mystery Classics and NetGalley
Opinions are my own
