Just So Stories

New South Books

Imprint:   British Library
January 2016
Edition:   New edition, 
ISBN:   9780712356305
ISBN 10:   0712356304
Series:   British Library Crime Classics

AUD$22.99, NZD$27.99

Shortly before Xmas and just as I was scheduling the last of the Countdown posts, the marvellous New South Books sent me a parcel of 3 classic books which I pounced upon as some kind of delightful Christmas present and immediately put this one next on my bedside table because – well, you know – cosy murder mystery from the golden age of the genre. And it was.

I really thoroughly enjoyed being part of the house party of this rather odious family as they try to unravel the death of their curdmudgeonly patriarch, seemingly under their very noses. With one red herring after another, this, which is the first I’ve ever read from this author whom I had not heard of previously, was as entertaining as the Queen herself, Agatha Christie.

Every possible trope is here really. Misdirection, rich father holding the purse strings and making the family dance to his tune, diverse offspring none of them particularly likeable, brattish grandchildren, attractive and competent personal secretary, elderly spinster aunt full of venom, an ineffectual male family friend, a wastrel actor, and a house that actually makes you long to explore every nook and cranny.

I am exceedingly pleased to say I nutted out the murderer before the denouement, and early on, the means and method, but it was definitely an engaging read right to the end. I haven’t yet read the other two sent to me in that package but I’m certainly looking forward to more of this revisit to an earlier style of writing.

This definitely gets a 5 🕵️🕵️🕵️🕵️🕵️rating from me for armchair sleuths of all ages.