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Mr. & Mrs. North #5
Hanged for a Sheep
Mrs. North must protect her aunt from being poisoned—whether she likes it or not
Pamela North has never worried about making sense. When she has a thought, she expresses it, and if no one in the room knows what she’s talking about, it’s no trouble to her. While Mrs. North’s unique style of thought can make her a challenging conversational partner, it also makes her one of the finest amateur sleuths in New York City. But no matter how sharp her wit, she can’t pin down Aunt Flora. An indomitable old woman, shaped like a snowman and just as icy, Flora is convinced that someone is trying to slip her arsenic, and she’ll be very cross if her niece can’t stop the culprit before he succeeds.
Aunt Flora stubbornly refuses to let Pamela call in the police, until a suspicious dead body forces them to ask the opinion of Lt. William Weigand. It’s a screwy mystery, and that means it’s perfect for Mrs. North.
Hanged for a Sheep is the 5th book in the Mr. and Mrs. North Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
Pamela North has never worried about making sense. When she has a thought, she expresses it, and if no one in the room knows what she’s talking about, it’s no trouble to her. While Mrs. North’s unique style of thought can make her a challenging conversational partner, it also makes her one of the finest amateur sleuths in New York City. But no matter how sharp her wit, she can’t pin down Aunt Flora. An indomitable old woman, shaped like a snowman and just as icy, Flora is convinced that someone is trying to slip her arsenic, and she’ll be very cross if her niece can’t stop the culprit before he succeeds.
Aunt Flora stubbornly refuses to let Pamela call in the police, until a suspicious dead body forces them to ask the opinion of Lt. William Weigand. It’s a screwy mystery, and that means it’s perfect for Mrs. North.
Hanged for a Sheep is the 5th book in the Mr. and Mrs. North Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
193 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 1942
86 people are currently reading
163 people want to read
About the author
Frances Lockridge
95 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 - 30 of 30 reviews
August 10, 2021
Family Love 💕 👨👩👧👦
With her husband out of town doing publishing stuff, Mrs. North decides to visit her Aunt Flora.
In a house filled with children and grandchildren, Aunt Flora confides to Pam North that someone has tried to kill her.
The next day, Aunt Flora’s fourth husband, who is half her age and of disreputable character, is found dead in the breakfast room.
Pam contacts her friend, Lieutenant Bill Weigand, and she, of course, is ready to help him investigate.
But as usual, her life is put in danger, when the murderer refuses to give up without a fight.
Weigand and his partner Mullins are both determined to arrest the criminal, who may be a Pamela North family member.
With her husband out of town doing publishing stuff, Mrs. North decides to visit her Aunt Flora.
In a house filled with children and grandchildren, Aunt Flora confides to Pam North that someone has tried to kill her.
The next day, Aunt Flora’s fourth husband, who is half her age and of disreputable character, is found dead in the breakfast room.
Pam contacts her friend, Lieutenant Bill Weigand, and she, of course, is ready to help him investigate.
But as usual, her life is put in danger, when the murderer refuses to give up without a fight.
Weigand and his partner Mullins are both determined to arrest the criminal, who may be a Pamela North family member.
April 28, 2019
The sparkling, clever, intuitive Pam North takes center stage in this fifth entry in this irresistible, sophisticated mystery city set in 1940s New York City. With husband Jerry off to Texas to lure a writer expected to write the next Gone With the Wind to go with Jerry’s publishing company, Pam goes to visit her flamboyant but good-hearted Aunt Flora Buddie. Aunt Flora has summoned Pam to discover who tried to poison her a week or so ago. But Pam’s barely installed at her aunt’s huge mansion when Aunt Flora’s discarded fourth husband, an oily petty criminal, turns up dead.
Needless to say, Pam summons her friend, Lieutenant Weigand, and together they look into the much-married Aunt Flora’s children and grandchildren, their alibis and possible motives. The characters and plot in Hanged for a Sheep are some of the best I’ve ever read. Even though authors Frances and Richard Lockridge play quite fair, littering plenty of clues, I never guessed the murderer or the motive. This is probably my favorite Mr. and Mrs. North book — and that’s a high recommendation, indeed!
