Trixie Belden & the Black Jacket Mystery

 Trixie Belden & the Black Jacket Mystery (1961) by Kathryn Kenny

Trixie and the Bob-Whites are getting ready to hold an ice carnival on the Wheelers' lake. Trixie and Honey's pen pals in Mexico have been through an earthquake. The disaster destroyed their school library and they don't know how the books will ever be replaced. So, Trixie comes up with the idea of the carnival to raise money and seek book donations. You'd think she'd be too busy to get mixed up in a mystery...but not our Trixie. 

Regan, the Wheelers' groom, is acting oddly. Trixie overhears him asking her mom for advice for some sort of situation and then later she accidently sees a paper in the tack room that indicates some sort of legal trouble. Regan has to go into New York City on some sort of business and the next thing the Bob-Whites know there is a new boy at school. A boy who apparently came from the city and who wears a black leather jacket, cowboy boots, and a peaked black cap. He spends the lunch hour talking about how he and his "club" deal with people. 

He struck a fist into the palm of his other hand forcefully. "Pow!"

Despite the Bob-Whites making efforts to be friendly, he remains stand-offish and even a bit rude. Trixie speculates that his club must really have been a gang and when Honey's watch comes up missing and is found sold to a local store, she suspects Dan of being responsible. Then the clubhouse is broken into and their petty cash stolen. But there are conflicting clues--while there are cowboy bootprints in the dirt floor of the clubhouse, they look to be too big for Dan's foot. But who else could it be? No one else in Sleepyside wears pointy cowboy boots. It's a mystery Trixie just has to solve.

This story represents both a thing I like least about Trixie and something I like best about her and the Bob-Whites. One of the most annoying things about the girl who wants to grow up and have her own detective agency is the way she jumps to conclusions. Jumps, did I say? How about takes a running, flying leap at them. For a girl who has a heart big enough to want to host an ice carnival to to raise money to replace books destroyed in an earthquake, she closes that heart up right quick the minute she sees Dan Mangan in his black jacket and cowboy boots. She decides on little evidence that he must have "stolen" (picked up out of the snow) Honey's watch and then broken into the Bob-Whites' clubhouse. And even when the evidence found proves it couldn't have been him--the footprints are too big and the boots which made the prints are the wrong color--she immediately jumps right back on the "Dan's a bad boy" band wagon the next chance she gets. 

But as mentioned, she does have a big heart. And I love the way she and the others are always finding ways to those in need. Having the ice carnival for their pen pals in Mexico who need to replace their school library books, is a wonderful idea. It was great fun to watch the show come together. I just wish Trixie could be a little bit more open to people right in front of her. Yes, Dan is acting rude. But both Honey and Mart notice that he looks more scared than tough. I'm glad that Trixie did come round to seeing that Dan just really needed the right kind of friends. ★★★ and 1/2

First line: "Bobby! If you don't hold still, I'll never have you ready in time to catch your bus!"

Last line: To which Mr. Maypenny nodded and said, "Amen."

The Trouble with Tribbles

 The Trouble With Tribbles (1977) by David Gerrold

The third of twelve fotonovels featuring original Star Trek episodes and published in the 1970s. The books tell the stories in a graphic novel style, using stills for the television show and using comic book balloons for the dialogue. These books were a real treat for fans of the show before VCRs and DVD players allowed us to re-watch episodes whenever we wanted. 

Gerrold's story is a fan favorite--who can resist those furry little bundles? It begins with the Enterprise responding to a priority distress call from Space Station K-7 only to find that undersecretary Nilz Baris wants Kirk to provide security for storage containers of grain. The Federation and the Klingons are in competition to prove to the Organians (who administer the peace treaty between the two) that their people are best suited to develop the disputed Sherman's Planet. Baris is convinced the Klingons are out to destroy the Federation's efforts. He also thinks that the means of sabotage will be the cute little animals called tribbles--but he'll find that he has the furry creatures to thank for giving clues to the plot as well as the spy behind all the trouble.

