Friday’s Forgotten Book: Miss Milverton by Anne Hocking (1941)

In 2021 I read a book called Death at the Wedding by a new-to-me author, Anne Hocking. I was not impressed by the book but did not want to dismiss the author after just one read. Visitor to the blog Ronald Smyth recommended the author’s Miss Milverton, a book which incidentally I had seen in the library but not picked up because of its bland title. Ronald Smyth then informed me that the title of the American edition of the book was the devilishly delicious Poison is a Bitter Brew. After such a title who could resist? And so – a little late- I have finally read the book. Thanks Mr. Smyth.

Augusta Milverton has inherited her father’s vast fortune but as she is unmarried the estate would pass on to her nephews after her death. Problem is Augusta dislikes her two elder nephews, George, the son of her sister Charlotte, who being the eldest would inherit the estate which he cares about and Osbert, the second eldest, the son of her sister Lady Garstin, a lawyer, conscientious about his duties but otherwise a cold fish. Her treasured Charles, the son of her favourite sister, Lucy is third in line of succession. But then George dies while visiting his aunt while Charles is also there and Osbert becomes the heir. Meanwhile Charles falls in love with the stately widow Anstice Castle but her father does not want her to marry Charles since he as a low earning painter would not be able to keep her in the luxury she is accustomed to. Charles, a cheerful, happy-go-lucky man becomes morose much to the dismay of his aunt and his sister. Why should somebody like Osbert who has no liking for village life inherit the property while Charles suffers? Will another death take place?

I enjoyed the book especially in the beginning. Charles’ romance and the putting of Anstice on the pedestal, however, took away much of the charm of the book. I wish the book had retained the humour it displayed in the initial part. Sample this:

Lady Garstin was not able to take a good view of Sylvia’s weeds, which she considered far too becoming.

“What poor Charlotte would have felt if she had lived, I cannot imagine,” she declared. “Such a devoted wife and mother as she always was, and I remember her crepe was nearly a foot deep when poor George’s father died.”

“To show her thankfulness at being rid of him,” Miss Milveron snapped. “You know that she detested him, Violet, so don’t be insincere. And what does it matter what Sylvia wears, anyway? Thanks heaven we can all ignore her from now on. All you really care about, Violet, is the thought that your son is now the heir.”

Lady Garstin hastened to assure her sister that such a thing had never even occured to her till now, but Miss Milverton knew better, and said so. She even admitted that she herself was not too sorry about it.

“I never liked George, ” she stated, “and I never pretended to. Young Osbert will do his duty by the place, I’ve no doubt. He had better marry again.”

Lady Garstin agreed. “Of Course his heart is buried in his poor wife’s grave,” she murmured; “but he has lately shown signs of getting over it a little.”

“So long as he produces an heir, I don’t mind where his heart is,” his aunt pronounced.

The library has a couple more of her books. I will be reading them.

*

First Line: Hardly anyone liked Miss Augusta Milverton, though most people respected her.

Publication Details: 1941. London: Geoffrey Bles, 1941.

Series: William Austen #3

Pages: 288

Alternate Title: Poison is a Bitter Brew

Other Opinions: Mystery File; Mystery File ii; Pretty Sinister Books