Needless to say, Pam summons her friend, Lieutenant Weigand, and together they look into the much-married Aunt Flora’s children and grandchildren, their alibis and possible motives. The characters and plot in Hanged for a Sheep are some of the best I’ve ever read. Even though authors Frances and Richard Lockridge play quite fair, littering plenty of clues, I never guessed the murderer or the motive. This is probably my favorite Mr. and Mrs. North book — and that’s a high recommendation, indeed!
December 5, 2020
3.5 stars
A pretty typical Norths mystery.
A pretty typical Norths mystery.
December 28, 2023
Hanged for a Sheep by Frances & Richard Lockridge is one of the many adventures of Pam & Jerry North and their friend, Lieutenant Bill Weigand. The Lockridge books are my mystery comfort-reading--light, fun, madcap. Just what's needed on a dreary fall day when one just wants to curl up and not have to think too hard.
This outing finds Jerry away on business and Pam visiting her Aunt Flora. Just a nice family visit. Well, not really. Aunt Flora tells Pam that someone has tried to poison her....with arsenic. She wants Pam, as the "family private eye," to investigate, but not to tell the police. Aunt Flora has been married four times and had children by several of the husbands...and Aunt Flora has pots of money. So, there are plenty of suspects to go around. Then Aunt Flora's latest husband winds up dead from a pistol shot. What exactly is going on at this little family visit? As Lieutenant Weigand puts it (once he's called in): "So there we are. Nowhere much as yet. One poisoned, one dead, one missing; suspects to the right of us, suspects to the left of us. Everybody with opportunity; almost everybody with motive. A pistol missing; a bottle missing; a hunch missing. So Mullins and I go back to work."
I enjoyed this thoroughly as I always do enjoy the Lockridge stories. Pam is...well...Pam--with her brain running about three steps ahead and making leaps in the conversation that set heads spinning. But whether you understand her logic or not, she's generally right and often provides Bill Weigand with just the clue he needs to sew up another "screwy" murder. As his Sergeant Mullins says, "They're always screwy when you've got the Norths." He's right, but screwy in all the right ways. Four stars out five.
This outing finds Jerry away on business and Pam visiting her Aunt Flora. Just a nice family visit. Well, not really. Aunt Flora tells Pam that someone has tried to poison her....with arsenic. She wants Pam, as the "family private eye," to investigate, but not to tell the police. Aunt Flora has been married four times and had children by several of the husbands...and Aunt Flora has pots of money. So, there are plenty of suspects to go around. Then Aunt Flora's latest husband winds up dead from a pistol shot. What exactly is going on at this little family visit? As Lieutenant Weigand puts it (once he's called in): "So there we are. Nowhere much as yet. One poisoned, one dead, one missing; suspects to the right of us, suspects to the left of us. Everybody with opportunity; almost everybody with motive. A pistol missing; a bottle missing; a hunch missing. So Mullins and I go back to work."
I enjoyed this thoroughly as I always do enjoy the Lockridge stories. Pam is...well...Pam--with her brain running about three steps ahead and making leaps in the conversation that set heads spinning. But whether you understand her logic or not, she's generally right and often provides Bill Weigand with just the clue he needs to sew up another "screwy" murder. As his Sergeant Mullins says, "They're always screwy when you've got the Norths." He's right, but screwy in all the right ways. Four stars out five.
September 2, 2014
This is another Mr and Mrs North Murder mystery.
They are slightly old fashioned and do contain some references that I don't understand but some of them may be New York attitude references that I don't get!
These are fun, gentle and challenging novels. They make you think, use a lot of sarcasm and challenge your everyday thinking even though they are old fashioned.
This one is a fun one - when Mrs North visits a beloved older aunt who thinks someone is trying to kill her - and they might well be as her latest husband is found dead within days of Mrs North's arrival. Great adventures, timing and use of language.
