Ron K. (WhidbeyIslander) -
Short stories, somewhat set in country estates. Introduction to entire book and each story by Martin Edwards. Plots and my thoughts (rating * to *****):
Copper Beeches by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Sort of like The Hound of the Baskervilles meets Jane Eyre, and not in a good way. No real mystery involved for anyone who has read just about anything. It's one time I found Holmes tiresome and Watson particularly dull. **
The Problem of Dead Wood Hall by Dick Donovan After two mysterious deaths go unexplained for years, friends of the dead men bring a sleuth to the area to investigate. I found the mystery not that compelling (although the means of death starts out to be interesting.) This short story is too long for my taste and the narrator goes on and on about things. *
Gentlemen and Players by E.W. Hornung Famed cricketer and jewel thief Raffles and a friend spend a little week at Milchester Abbey for cricket matches where other guests may display their valued gems. Possibly evocative of a time in England that no longer exists; unless you are a fan of cricket (or know anything about the game), much of this will be lost on you. Plus, calling it a mystery is a stretch. *
The Well by W.W. Jacobs Two cousins have an argument about money which leads to tragedy. Well written tale that builds to a suspenseful end. ****
The White Pillars Murder by G.K.Chesterton Not a Father Brown story, it details how two novice private detectives working under an experienced one figure out a killer when sent out on their own. A new take on the genre (to me, at least) and an enjoyable read. Left me with some questions, though. ****
The Secret of Dunstan's Tower by Ernest Bramah The author's blind detective Max Carrados is called on to help unravel a mystery involving a centuries' old curse. An entertaining story if you suspend disbelief for the duration. ***
The Manor House Mystery by J.S. Fletcher When a country town man dies mysteriously a Scotland Yard detective is asked to investigate. He holds interviews in his hotel room to try and unravel what happened. Nicely written and not the usual suspects type of story. Left me with one big question, though. ***
The Message on the Sun-Dial by J.J. Bell Two cousins fight over money, leading to one's death. Not really a mystery and the message isn't that cryptic. **
The Horror at Staveley Grange by Sapper After two mysterious deaths in a newly bought stately home's bedroom, the intended of the heir calls on a detective to unravel the mystery. An ok story, but dated and superseded by many takes on the method of killings in intervening years. ***
The Mystery of Horne's Copse by Anthony Berkeley A man walking home stumbles on a corpse, but when he returns with the police the body has disappeared. When it happens again, he begins to doubt his sanity. As explained in the introduction, this was a 1931 serial and has short paragraphs and a longer running time than I thought was needed. It's okay but brought to mind some of the convoluted impossible crime books by French author Paul Halter (who writes 70+ years after this was printed.) ***
The Perfect Plan by James Hilton Agrieved by his employer's actions, a man plots to murder him in a foolproof manner. Since Hilton is one of my favorite authors, I was predisposed to liking this story, and I did. It's not a whodunit (like Hilton's Was It Murder?), but shows how the killer's perfect plan is executed (no pun intended.) *****
The Same To Us by Margery Allingham A hostess who invites a distinguished Chinese theorist to a weekend party is too pleased at her social coup to be disturbed by her diamonds being stolen that same weekend. A fun tale, with one head-scratching moment: the intro says it was first published in 1934, yet one line mentioned the visitor being referred to by television comedians. Possibly the story was revised and re-published years after TV became commonplace? ****
The Murder at the Towers by E.V. Knox All the usual suspects are available when a despised man is found dead at his estate. The intro warns that the author was prone to write non-serious crime stories, and this certainly is. It's fun and silly. ***
An Unlocked Window by Ethel Lina White Two nurses find themselves in an isolated house in an area where multiple nurses have been strangled. I remembered the plot twist but still enjoyed this and how the reader is led up the wrong path. (This was televised twice on Alfred Hitchcock Presents, but the ending was changed both times.) *****
The Long Shot by Nicholas Blake Nigel Strangeways solves the murder of an old friend while visiting him at his country estate. Short and sweet and to the point. ****
Weekend at Wapentake by Michael Gilbert Following the death of an elderly woman a lawyer finds she may have not died a natural death. Good little non-whodunnit with a twist at the end. ***
