The Sleep Is Deep

 The Sleep Is Deep (1952) by Hugh Lawrence Nelson

Lieutenant March Richards is the head of the Colorado City Detective Bureau and assigned to investigate a murder at the home of one of the city's oldest and most respected families. Ferdinand Spencer is found stabbed to death in his den, in the middle of what is meant to look like a robbery attempt. But Richards suspects that the murderer will be found within the Holt household and not among the burglars who might be roaming the city. And he sure hopes that's true. Because Richards holds a grudge against the Holts, even as it becomes obvious that he's in love with Joan Carpenter, the granddaughter of Mary Holt, the family matriarch. Mrs. Holt also suspects a deeper story and hires Jim Dunn, a private eye, to investigate. His instructions? To investigate not only the murder, but Mark Richards--and find out why he seems bent on revenge.

The two men agree to pool information whenever possible while following their own lines. And Richards does finally realize that there's another perfectly good candidate for suspect-in-chief--but then that man is murdered--with a gasoline-filled water pistol (that was stolen from Dunn!) and a cigarette lighter and Richards starts focusing on the Holt women again. It takes a lot of digging by Dunn and a "come-to-Jesus" moment for Richards (over his incredible bias) before the two men can finally pin the murders on the right culprit.

An interesting twist on revenge--where the detective in charge wants so badly for a certain person to be found guilty that he can't see any evidence that doesn't fit his theory. He is still honorable enough that he won't manufacture evidence to frame the person, but he really has a hard time considering anyone outside the Holt household as a viable suspect. Nelson gives us a really good character study of how focusing on those who have hurt us can twist how we see the world. Fortunately for Richards, Jim Dunn is a good detective and a good man and he likes the lieutenant enough to risk shaking him up and showing him how destructive his hate for the Holts is. Nelson actually provide terrific character studies overall--from Richards and Jim Dunn to Mary Holt (who has a sense of honor that Richards doesn't even begin to suspect) to Police Chief Drover who believes in Richards and doesn't want to see his career come to grief over a need for revenge.

The thing that keeps this mystery from a full four stars is the plot. The motive seems pretty flimsy to me and there are not really any clues that might point the reader in the right direction. I actually suspected the right person, but that was purely my reaction to them when they came on stage. I have no evidence to point to prior to Dunn and Richards explaining everything at the end. ★★★ and 1/2.

First line: A loose tire chain clanked rhythmically as Detective Lieutenant Mark Richards drove through the six inch snow which had not dampened the New Year's Eve celebrations in Colorado City.

Superintendent Thompson's word was not law. It was something far better than that. His word was good. (p.78)

Last line: Known to be somewhat eccentric in his later years, Ben Norwood's entire estate was left to an old friend, Mrs. Emily Holt Carpenter Spencer Watson, who has been honeymooning in Taos.
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Deaths = 5 (one stabbed; three natural; one strangled)