They are slightly old fashioned and do contain some references that I don't understand but some of them may be New York attitude references that I don't get!
These are fun, gentle and challenging novels. They make you think, use a lot of sarcasm and challenge your everyday thinking even though they are old fashioned.
This one is a fun one - when Mrs North visits a beloved older aunt who thinks someone is trying to kill her - and they might well be as her latest husband is found dead within days of Mrs North's arrival. Great adventures, timing and use of language.
June 1, 2019
Survey reward | For me, the weakest in the series so far. | The murderer gave themselves away badly in one discussion with the Lieutenant, and it's impossible to believe that the reader wasn't meant to see that, but the book was written as though we were. Mainly I just felt that the characters were not drawn with depth, so it was difficult to care.
June 29, 2020
I tend to approach the entire body of Mr. and Mrs. North novels as one big story, and each book as a chapter. So, with that "big picture" perspective I have given this four stars because this is a critical "chapter" in flushing out who Pamela North is.
The novel hinges around her elderly aunt and the extended family of cousins. I love the series for its Manhattan-centric vibe and this book introduced us to a group of people living in Louis Auchincloss's New York (the giant brownstone etc.) BUT with very middle class New York kinds of problems.
The police procedural aspect of the Lockridge stories always bores me a little bit, but I love the dynamic between Mr and Mrs. North and their tame policeman. And, I love the Manhattan bar scenes and the seemingly endless rounds of martinis.
The murder itself is not why I keep returning to these stories--it is the fun of spending time with Mr and Mrs. North whom i would befriend in a minute if given the opportunity.
The novel hinges around her elderly aunt and the extended family of cousins. I love the series for its Manhattan-centric vibe and this book introduced us to a group of people living in Louis Auchincloss's New York (the giant brownstone etc.) BUT with very middle class New York kinds of problems.
The police procedural aspect of the Lockridge stories always bores me a little bit, but I love the dynamic between Mr and Mrs. North and their tame policeman. And, I love the Manhattan bar scenes and the seemingly endless rounds of martinis.
The murder itself is not why I keep returning to these stories--it is the fun of spending time with Mr and Mrs. North whom i would befriend in a minute if given the opportunity.
July 14, 2019
Rating 3.5/ 5 stars Poor Sergeant Mullins! His job for the New York City Homicide Department keeps getting stranger by the day. He keeps telling his boss Lt. Bill Weigand that their cases have gotten “weirder” ever since they met the Norths. And the Lieutenant can’t disagree with him. In the latest series entry, Pam North’s Aunt Flora has invited her for a visit. Aunt Flora needs Pam’s help because some is trying to poison her - with arsenic! She tells Pam that it must be someone from “the family”. This includes all the assorted relatives from Aunt Flora’s four marriages! No other relatives have believed the eccentric, elderly, wealthy woman that she was ever poisoned by anyone. They think it is all an upset stomach and hypochondria. Aunt Flora begs Pam “The Lady Detective” for her help before someone succeeds in killing her!
August 10, 2020
The Lockridges really tried to experiment with their styles, I'll give them that. This one focuses on psychology much more than others. Fortunately it doesn't do the annoying "let's get to know our victim before he gets slaughtered" nonsense, and jumps right into what our heroes are doing, which is what we want from these mystery series. Here we get some insight into Pam's family, which is also a bit sad, since they provide the culprit and victims. As always, we get inundated with too many characters, so keeping track of them is tricky (is there a guy who wants to marry his cousin maybe?), but by the end that doesn't matter. Acting Captain Married Guy comes by and saves the day, though slower than last time. It's better than the last couple.
February 12, 2019
Another delightful Mr. & Mrs. North book. I just discovered that there was a TV series in 1952 to 1954, titled Mr. & Mrs. North, based on the books. I wish I could have seen what they did with Pam's character. In this one, the police detective actually solves the crime before she does! We meet some of Pam's relatives; and no, they're not in the same class as hers. And no, I won't give your spoilers. You'll have to read it yourself. Think of the thin man and you've got an idea of the type of murder mystery we have here, set in the 40s. I think if you like those movies you'll like these books.
