ISBN: 0745163785 Order from: Amazon.com
A conventional and enjoyable English Village mystery with some likable characters, red herrings, predictable villain and some irritating view-hopping.
Reviewed by David on February 01, 2004
Genre: Mystery (English Village, Amateur Sleuth)
Synopsis: This is an unabridged recording of Dead in the Morning. Mrs. Ludlow is one of these matriarchs one can liken to a dragon. With a will—and whim—of iron and firm posession of the family money she controls her descendants and frequently contributes to their misery. There are plenty of resentments in the family, and so when a deadly drug overdose strikes a servant who ate Mrs. Ludlow's portion after dinner, the thoughts turn to murder. The police, however, are baffled by the many suspects: everyone in the family seemed to have both motive and opportunity.
A nosy neighbor, Dr. Patrick Grant, an Oxford Don specializing in unsolved historical mysteries, takes an unusual interest in this one. However, his investigating methods are unorthodox, and tinged with sympathy. Who will solve the mystery first?
Full Review: The setting is quite conventional, as are the motives in this English Village mystery. The final resolution is telegraphed early, and thus reduces suspense for the moderately observant reader. The characters are well-drawn and sympathetic, but the viewpoint hops frequently, making it difficult to engage the reader's sympathy. The protagonist, Patrick Grant, is rather supercilious, which perhaps is intentional, but once more detracting from reader's identification.
On the whole, it's an enjoyable if light and slightly flawed mystery.
Overall: 5.5; Plot: 5.5; Characters: 5.5; Style: 5.5; World-building: 5; Originality: 5;
Copyright date 1970, Chivers Audio Books, 1986, Audio cassette, 4 cassettes
ISBN: 0745163785 Order from: Amazon.com