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Rosa Epton #8
The Uninvited Corpse
First U.S. edition, Review copy with promotional material laid-in. Fine in fine dj.
- GenresMystery
173 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1987
About the author
Michael Underwood
69 books"Michael Underwood" was the pseudonym of British writer John Michael Evelyn. He published his first mystery novel, Murder on Trial, in 1954. His series characters were Martin Ainsworth and Inspector (later Superintendent) Simon Manton.
Evelyn was educated at Christ Church College Oxford and Grays Inn London. He was called to the Bar in 1939 but joined the British Army to serve during WWII until 1946, attaining the rank of Major. He returned to a career in law with the Department of Public Prosecutions, serving for some thirty years until his retirement in 1976.
Evelyn was educated at Christ Church College Oxford and Grays Inn London. He was called to the Bar in 1939 but joined the British Army to serve during WWII until 1946, attaining the rank of Major. He returned to a career in law with the Department of Public Prosecutions, serving for some thirty years until his retirement in 1976.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 3, 2016
A modestly entertaining murder mystery. After an appearance on television, lawyer Rosa Epton is approached by two new clients: a cantankerous old man who wants her to be the executor of his considerable legacy, and a kleptomaniac who may or may not have filched a five-pound note from the church collection plate. When the old man goes missing and a dead stranger is found in his bed -- the uninvited corpse of the title -- Rosa goes to work, investigating the case in tandem with Sergeant York of the local constabulary.
It's a quiet read, just what I was in the mood for. The publisher's claim on the flap that Rosa Epton is "England's answer to Perry Mason" is, on the evidence of this novel, utterly ludicrous -- there's no resemblance beyond the shared profession, and the style of both plot and writing is completely different. But Rosa's an appealing character in her own right, and this nicely written novel delivers a well worked out puzzle.
It's a quiet read, just what I was in the mood for. The publisher's claim on the flap that Rosa Epton is "England's answer to Perry Mason" is, on the evidence of this novel, utterly ludicrous -- there's no resemblance beyond the shared profession, and the style of both plot and writing is completely different. But Rosa's an appealing character in her own right, and this nicely written novel delivers a well worked out puzzle.
March 3, 2025
I picked this up at the library, as it was a thin book and would fit into my bag, not having realised that it’s part of a series. Regardless, the fact that it’s part of a series made little impact in the enjoyment of the story. Delightful, easy and complex at the same time, this is a an intriguing and thankfully not licentious mystery novel.
January 1, 2018
Very readable. Fairly predictable, but nonetheless elegantly and cleverly constructed. Definitely would recommend.
August 16, 2020
Underwood was new to me, but obviously popular with many books. This was a fun mystery with a double plot that melded in the end.
September 7, 2022
Rosa Epton finds herself regretting both the power of the press and an appearance on a television program called "Legal Aid" where a panel of lawyers answered questions about the profession for viewers. The advertisement and her appearance leads two clients to her...two clients that are going to cause a great deal of trouble.
Mr. Philip Tresant learned about her through a newspaper left behind on a seat on the Underground. And, being in need of a solicitor to represent him against a charge of theft, he thought Ms. Rosa Epton as likely as anyone. Mr. Vernon Gray watched "Legal Aid" and thought she was the only member of the panel to talk sense. So when he decided it was about time to draw up a will, he thought of that sensible solicitor on television. Tresant proves to be difficult to defend--he immediately sinks in to depression and it will take all of Rosa's powers of persuasion to get him to make a sensible appearance in court. And she's still not sure she'll get him off on a charge of pilfering five pounds from the church offering plate.
Mr. Gray wants her to make up his will, but doesn't have any relatives or friends to whom he wants to leave his considerable wealth. In fact, he seems to want Rosa to come up with people to make his heirs. Through gentle prodding, she manages to convince him to name the heirs himself--a neighbor who is slightly bossy, but who has tried to help him and his doctor. But he's not done with her...after the will is drawn up, he convinces her to help him find a new housekeeper. He hasn't had much luck in finding one that will stay. It takes a few tries before she finds one that Gray likes well enough and who can take the elderly man's acerbic nature. But finally the job is accomplished...and just when Rosa thinks she's done with Vernon Gray (until she needs to provide the will for probate), he and his housekeeper disappear.
Mrs. Henderson, the bossy neighbor, becomes alarmed when she returns from a weekend away and gets no answer from Gray's apartment. None of the other residents in the building have seen Gray or the housekeeper for several days. She finally convinces the police that something is amiss...and when the officers effect an entry to Gray's apartment they find that she was right. Gray and Mrs. Janet Berry are indeed gone. And there is an unknown man lying dead in Mr. Gray's bed.
Rosa keeps a watching brief on Gray's apartment and affairs and winds up doing a bit of detective work on the side. She discovers clues that point to a mystery in Gray's past and that mystery will need to be cleared up before the police can unravel the current mysteries of where Gray and Mrs. Berry are and who the man in the bed is.
I read a few of the Rosa Epton mysteries back in 80s and apparently this was one of them, but fortunately I had no memory of the plot. This was an enjoyable, quiet read. Fairly predictable, especially after a couple of the clues were laid down, but great fun to read, regardless. Rosa is a good character, interesting to watch at work. She tends to take a few liberties (but then, so did Perry Mason--to whom she is compared in the book flap blurb), but all in the interests of justice. It was a bit convenient how the two plots dovetailed, but it did make for a nice, tidy ending. Overall, a solid mystery.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting portions of review. Thanks.