January 19, 2021
There were so many characters that they all got short shrift, which is both a pity and infuriating. Most were their own dead ends and were extraneous. I would have loved more appearances by Aunt Flora. Two-thirds of the book was more or less like watching someone try to solve a crossword puzzle while you're being given the stock report instead of the crossword's clues. However the depiction of the city in a snowstorm was absolutely perfect and the two cats were delightfully described, providing nice respites from a sometimes tediously overlong all-in-one-house puzzle.
September 20, 2017
I really like this mystery series. I discovered it several years ago, but lost track of it and rediscovered it as ebooks. I am so glad it's finally on ebook.
Pamela North has unusual thought processes that her hysband, Jerry, can often follow - but not always. Nor can their friends, Lt. Bill Weigand, homicide detective, and his assistant Mullins. There are always cats involved in these books, the cats have a part to play but not always the starring role, but they are fun.
Pamela North has unusual thought processes that her hysband, Jerry, can often follow - but not always. Nor can their friends, Lt. Bill Weigand, homicide detective, and his assistant Mullins. There are always cats involved in these books, the cats have a part to play but not always the starring role, but they are fun.
June 28, 2017
Have always enjoyed this series, so when this one was offered as a Kindle deal I couldn't resist. And it gave me a taste for more in this often amusing series set in mid 20th century New York City so I have been borrowing them from the library here in Portland. Sadly they do not own all that many Lockridge's books so I will have to wait for when my own books are out of storage to keep reading.
August 28, 2017
Nice little cozy mystery set in a New York brownstone filled with quirky characters, suspicious suspects, murder, and mayhem. Mrs. North does a better job of solving the mystery than either she or her husband can credit.
December 31, 2022
In Hanged for a Sheep readers find Pam North visiting her mostly unlikable aunt, her aunt's thoroughly unlikable beau, a cast of quirky relatives, and some delightful (as always) cats. I didn't enjoy the puzzle as much as other books, but it's a solid part of the series.
March 5, 2024
Fantastic
I thoroughly enjoy these stories. Pam and Jerry are the cutest. And Bill Weigand and Mullins and Dorian are delightful. We get to see where Pam's habits of conversation comes from in this one.
I thoroughly enjoy these stories. Pam and Jerry are the cutest. And Bill Weigand and Mullins and Dorian are delightful. We get to see where Pam's habits of conversation comes from in this one.
July 20, 2017
Ok. I wanted more. More passion, more NY, more...
January 12, 2022
Meh
I think I may stop reading the books. The mystery simply wasn’t that interesting. I miss cocktails at The North’s’ house. Perhaps it is a period problem?
I think I may stop reading the books. The mystery simply wasn’t that interesting. I miss cocktails at The North’s’ house. Perhaps it is a period problem?
August 22, 2022
I had no idea Mrs. North’s family was so complicated! Or so deadly.
October 13, 2022
Last read at least 50 maybe 55 years ago! Re-read October 2022.
Read
October 13, 2022Last read at least 50 maybe 55 years ago. Re-read October 2022.
October 21, 2022
Fun, but it read so short that I was disappointed not to have more flesh on the bones.
September 16, 2019
If you're going to read this book, you're going to need a scorecard and patience. The cast of characters is complicated and there are dry stretches. It's not the best of the "Mr. and Mrs. North" series, by a long shot. On the other hand, Aunt Flora is a hoot and meeting Pam North's family explains a lot about her.
It all starts when Jerry North is sent to Houston to read a manuscript that's touted as the next "Gone With the Wind." I see no need for another one and the author clearly agrees with me, but publishers are in business to make money, so Pam North is a temporary grass widow. She takes the opportunity to pay a visit to her eccentric Aunt Flora, who immediately announces with great glee that someone in her family is trying to poison her. "Just a little arsenic among relatives, dearie." Naturally, she wants Pam to find the guilty party.