This has always been one of my favorite episodes. I enjoy the humor and I especially enjoy the scenes with Scotty and Chekov in the bar right before the brawl with the Klingons and then Kirk's interrogation of the men when he's trying to discover who threw the first punch. It is always fun to revisit the classic Trek episodes--whether by viewing them or reading this beautifully done fotonovels. ★★★★★

First line: Captain's Log: Stardate 4523.2 Our path is taking us into a quadrant of the galaxy that has been under dispute between the Klingons and the Federation since initial contact.

Last line: Before they went into warp, I transported the whole kit and kaboodle into their engine room where they will be no "tribble" at all!

All Hallows' Evil (Spoilerish)

 All Hallow's Evil (1992) by Valerie Wolzien

It's Halloween and the ghosts & goblins are out and about. And so are the monsters and....murderers. While a children's Halloween party is going on in the children's section, an unknown man is stabbed to death at the back of the nonfiction area. Susan Henshaw is looking at the cookbooks when she notices the body slumped against the wall. At first she thinks he's just a Halloween prop, but then he lets out a groan, looks at her briefly, and she realizes she's watching a man die. A second body, also stabbed, is found on his front porch--but this man isn't unknown. He is Jason Armstrong, the celebrity host of a popular morning talk show. Jason's wife, Rachel, is so upset and doesn't want to be home alone, so Susan and her husband invite her to stay at their house, little realizing the media circus they're about to become the center ring for...

When a homeless man confesses to the murders, Susan doesn't believe he's guilty and can't believe her old friend Police Chief Brett Fortesque is taking the confession seriously. She's quite sure that something fishy is going on at the library and that it's nothing to do with the homeless. She just doesn't realize how many dirty little secrets are hidden among Hancock's quiet citizens. But which secret drove a killer to stab these particular men?

Spoilers Ahead--Read at Your Own Risk!

So...this wasn't terribly good. The amateur detective solves this by pure inspiration, apparently. Stopping in the middle of thinking about where the first body lay and just shouting, "Brett! I know." Boom. Haven't really gathered any clues. Haven't really gotten anybody to talk about the mystery at all. But, hey, we know who did it. Oh, and the whole bit about having Rachel stay at Susan's house and the television folks creating havoc? I'm thinking that was supposed to comic relief or something. If so--it wasn't. It was just plain annoying. As was the nosy neighbor, Amy Ellsworth. And, for the record, the motive is bizarre and makes zero sense--even when s/he explains their reasoning (if you can call it an explanation) I know the killer winds up being a tad on the paranoid side, but even paranoidal killers have a certain logic. The logic may make sense only to them, but there is usually a credible logic once you look at things from their point of view. Here, the killer says they had to kill the first man because "he knew too much." There is no evidence whatsoever that the victim knew anything at all about the secrets our killer is hiding or that the killer found them anywhere that might lead them to believe the man had discovered anything. The man had been in the library exactly one time and that was the morning he got killed. When exactly was he supposed to have found out what he "knew"?? The second murder makes even less sense. You kill somebody that knew who this unnamed person was so that someone else will be blamed for both deaths??? And the person you have all lined up for the frame-up has zero reason to kill either of them and especially not the second one. I'm sorry, but I'm just not buying what you're selling. I actually do like the lead character but I wish she worked a little more logically. If I hadn't needed this book for challenges, I don't think I would have finished it and I most likely won't pick up another in the series. ★ and 1/2.

First line: An angel was checking out books at the circulation desk, a mermaid was sprawled on the floor in the magazine sections, and a tall gray-haired witch was helping a four-foot werewolf search for a 1976 almanac.

Last lines: "Lead the way. It's a crime I can ignore."

**************

Deaths = two stabbed

The Bluebeard Room

 The Bluebeard Room (1985) by Carolyn Keene

Nancy, Bess, and George are visiting Nancy's Aunt Eloise in New York City. They are invited to a society function and just happen to meet British rock star Lance Warrick of the super-group Crowned Heads. But it's Nancy who has turned his head. Nancy also meets Olive Harwood, mother of one of Nancy's friends from River Heights. Lisa Harwood had married a British aristocrat in a fairy tale wedding, but from what Mrs. Harwood tells Nancy, it doesn't sound like they are living happily ever after. Lisa looks thin and haunted and Mrs. Harwood wants Nancy to go to England (at her expense) and get to the bottom of whatever is troubling her daughter. 

