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Inspector Lane Parry #1
Murder at Shots Hall
A post WWII mystery. Murder at Shots Hall introduces the reader to Inspector Lane Parry. This story all takes place over a very short time, a matter of days, and every single night the fog came down so that no movement could be seen, so thick that it actually dripped off people.
191 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1945
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 30, 2019
"The kingpin, the hub, the why of all this mess, is Flikka Ashley." And so it is, as a slew of poisonings in the village seemingly point to Flikka Ashley of Shots Hall. Beautiful, aloof and secretive Flikka, whom all men scramble to protect from the lecherous Arnoldson and the ever-tightening noose. Unrequited love, missing morphine, and seed packets are just few of the pieces in this atmospheric and well-plotted puzzle.
January 6, 2012
Book description:
Flikka Ashley and her outspoken Aunt Bee Chattock live in the ruins of a formerly great manor house called Shots Hall, located near a Sussex village named after it. Two-thirds of Shots Hall was destroyed by German incendiary bombs, leaving only its grand old tower, a cavernous great hall, the kitchen and a small drawing room. However genteel, poverty is still poverty, and the two women have been forced to make ends meet by selling off the occasional bottle of vintage port or prewar whiskey from the hall's legendary cellars. Whatever their taste in architecture, the Chattocks thankfully knew their liquor.
Thirty six year old Flikka also brings in some money as a sculptor, but so far her talent far exceeds her commissions. Those commissions have been even fewer of late since Flik began work on her masterpiece, a lifesized mermaid she is carving from a giant sea-green stone hauled to Shots Hall from Wales. She is as secretive about this project as she is about her personal life. There are any number of rumors about Flikka's past, all of which she refuses to discuss. When Molly Pritchard, an old family retainer, is murdered, a loathsome local policeman - whose attentions ere spurned by Flik - sets out to measure her lovely neck for a noose. Scotland Yard's Lane Parry doesn't think Flikka is guilty, but he has to admit that she is doing little to prove her innocence.
Originally publishes as 'Green December Grows the Graveyard' and written in 1945 by Maureen Sarsfield. Ms. Sarsfield wrote 3 novels, two of which are mysteries and then dropped from sight. What a pity! I thoroughly enjoyed her writing and Inspector Parry was a very promising character. Great thanks to Rue Morgue Press for bringing this character back to life!
This British mystery was well written with lots of 'barmy' characters, to borrow the word used in the story. The plot moved at a nice pace with bits and pieces of humor sprinkled in. I loved the half bombed out old manor house and the wind and rain and the countryside. I'm looking forward to reading the second and last in the Inspector Parry books (Murder at Beechlands).
If you love mysteries, especially vintage, you will enjoy this book. You'll also love Rue Morgue Press, check it out!
Flikka Ashley and her outspoken Aunt Bee Chattock live in the ruins of a formerly great manor house called Shots Hall, located near a Sussex village named after it. Two-thirds of Shots Hall was destroyed by German incendiary bombs, leaving only its grand old tower, a cavernous great hall, the kitchen and a small drawing room. However genteel, poverty is still poverty, and the two women have been forced to make ends meet by selling off the occasional bottle of vintage port or prewar whiskey from the hall's legendary cellars. Whatever their taste in architecture, the Chattocks thankfully knew their liquor.
Thirty six year old Flikka also brings in some money as a sculptor, but so far her talent far exceeds her commissions. Those commissions have been even fewer of late since Flik began work on her masterpiece, a lifesized mermaid she is carving from a giant sea-green stone hauled to Shots Hall from Wales. She is as secretive about this project as she is about her personal life. There are any number of rumors about Flikka's past, all of which she refuses to discuss. When Molly Pritchard, an old family retainer, is murdered, a loathsome local policeman - whose attentions ere spurned by Flik - sets out to measure her lovely neck for a noose. Scotland Yard's Lane Parry doesn't think Flikka is guilty, but he has to admit that she is doing little to prove her innocence.
Originally publishes as 'Green December Grows the Graveyard' and written in 1945 by Maureen Sarsfield. Ms. Sarsfield wrote 3 novels, two of which are mysteries and then dropped from sight. What a pity! I thoroughly enjoyed her writing and Inspector Parry was a very promising character. Great thanks to Rue Morgue Press for bringing this character back to life!
This British mystery was well written with lots of 'barmy' characters, to borrow the word used in the story. The plot moved at a nice pace with bits and pieces of humor sprinkled in. I loved the half bombed out old manor house and the wind and rain and the countryside. I'm looking forward to reading the second and last in the Inspector Parry books (Murder at Beechlands).
If you love mysteries, especially vintage, you will enjoy this book. You'll also love Rue Morgue Press, check it out!
June 6, 2022
Well written and plotted, it's an enjoyable example of a Golden Age mystery. I found the constant harping on how lovely Flik was to be pretty tiresome. I also found the instant attraction to her by every man unbelievable, unless you accept that stone dust (she is a sculptress) is an aphrodisiac. The main detective seems a sensible man but his immediate familiarity with the chief suspect is, well, suspect.
October 12, 2018
Towards the end of World War II, the old retainers of a family now reduced to genteel poverty are murdered. The local detective sergeant is determined to pin the deaths on the beautiful lady of the house, Flikka Ashley, who appears to have something to hide. The characters are well-drawn and there are flashes of humor, so this is a pleasant read
January 28, 2009
Not much in the way of plot (and the way the men in the book all sneer at the divorced heroine for once having had a man spend the night with her results in a) most of them appearing vile, and b) the book seeming more dated than others written in the same period) but I enjoyed the heroine and her aunt, the depiction of a small town, and the surprise ending.
July 8, 2020
Really charming murder mystery. British mysteries from this period have a sort of cozy quality; usually set in a village or some stately home, everyone knows each other, people are always popping down to the pub or over to the vicarage. "Shots Hall" has a weird Gothic quality, but it still feels cozy.
As for Parry, I like him, but he comes off a bit of a cad at the very end. I think.
As for Parry, I like him, but he comes off a bit of a cad at the very end. I think.
December 1, 2012
A good cozy mystery. I love these older mysteries. I'm glad that I found Rue Morgue Press. They put out a great little catalog of mystery titles. I really look forward to it. I bought this book because I wanted to support Rue Morgue in their quest to bring great mysteries back into print. It was worth every penny.
March 2, 2013
A classic English cozy, and a very satisfying mystery. Occasionally I was irritated by how often we were told of the beauty of the main suspect (all men are spellbound by her, instantly), but that's a small quibble.
May 9, 2014
Maureen Sarsfield is a mystery herself; no one has been able to find out who she was or where she lived. This book was published in the 40s and has the adroit literate style of my favorite old British mysteries. The characters have life and personalities.
February 1, 2008
This author only wrote three or four books, then disappeared completely. Too bad, because her detective is promising.
May 13, 2012
Another great ""oldie"" from Rue Morgue.
June 21, 2013
Fabulous. Wish she'd written more!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews