Murder at the Elms

Murder at the Elms by Alyssa Maxwell (2023) 309 pages

Emma, a reporter for The Newport Messenger, and her new husband Derrick, who is the owner of that same newspaper, are back from their honeymoon. The year is 1901 and Emma raises eyebrows by continuing to use her maiden name as her byline. She's quite an independent woman for the times.

The Elms is a newer mansion that has been built to use electricity, as well as coal. It's also the home of owners who pay their help well, but give them no time off. Most of the help is fired when they decide to go on strike for more time off. One woman on the housestaff who is not part of the group who strikes, is murdered during a large gathering for a musical event.  When it becomes known that a valuable item is missing and that the murdered woman may have stolen it, the crime is not as clear: Is it a union vs anti-union thing, or a conspiracy of some other sort? Emma and Derrick want the story for their publication, but they also want to help the police solve the crime, as well. Being acquaintances with the rich owners helps them have access to more info.

Not having read any of the other books in Maxwell's Gilded Newport series was not an impediment to following the storyline, although I would be interested in learning more of the background of the main characters.

What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust

 

What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust by Alan Bradley  298 pp.

The indomitable Flavia de Luce returns in another murder mystery. This time an elderly former hangman is found dead by poisoned mushrooms and Buckshaw's housekeeper, Mrs. Mullet is blamed for the crime. However, that makes no sense since the dead man, Major Greyleigh was an old lover of hers and there was still an attraction there. Flavia begins to investigate while also dealing with her very annoying young cousin, Undine, who just won't leave her alone. Soon Flavia is sucked into intrigue involving the local military base run by the Americans who have been stationed there since the end of WWII. She sets out to find an unknown person known only as Asterion whom she believes to be responsible. This all has something to do with Flavia's late father. This is one of the better books in this series.

Death and the Dancing Footman

 

Death and the Dancing Footman by Ngaio Marsh  360 pp.

The wealthy Jonathan Royal invites a variety of guests to his country estate for the weekend. However, the guests are ones with grudges and/or other reasons to dislike each other. Royal claims to have hopes the weekend will resolve the disagreements but that is suspect. Multiple attempts on the life of one guest, Nicholas Compline occur and he attempts to leave the gathering but is thwarted by the massive snowstorm that hit the area. When a murder finally occurs, halfway through the novel, it is William Compline, brother of Nicholas, who is the victim. Everyone suspects the foreign doctor who has continually insisted his innocence. The large cast of characters gives a multitude of possible victims and perpetrators. I thought about creating a scorecard to keep track of everyone. The arrival of Inspector Roderick Alleyn, who makes his way through the snow from a nearby home where he is conveniently staying with his wife, artist Agatha Troy, sets the real investigation in motion. There is a lot going on in this mystery but it's a bit of a slow starter.

Oscar Wilde and the Murders at Reading Gaol

 

Oscar Wilde and the Murders at Reading Gaol: A Mystery by Gyles Brandeth  327 pp.

This is one of a series of mysteries featuring Oscar Wilde. I doubt I'm going to read the other books. This one takes place during the time Wilde was imprisoned for his homosexuality which was illegal in England at the time. Reading Gaol was strict with all prisoners in solitary cells, a rigid schedule, and prohibitions against prisoners talking to each other at any time. The section where Wilde is held included a convicted poisoner, an elderly & sickly prisoner, an Indian hijra (eunuch transvestite), a dwarf, and the murderer who was immortalized in Wilde's poem "The Ballad of Reading Gaol." After the violent death of one of the guards, prison officials enlist Wilde's help in solving the murder. The assumption was that Wilde would be good at this because he was a friend of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The story is farfetched and somewhat convoluted with the murderer not being "caught" until after Wilde was released from prison. I found this book difficult to finish because it was so unbelievable.

As the Crow Flies: A Longmire Mystery

 

As the Crow Flies: A Longmire Mystery by Craig Johnson  316 pp.

