Well, well. I had low expectations for this book and only really looked forward to it because it was planned buddy read with Lillelara. 

So, imagine my surprise when I actually enjoyed this story despite its entirely bonkers plot and even despite its utterly, utterly stupid main character. Margot really was the epitome of an obnoxious airhead and I am still amazed that she actually survived the plot without being killed off. 

I certainly hoped for this on every single page. 

To be fair, imagining plot twists in which Margot met with an untimely end was part of the fun of reading the story. 

Luckily, there were some other characters that I actually liked reading about: Margaret was one of them. She had some depth. 

Archie was another. He had some spirit. Even tho his choice of love interest is beyond my ability to understand. Why, Archie? Why?

As for the plot itself? It was bonkers. There was a time I got completely lost, but I think at that time I had already given up on The Grey Mask featuring any credible or logical train of thought. And sometimes this is just the kind of book one needs. 

‘I’m all alone in the house, you see. And I shouldn’t be much use if it came to a rough-and-tumble with a burglar – what? Now there was Hugo Byrne – you remember Hugo – no, he was before your time – his mother was Edith Peace, and his sister married one of the Dunlop Murrays – no relation of yours of course. Let me see, what was I going to tell you? Oh yes – burglars. Well, poor old Hugo got up in the middle of the night and thought he heard a burglar and – let me see, did I tell you? – he’d got his wife’s uncle down from Scotland staying with them – he married Josephine Campbell, you know. No, no, not Josephine – she was the dark one – Elizabeth Campbell. Yes, I’m sure it was Elizabeth, because she had red hair, and we used to call her Red Liz – behind her back, you know, behind her back. And – where was I? Oh yes – poor old Hugo and the burglar. Of course it turned out to be old Robert Campbell. And he never left them a penny. Rather too bad – what?’

I am so confused. I seriously have lost my overview of who is who at the moment.

Freddy was in his element at once.    

‘Most unfortunate, constable – the young lady might have been killed. We were all going across together, my daughter and this young lady and I, and she slipped – Didn’t you, my dear? Dear me, we ought to be very thankful she isn’t hurt. She slipped and fell right in front of the bus. Now, my dear, you’re quite safe. No – don’t cry. You’re not hurt, are you?’

Oh, ye gawds. So, so close...but dammit.

Despite my earlier misgivings, I am actually really enjoying this story. It is bonkers and I dislike many of the characters of the first half of the book (tho, Freddy, Archie, and Margaret are interesting) and am still wishing for Margot to be killed off soon, but I am also hooked by how bonkers this is and am really looking forward to reading how this is all supposed to fit together.

Well, the ending was sort of anticlimatic. But since the plot of this book was completely bonkers in the first place and the whole romance plot was a dud from beginning to end, I don´t mind the ending too much. And to tell the truth, I found this book to be an entertaining read, which would put this in the three stars category.

But then there is Margot, the dumb-as-a-doornail damsel in distress. God, I loathed that woman. There is a very fine line between being stupid and being stupid and obnoxiously annoying at the same time and Margot definitely falls into the latter category. And because of that I have to deduct another half-star for the creation of this truly horrible character.

"Among the Drastik Indians women who ask questions are buried alive," said Charles.

I don´t like Charles, but in this case he has a point.

Honestly, most of the time I hope that nothing happens to any of the characters in my books. With this book, I keep imagining how Margot can meet her early demise.