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Mr. & Mrs. North #9
Death of a Tall Man
A well-respected eye doctor in Manhatten is murdered by a sharp blow to the head right under the noses of his staff. Lieutenant Weigand is on the case with his good friends Pam and Jerry North. Together they tackle this puzzling case with customary wit and charm.
197 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1946
70 people are currently reading
128 people want to read
About the author
Frances Lockridge
96 books48 followersFrances Louise (Davis) Lockridge wrote popular mysteries and children's books with husband Richard Lockridge. They also published under the shared pseudonym Francis Richards.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 14, 2021
Another North Mystery!
Usually when Mrs. and Mr. North interferes in Lieutenant Weigand’s and Mullins’ investigations they are shooed away. Usually when they interfere, Mrs. North’s assumptions are blatantly wrong! Usually when they interfere, Mrs. North’s life somehow ends up in danger.
In this episode, this is not the case!
Bill Weigand happily encourages them to help with the investigation. Mrs. North’s strong intuition is proven to be correct. And finally, Mrs. North’s life is not in need of rescue.
And so…all’s well, that ends well. 😉
Usually when Mrs. and Mr. North interferes in Lieutenant Weigand’s and Mullins’ investigations they are shooed away. Usually when they interfere, Mrs. North’s assumptions are blatantly wrong! Usually when they interfere, Mrs. North’s life somehow ends up in danger.
In this episode, this is not the case!
Bill Weigand happily encourages them to help with the investigation. Mrs. North’s strong intuition is proven to be correct. And finally, Mrs. North’s life is not in need of rescue.
And so…all’s well, that ends well. 😉
July 13, 2019
Pam North usually is drawn to murder like a moth to a flame; however, in Death of a Tall Man, the ninth mystery in the fabulous Mr. and Mrs. North series, Pam just happens on the crime scene. Renowned eye specialist Dr. Andrew Gordon was bludgeoned to death in offices, and there are no end of suspects: a stepson in the throes of severe PTSD (then called “combat fatigue”), a much younger wife in whom a handsome neighbor has an interest, the handsome neighbor, some disgruntled patients, a dodgy brother-in-law. I won’t spoil the surprise ending, except with one hint: Readers should take a page from Lieutenant Bill Weigand and never underestimate Pam North’s instincts.
Reuniting with the Norths — especially good-hearted, lively Pam — always proves a pleasure, and this novel was no exception. I devoured this one in two days. I can’t wait for book No. 10, Murder Within Murder!
Reuniting with the Norths — especially good-hearted, lively Pam — always proves a pleasure, and this novel was no exception. I devoured this one in two days. I can’t wait for book No. 10, Murder Within Murder!
September 7, 2019
Sometimes size DOES matter.
One of the reasons I like old mysteries is that we don't have to spend half the book reading about the detective's miserable private life. His/her marriage failed. Now he/she is in a new relationship and it's shaky. Love hurts, but I didn't sign on for a (dysfunctional) romance novel.
This series is fun because Pam and Jerry North and Lt. Bill Weigand and his wife Dorian are happy people; satisfied with their marriages and their lives. Sgt. Mullins sometimes longs for simple cases and not the "screwy" ones that the Norths are always involved in. But the sensible sergeant never has a bad mood that can't be cured by a glass of rye whiskey.
The unhappy people in these mysteries are the suspects and they have reason to be unhappy. They're facing a shrewd, experienced team of cops and if they have anything to hide, it won't stay hidden long. Behind the cocktails and witty chatter, there's good, solid detective work in this series. This one even has a drawing of the medical office where the first murder takes place. Shades of Agatha Christie!
Like all murder mysteries, a murder is committed, carefully planned to direct suspicion elsewhere. But someone sees something that’s not quite right. Obviously that person should go directly to the police, but human nature doesn’t work that way. And so the murderer kills again, this time for safety. As Dashiell Hammett said, they can only hang you once.
Seeing the pattern never lessens my enjoyment of these books. The charm of this series is the fine writing, the interesting characters (many of whom become old friends as you work your way through the series), the humor, and the look at New York City in a time which was simpler in some ways, but still tricky.
For example, Pam North gets involved in this murder because she takes a taxi. She didn’t really plan to take a taxi, but the shock of seeing one that’s empty and wants a fare goes to her head. She jumps in and ends up downtown, doing some shopping. And then she hears sirens and realizes that her friend NYPD Lt. Bill Weigand is going into an office building to investigate a murder and, well, who’d pass up an opportunity like THAT? Not Pam North!
