This book was first published in 1933 and for some reason seems much more like an Agatha Christie book than the others which I’ve read by Heyer. So if you’re a fan of Christie you’ll probably really enjoy this one. I didn’t dislike it but I was just a wee bit disappointed that there wasn’t much of the witty repartee in it which I’ve come to expect of Heyer. Maybe her humour was more a feature of the later books, it’s a shame really because as far as I’m concerned there’s always a place for a bit of fun, even when there’s been a murrrderr!
It’s a classic country house whodunnit, a favourite setting of mine and it’s a plus that I didn’t guess who the culprit was until very late on in it. Either my brain wasn’t in gear or it was more of a puzzle than the last P.D. James book which I read.
It wouldn’t be a Heyer without romance, she seemed to be incapable of leaving it out of any of her books. It’s daft how quickly it all happens though – certainly no problems with her men being incapable of commiting!
The blurb on the back of the book says:
‘Miss Heyer’s characters are an abiding delight to me… I have seldom met people to whom I have taken so violent a fancy from the word “Go”.’ DOROTHY SAYERS
I’m pleased that good old Dorothy was generous with her praise of another crime writer, it wasn’t always the case, especially with female crime writers. I believe Margery Allingham was a bit of a bitch where Sayers was concerned which must have been a bit awkward as they both lived just one train stop from each other and were often on the London train at the same time.
I do love vintage crime but feel that there are far more crime writers I should be giving a go. Any recommendations vintage or modern?
Ahh my favorite genre is vintage mystery! Mary Roberts Rinehart is one of my favorites, Josephine Tey, Patricia Wentworth, Elizabeth Daly and John Dickson Carr does a great locked room puzzle type mystery. I am reading Eilis Dillon’s first mystery right now. She only wrote 3 but I am really enjoying her writing style. Maureen Sarsfield wrote two and then disappeared from the scene. I have read one of hers and really enjoyed it and have the other one waiting on the shelf. If you use an ereader you can get quite a few really old mysteries on Project Gutenberg for free. A lot of them are very difficult to find elsewhere. Wells Hastings, E.R. Punshion, Herbert Jenkins, Ethel Lina White, and they do have quite a few of Mary Roberts Rinehart. I still have to try Georgette Heyer have not read her and do like the humor aspect also! Happy Hunting! Bev at
My Readers Block is really into vintage big time and she has lots of reviews and suggestions. She sponsors a Vintage Mystery challenge each year that I look forward too.
Peggy,
It’s difficult to get the older ones and just about impossible to get American writers. I was recommended Mignon Eberhart but no luck so far. I’m working my way through all of Tey, it’s years since I read a Wentworth and I haven’t read Daly or Dickson Carr yet. What a lot you’ve given me to look for, I think I’ll have to get into downloading things! I saw your post on Maureen Sarsfield so I’ll look out for her. Have you read Michael Innes or Elizabeth Ferrars, both Scottish. I’ll hop over to My Readers Block soon, thanks.
I have not read Michael Innes yet, but I just got one of his books for the Vintage challenge. This year she had themes to choose and you could make up your own theme so I chose female authors, male authors, and my own theme is authors born in Scotland or Ireland. So Michael goes on that one! 8 books in each category. I couldn’t find the names of many Scottish mystery authors. I will look for Ferrars! I get books from the UK on alibris and amazon. I really prefer the written page but I can’t pass up the free old stories for the ereader. That’s all I use it for. I will never ‘buy’ a book for it. I use Adobe digital editions to move the books into and then it recognizes my ereader and I move them onto the ereader. Most of the vintage authors that are good weem to come from the UK!
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/c/john-dickson-carr/
this is a great site to get authors bibliography’s and at the bottom you can search from UK or USA sites for books by the author.
Peggy,
Jack uses fantastic fiction a lot, I’ve had a look at alibris since you mentioned it. I haven’t bought anything yet though. Do you know abebooks and awesome books? I’ve used them a few times. I’ve just checked up Ferrars and it seems that although her family was Scottish she was born in Burma. She lived in Edinburgh in later life so I think she would qualify as a Scot. Of course Josephine Tey was Scottish although I have seen her described as English. I like Michael Innes, he had a very long writing career and because I like vintage crime his earlier ones are my favourites. He also wrote under the name J.I.M. Stewart and those books are well worth reading too. I’m trying to think of more Scottish mystery writers!
I aim to read a Heyerdahl book this year, so will add this to the list to look out for.
Jo,
I take it the Heyerdahl was a slip of the fingers! But on that subject – I’ve seen Thor Heyerdahl’s raft in Bergen – terrifyingly teeny!
Predictive typing!