This is the eighth book in the Longmire Mysteries Series. After an unpleasant encounter with the new reservation Chief of Police, Lolo Long, Sheriff Walt Longmire and his best friend Henry Standing Bear are out scouting on the rez in Montana for a location for Walt's daughter's wedding after a conflict eighty-sixed previous plans. The wedding is two weeks away. While in a remote location they witness the death of a young woman who falls from the cliff at Painted Warrior. Was she pushed or did she jump? Then Walt's dog, Dog, discovers the infant child she was apparently holding when she fell. The baby is bruised but not seriously injured. They secure the area and rush the baby to the medical center. Long arrives at the center ignoring Walt's reason for being there and immediately starts causing problems. Eventually she realizes what has happened and ends up enlisting Walt's help in solving the death even though he is out of his jurisdiction. The arrival of Walt's daughter, Cady, and her mother-in-law-to-be complicates things further. After much conflict with Chief Lolo and then the FBI agents, who arrive because the death occurred on Federal land and the arrival of Walt's daughter, Cady, and a couple more deaths, the mystery is satisfactorily solved. There is so much more in this story than just the mystery and the wedding. Walt's relationship with "the Bear" and Henry's beat up truck, "Rez Dawg", add great comic relief to what would be a mostly depressing story. And the I listened to the audiobook read by the master, George Guidall.

A Surfeit of Lampreys

 A Surfeit of Lampreys by Ngaio Marsh 336 pp.

The Lampreys in this story are not the dangerous eel-like fish with the toothed, sucking mouth. Marsh has created the Lamprey family, an eccentric brood that has no sense of money management or social graces. The family includes dotty family members and those who are outright mad. Soon after the arrival of a young friend from New Zealand, Charles Lamprey and his wife Charlot are trying to convince Charles' brother, Lord Wutherwood to give them money to get them out of yet another financial crisis - something the Lord has done before. However, the meeting does not go as planned and Lord Wutherwood is found dead in the elevator after meeting with his brother. Inspector Roderick Alleyn takes on the investigation and is incessantly thwarted by the Lamprey offspring who do everything in their power to confuse the facts and lead the Inspector astray. Eccentricity and madness do not thwart Alleyn and he once again manages to solve the crime. This episode seemed to drag and, more than once, I found myself dozing off while reading it.

Trace Elements

 

Trace Elements by Donna Leon  278 pp.

A woman dying of a terminal illness claims that her husband had "bad money" before he died in a motorbike accident. Unfortunately she dies as Commissarios Brunetti and Griffoni are talking to her leaving her two children orphaned. This disturbing event begins an investigation into whether her husband's death was truly an accident or a murder. Meanwhile, there is a pickpocket problem in Venice that Brunetti's boss wants removed from the city because it affects tourism but the Italian authorities keep releasing the perpetrators because they are juveniles. The investigation into the man in the accident leads to the water company responsible for testing the purity of the water supply and irregularities the victim knows about. This episode is more emotional than most in the series. 

Overture to Death

 

Overture to Death by Ngaio Marsh  336 pp.

This is the eighth book in the Inspector Roderick Alleyn mystery series. Once again it involves a theater presentation. This time it's a small town group mounting a play as a charity event. The characters are all townsfolk with varying degrees of friendship and/or animosity between them. I found this episode disappointing because of the overlong build up to the murder of an older spinster which doesn't happen until halfway through the book. The others characters include the rector and his daughter, the local squire and his son, the town doctor, a recently arrived widow(divorcee?), another older spinster, and a bratty young boy. Death is accomplished through a booby trapped piano. Both spinsters are unpleasant women who who have crushes on the rector while feeling entitled to butt into the love lives of the others. Alleyn has to deal with much misinformation from all the witnesses and suspects because of "propriety". No one wants to reveal anything to protect their own amorous activities from being found out. In the end the perpetrator turns out to be the obvious choice.

By Its Cover

 By Its Cover by Donna Leon  237 pp.

Commissario Guido Brunetti is on the hunt for a thief of rare books from a Venetian library. In spite of security procedures, someone has walked off with many, rare and high value volumes. Other books have been mutilated by having pages with important illustrations removed. There is a suspect but he has vanished and his identity is unknown. Then the brutal murder of a former priest who frequented the library leads Brunetti into the illegal trade in rare books. Brunetti and his usual assistants solve the crime but the book ends rather abruptly. 

Artists in Crime

Artists in Crime by Ngaio Marsh  253 pp. 

This is the sixth book in the Detective Chief Inspector Alleyn series and the one in which he meets Agatha Troy, the artist who would become his wife. Alleyn meets Troy during his return trip from the South Pacific. On his return to England, Alleyn is visits his mother, the Lady Alleyn when the murder of an artist's model occurs at the home/studio of Agatha Troy which is nearby the Alleyn home. The suspects are part of a group studying at Troy's studio. The victim is a young, conniving piece of work who is killed by a hidden knife while posing for an artists' exercise. The prime victim is the model's lover, a sculptor with a not nice reputation who conveniently disappears after the murder. Alleyn and his assistant Inspector Fox along with journalist Nigel Bathgate interview all the artists and others and wade through lots of evidence before solving this one. The potential love match between Alleyn and Troy is not quite a romance at the end of the book.

