The After House, with eBook

Name: The After House, with eBook
Brand: Tantor Audio
Availability: InStock
Rating: 2 (3 reviews)
Author: Mary Roberts Rinehart
ISBN: 9781400181261

Author: Mary Roberts Rinehart

Narrator: Rebecca Burns

Unabridged: 4 hr 53 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 11/16/2009

Categories: Fiction, Classic

Includes: Bonus Material Bonus Material Included

Synopsis

Just out of the hospital and totally out of funds, Ralph Leslie jumped at the chance to sign aboard millionaire Marshall Turner's luxurious super-yacht as steward to the passengers lodged in its after house. His job was easy sailing until one sultry summer night, when the dream voyage suddenly became a nightmare of blood and terror. One ship's officer was thrown overboard. Another was hacked to death with an ax. The killer struck again and again, and the Ella was awash in a wave of panic that engulfed passengers and crew alike. Only one hand aboard, ex-landlubber Leslie, seemed enough in control to stay the bloody hand of the murderer. But he'd have to stay alive to do it, and that wasn't going to be easy.

About Mary Roberts Rinehart

In her prime, American novelist and playwright Mary Roberts Rinehart was more famous than Agatha Christie. Originator of the phrase "The butler did it," she is best known for her mystery stories-including The Circular Staircase, The Man in Lower Ten, and Tish-which combine murder, love, ingenuity, and humor in a style that is uniquely her own. Several of her suspense novels were turned into Broadway successes, including The Bat (which was derived from The Circular Staircase).

Mary Roberts was born in Allegheny Pittsburgh in 1876. In 1896 Mary graduated from the Pittsburgh Training School for Nurses, married physician Stanley Rinehart, and started a family. Financial losses drove Mary to take up a writing career in 1903. Childhood memories such as the nearby state penitentiary, the one-armed policeman, and a mute neighbor inspired her novels. Five years later, her first novel, The Circular Staircase, became an instant success.

In addition to her novels, the public grew to know Mary through the magazine serials and essays that she wrote for the Saturday Evening Post. During World War I, Mary served as a war correspondent and was one of the few that were allowed to report directly from the trenches. At the time of her death in 1958, her books had sold more than 10 million copies.

Reviews

Goodreads review by C.B. on June 12, 2013

Most people don't realize that this book is based on a true event that happened in the 1890's aboard a lumber ship called the Herbert Fuller. Though Ms. Rinehart changed many of the details, her book brought a new attention to the case and lead, eventually, to the capture of the real criminal, relea......more

Goodreads review by Bev on October 09, 2015

Many thanks to Ryan over at Wordsmithonia for bringing The After House by Mary Roberts Rinehart to my attention. Despite my love for vintage mysteries, I have only read one other book by Rinehart (The Window at the White Cat) back before my blogging days--and that one made no great impression on me.......more

Goodreads review by Ryan on June 01, 2011

This is a short mystery that recounts the events on board the Ella, a luxury yacht that was created by refurbishing a sailing vessel. The day it sets sail is a gorgeous sunny day and there is not a hint about what's to come. When the ship comes back to port, 31 day later, Leslie is the acting captai......more

Goodreads review by Elisabeth on May 15, 2022

I was enjoying this until the ending, which disappointed me. (view spoiler)[A madman, especially the "religious maniac" variety, is always far less satisfying than a logical motive. (hide spoiler)] Also rests heavily on the trope of people trying desperately to shield a friend or relative whom they are sure is guilty, which I can......more

Goodreads review by Andria on April 16, 2020

DNF at 50 pages in. Bored and could care less about how much money the character makes, let alone about his wanting to travel the sea. I like sea stories but this was utterly full. Moving on!......more