I'm a huge fan of classic mysteries - particularly those written by women authors like Christie, Sayers, Marsh, and Wentworth. However, most of my reading has been limited to British authors with only one Mary Roberts Rinehart read. So when I saw that this book was originally published in 1938 I couldn't resist. Mabel Seeley is a new name to me and it seems like quite the crime that she isn't better known.

I'm not sure this is a British vs American style issue or just my reading experience but if you're expecting an Agatha Christie clean straightforward mystery you are going to be quite surprised. Like with Mary Roberts Rinehart's books the atmosphere is so palpable in The Listening House it's essentially a character in itself. 593 Trent Street oozes sinister vibes and all of the residents live with the feeling hovering over their head every day - and that's before the rather gruesome murder.

I really enjoyed this read. I really liked Gwynne. She's kind of backed into a corner but she's got a good head on her shoulders and is not afraid to make herself heard. The other residents of the house are intriguing and figuring out just who is what they seem and what they are hiding is entertaining. I really had no idea of the whos and the whys until the very end. My only real issue was the uneven pacing. The last half had me really hooked but while I enjoyed the first half it was quite a bit slower. That aside, this was an interesting read and a great choice if you're wanting to investigate some American classic mysteries.

✦ 3.5 Stars ✦ First published in 1938, THE LISTENING HOUSE was the debut crime novel of Mabel Seeley, who came to be known as “The Mistress of Mystery.” I'm glad Berkley is reissuing some of her books, because before spotting this one I was not familiar with Seeley's work.

The main character Gwynne Dacres is a young, independent woman, making her way through the Depression years. After losing her job as a copywriter, she moves into a creepy boarding house run by a grumpy, paranoid woman who's convinced her tenants are snooping through her things.

Gwynne, too, feels like there's something off about the house, that something or someone is always listening. Her situation becomes more precarious when back to back suspicious deaths occur at the house. Gwynne gets wrapped up in the investigation when someone targets her, and uncovers some sinister secrets tied to the past.

There was a big group of potential suspects, and I enjoyed their characterizations. I definitely felt like I was sitting among a group of real folks from the 1930s. The mystery was dark and intricate, though I think it dragged in some places. There was even a romance for Gwynne, and plenty of humor mixed in. I'd recommend to fans of mysteries who enjoy the golden age of detective fiction.

I truly enjoyed revisiting this classic from the golden age of crime fiction. Seeley is an intelligent writer who crafts a wonderful mystery with lots of twists and turns. I loved that the main character is a strong, smart, independent woman. The characters, and there are a number of them, are all so vividly drawn that one has no problem keeping up with the large cast. This was a really fun read and I'm thrilled that Seeley's work is being republished. I plan to feature these on my FB book page and will certainly follow up with Goodreads and Amazon reviews. Excellent stuff!

The Great Depression is a terrible time to lose your job, but that’s what has happened to Gwynne Dacres, who now has to find a place to live. She ends up at a run down boarding house run by Mrs. Garr; the place is filled with questionable characters, but Gwynne has no choice and rents a room. There she will uncover a series of buried secrets and even a mutilated corpse in the cellar. This mystery was originally published decades ago, but has stood the test of time and is filled with quirky charm