Death in Ecstasy

 Death in Ecstasy by Ngaio Marsh  280 pp.

The fourth book in the Inspector Roderick Alleyn series finds Alleyn investigating the cyanide murder of a wealthy woman during a ceremony at the House of the Sacred Flame, a cultish organization lead by "Father" Garnette. The clues are many but all seem disconnected from each other. The suspects are varied and jealousies and suspicions within the church members abound. There is obvious drug use but the possible source varies widely. Even the discovery of an old chemistry manual that opens to the instructions on how to extract cyanide from household items serves only to add confusion. Of course, the intrepid Inspector, assisted by Sergeant Fox and journalist Nigel Bathgate wrap up the investigation satisfactorily. Alleyn produces droll comments throughout although my favorite line came from the medical examiner during the inquest when he was asked why he had not thought it worthwhile to send for remedies (for the victim) to which the doctor replied "There is no remedy for death."

Enter a Murderer

 Enter a Murderer by Ngaio Marsh  245 pp.

Inspector Roderick Alleyn is invited by reporter Nigel Bathgate to attend a performance of a play. In the play two characters fight over a gun which discharges. However, someone replaced the blanks in the gun with real bullets cause the real death of one of the players. It's up to Alleyn with assistance from Bathgate to figure out who in the cast and/or crew in the theater is responsible for the crime. I remember reading another Marsh/Inspector Alleyn mystery involving a theater but it concerned the "Scottish Play" of William Shakespeare. Marsh's mysteries are tightly woven, quick to read, and satisfying.

Hide and Seek

 

Hide and Seek by Ian Rankin  288 pp.

This is an early book in the Inspector Rebus series. John Rebus is called to the scene of a dead body in a squat in a derelict part of Edinburgh. The young man is laid out on the floor with candles around him. Witchcraft symbols are painted on one of the walls. Death was by an overdose of heroin, or was it? Rebus believes there is more to it and begins an investigation, trying to find the "Hyde" that seems to be at the heart of the mystery. While this is happening, Rebus is tagged by his boss to be the face of a new anti-drug campaign to be funded by some of Edinburgh's movers and shakers. He doesn't want the job but after being forced to socialize with the elite, he finds much to be suspicious of. Soon Rebus finds connections between the dead boy and the same elites he is supposed to work with and their illegal and violent activities. Lots of twists and turns in this one but Rankin got a little cutesy with character names - Rebus's boss is Watson, his assistant is Holmes, and the criminal they are looking for is named Hyde.   

Beastly Things

 

Beastly Things by Donna Leon  372 pp.

And another Venetian mystery featuring Commissario Guido Brunetti: This time the body of a man is pulled from one of the canals. He was not drowned but stabbed and robbery doesn't appear to be the motive. It's not too difficult for Brunetti to learn the identity of the man, a veterinarian with a private practice and a part-time job as an animal inspector in a slaughterhouse. Aside from the affair that broke up his marriage, there is nothing in the victim's life that would point to him as a target for murder. Brunetti's investigation provokes another round of head butting with his superior, Vice-Questore Patta, whose main function in life seems to be protecting his status in Venice by keeping the old money aristocrats of Venice from any scandal. The whole mystery hinges on money and a ruthless murderer who seemingly can't get enough. This is one of the better books in the series. The funeral for the veterinarian is charming. 

A Question of Belief

 

A Question of Belief (A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery) by Donna Leon 262 pp.

Venice is in the throes of a heat wave and all the Commissario wants to do is go on a vacation with his family to the mountains where it is cool and he can relax. But first he has to deal with a suspicious pattern of increased inefficiency in a court system that is inefficient at best. And Brunetti's colleague, Inspector Vianello, has a personal concern about his aunt who has suddenly expressed an expensive interest in astrology. These two problems get rudimentary attention before vacation time arrives. Brunetti and his family board a train for the mountains while Vianello sails off to his holiday in Split, Croatia. Brunetti manages to get half way to his destination when he is called back to Venice for a murder investigation while his family continues on. Vianello also returns and the two battle the heat while trying to find the murderer. 