The murdered man is oculist/surgeon Dr. Andrew Gordon, one of the top men in his field in New York City. He has private patients and others are sent by insurance companies. Industrial eye accidents are common and insurance companies want to avoid paying if at all possible. So Dr. Gordon has the power to say if the patient can collect for his disability or not. It’s a grave responsibility and sometimes people aren’t happy with his decisions.
But why would anyone kill such a conscientious doctor? The obvious suspect is his volatile stepson, who’s returned from WWII service with combat fatigue. Young Dan Gordon should be OK in time, but now he’s angry at his stepfather for meddling in his personal life. Or is his anger a result of the squandered fortune left him by his mother? Was the genial doctor guilty of robbing his stepson or just careless?
Dr. Gordon works in New York City, but his large house is in Westchester County and his stepson’s flight from the scene of the murder means that Lt. Weigand and Sgt Mullins must drive through the fog to bring him back. And Pam and Jerry North are right behind. She’s gotten interested in this murder and wants to know what happens next.
And what happens next is a second murder, which brings in our old friend Lt. Heimrich. He and Bill Weigand have worked together before and are happy to do so again. Both of them want to prevent a third murder. And it soon looks like Dr. Gordon’s young wife and her attentive neighbor are possible suspects. Mrs. Gordon lies about lunching alone. Does that mean that she wanted her husband dead so that she can remarry?
In the end, the discovery of the murderer hinges on the fact that in a medical office, patients are really just numbers on a chart and doctors are just guys in white coats. Ever have a doctor call you by someone else’s name because he picked up the wrong chart? Ever read of people impersonating doctors and getting away with it? Unless the patient (or doctor) has some VERY distinctive feature, who would ever know?
It’s another Pam and Jerry North mystery and they’re always fun. Come along for the ride.
One of the reasons I like old mysteries is that we don't have to spend half the book reading about the detective's miserable private life. His/her marriage failed. Now he/she is in a new relationship and it's shaky. Love hurts, but I didn't sign on for a (dysfunctional) romance novel.
This series is fun because Pam and Jerry North and Lt. Bill Weigand and his wife Dorian are happy people; satisfied with their marriages and their lives. Sgt. Mullins sometimes longs for simple cases and not the "screwy" ones that the Norths are always involved in. But the sensible sergeant never has a bad mood that can't be cured by a glass of rye whiskey.
The unhappy people in these mysteries are the suspects and they have reason to be unhappy. They're facing a shrewd, experienced team of cops and if they have anything to hide, it won't stay hidden long. Behind the cocktails and witty chatter, there's good, solid detective work in this series. This one even has a drawing of the medical office where the first murder takes place. Shades of Agatha Christie!
Like all murder mysteries, a murder is committed, carefully planned to direct suspicion elsewhere. But someone sees something that’s not quite right. Obviously that person should go directly to the police, but human nature doesn’t work that way. And so the murderer kills again, this time for safety. As Dashiell Hammett said, they can only hang you once.
Seeing the pattern never lessens my enjoyment of these books. The charm of this series is the fine writing, the interesting characters (many of whom become old friends as you work your way through the series), the humor, and the look at New York City in a time which was simpler in some ways, but still tricky.
For example, Pam North gets involved in this murder because she takes a taxi. She didn’t really plan to take a taxi, but the shock of seeing one that’s empty and wants a fare goes to her head. She jumps in and ends up downtown, doing some shopping. And then she hears sirens and realizes that her friend NYPD Lt. Bill Weigand is going into an office building to investigate a murder and, well, who’d pass up an opportunity like THAT? Not Pam North!
The murdered man is oculist/surgeon Dr. Andrew Gordon, one of the top men in his field in New York City. He has private patients and others are sent by insurance companies. Industrial eye accidents are common and insurance companies want to avoid paying if at all possible. So Dr. Gordon has the power to say if the patient can collect for his disability or not. It’s a grave responsibility and sometimes people aren’t happy with his decisions.
But why would anyone kill such a conscientious doctor? The obvious suspect is his volatile stepson, who’s returned from WWII service with combat fatigue. Young Dan Gordon should be OK in time, but now he’s angry at his stepfather for meddling in his personal life. Or is his anger a result of the squandered fortune left him by his mother? Was the genial doctor guilty of robbing his stepson or just careless?
