(Reviewed by Heidi A. Swan)
I was captivated by the voice of the author from the very beginning. It is a translation of the best-selling novel by the Danish novelist, Palle Rosenkrantz, and was written over one hundred years ago.
If you like Agatha Christie or if you liked the recent film “Knives Out”, there’s a good chance you will like The Man In The Cellar. Upon discovering a dead body in the cellar of their newly rented home, two aristocratic gentlemen decide that, instead of going to the authorities, they want to unravel the mystery of this apparent murder themselves.
“It sounded almost like the cry of a child…or a cat. Not like a loud cat howling or meowing, but like a very soft, miserable helpless crying that seemed to come from far away…if it was a cat, must have been a wretched, maltreated creature mourning in the cellars of the house; because in this house it definitely sat.”
Rosenkrantz’s world is one of aristocracy with live-in help. His main characters have extended vacations abroad and have no reason to work other than to pursue an interest. They also live in a time when a person could escape the sins of his or her past by simply moving to another country and possibly acquiring a new name.
It is a mystery novel that explores the nature of justice.
“…I prefer to talk about people, of men and women and—as you’ve already heard—of crime and guilt. It is my hobby…”
I wish I knew about the question of justice when I picked up the book because I was stalled for quite some time at a plot point. I felt like the author had to keep rationalizing the choice of not to alert the authorities. It seemed like this kept the action from moving forward.
Nonetheless, I was enjoying the company of the author, so I read on.
I’m glad I did because the story is intriguing. One aspect I found interesting was how Mr. Rosenkrantz’s depiction of women reveal the attitudes of the time. The female breed was considered emotionally and mentally impaired and not responsible for their misguided perceptions or even their own actions.
“The body in the cellar must have a resolution. Miss Derry, in her female ignorance, suggested destroying it.”
The climax could have been more satisfying—I was waiting for another turn in characters’ motives, so I was surprised when the story came to an end. It felt a little simplistic and I wanted the story to go on longer. I guess I will just have to get another one of his books.