Nancy agrees to go and finds herself in the middle of a mystery involving ancient statues, drugs, witchcraft, hypnosis, and hidden caves. She also finds herself juggling the attentions of Lance Warrick and a handsome young reporter by the name of Alan Trevor. Both men help Nancy unravel the mystery. But Nancy is the one who tracks down all the clues.

The basic mystery is pretty good as Nancy Drew plots go. Nancy makes logical deductions based on what clues she's able to find and takes the lead in investigating the hidden cave. But I do take great exception to the ghost writer having Nancy call Carson Drew "Daddy" (which she never did in the original hardbacks) and having her so very caught up in how she looks. It seemed to me that whoever wrote this under the Keene name had very little real knowledge of the character. And don't get me started on how many times her "heart skipped a beat" or her "pulse quickened" and it wasn't about some mysterious clue she noticed--oh, no. It was all to do with Lance "rock star" Warrick. I've never taken to the idea that her special beau Ned is being quietly shoved aside in these later novels. And I certainly am not a fan of making Nancy behave like the heroine of a romance novel. ★★

First line: "Guess who's at the party, Nancy!"

Last line: Nancy kissed each of her suitors and replied lightly, "I guess that's one riddle I haven't solved yet!"

****************

Deaths = one burned at the stake

Bullets for Macbeth

 Bullets for Macbeth (1976) by Marvin Kaye

Hilary Quayle and her assistant Gene, of Hilary, Ultd., are asked by an old friend of Hilary's to manage the publicity for an elaborate production of Macbeth scheduled to open at Madison Square Garden's Felt Forum. It's going to be quite a job--especially since the director and producer have waited until practically the last minute to settle on publicity. But it becomes even more of a job when Hilary and Gene wind up looking for a present-day murderer as well as the identity of Banquo's third murderer.

Shakespearean scholars had long debated the latter and it seems like a long-shot that our publicity folks will solve the puzzle--but they have a more pressing reason do so than all those scholars did. Michael Godwin (the old friend and director of the production) had come up with a new theory on who the third murderer was and planned to reveal his choice during the production. He claimed that there was textual evidence in the play itself that supported his theory. He kept his plan secret from everyone in the company--practicing in secret with the actor who was to play the part. When Michael Godwin (the old friend and director) is shot and killed during the dress rehearsal by what appears to have been the third murderer, solving the identity of Shakespeare's third murdered will most likely reveal who was responsible for Michael's death. Hilary and Gene's friend, Inspector Betterman of the NYPD, think their idea is so much eyewash, especially since the man who owned the gun has taken a powder. But then the police's main suspect is stabbed and it looks like the amateurs may have a good idea after all. Will they be able to pinpoint Banquo's murderer in time to prevent more deaths?

I have mixed feelings about this one. On the plus side, I enjoyed the way Kaye works the mystery of Shakespeare's third murderer into the present day murder. Since I'm not a Shakespearean scholar, I don't know if the identity in the play is still in hot debate or not, but I do think Kaye (through Hilary) makes a compelling case for the choice made here. And for what Kaye wanted to do with plot, it dovetails very nicely. However, taking the present-day murder on its own merits, I don't find the chosen culprit satisfying. I believe there was a much more interesting solution--one that could have worked with the clues we were given and it would have been far more satisfying to me. 

Another plus was our narrator, Gene. I enjoyed viewing events through his eyes and it was really nice to see the character who is set up as the Watson to our lead detective (Hilary) actually solve the mystery himself. She manages to solve the Shakespearean question--independently, but Gene follows the modern-day clues and has the entire wrap-up scene entirely to himself. This was especially satisfying to me because, quite frankly, Hilary is not my favorite person in Kaye's world. She's alternately nasty and nice to Gene--who has a thing for her and I can't for the life of me figure out why. She constantly accuses him of certain behaviors and then gives him zero chance to explain himself. We've watched him the entire time, so we know who side we're on. I thoroughly enjoyed watching him solve the mystery without her. I think part of the problem is that Kaye doesn't write women well. He has great difficulty representing them whenever they are not being b-----s, so giving them authentic emotions and behaviors beyond the negative seems to be out of his league.

