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- Title: Case of Jennie Brice
- Author: Mary Roberts Rinehart
- Narrator: Wina Hathaway
- Length: 03:58:00
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 01/01/2011
- Publisher: LibriVox
- Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Horror, Suspense
- ISBN13: SABFAB9780151
There’s something about a good mystery that feels like stepping into a new city for the first time—every corner holds a secret, every shadow a story waiting to unfold. That’s precisely how I felt diving into the audiobook experience of *The Case of Jennie Brice* by Mary Roberts Rinehart, narrated by Wina Hathaway. This free audiobook, offered through LibriVox, swept me into a world of muddy floodwaters and murky motives, and I couldn’t help but let it carry me along like a river current. As a travel writer who’s spent years chasing hidden histories and human connections, this tale of disappearance and deduction hit all the right notes for me—both in its storytelling and its intimate audio delivery.
It reminds me of a time when I was holed up in a creaky old guesthouse in New Orleans during a sudden downpour. The rain battered the windows, and the owner—an elderly woman with a voice like molasses—started spinning tales of lost loves and unsolved vanishings from the city’s past. Listening to *The Case of Jennie Brice*, I could almost hear that same cadence, that same pull of a story told close to the hearth. Set in a Pittsburgh boarding house during a flood, Rinehart’s 1913 novel introduces us to Mrs. Pitman, a no-nonsense landlady turned reluctant sleuth, and Mr. Holcombe, a quirky gentleman with a nose for mysteries. Together, they unravel the enigma of Jennie Brice, a tenant who’s gone missing amid suspicious clues washed in by the rising waters.
The story unfolds like a slow caravan winding through unfamiliar terrain—you don’t rush it, but you savor the journey. Rinehart, often hailed as the architect of the ‘Had-I-But-Known’ mystery style, crafts a suspenseful plot that’s as much about the texture of everyday life as it is about whodunit. You can almost feel the damp chill of the boarding house, hear the creak of the stairs, and taste the tension in the air as Mrs. Pitman pieces together the puzzle. For me, it’s the domestic setting that grounds the suspense—much like those evenings in Oaxaca, where I’d sit with a family as their grandmother wove tales of village ghosts and betrayals. Her voice had this way of pausing, letting the silence build the drama, and I found echoes of that oral mastery in this audiobook.
The central mystery—Jennie Brice’s disappearance—keeps you guessing with its clever mix of red herrings and subtle reveals. Rinehart’s knack for observation shines through Mrs. Pitman, who’s both relatable and quietly fierce, challenging the gender norms of her time with every step she takes into the investigation. Then there’s Mr. Holcombe, the amateur detective whose passion for solving riddles feels like a kindred spirit to my own love of digging into local lore. The flood itself becomes a character, too—a chaotic force that mirrors the social upheaval and class tensions bubbling beneath the surface of the boarding house residents’ lives. It’s a snapshot of early 20th-century America, layered with the anxieties and aspirations of its people.
Now, let’s talk about the listening experience, because Wina Hathaway’s narration is what brings this vintage tale to life. Her voice has a warm, steady quality that pulls you in—like a friend recounting a strange happening over a cup of coffee. She captures Mrs. Pitman’s pragmatic tone perfectly, with just enough edge to hint at the character’s growing unease. Hathaway’s pacing is deliberate, letting the suspense simmer without rushing the reveals, and her handling of the dialogue—especially Mr. Holcombe’s eccentric flair—adds a dash of charm to the audio quality. It’s not a flashy performance, but it doesn’t need to be; it’s intimate, like those oral histories I’ve collected from storytellers across the globe. The production, being a LibriVox volunteer effort, is simple and unpolished in spots—occasional background noise creeps in—but for a free audiobook, it’s a gem that delivers the goods.
That said, it’s not without its quirks. The pacing might feel slow to fans of modern thrillers, where twists hit like lightning. Rinehart takes her time, letting the atmosphere build, which I adore but might test the patience of listeners craving constant action. And while Hathaway’s narration is engaging, there are moments where a bit more vocal dynamism could’ve elevated the tension—like when the floodwaters rise or a key clue drops. Still, these are minor ripples in an otherwise immersive audiobook experience.
If you’ve enjoyed Agatha Christie’s early works—like *The Mysterious Affair at Styles*—or Anna Katharine Green’s intricate domestic mysteries, this’ll feel like a cozy literary cousin. Rinehart’s influence on the genre is clear, paving the way for female sleuths and suspense that simmers in the everyday. It’s not Sherlock Holmes-level deduction, but that’s its strength—it’s personal, grounded, and human.
I’d recommend this audiobook to anyone who loves a good mystery with a side of historical flavor—think of it as a rainy-day companion for curling up with a hot drink. It’s perfect for listeners who savor character-driven suspense over breakneck thrills, and the fact that it’s a free audiobook makes it an easy yes. Whether you’re a seasoned mystery buff or just dipping your toes into the genre, *The Case of Jennie Brice* offers a satisfying escape.
Reflecting on it now, this audiobook took me back to that drive through Chile’s Atacama Desert, when I first fell in love with stories told aloud. The surreal landscape outside my window and García Márquez’s magical realism in my ears—it was a moment of pure connection. Rinehart and Hathaway gave me something similar here: a chance to lose myself in a world where the ordinary turns extraordinary, one clue at a time. It’s the kind of experience that reminds me why I chase stories—on the road, in books, and through voices that linger long after the tale is done.
Until our next storytelling adventure, Marcus Rivera
Marcus Rivera