Mr. Philip Tresant learned about her through a newspaper left behind on a seat on the Underground. And, being in need of a solicitor to represent him against a charge of theft, he thought Ms. Rosa Epton as likely as anyone. Mr. Vernon Gray watched "Legal Aid" and thought she was the only member of the panel to talk sense. So when he decided it was about time to draw up a will, he thought of that sensible solicitor on television. Tresant proves to be difficult to defend--he immediately sinks in to depression and it will take all of Rosa's powers of persuasion to get him to make a sensible appearance in court. And she's still not sure she'll get him off on a charge of pilfering five pounds from the church offering plate.
Mr. Gray wants her to make up his will, but doesn't have any relatives or friends to whom he wants to leave his considerable wealth. In fact, he seems to want Rosa to come up with people to make his heirs. Through gentle prodding, she manages to convince him to name the heirs himself--a neighbor who is slightly bossy, but who has tried to help him and his doctor. But he's not done with her...after the will is drawn up, he convinces her to help him find a new housekeeper. He hasn't had much luck in finding one that will stay. It takes a few tries before she finds one that Gray likes well enough and who can take the elderly man's acerbic nature. But finally the job is accomplished...and just when Rosa thinks she's done with Vernon Gray (until she needs to provide the will for probate), he and his housekeeper disappear.
Mrs. Henderson, the bossy neighbor, becomes alarmed when she returns from a weekend away and gets no answer from Gray's apartment. None of the other residents in the building have seen Gray or the housekeeper for several days. She finally convinces the police that something is amiss...and when the officers effect an entry to Gray's apartment they find that she was right. Gray and Mrs. Janet Berry are indeed gone. And there is an unknown man lying dead in Mr. Gray's bed.
Rosa keeps a watching brief on Gray's apartment and affairs and winds up doing a bit of detective work on the side. She discovers clues that point to a mystery in Gray's past and that mystery will need to be cleared up before the police can unravel the current mysteries of where Gray and Mrs. Berry are and who the man in the bed is.
I read a few of the Rosa Epton mysteries back in 80s and apparently this was one of them, but fortunately I had no memory of the plot. This was an enjoyable, quiet read. Fairly predictable, especially after a couple of the clues were laid down, but great fun to read, regardless. Rosa is a good character, interesting to watch at work. She tends to take a few liberties (but then, so did Perry Mason--to whom she is compared in the book flap blurb), but all in the interests of justice. It was a bit convenient how the two plots dovetailed, but it did make for a nice, tidy ending. Overall, a solid mystery.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting portions of review. Thanks.
April 2, 2012
"In The Uninvited Corpse, Rosa Epton, England's answer to Perry Mason, turns her formidable powers to solving another baffling case.
"It is an intriguing group of individuals who occupy the four apartments on the sixth floor of a building in the English town of Mongton-on-Sea. The oldest and richest of these, Vernon Gray, has recently succeeded in involving Rosa Epton in his legal affairs after having seen her on television. Not only has Rosa been hired to draw up a will for the elderly gentleman, but she has also become an unwilling agent in finding new housekeepers to look after him. Housekeepers did not last long with Vernon Gray.
"Not long after the will is drawn up, however, Vernon Gray vanishes along with his current housekeeper. He leaves behind a series of puzzles and strange clues that baffle the police ... and Rosa Epton.
"The Uninvited Corpse is a story of great ingenuity and complexity."
~~front flap
Indeed it was. Lovely old-style British mystery, with great characterization and a plot that keeps the reader guessing until the very end (one of those where you KNOW so-and-so is involved because his or her presence in the story doesn't make sense otherwise, but HOW!) Nicely written, and like peanuts you can't stop reading, trying to figure out how it all makes sense.
"It is an intriguing group of individuals who occupy the four apartments on the sixth floor of a building in the English town of Mongton-on-Sea. The oldest and richest of these, Vernon Gray, has recently succeeded in involving Rosa Epton in his legal affairs after having seen her on television. Not only has Rosa been hired to draw up a will for the elderly gentleman, but she has also become an unwilling agent in finding new housekeepers to look after him. Housekeepers did not last long with Vernon Gray.
"Not long after the will is drawn up, however, Vernon Gray vanishes along with his current housekeeper. He leaves behind a series of puzzles and strange clues that baffle the police ... and Rosa Epton.
"The Uninvited Corpse is a story of great ingenuity and complexity."
~~front flap
Indeed it was. Lovely old-style British mystery, with great characterization and a plot that keeps the reader guessing until the very end (one of those where you KNOW so-and-so is involved because his or her presence in the story doesn't make sense otherwise, but HOW!) Nicely written, and like peanuts you can't stop reading, trying to figure out how it all makes sense.
June 6, 2011
Nice old fashioned mystery. It is a relaxing break from the more gruesome modern mysteries!
January 29, 2015
An interesting mystery in which the main character isn't a detective, PI, or member of the police force.
Want to Read
January 28, 2019Synopsis: one of lawyer Rosa Epton's clients goes missing and someone else's dead body has been found in her client's bed.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews