Murder At Monk’s Barn
A review of Murder at Monk’s Barn by Cecil Waye
It is always a pleasure to come across a new author, although appearances can be deceptive. Cecil Waye was one of the noms de plume under which Cecil wrote, the other two being John Road and Miles Burton. Cecil Waye had four outings in a detective series featuring the Perrins, of which Murder at Monk’s Barn is the first, published originally in 1931 and now reissued by the indefatigable Dean Street Press.
This is a rather cosy, twee novel, but is an easy read, well-paced and with an ingenious method of committing a murder. Apparently, it was based on a ploy used by ANZAC troops in the trenches of the First World War. With relatively few obvious suspects it does not seem a terribly smart idea to have one of the sleuths falling head over heels in love with one of them and doing her utmost to prove their innocence.
In truth, the culprit is easy to spot, although, whilst Waye plays fair with the reader by liberally lacing his narrative with all the clues needed, the actual method by which Gilbert Wynter, shot through the head whilst shaving in his dressing room, met his end eluded me. The more I thought about the more incredible it seemed that someone in the height of emotional turmoil could have pulled it off in one go.
Waye certainly gives his readers value for money because we have not one murder but two. The second, an instance of a box of chocolates laced with poison, rather gave the game away in terms of whodunit, but he managed to obfuscate who the intended victim was with a simple but effective device.
Gilbert Wynter, a local businessman, is shot dead. The local bobby, PC Burden, hears the shot and rushes to the scene. A gun is found in the shrubbery at the spot where the fatal shot would have been discharged but the only external entrance to the garden was locked, and the victim was shot through thick curtains which were drawn at the time. Austin Wynter, fearing that the police are making a hash of the investigation, engages brother and sister detective duo, Christopher and Vivienne Perrins, to step in.
Unusually, the amateur sleuths work in tandem with the police, rather than against, and strike up a good rapport with the Inspector. Vivienne is the brains of the duo, an independent, headstrong woman, who solves the problem. Sadly, she falls in love and is destined to be married off. As it wouldn’t do for a married woman to continue working, I suspect that will be the end of her as far as the series is concerned. A shame as Christopher is a less rounded character, although he will have ample opportunity to develop. The police, though, are far more comfortable dealing with a man.
As the investigations proceed, we have the usual mix of marital infidelities, rivalry and a housemaid who has been seduced. Her plight is sympathetically handled and a garrulous postmistress and, to a lesser extent, Mrs Cunningham provide some welcome humour. The local policeman, PC Burdon, is not the stereotypical bumbling bobby and does an impressive job in garnering the evidence. The weight of evidence begins to tell against Austin Wynter.
Waye tells a good story, his style is engaging, and his characters are interesting, and, if three deaths and a nervous breakdown are discounted, with a happy ending of sorts. What more do you want?