Hand in Glove

 Hand in Glove by Ngaio Marsh (1962) 239 pages

Nicola Maitland-Mayne is a typist who has been hired by Percival Pyke Period, who wants to write a book. Little does Nicola know the drama to come: Desiree, Lady Bantling--larger than life, renowned for her parties--lives nearby with Bimbo, her third husband. Her second husband, Harold Cartell, and his obnoxious dog, now live with Percival. Harold's sister, Connie, lives on the next estate over. Connie's adopted daughter, Moppet, has a boyfriend who has been in trouble with the law, and it looks like Moppet is going astray, but Connie thinks Moppet can do no wrong. Lady Bantling's son Andrew, is trying to coax his guardians, one of whom is Harold, to allow him to buy an art gallery, to no avail. When Harold is found dead in a ditch being dug for a sewer line on Percival's property, everyone looks suspicious, with the possible exception of the typist. When Inspector Alleyn is called in by the local authorities, he is the picture of calm, clear thinking, although it must be admitted that this cast of characters tests Alleyn's temper more than once. Fun Sunday afternoon read.

 

Maigret and the Yellow Dog

 Maigret and the Yellow Dog by Georges Simenon (1936) 135 pages

I find that books in this old mystery series with Superintendent Maigret are a perfect way to leave the cares of the world behind for a little while. They tend to be somewhat short and not too gory. Mostly we see the events unfold as Maigret takes them in, sometimes quietly, sometimes with a touch of cantankerousness. 

In this story, Maigret comes on the scene after a man is shot in the stomach through a mailslot outside a vacant house, a big yellow dog coming to sniff at him as he lies on the ground. Others in the man's social circle are then attacked over the next few days: poisoned drink is found at their table in the local cafe. One man in their group disappears, his car found abandoned with bloodstains in it. Another man is petrified, staying in a hotel, afraid to go anywhere, thinking he'll be next. Emma, the waitress, seems to figure in the story, but it's not clear how. The people of the town begin to panic, and the mayor demands that Maigret explain how the incidents continue to occur even under his watch. When the wrap-up occurs, events are tied together in a most perfect package.

The Anatomist's Apprentice

The Anatomist's Apprentice (Dr. Thomas Silkstone Book 1) by Tessa Harris  321 pp.

Set in 18th century England, during a time when anatomists had to pay grave robbers for corpses to work on, Dr. Thomas Silkstone is called on by Lydia, the sister of the deceased on to investigate the poisoning death of Sir Edward Crick. Rumors throughout Oxfordshire have led to the accusation of murder by Lydia's husband. When it seems that Silkstone has found the answer he is brutally attacked to prevent him from testifying at the inquest. In the meantime other clues to the death come to light, not the least of which is the sleazy character of the deceased himself. This is a good mystery with lots of twists before coming to a satisfying ending.

Murder is a Piece of Cake

Murder is a Piece of Cake by Elaine Viets (2010) 282 pages

Former St. Louisan Elaine Viets has a number of mystery series that I hadn't read, so I chose a couple of her books at random. In Murder is a Piece of Cake, Josie Marcus is a mystery shopper whose job takes her to a few wedding-related venues, useful since she's engaged to be married in 5 weeks. Her fiance is Ted, a veterinarian who has been stalked by Molly, a woman who insists that he is HER fiance, not Josie's. Ted's rich, pistol-packing mother is visiting from Florida, and saves Ted from being knifed by Molly in his office. When Molly later turns up dead, Ted's mother is the prime suspect. Josie, who is annoyed nonstop by Ted's mother, nevertheless works to find the real murderer, if only so that her own wedding to Ted will come off on schedule. This light-hearted read moves quickly, and is filled with St. Louis venues.

Enter a Murderer

Enter a Murderer by Ngaio Marsh  245 pp,

This is the second in the Roderick Alleyn mystery series. Alleyn is an oddity in that he is an aristocrat who has chosen police work rather than the life of  leisure. While attending a play with an acquaintance a murder occurs onstage. A prop gun supposedly filled with blanks turns out to have live rounds in it and an actor is shot at point blank range. The entire cast, the backstage crew, and theater owner are suspects. Since Alleyn was on the scene and a witness to the murder, he is the prime investigator. In this book takes place before the Inspector married the artist Agatha Troy and he finds himself attracted to an actress who is also a suspect. This becomes a pattern for the Inspector in later books.