The Black Iris

by Constance Little, Gwenyth Little

Miss Ivy and Miss Violet were elderly, liked sherry, cookies--and playing Russian roulette. The game really upset their nephew Richard who managed to substitute blanks for live cartridges. The aunts were also quite wealthy and when they disappeared, it looked very much as if someone was after their money.

Genres: Mystery

158 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1953

About the author

Jessie Constance Little (1899-1980) co-authored with her sister Gwenyth Little mysteries in the screwball-comedy fashion. The Little sisters are referred to as "queens of the wacky cozy." They were sometimes published as Conyth Little, a portmanteau of their names.

Their youngest sister Iris wrote under the pseudonym Robert James.

Constance Little married Lawrence Baker, a men's clothing designer for the Dubois Uniform Company in New York City.

Reviews

[Carla Remy · Rating 3 out of 5]

From 1951
There are fueding old ladies and disappearing corpses and a hilarious cast of characters. This is a rarity for the Little sisters rom-com mysteries in that it has a male protagonist.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Little sisters produce another of their screwball thrillers, when Richard--in order to assuage his two eccentric aunts--proposes to actress Ada. One of his aunts wants to leave their money to Richard, the other to Ada, and the couple hope that a temporary "engagement" will calm the women down. But then a fit of temper leads Richard to insist on an immediate wedding. Following the hasty marriage, one of the aunts is found murdered and the other is missing. Richard's madcap mother (the aunts never liked her) adds to the merriment.

[Russell Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A farce. Seriously, a farce, just like the high school plays where people are running on and off stage every few seconds. This is a tale a family with issues in several generations, where the former family head was so domineering that his daughters became old maids to please him, and both died (in the course of this book) largely due to the opinions of the long-deceased father. A wedding happens in this book mostly on a dare. The houses described in this book are fantastic, created in fantasy.
However, it was a pretty good read, if you could keep up with the fast-moving dialogue and changes of scenery.

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my favorite of the books by the Little sisters, but I was surprised by the ending. I really didn't figure out the culprit and that surprised me. I wish these stories weren't so short and that some of the quirky secondary characters would have been developed more fully. I think that "quirkiness" is the star of these books. The reason I read them. B rating.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read! Found myself laughing out loud. It was a quick read and enjoyable cozy mystery.

[Roberta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy the mysteries written by these sisters. They are a glimpse into the 1930’s and 40’s. Filled with wry humor, the whodunnit is pretty good too

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

For my full review click on the link below:
https://crossexaminingcrime.wordpress...

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the "black" books by the Little sisters. This one lives up to the formula, the killer is found, the girl gets the boy, and they live happily ever after. Definitely is a cozy, but I didn't figure out the murder until it was explained at the end. Of course, I never try to solve the murder beforehand (I want the author to do the work for me!)

[Diana Killian · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the nuttier Little plots, and yet this one had some of the creepiest moments. Loved the idea of the unused mansion on the back of the family estate. I found it very enjoyable, but I know the average modern reader would be bewildered.

[Wendy Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quirky murder mystery. A very fun read.

[Gypsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this, their penultimate book, the Little sisters deliver another screwball comedy with missing bodies, gruesome murder, and a little romance on the side. The witty dialogue and bizarre situations make for a fun read.