Dr. Gordon works in New York City, but his large house is in Westchester County and his stepson’s flight from the scene of the murder means that Lt. Weigand and Sgt Mullins must drive through the fog to bring him back. And Pam and Jerry North are right behind. She’s gotten interested in this murder and wants to know what happens next.
And what happens next is a second murder, which brings in our old friend Lt. Heimrich. He and Bill Weigand have worked together before and are happy to do so again. Both of them want to prevent a third murder. And it soon looks like Dr. Gordon’s young wife and her attentive neighbor are possible suspects. Mrs. Gordon lies about lunching alone. Does that mean that she wanted her husband dead so that she can remarry?
In the end, the discovery of the murderer hinges on the fact that in a medical office, patients are really just numbers on a chart and doctors are just guys in white coats. Ever have a doctor call you by someone else’s name because he picked up the wrong chart? Ever read of people impersonating doctors and getting away with it? Unless the patient (or doctor) has some VERY distinctive feature, who would ever know?
It’s another Pam and Jerry North mystery and they’re always fun. Come along for the ride.
January 31, 2015
(1/30/15) Visiting with Pam and Jerry North, Acting Captain Bill Weigand, and Sergeant Mullins was just as much fun this time as it was in 2010. It's just like visiting old friends. It didn't matter that I already knew who did it--that just allowed me to pay more attention to the relationships between our recurring characters and to really absorb Pam's interesting logic and manner of speaking.
Of course, we all know that it isn't reasonable for her and Jerry to be as involved in as many murders as they are. But the stories would lose a lot of their charm without them. It is especially delightful to listen to Mullins worry about how O'Malley (in command of the detective bureau) will explode if he finds out "those Norths" are mixed up in it again. Mullins should know--there's no way to keep them out and O'Malley will survive.
I gave the book ★★★★ when last I read it. The rating still stands.
(10/26/10) Today found me reading another madcap mystery. Death of a Tall Man starts out with a typical day at the office of respected eye doctor, Andrew Gordon. He sees a group of patients in the morning, goes to the hospital for surgery, and returns for more patients before leaving for lunch. But the afternoon office hours are not destined to be typical. His nurse discovers him dead in his office--dead from the proverbial blunt instrument to the head. Lieutenant Bill Weigand faces the questions of who would want to kill the doctor and how did the murderer manage to do it under the watchful eye of the staff?
Pam North just happens to be in the neighborhood when she sees Bill Weigand's car go by--and, of course, she can't resist going along to see what's up. As she tells her husband, Jeffy, on the phone:
"Well, actually, it's a murder. I just sort of--well, I was just walking past and--" She stopped and she had the expression of somebody who has been interrupted. Bill listened, amused, to the sound of Jerry's voice coming from the telephone. The words were not distinguishable; the tone was unmistakable.
"I didn't," Pam said. It isn't fair to say I look for them."
As it happens, it's a good thing for Weigand that she happens along. Once again, her far-leaping mind picks up on subtle clues that eventually lead to the murderer. Weigand's problem is proof and the little matter of an alibi. But it all comes clear after the death of the tall man.
This was another fun read by Frances and Richard Lockridge, the husband and wife team who made New York City of the 30s and 40s their own. They people their stories with likable characters who are fun, funny, and believable. They also "people" their stories with likable animals, generally cats. Animals who have their own personalities and place in the story without being too cutesy. In this case, it's a tiny Siamese named Martini (or "Teeney" for short) who belongs to the Norths. There's just enough of Martini to add to the fun--which, I suppose, is just the right amount of martini for anyone. Four stars out of five.
Both reviews originally posted on my blog. Please click on dates to see original post. And please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
Of course, we all know that it isn't reasonable for her and Jerry to be as involved in as many murders as they are. But the stories would lose a lot of their charm without them. It is especially delightful to listen to Mullins worry about how O'Malley (in command of the detective bureau) will explode if he finds out "those Norths" are mixed up in it again. Mullins should know--there's no way to keep them out and O'Malley will survive.
I gave the book ★★★★ when last I read it. The rating still stands.