Copper Beeches by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Sort of like The Hound of the Baskervilles meets Jane Eyre, and not in a good way. No real mystery involved for anyone who has read just about anything. It's one time I found Holmes tiresome and Watson particularly dull. **
The Problem of Dead Wood Hall by Dick Donovan After two mysterious deaths go unexplained for years, friends of the dead men bring a sleuth to the area to investigate. I found the mystery not that compelling (although the means of death starts out to be interesting.) This short story is too long for my taste and the narrator goes on and on about things. *
Gentlemen and Players by E.W. Hornung Famed cricketer and jewel thief Raffles and a friend spend a little week at Milchester Abbey for cricket matches where other guests may display their valued gems. Possibly evocative of a time in England that no longer exists; unless you are a fan of cricket (or know anything about the game), much of this will be lost on you. Plus, calling it a mystery is a stretch. *
The Well by W.W. Jacobs Two cousins have an argument about money which leads to tragedy. Well written tale that builds to a suspenseful end. ****
The White Pillars Murder by G.K.Chesterton Not a Father Brown story, it details how two novice private detectives working under an experienced one figure out a killer when sent out on their own. A new take on the genre (to me, at least) and an enjoyable read. Left me with some questions, though. ****
The Secret of Dunstan's Tower by Ernest Bramah The author's blind detective Max Carrados is called on to help unravel a mystery involving a centuries' old curse. An entertaining story if you suspend disbelief for the duration. ***
The Manor House Mystery by J.S. Fletcher When a country town man dies mysteriously a Scotland Yard detective is asked to investigate. He holds interviews in his hotel room to try and unravel what happened. Nicely written and not the usual suspects type of story. Left me with one big question, though. ***
The Message on the Sun-Dial by J.J. Bell Two cousins fight over money, leading to one's death. Not really a mystery and the message isn't that cryptic. **
The Horror at Staveley Grange by Sapper After two mysterious deaths in a newly bought stately home's bedroom, the intended of the heir calls on a detective to unravel the mystery. An ok story, but dated and superseded by many takes on the method of killings in intervening years. ***
The Mystery of Horne's Copse by Anthony Berkeley A man walking home stumbles on a corpse, but when he returns with the police the body has disappeared. When it happens again, he begins to doubt his sanity. As explained in the introduction, this was a 1931 serial and has short paragraphs and a longer running time than I thought was needed. It's okay but brought to mind some of the convoluted impossible crime books by French author Paul Halter (who writes 70+ years after this was printed.) ***
The Perfect Plan by James Hilton Agrieved by his employer's actions, a man plots to murder him in a foolproof manner. Since Hilton is one of my favorite authors, I was predisposed to liking this story, and I did. It's not a whodunit (like Hilton's Was It Murder?), but shows how the killer's perfect plan is executed (no pun intended.) *****
The Same To Us by Margery Allingham A hostess who invites a distinguished Chinese theorist to a weekend party is too pleased at her social coup to be disturbed by her diamonds being stolen that same weekend. A fun tale, with one head-scratching moment: the intro says it was first published in 1934, yet one line mentioned the visitor being referred to by television comedians. Possibly the story was revised and re-published years after TV became commonplace? ****
The Murder at the Towers by E.V. Knox All the usual suspects are available when a despised man is found dead at his estate. The intro warns that the author was prone to write non-serious crime stories, and this certainly is. It's fun and silly. ***
An Unlocked Window by Ethel Lina White Two nurses find themselves in an isolated house in an area where multiple nurses have been strangled. I remembered the plot twist but still enjoyed this and how the reader is led up the wrong path. (This was televised twice on Alfred Hitchcock Presents, but the ending was changed both times.) *****
The Long Shot by Nicholas Blake Nigel Strangeways solves the murder of an old friend while visiting him at his country estate. Short and sweet and to the point. ****
Weekend at Wapentake by Michael Gilbert Following the death of an elderly woman a lawyer finds she may have not died a natural death. Good little non-whodunnit with a twist at the end. ***
Carol S. (waucondacarol) reviewed Murder at the Manor (British Library Crime Classics) on + 319 more book reviews
The English countryside is deadly in this collection of mysteries by British authors written over 65 years. The upstairs-downstairs life in a country house provides plenty of victims and plenty of suspects. I really enjoyed the wide range of settings, characters, and of course methods of murder.
