I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

Iris is befriended/rescued on a European train by Miss Froy, a governess who is also travelling back to England, but who (unlike Iris) has taken the trouble to learn some European languages. Iris, who is suffering from sunstroke, dozes off and when she wakes up again, Miss Froy has vanished and the other people in her carriage deny she ever existed. I don't know if it was really obvious, or if I have seen/read some version of this earlier, or if it is just well-clued and I worked it out, but it was immediately apparent to me what had happened to Miss Froy. Nevertheless, this was an entertaining read as Iris' earlier thoughtless behaviour means none of the people she knows from the hotel she has been staying at are inclined to help her. The perspective shifts from time to time so that we understand why a whole variety of people are unwilling to get involved. Iris begins to doubt her own sanity and this is set against the pathos of Mr and Mrs Froy plus Sock the dog waiting for Miss Froy's return.

The ending left Iris and her love interest ready to walk off into the sunset together, even though he has just doubted her sanity and been willing to drug her without her knowledge - not really a match made in heaven...

This is the fifth time I have read this classic novel of suspense. Like most people I have watched the film adaptations too but it is the novel that appeals most.
Ethel Lina White writes with ornate style always creating an atmospheric sense of mystery in her novels. In real life she had a dread of being buried alive and her evocation of character worked perfectly in novels of psychological suspense.
Written in the mid-1930s, when she was as well known as Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers, this novel reflects the growing tension in Europe as the world is about to be plunged into war again.
Miss Froy is like an elderly character actor, playing a bit part on stage, but stealing the headlines in all the reviews.
This is one of the real classics from the golden age of crime writing and deserves to find a whole new generation of readers, whilst still offering charm and satisfaction to those who have read it before.

A suspenseful, quick mystery that reminded me of an Agatha Christie novel.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is one of all time favourites. I have watched the movie countless times, the bbc tv remake and I've seen it on the stage twice. Pleasure to read this it's a classic. Great edition I really liked the cover. I wish there was more reprints of older classics like this. Given so many modern day writers base their books around these classic it would be great to be able to easily accesses the classics to new generations.