The Black Robe vs The Paradise Mystery: Which Should You Read?
Both live on shelves: England, Classic Literature, Mystery, Fiction
The Black Robe
“THE doctors could do no more for the Dowager Lady Berrick.”
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The Black Robe is an 1881 partially-epistolary novel by famed English writer, Wilkie Collins. The book, which relates the misadventures of one "Lewis Romayne", is noted for its anti-Catholic lens.
The Paradise Mystery
“American tourists, sure appreciators of all that is ancient and picturesque in England, invariably come to a halt, holding their breath in a sudden catch of wonder, as they pass through the half-ruinous gateway which admits to the Close of Wrychester.”
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American tourists, sure appreciators of all that is ancient and picturesque in England, invariably come to a halt, holding their breath in a sudden catch of wonder, as they pass through the half-ruinous gateway which…
Side by side
The verdict
- Ratings are close across the board — any is a safe pick by score.
- The Paradise Mystery is the quickest read — about 3 hours vs 5 for The Black Robe.
- The Black Robe has the widest readership — 812 ratings behind its score.
How to choose
Scores by source
| The Black Robe | The Paradise Mystery | |
|---|---|---|
| Goodreads | 3.7 (812) | 3.6 (496) |
| Hardcover | 2.0 (2) | — |
| Apple Books | 4.0 (28) | 4.5 (37) |
Reception
| The Black Robe | The Paradise Mystery | |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | 812 | 496 |
| Editions | 303 | 174 |
| Citations | 9 | — |
| Film adaptations | 1 | — |
| Want to read | 851 | 218 |
| Reading it now | — | 148 |
| Written reviews | 97 | 60 |
| Wikipedia attention | 214 | — |
| Pages | 318 | 210 |
Questions readers ask
Which is rated higher: The Black Robe or The Paradise Mystery?
The Black Robe has the higher combined reader rating across sources (The Black Robe 3.7/5, The Paradise Mystery 3.7/5).
Which is shorter to read: The Black Robe or The Paradise Mystery?
The Paradise Mystery is the quickest read. Estimated at 225 words per minute: The Paradise Mystery (210 pages, ≈ 3 h 53 m); The Black Robe (318 pages, ≈ 5 h 53 m).
Which is harder to read: The Black Robe or The Paradise Mystery?
Estimated difficulty, based on era, reader shelves and length — The Black Robe: Demanding; The Paradise Mystery: Challenging.