Overall--a nicely done mystery, especially for those who like their mysteries with a literary bent. I would have given higher marks if the solution (which is solid, don't get me wrong) had been more satisfying to me personally and if Kaye had more range when portraying female characters. ★★★

First line: So, I'm impressed.

Last line: Privately, I wondered how the hell I was going to break my date with Pat Lowe without hurting her feelings.

***************

Deaths = 3 (one shot; two stabbed)

Death Among the Sunbathers

 Death Among the Sunbathers (1934) by E. R. Punshon

The second in the Bobby Owens detective series--where Owens is much talked about, but little seen. As one of the characters says:

...but he's there...all the time...that's what gets on your nerves...you never see him, but all the time you know he's there and all the time you keep hearing things...

Superintendent Mitchell and Inspector Ferris are returning to London from an interview with a very upset Lord Carripore. Carripore is the chairman of Universal Assurance, the primary insurer which has been hit hard by a series of fire claims. There is a bit of trouble with their car and while their driver sets about seeing to it, they witness a woman zip by, driving like blazes. They're not too surprised, therefore, when they hear the tell-tale sound of an accident. Quickly piling into the car, they arrive at the accident site in time to drag the woman's body from the burning car, but she's past help. They are puzzled that, despite her speed, she happened to have an accident at that particular point--the road was nice and straight. It isn't until a doctor arrives that it's revealed that she was dead before the car hit the embankment--for a gunshot.

They soon discover that the dead woman is a well-known journalist by the name of Jo Frankland and there are several possible motives. She had just been to Leadeane Grange, a kind of spa for sun worshippers (and sometimes nudists). That's a major fad just now, but not really hot news. Did something else draw her to spa? A fellow journalist seems to think she was on to a hot story. Maybe she meddled where she shouldn't have? But then there's also the huge fight she had with her husband and it appears that he was in the area at the right time. He was also seen to wave a Browning automatic around during the argument. His wife just happens to have been shot with a Browning automatic--and he has disappeared. There is also Maurice Keene, the young man her sister has been seeing. And Jo Frankland was actively trying to break that relationship up. He was also at the Grange that afternoon. Was that worth killing for? There's an old lag named Bobs-the--Boy hanging about as well. Why is he doing odd jobs for the Grange...and for Horace Hunter, a dealer in furs? Has Bobs-the-Boy started dealing in murder? And what about the mysterious motorcycle rider who had an argument with her on the road that day? He too has most conveniently disappeared right after their altercation.

While Mitchell and Ferris interview the suspects and follow the clues in the usual way, Bobby Owens is following his own line and keeping a low profile. He sends in regular reports to Mitchell with "information received" through his less obvious means of investigation. And, of course, he's johnny-on-the-spot when it comes time to round up the culprit/s.

So, despite this receiving a fairly positive review from Dorothy L. Sayers in her crime reviews (her main complaint is that we see far more of the villainous side of things than we do of Superintendent Mitchell and, most definitely, Bobby Owens), I found this to be far less engaging than Information Received (the first Bobby Owens book). I agree with Sayers that the format which focuses on the criminal/s is less than ideal and I was not fooled for a moment by activities of Bobby Owens. [to say more would let several cats out of the bag] I did appreciate the way all the plot threads were tied together and thoroughly enjoyed all the time we did get to spend with Mitchell and Ferris (though if Mitchell had said that something would "bear looking into" one more more time....). Overall, a solid plot and it was quite clever of Mitchell to spot the initial clue as to when Jo Frankland was killed. ★★★

First line: A slight defect had developed.

"Ah," Bryan said quickly, "you're thinking of what I said about sun bathing being good for the mental activity as well. But Dodd--well, after all, the sun can't work miracles, can it? It must have something to go on on, mustn't it?" (p.98)

That's the worst of a woman, Ferris; what they mean and what they say are two things with a strictly limited connection. (Superintendent Mitchell; p. 102)

Last line: "You can cut away to bed now and I'll let you know when your fresh instructions are ready."

**************

Deaths = one shot

Book Challenge by Erin 17.0

 

Book Challenge by Erin

First and foremost, have fun. Don't stress. No one is being judged, graded, or penalized. Even if you finish only one book the entire challenge, if you enjoy it and it's an accomplishment for you, then that's awesome.

