A Gentleman's Murder

 A Gentleman's Murder (2018) by Christopher Huang

There has always been a Peterkin among the members of the Britannia Club, the elite gentlemen's club for those who had been servicemen. In fact, a Peterkin was one of the founding members. And now Lieutenant Eric Peterkin has followed in his father's and forefathers' footsteps to become the newest member with the name. He leads a fairly quiet life--coming in each day to sit in his "Usual Armchair" and read detective manuscripts for a publishing company. That is until an even newer member is added to the roll. 

Albert Benson, a conscientious objector, seems an odd choice for Britannia Club membership but, as is pointed out, Benson served as a stretcher-bearer and saw just as much action without benefit of a weapon to defend himself. The club's President, Edward Aldershott, turns Benson over to Peterkin and Mortimer Wolfe so they can show the new member the ropes. His membership is very short-lived. It begins with a wager and ends with Benson's murder. Wolfe is well-known for making wagers and when the conversation leads to Benson's having stored some items in the Club's safety deposit boxes ("Safer than the Bank of England"), Wolfe declares that he could get into the box and steal one of the items and present it to Benson by noon the next day. Peterkin knows that Wolfe never makes a wager he can't deliver and cautions Benson not to accept. Oddly enough, Aldershott steps in and says he'll take the bet; that he knows Wolfe can't do it.

Peterkin is asked to act as referee and decides that to be completely sure of fair play he should see the items in the box. At first Benson appears reluctant, but then he seems relieved to share the items with someone else. There are four things in the box: a photograph showing a nurse at a birthday party, a medical report regarding one Horatio Parker who had received a cut to the face which required stitches, a hypodermic kit with syringe and a few needles--the kit's lid was engraved with a stylized letter S, and a pair of silver surgical scissors. Though Peterkin is curious at the odd assortment and wonders at their importance, Benson explains little beyond saying, "I expect these things to right a great wrong from the past."

Just before noon the next day Peterkin and Aldershott are waiting for Wolfe and Benson to arrive. Wolfe strolls nonchalantly in and lays a linen bundle on the table. But no Benson, so the men decide to go ahead and inspect what Wolfe has brought. When Peterkin confirms that the surgical scissors do appear to be the same as were in the box the previous evening, he comments that he would have removed the photograph or medical report--they being easier to conceal on his person. Wolfe insists that there was nothing in the box but the scissors and the hypodermic. The men head to the vault area to inspect the boxes and find Benson dead--with Aldershott's letter opener protruding from his neck. When Scotland Yard arrives, the lead detective is Inspector Parker...Inspector Horatio Parker with a nasty scar across his face.

It becomes apparent that the club would prefer to sweep this all under the rug and find a way to blame the incident on a intruder. (Nevermind the porter on the front door, the locked windows and rear door, the locked vault, and the myriad other reasons why it must be someone from the club.) Peterkin's sense of justice and his memory of Benson's last words to him, spur him to try his hand at a bit of detective work. He puts the Peterkin club connection on the line....and then finds his own life in danger. How do a soldiers' recovery hospital, a missing nurse, and the opium dens of Limehouse fit into the story? He needs to find out before the gunman on his trail finally hits his mark.

Huang's story is a delightful homage to Golden Age detection with just a trace of thriller. The plot is intricate and yet displays its clues in ways reminiscent of the best of the classic mystery plots. There are nods to Christie and Earl Derr Biggers and Father Ronald Knox. And Huang pays especial respect to the works of Dorothy L. Sayers. Our hero's last name, Peterkin, is a nod to a name used for Lord Peter Wimsey's small nephew. One of the other characters asks him straight up if he thinks he's another Wimsey. And, of course, our Scotland Yard man is named Inspector Parker. Peterkin doesn't have a Bunter, but he does have his friend Avery and and Ted Cully ("Old Faithful"), the club's porter seems particularly loyal to Peterkin. I felt the spirit of the Sayers stories much more strongly than I did in most of the LPW continuation stories by Jill Paton Walsh.

Peterkin also serves to highlight and provide an answer to the "Yellow Peril" novels of 1920s. He stands astride both worlds--with a very English father and a Chinese mother. Much is made of his outsider status and how much he doesn't look like the proper British gentleman, but it is his outsider status that helps him look at the story from a different angle. This is a very good debut mystery and the story ends with Peterkin heading out to another mystery and one was hopeful that there would be a second story in a series. But his forthcoming novel, while a mystery as well, does not seem to feature the amateur detective. ★★★★

*My second selection for the 12 Challenge (read at least 12 books suggested by friends), was definitely a hit. Thanks to Ryan Groff for the suggestion!

First line: The Britannia Club stood on King Street, a respectable limestone facade among respectable limestone facades, with a brass plaque that nobody had looked at in decades; if you had to stop to check the address, you were clearly in the wrong place.

"You always leave something of your humanity behind in a murder. I could never do it." (Avery Ferrett; p. 4)

One of these days, someone would have to write a story, perhaps even a detective story, featuring a Chinese hero. The World needed this as much as a house needed a key. (p. 64; hat tip to Earl Derr Biggers)

We can't close our eyes to unpleasantness if it means living with lies. (Helen Benson; p. 120)

Last line: But Eric had already marched out of the lounge, his stride swift and purposeful, and Avery had to trot to catch up.

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Deaths = 10 (one stabbed; three natural; two shot; two drowned; one hit on head; one smoke inhalation)

All Challenges Fulfilled: Virtual Mount TBR,12 Challenge,Cloak & Dagger,Mystery Reporter,Medical Examiner,Alphabet Soup,Alphabet Soup Authors,52 Book Club,Historical Fiction,Linz the Bookworm RC,Pick Your Poison,Calendar of Crime,Reading by the Numbers,