Prolific British author, Dora Amy Elles (1878-1961), better known by her pseudonym Patricia Wentworth, has carved out a significant space in the genre of crime fiction. Best recognised for her creation of the quirky character, Miss Silver, Wentworth’s literary repertoire is one to marvel. Born and raised in London, she received her education from Blackheath High School and through private tutoring. A life rich with personal experiences, which included two marriages and a daughter, greatly influenced her narratives.
The Journey of a Wordsmith
Wentworth embarked on her literary journey back in 1910 with the winning entry, ‘A Marriage Under The Terror,’ for the Melrose Prize. Her writing career spanned across half a century, with her final piece, the Miss Silver novel, ‘The Girl in the Cellar,’ being released in 1961, the very year of her demise.
A Look at Wentworth’s Unique Style
Wentworth’s writing style is characterized by a subtle blend of suspense and romance that keeps readers hooked. Her narratives typically revolve around strong female protagonists, the most prominent being Miss Silver, a retired governess-turned-detective.
Patricia Wentworth’s Books in Order
For the fans who enjoy reading series sequentially, here’s a list of Patricia Wentworth’s books in order of their publication.
Publication Order of Miss Silver Books
| Grey Mask | (1928) |    |
| The Case is Closed | (1937) | |
| Lonesome Road | (1939) | |
| Danger Point / In the Balance | (1941) | |
| The Chinese Shawl | (1943) | |
| Miss Silver Deals with Death / Miss Silver Intervenes | (1943) | |
| The Clock Strikes Twelve | (1944) | |
| The Key | (1944) | |
| She Came Back / The Traveller Returns | (1945) | |
| Pilgrim’s Rest / Dark Threat | (1946) | |
| Latter End | (1947) | |
| Wicked Uncle / Spotlight | (1947) | |
| The Case of William Smith | (1948) | |
| Eternity Ring | (1948) | |
| The Catherine Wheel | (1949) | |
| Miss Silver Comes to Stay | (1949) | |
| The Bradling Collection / Mr Bradling’s Collection | (1950) | |
| The Ivory Dagger | (1950) | |
| Through The Wall | (1950) | |
| ‘Anna, Where Are You?’ / Death at Deep End | (1951) | |
| The Watersplash | (1951) | |
| Ladies’ Bane | (1952) | |
| Out of the Past | (1953) | |
| The Silent Pool | (1953) | |
| The Vanishing Point | (1953) | |
| The Benevent Treasure | (1954) | |
| The Gazebo / The Summerhouse | (1955) | |
| The Listening Eye | (1955) | |
| Poison in the Pen | (1955) | |
| The Fingerprint | (1956) | |
| The Alington Inheritance | (1958) | |
| The Girl in the Cellar | (1961) | |