 

The challenge will run from July 1, 2022 to October 31, 2022. No books started before 12 a.m. on July 1 or finished after 11:59 p.m. on October 31 will count. (We live in different time zones--follow according to your own time zone.)

 

Each book must be at least 200 pages long. Audio books are fine too.

 

Read one book for each category.

 

For full details see Erin's page on Facebook (link above). You will need to join the private group to view.

My List:

1. Freebie: Seven Tears for Apollo by Phyllis A. Whitney (224 pp) [7/4/22]

2. Brings Joy: Paperbacks, USA by Piet Schreuders (259 pp) [I love vintage paperbacks and I expect this book to make me very happy indeed.] (7/3/22)

3. Set in Canada: The Suspect by L. R. Wright (224 pp) [7/18/22]

4. Author of different race/religion from me: Mycroft Holmes by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar--and Anna Waterhouse (336 pp) [7/16/22]

5. Flower in title/on cover: Secret of the White Rose by Stefanie Pintoff (370 pp) [7/20/22]

6. Book, Books, Bookstore, Bookshop, OR Library in title: Murder off the Books by Evelyn David (288 pp) [7/13/22]

7. Published year of Significant Event: The Body in the Vestibule by Katherine Hall Page [pub. 1992--year my son was born] (211 pp) [7/6/22]

8. Recommended by Librarian: Relative Fortunes by Marlow Benn (306 pp) [7/14/22]

9. Book with vacation/trip/holiday: Voyage into Violence by Frances & Richard Lockridge (223 pp) [7/9/22]

10. Book with earth/air/fire water/space in title: The Woman in the Water by Charles Finch (292 pp) [7/10/22]

First round completed 7/20/22.

June Reading by the Numbers Reviews

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June Virtual Mount TBR Reviews

 

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June Mount TBR Reviews

 

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June Vintage Scattergories Reviews

 

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The Tears of the Singers

 The Tears of the Singers (1984) by Melinda Snodgrass

The Enterprise is at a space station for a little R&R and a mandatory check of the ship. Uhura meets one of the most talented musicians since Mozart and there is romance in the air. But when a space freighter disappears in a space warp near the Taygeta V system, shore leave is cancelled and the Enterprise is sent to investigate. Taygeta is the home of a species of "singers" that has long been hunted for the crystal tears excreted upon their death. Spock proposes that a species that can create music must be intelligent and that the hunting is wrong...and Kirk doesn't disagree, but there are bigger issues to be faced. First, they need to find a way to stop the space warp from expanding further (and engulfing the planet)...then they can save the Taygetians from the hunters. 

Before leaving the space station, Spock's research into the Taygetians' music reveals that the songs themselves may be essential to solving the space warp crisis and he tells Kirk that the Enterprise needs a musician to interpret the music. So, Guy Maslin, our latter-day Mozart, is called upon for service (under a little-used Federation regulation) and off they go to Taygeta. Of course, saving the universe wouldn't be everything it could be without the Klingons getting involved too. Kirk's old rival Kor shows up and then they manage a truce (without the need for Organian influence), but there are hard-core Klingons on Kor's ship who might not let their captain be so cozy with earthers. While Kirk and Kor try to keep things calm in space, Uhura, Guy, and Spock work to unravel the song and make meaningful contact with the Taygetians before it's too late.

This is one of the few Star Trek novels to feature Lieutenant Uhura and give her the attention she deserves. She not only helps to save an entire species and their planet, but also helps them save the space-time continuum. The plot makes use of her musical talents as well as her abilities as a language specialist. I enjoyed this one very much the first time I read it (when it was first released and looking back now, it's interesting to know that this book came out in 1984 and featured a rescue through a species' song and it wouldn't be long before Star Trek IV would be released and whale song would feature so prominently. ★★★ and 3/4 

First line (Prologue): An ice green sea lapped softly at the sparkling sands and crystal cliffs of the strange, silver-lit world.

Last line: He would probably never hear their music again, but someday, with the help of the three Taygetians who traveled with them, a multitude of worlds would ring with their particular brand of music that sang to the spheres.