(10/26/10) Today found me reading another madcap mystery. Death of a Tall Man starts out with a typical day at the office of respected eye doctor, Andrew Gordon. He sees a group of patients in the morning, goes to the hospital for surgery, and returns for more patients before leaving for lunch. But the afternoon office hours are not destined to be typical. His nurse discovers him dead in his office--dead from the proverbial blunt instrument to the head. Lieutenant Bill Weigand faces the questions of who would want to kill the doctor and how did the murderer manage to do it under the watchful eye of the staff?
Pam North just happens to be in the neighborhood when she sees Bill Weigand's car go by--and, of course, she can't resist going along to see what's up. As she tells her husband, Jeffy, on the phone:
"Well, actually, it's a murder. I just sort of--well, I was just walking past and--" She stopped and she had the expression of somebody who has been interrupted. Bill listened, amused, to the sound of Jerry's voice coming from the telephone. The words were not distinguishable; the tone was unmistakable.
"I didn't," Pam said. It isn't fair to say I look for them."
As it happens, it's a good thing for Weigand that she happens along. Once again, her far-leaping mind picks up on subtle clues that eventually lead to the murderer. Weigand's problem is proof and the little matter of an alibi. But it all comes clear after the death of the tall man.
This was another fun read by Frances and Richard Lockridge, the husband and wife team who made New York City of the 30s and 40s their own. They people their stories with likable characters who are fun, funny, and believable. They also "people" their stories with likable animals, generally cats. Animals who have their own personalities and place in the story without being too cutesy. In this case, it's a tiny Siamese named Martini (or "Teeney" for short) who belongs to the Norths. There's just enough of Martini to add to the fun--which, I suppose, is just the right amount of martini for anyone. Four stars out of five.
Both reviews originally posted on my blog. Please click on dates to see original post. And please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
August 19, 2019
Free survey reward | Nicely plotted, I did figure the solution and the killer, but it was by no means obvious.
February 6, 2021
Another excellent romp in the Mr. & Mrs. North series. The mystery hinges on a trick that almost works. Pam and Bill Weigand arrive at the right answer almost simultaneously. But, for me, the high point of the book is the introduction of Martini (known as 'Teeny') the Norths' new Siamese. Teeny's antics liven up the scenes at the Norths' apartment and are quite fun. Recommended.
May 15, 2022
I’ve been reading this series for relaxation, because who doesn’t want to read about a world where couples lunch together, drink innumerable cocktails, have cats, and solve mysteries? It’s interesting how some of the themes seem so contemporary, in this case a character with “battle fatigue” from the war.
March 26, 2023
This was a good Mr. and Mrs. North mystery with a very dramatic resolution. Some of the side characters were kind of annoying, especially the one that was always angry, and the one that was always dissolving into a puddle of tears.
October 16, 2022
Clever, clever plot!
January 10, 2017
Unfortunately, the best parts of this mystery were the bits about Martini, the cat. The mystery itself was rather boring and too glib.
May 29, 2010
Decent mystery. Like the writing style of the Lockridges. I'm glad I don't meet too many characters like some of these, you just want to slap some of them. :)
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October 6, 2016see review of other edition
March 24, 2017
I am a great fan of classic mysteries, so I wanted to acquaint myself with the Mr and Mrs. North series. I'd read that they were the inspiration for Dashiell Hammett's THE THIN MAN, and there are certainly some similarities, but it appears that Hammett doubled-down on the chic factor of his sleuthing couple.
I enjoy the dynamics between Mr. and Mrs. North, but am less interested in the style of mystery that Lockridge writes. It is rather procedural and there are lots of intricate time tables etc. That is easy for me to skim over while I indulge in the interplay between the couple (and their cat) and their police friends.
I enjoy the dynamics between Mr. and Mrs. North, but am less interested in the style of mystery that Lockridge writes. It is rather procedural and there are lots of intricate time tables etc. That is easy for me to skim over while I indulge in the interplay between the couple (and their cat) and their police friends.
April 12, 2017
When an eminent eye doctor is found dead in his office by his adoring secretary, of course Pam North manages to get in on the investigation. There is no shortage of suspects, including his angry son, his receptionist who is also his son's fiancee (of whom the doctor does not approve), his faithful nurse, and oh yes, the six men who were in the examining rooms that morning! Lt. Weigand is on the case, and Pam nearly gets herself killed trying to help when she thinks her intuition has been proved wrong. But has it? Cleverly plotted.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews