The Family at Tammerton

Inspector Finch #14

by Margaret Erskine

Tammerton Hall stood in dark magnificence in an isolated spot near the seaside town of Lockbridge. Its mullioned windows had reflected the long thin faces of the Maule family since Tudor times. London nurse Louise Morton had taken an assignment there because she felt a sudden longing for the country--and because the patient was a dear friend of Matron's. That was what made the arrival of the telegram so "MRS. CRANE IS DEAD. DO NOT SEND NURSE." Mrs. Crane was very much alive and expecting her, but someone didn't want Nurse Morton at Tammerton. Someone desperate enough to murder.

Genres: Mystery, Gothic, Gothic Romance, British Literature

182 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1965

About the author

Margaret Erskine (1901-1984) was the pseudonym of Margaret Wetherby Williams, who was born in Ontario, Canada and grew up in Devon. Her series character was Inspector Septimus Finch.

Reviews

[Mermarie]

[Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although this book was published in 1966, it has the feel of an earlier time. Country houses, mansions, private nurses, open fires in every room. The protagonist, Louise, is a private nurse, who is sent to Tammerton to take care of Mrs. Crane, who is recovering from polio in the house of her relatives, Mr and Mrs. Maule. A nephew, Jason Maule, makes up the last member of the household, while Mr. Crane is off somewhere taking care of Mrs.Crane considerable fortune. But awkwardness arises when their neighbor, the sensual Kathie, shows up. Not only does it turn out that Jason was once engaged to her and jilted her three days before the wedding, but Louise recognizes her as the young woman who was responsible for the accident that orphaned her (Louise) a decade earlier. Tension galore! And when murder finally happens, it's not one of the main characters, but a family confidante, who's the victim.

The book was competently written, but there were too many coincidences for my taste. And too few surprises - the guilty party was exactly what one would have expected. So overall an unexceptional book.

[Denise Spicer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Private nurse Louise Morton accepts a position in a seaside town. A sickly wealthy woman is in danger and when Louise meets Inspector Finch on the train trip to her new job she shares her suspicions. When the expected murder happens -- to a different victim, Finch is there to help.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was really quite good (except for everyone being so blasé about manslaughter) until the last 50 pages or so when it went off the rails. Too bad.

[Scilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

The nurse, Louise Morton, goes to Tammerton Hall to take care of Isabelle Crane, who is a member of the Maule family who own Tammerton Hall. Isobel, a long time single woman has recently married Roger Crane who had been the only survivor in a plane accident in Alaska and showed up with car trouble at her home. The agency had received a telegraph that the nurse did not need to come because Mrs. Crane was dead, but called up and found she wasn't. In the train on the way, she meets Scotland Yard Detective Septimus Finch, who tells Louise to be careful. Very soon Finch is called in to investigate the murder of Miss Chumleigh, a friend and neighbor of the Maule family. The other players include another neighbor the Judge, Kathie, the adopted daughter of the Judge, Agnes and James Maule (owners of Tammerton Hall, and Jason Maule, nephew of the Maules. Louise recognizes Kathy as the woman who was driving the car which killed her father. Finch believes Louise is in danger, especially after two more murders. There is excitement near the end when all is revealed.