The Clue in the Crumbling Wall

 The Clue in the Crumbling Wall (1945) by Carolyn Keene

When four rose bushes disappear from Nancy Drew's garden, she's plunged into another mystery. The bushes are stolen by Joan Fenimore, a poor little girl with a love of beautiful plants. Joan and her widowed mother are living in reduced circumstances and are convinced that if only the mother's sister, Florianna Johnson--a famous dancer--could be found, then things would change for them.

Florianna was engaged to Walter Heath, heir to a fine estate and the family business. But she disappeared nearly ten years ago. Her health had been bad and she'd been advised to take a break from work and go on a vacation. She never returned. Walter loved her and believed she'd come back, but died five years later. His will revealed that he had left everything to Florianna, provided she was found within five years of his death. There are only three weeks left and if the dancer isn't found the estate will revert to the county to be turned into a park.

Nancy promises the Fenimores that she will do all she can to find the missing dancer. There is also a rumor of clues to be found and the Heath estate so she and Bess and George make it their business to investigate. They discover that someone has been damaging the walls of the gardens and buildings--evidently in search of something. Nancy soon discovers a plot to defraud the missing dancer of her inheritance and she must race against the clock to find Florianna, as well as the valuable secret hidden at Heath Castle.

The Clue in the Crumbling Wall was one of my top ten favorite Nancy Drew stories when I was young. And the mystery still holds up forty-some years later. There are good clues for Nancy to follow and just the right amount of danger and adventure. The girls are attacked at various times, but never seriously hurt and they manage to outsmart the crooks very cleverly. It was nice to see Nancy working with her Dad on this one--he and Nancy follow a lead to Florianna in a nearby town. Usually, Carson Drew is off doing lawyerly things and just gives Nancy little "that-a-girl" pep talks when he appears. I really like the ending--how Florianna uses her new-found wealth and the happy ending for Joan and her mother. ★★★★

First line: Great drops of rain pelted the sidewalk, as Nancy Drew raced madly toward home, her golden hair flying in the stiff breeze.

Last line: "And forever they'll remain a symbol of mystery and romance!"

****************

Deaths = two natural

When Blood Lies (Spoilers)

 When Blood Lies (2022) ~C. S. Harris (Candice Proctor)

Warning! If you have not read the previous books in the series, then there will be spoilers to the long, arcing storyline in our protagonist's life.

In March of 1815, Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, has traveled to France, along with his wife Hero and family. The Bourbons have been restored to power, the French people are growing restless, and there are rumors of the return of Napoleon. But Devlin ha a single purpose, he has firm hopes of finally meeting up with his long-lost mother and learning the truth of his parentage. It's been a long wait--from the moment he learned that the Countess of Hendon did not perished at sea to learning that the Earl was not his father in anything but name to learning that his mother was in France to waiting for France to be calm enough to make this journey possible. There may still be unrest in the Gallic nation, but he refuses to wait any longer. He learns that she has been traveling in Vienna, but is set to return to Paris.

But more tragedy awaits our hero as his mother is fatally stabbed on the bridge leading to the house he has leased in Paris. He arrives in time to be recognized with a ragged, whispered, "Sebastian," but Sophia Hendon dies without regaining consciousness or naming her murderer...or naming Devlin's real father. In these turbulent times, the French authorities have no interest in finding the killer of an Englishwoman who was the mistress of one of Bonaparte's former generals--even if Maréchal McClellan has now sworn allegiance to the Bourbons. And the Bourbons, as represented by Marie-Therese, Duchesse d’Angoulême, warns Devlin off his quest for justice, as does his antagonistic father-in-law, Lord Jarvis. But official warnings have never stopped him before.

The investigation reveals disturbing information about his mother. It seems that before she returned to France she made a detour to Elba. And evidence indicates that at the time of her death she had been in possession of a talisman sacred to those who would rule France. It has since disappeared. Did she deliver it to Napoleon on Elba and is that why he's emboldened to return to Paris? Or was she taking it to someone else before meeting with her son? Does this mean that her death is political? Other deaths follow and the clues begin to point in various directions--including a very personal one. Threats are made against his family and he races to find answers before he loses anyone else dear to him.

I spent 2020-21 rereading the earliest entries in this series and then getting completely caught up with Devlin and his lady. I finished the previous book in July of last year and have been waiting very impatiently--first for this one to be published and second for my turn on the library holds waitlist. I got my hands on it on Friday evening and finished it by Saturday afternoon. I absolutely love this series. It is one of my all-time favorite historical mystery series. It is also one of the deadliest I read (regularly racking up deaths in the double-digits), but the pacing is perfect, the characters so appealing, the historical details so absorbing (without being overwhelming), and mysteries so interesting that the death count wouldn't seem so high if I weren't tracking for the Medical Examiner's Reading Challenge. I have enjoyed watching Devlin's journey, even as I am saddened by each new tragedy Harris sends his way. The next book isn't due out till next April...it's going to be a very long year. ★★★★★

First line: One more day, he thought, one more day, perhaps two, and then....

Last line: Long live the Emperor.

***************

Deaths = 13 (one drowned; one natural; five stabbed; one broken neck; two hit on head; two shot; one strangled)

Murder Down Under (spoilerish

 Murder Down Under (aka Mr. Jelly's Business; 1937) Arthur W. Upfield

Inspector Napoleon "Bony" Bonaparte is on holiday in western Australia when he decides to lend a helping hand to a former protégé--on not one mystery, but two. Detective John Muir had made a mess of his last case--suspecting the wrong man and letting the right one get away. And now he's got a mysterious disappearance on his hands. George Loftus, a local wheat farmer, had wrecked his car one rainy night and promptly disappeared into the ether. Many of the townspeople think Loftus has done a bunk--escaping creditors or his wife...or both. About two weeks have passed and he's found no evidence whatsoever in the case. 

He's very surprised and happy to see Bony appear in Perth--even if his mentor does give him a bit of a hard time over his last case.

After all my tuition you took a creek without first ascertaining the depth of the water. You accepted a conclusion not based on logical deduction. You ignored science, our greatest ally after Father Time.

But he immediately offers Muir a way to redeem himself. He tells him exactly where to find the real culprit and how best to effect the capture. Meanwhile, Bony is also going to interest himself in the new disappearance. He soon learns that while Leonard Wallace, owner of the Burracoppin Hotel, was the last to see Loftus alive and even admits to having argued with the man, the hotel owner is more likely to murder his wife than a customer. Wallace says that Loftus had given him a ride after sharing drinks in the bar. The missing man was in a foul mood and after the argument had forced Wallace out of the car. That was last he'd seen of him. An investigation of the crash site (even several weeks later) shows Bony that Loftus left the car alive and traveled a bit along the rabbit fence. But what happened to him then? Where did he go and who did he meet? A cigar stub, the remains of Loftus's red notebook, a few ill-advisedly spent bank notes, a dog's successful rabbit hunt, a well-stacked haystack, and buzzing blowflies are the solid clues that will show Bony (and the reader) who done it and where Loftus is now. But the reader should know who did it long before the clues are found...

This is one of the slowest-paced police procedurals I've read in a long time. I know that one of the tenets of Bony's philosophy of detection is patience, but mine was wearing thin by the time we got round to the grand finale. Once we know it's murder (and, of course it was, otherwise why write a whole detective novel about a man running out on his wife and his debts?), it isn't that difficult to figure out who did it and why. Suspects are not exactly thick on the ground. Unsuspecting readers might be tricked into thinking the one other character who's acting a bit oddly is the murderer (for about two seconds), but, honestly, there's not even a whiff of motive. And that character has been acting oddly in just this way for years. 

In fact, the mystery surrounding the oddly-behaving gentleman is a lot more interesting than the disappearance of George Loftus. And Upfield leaves some pretty subtle clues to just what exactly Mr. Jelly is up to. Not that I caught on to them, but they are there. I was much more interested in Bony's efforts to clear up that mystery and relieve the minds of Mr. Jelly's daughters. All the points for this book go to the mystery of Mr. Jelly's Business (the original title is definitely better) and to my appreciation of the character of Bony. ★★ and 1/2

First line: If it had not rained!

Last line: "I tell you I won't go, Mr. Jelly!"

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Deaths = 3 (two shot; one poisoned)