Aunt Flora has led a full life and in old age is still more vigorous than any of her descendants. She kept her hands on the fortune and large house left by her first husband, but her heart wasn't buried with that fine man. She's had three husbands since. She also has four sons (three living) and two grandsons and two granddaughters. And all of them either live in her house or nearby and (of course) all are in her will.
Her sons argue that their mother made up the whole thing to get attention, but that lab report showing arsenic in her vomit is hard to shrug off. The poisoner is NOT her much-younger fourth husband because she kicked him out some time before the poisoning. He's a small-time conman and everyone's relieved to see the last of him. But then he comes back to visit late one night and someone takes a bullet to the head. NOW it's time to call in Lieutenant Bill Weigand of the NYPD's Homicide Department and his sidekick Sergeant Mullins.
You'll have to make an effort to get the family clear in your mind or it won't make any sense at all. But you can do it. Even after you get that straightened out, there are complications. There's a shadowy old guy who was Aunt Flora's first husband's best friend and who's a permanent house guest. And he has evidence, but can't decide what to do about it. Which is dangerous when you've got a murderer running loose.
And one of the granddaughters is having an affair with an attractive young gangster. He's certainly not above murder, but how would he benefit? Young Clementine writes a very saucy love letter and someone is using them to do a little blackmail on the side. Who is it and how does it tie in with the murder?
It seems to me that Weigand spends a lot of time scratching his head in this one and discussing possibilities with anyone handy. And then there are the cats. Pam has brought Ruffy and Toughy along with her and their antics figure heavily in the dialog. If you're not a cat-lover, those parts might drag, too. The Mr. and Mrs. North books are unrealistic by their very nature, since no homicide cop is going to involve two civilians in a case, regardless of how much he likes them, so you have to be willing to accept that lack of reality and not let it bother you.
It seems to me that the conclusion is stagy and unbelievable. Yes, all of us are potential murderers, but even an amateur murderer should act in character. I don't think the villain here does that. And seeing the reactions of the rest of the family would have been more satisfying than the Norths and the Weigands rehashing it over cocktails.
There are some really good parts. Pam North is as resourceful as ever and does some fine crime-fighting with flower vases. And Jerry North is as likable as ever, even after his wife beans him with one of those vases. Just don't let it be your first Mr. and Mrs. North book. It's a fine series and this isn't the best one.
It all starts when Jerry North is sent to Houston to read a manuscript that's touted as the next "Gone With the Wind." I see no need for another one and the author clearly agrees with me, but publishers are in business to make money, so Pam North is a temporary grass widow. She takes the opportunity to pay a visit to her eccentric Aunt Flora, who immediately announces with great glee that someone in her family is trying to poison her. "Just a little arsenic among relatives, dearie." Naturally, she wants Pam to find the guilty party.
Aunt Flora has led a full life and in old age is still more vigorous than any of her descendants. She kept her hands on the fortune and large house left by her first husband, but her heart wasn't buried with that fine man. She's had three husbands since. She also has four sons (three living) and two grandsons and two granddaughters. And all of them either live in her house or nearby and (of course) all are in her will.
Her sons argue that their mother made up the whole thing to get attention, but that lab report showing arsenic in her vomit is hard to shrug off. The poisoner is NOT her much-younger fourth husband because she kicked him out some time before the poisoning. He's a small-time conman and everyone's relieved to see the last of him. But then he comes back to visit late one night and someone takes a bullet to the head. NOW it's time to call in Lieutenant Bill Weigand of the NYPD's Homicide Department and his sidekick Sergeant Mullins.
You'll have to make an effort to get the family clear in your mind or it won't make any sense at all. But you can do it. Even after you get that straightened out, there are complications. There's a shadowy old guy who was Aunt Flora's first husband's best friend and who's a permanent house guest. And he has evidence, but can't decide what to do about it. Which is dangerous when you've got a murderer running loose.
And one of the granddaughters is having an affair with an attractive young gangster. He's certainly not above murder, but how would he benefit? Young Clementine writes a very saucy love letter and someone is using them to do a little blackmail on the side. Who is it and how does it tie in with the murder?
It seems to me that Weigand spends a lot of time scratching his head in this one and discussing possibilities with anyone handy. And then there are the cats. Pam has brought Ruffy and Toughy along with her and their antics figure heavily in the dialog. If you're not a cat-lover, those parts might drag, too. The Mr. and Mrs. North books are unrealistic by their very nature, since no homicide cop is going to involve two civilians in a case, regardless of how much he likes them, so you have to be willing to accept that lack of reality and not let it bother you.
It seems to me that the conclusion is stagy and unbelievable. Yes, all of us are potential murderers, but even an amateur murderer should act in character. I don't think the villain here does that. And seeing the reactions of the rest of the family would have been more satisfying than the Norths and the Weigands rehashing it over cocktails.
There are some really good parts. Pam North is as resourceful as ever and does some fine crime-fighting with flower vases. And Jerry North is as likable as ever, even after his wife beans him with one of those vases. Just don't let it be your first Mr. and Mrs. North book. It's a fine series and this isn't the best one.
October 15, 2021
I love the Norths! This book has already left me chuckling several times (I'm only on page 49). The Aunt is just hilarious and her interactions with Pam are super amusing.
Update - I finished reading Hanged for a Sheep and loved it! I'm slowly making my way through the entire North series. Well worth a read!
Update - I finished reading Hanged for a Sheep and loved it! I'm slowly making my way through the entire North series. Well worth a read!
December 29, 2016
Loved this one...Pam is visiting her Aunt Flora and ends up helping to investigate an arsenic poisoning, and two murders. The murderer is a member of her family, but which one? Also introduces the North's new kittens, Toughy and Ruffy. Just a fun, cozy little mystery.
April 6, 2022
This is a good series if you like cozy mysteries. I read them on my kindle via Overdrive, which is offered by my local public library. I think most public libraries in the United States offer this service. It's a great way to enjoy books without spending a fortune.
Set in New York with World War II in the background, these books and especially this volume, feature Pamela North. She always seems to be in a muddle but never fails to comes up with the right answer in the end. This is my favorite in the series so far.
Set in New York with World War II in the background, these books and especially this volume, feature Pamela North. She always seems to be in a muddle but never fails to comes up with the right answer in the end. This is my favorite in the series so far.
July 15, 2015
Pam North goes to stay with some relatives while Jerry is out of town. She soon learns that the matriarch has been poisoned by persons unknown and then another death occurs. The cast of characters was a bit large, but an enjoyable read.
April 30, 2017
This was pretty good for a book published in 1942--during World War II. The setting is a big house in NYC owned by the aunt. She doesn't get murdered, but someone else is. An amusing scene is when Pam North brains and intruder with a vase of flowers--it turns out to be her husband Jerry, just returned from a trip.
May 30, 2017
This one takes place in Pam's family ... her aunt has had a bout of arsenic poisoning, and Jerry is out of town, so Pam arrives to stay at her wealthy aunt's with her two new cats. The aunt had four husbands, and so there are a myriad of cousins and children of cousins around. Husband #4 has just been pushed out and declared a waster, so when he shows up dead in the breakfast room - it's not so much who had motive to kill him, but which one actually did?
Learned something new: no weather reports in NYC during World War II -- apparently, the National Weather Service only gave weather reports to the military, as they were afraid weather reports would aid the enemy (particularly U-Boats lurking off the East Coast).
Learned something new: no weather reports in NYC during World War II -- apparently, the National Weather Service only gave weather reports to the military, as they were afraid weather reports would aid the enemy (particularly U-Boats lurking off the East Coast).
Want to read
December 29, 2018Synopsis: Mrs. North's aunt thinks someone is trying to kill her - and then her husband is found dead.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews