What do you think?
Rate this book
Inspector Vachell Mysteries #2
Murder on Safari
Lord and Lady Baradale, on a posh safari in Kenya, anticipate splendid photo trophies for their luxurious labors. But rather than collecting trophies, they gave some up. When Lady Baradale's jewels are stolen, a young Canadian policeman, Vachell, is called in. He sets to work on the theft, but is interrupted by murder. Lady Baradale's body is discovered with a bullet hole in the skull. Every member of the hunting party is suspect. "Elspeth Huxley does not rely for effect simply on the unusual nature of her Kenyan setting. She has woven a complicated web of clue and counter-clue, clever enough to entrance and entangle even the most experienced detective fan." (The Times, London)
208 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1938
1 person is currently reading
167 people want to read
About the author
Elspeth Huxley
71 books71 followersElspeth Joscelin Huxley was an English writer, journalist, broadcaster, magistrate, environmentalist, farmer, and government adviser. She wrote over 40 books, including her best-known lyrical books, The Flame Trees of Thika and The Mottled Lizard, based on her youth in a coffee farm in British Kenya. Her husband, Gervas Huxley, was a grandson of Thomas Henry Huxley and a cousin of Aldous Huxley.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
July 24, 2018
Elspeth Huxley won her place in The Birthday Book of Underappreciated Lady Authors because she is very well remembered for one book but that she wrote a great deal more is often forgotten.
I remember watching a wonderful television adaptation of 'The Flame Trees of Thika', her memoir of her childhood in Africa, many years ago. I read and loved the book - which is still in print, thanks to Slightly Foxed - but I didn't come across anything else she wrote and I didn't think to look. It wasn't very long ago that I learnes that she wrote more memoirs, she wrote more books about Africa, and she wrote three mysteries.
I had intended to read a memoir for this birthday celebration, but when I read about the recent death of another underappreciated lady author I remembered that I had picked up some green Penguins that came from her collection in my local second-hand book shop bookshop a while ago, and that one of them was by Elspeth Huxley.
Jessica Mann was a novelist, a journalist, a broadcaster and a great deal more. We were members of the same independent library, we were supporters of the local literary festival, and if I put together a second Birthday Book of Underappreciated Lady Authors there is every chance that her name will be on the list.
Now, back to the book.
Superintendent Vachell is a Canadian policeman who has settled East Africa. He is approached by a well-known hunter named Danny La Mere, who has been leading a safari funded by the wealthy Lady Baradale. Her ladyship has brought thirty thousand pounds' worth of jewels on the trip, the cream of her collection has been stolen from the portable safe in her tent, and the circumstances suggest that the thief is somebody very close to her.
Posing as an extra guide, Vachell observes members of the party closely. There is Lord Baradale, a keen photographer and inventor; his flighty daughter from an earlier marriage, Cara, who has a fiancé but is involved with the Dutch second hunter; the aforementioned fiancé, Sir Gordon Catchpole, a London-based interior designer; a new maid whose background is shrouded in mystery; a chauffeur-mechanic who had been an actor and had a very high opinion of himself; and an aviatrix named, Chris Davis, who is clearly based on Beryl Markham.
It's an interesting cast of characters, but Vachell finds that he is long on suspects, short on clues, and is his lack of knowledge is hunting is leaving him in serious danger of blowing his cover.
There is a death that might have been passed off as a tragic accident, had there not been a policeman on hand to examine the scene. Vachell must reveal that he is an undercover policeman and begin a murder enquiry. Soon he is investigating two murders, the second even more ingenious, more likely to be taken as an accident that the first.
Elspeth Huxley told her story well, bringing her characters and the setting to life. It feels authentic.
I hate the idea of shooting wildlife for fun and for profit, so I appreciated that the descriptions were not gratuitous; and that the author made her protest by presenting her characters and their safari clear-sightedly, by simply shining a light on them to show how ridiculous it all was.
That does make the book feel dated, as does some of the language and some of the attitudes.
The mystery plot is very well constructed, and it plays fair. There are even 'clue-finder' footnotes in my book, guiding readers back to the points in the story where Vachell found his evidence. I hadn't spotted the clues, but I saw that a good policeman would, and I understood how the case against the culprit had been built.
I did guess the identity of that culprit correctly; because the group of suspects was small and because the plot was well built but it was built on classic lines.
This book stands out not because it is innovative or inventive, but because the author has such depth of understanding of her setting and the distinctive possibilities that it presents for a murderer.
That makes it a distinctive and very readable piece of crime fiction.
I remember watching a wonderful television adaptation of 'The Flame Trees of Thika', her memoir of her childhood in Africa, many years ago. I read and loved the book - which is still in print, thanks to Slightly Foxed - but I didn't come across anything else she wrote and I didn't think to look. It wasn't very long ago that I learnes that she wrote more memoirs, she wrote more books about Africa, and she wrote three mysteries.
I had intended to read a memoir for this birthday celebration, but when I read about the recent death of another underappreciated lady author I remembered that I had picked up some green Penguins that came from her collection in my local second-hand book shop bookshop a while ago, and that one of them was by Elspeth Huxley.
Jessica Mann was a novelist, a journalist, a broadcaster and a great deal more. We were members of the same independent library, we were supporters of the local literary festival, and if I put together a second Birthday Book of Underappreciated Lady Authors there is every chance that her name will be on the list.
Now, back to the book.
Superintendent Vachell is a Canadian policeman who has settled East Africa. He is approached by a well-known hunter named Danny La Mere, who has been leading a safari funded by the wealthy Lady Baradale. Her ladyship has brought thirty thousand pounds' worth of jewels on the trip, the cream of her collection has been stolen from the portable safe in her tent, and the circumstances suggest that the thief is somebody very close to her.
Posing as an extra guide, Vachell observes members of the party closely. There is Lord Baradale, a keen photographer and inventor; his flighty daughter from an earlier marriage, Cara, who has a fiancé but is involved with the Dutch second hunter; the aforementioned fiancé, Sir Gordon Catchpole, a London-based interior designer; a new maid whose background is shrouded in mystery; a chauffeur-mechanic who had been an actor and had a very high opinion of himself; and an aviatrix named, Chris Davis, who is clearly based on Beryl Markham.
It's an interesting cast of characters, but Vachell finds that he is long on suspects, short on clues, and is his lack of knowledge is hunting is leaving him in serious danger of blowing his cover.
There is a death that might have been passed off as a tragic accident, had there not been a policeman on hand to examine the scene. Vachell must reveal that he is an undercover policeman and begin a murder enquiry. Soon he is investigating two murders, the second even more ingenious, more likely to be taken as an accident that the first.
Elspeth Huxley told her story well, bringing her characters and the setting to life. It feels authentic.
I hate the idea of shooting wildlife for fun and for profit, so I appreciated that the descriptions were not gratuitous; and that the author made her protest by presenting her characters and their safari clear-sightedly, by simply shining a light on them to show how ridiculous it all was.
That does make the book feel dated, as does some of the language and some of the attitudes.
The mystery plot is very well constructed, and it plays fair. There are even 'clue-finder' footnotes in my book, guiding readers back to the points in the story where Vachell found his evidence. I hadn't spotted the clues, but I saw that a good policeman would, and I understood how the case against the culprit had been built.
I did guess the identity of that culprit correctly; because the group of suspects was small and because the plot was well built but it was built on classic lines.
This book stands out not because it is innovative or inventive, but because the author has such depth of understanding of her setting and the distinctive possibilities that it presents for a murderer.
That makes it a distinctive and very readable piece of crime fiction.
April 18, 2010
Reading this book was so painful. Huxley apparently only wrote 3 mysteries featuring Inspector Vachell and now I've read each of them. I have enjoyed reading these so much more than almost any of the better known British mystery writers of the decades between WWI and WWII.
It's sad that there aren't more. But perhaps that's the key. She was only willing to publish as much as her imagination would support and chose not to publish additional works that weren't up to the same standard.
Her stories are much more like those of Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie than more modern writers such as Ruth Rendell but I like them better.
It's sad that there aren't more. But perhaps that's the key. She was only willing to publish as much as her imagination would support and chose not to publish additional works that weren't up to the same standard.
Her stories are much more like those of Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie than more modern writers such as Ruth Rendell but I like them better.
July 1, 2023
I added this book to Mt TBR because it would help with my 666 Challenge since it is set in Kenya. This edition was published in 1989 so I was expecting a more modern style safari. It quickly became apparent that it was 1930s style and the language and attitude towards people of color made it an older book. It was originally published in 1938, which meant I could count it for the Genreland Challenge "Older than Yourself" but it would be a less enjoyable read.
With respect to the mystery aspect it was incredibly well done (hence the 4 star rating) with the clues laid out if you know where to look and plenty of red herrings. (I had 3 different suspects throughout the read but was wrong every time -- although not without support for my guesses.) I think my favorite thing was at the end of the book, when explaining the who how and why dunits, there were footnotes to show you where each clue was earlier in the story in case you wanted to go back and check. I've never seen that done before and it saved a lot of backtracking on my part.
When selecting my books for the 666 Challenge I have tried very hard to make sure that each book gives me a feel for the country and culture it is set in. This book did not disappoint, with rhinos and hippos and elephants and lions and buffalo and hyena and all manner of exotic birds. There was a woman pilot who reminded me of Beryl Markham and a bit of Isak Dinesen. And there was the height of British Imperial racism, with native African servants being ordered about casually, spoken of with condescension at best, and disparaged in ways that were blatant and subtle. There was also a clearly gay not-closeted-but-upper-crust-and-willing-to-marry-for-money British interior decorator who was stereotypically pouty and bitchy and barely tolerated. I suppose that these are authentic to the time of writing and the setting but they aren't pleasant.
All in all it was a decent read, particularly when I reminded myself that it was a period piece and the lack of human dignity afforded many of the characters was not unrealistic. I am more interested now in reading The Flame Trees of Thika (nonfiction) by this author and I would read her other mysteries as well given how carefully crafted this one was.
With respect to the mystery aspect it was incredibly well done (hence the 4 star rating) with the clues laid out if you know where to look and plenty of red herrings. (I had 3 different suspects throughout the read but was wrong every time -- although not without support for my guesses.) I think my favorite thing was at the end of the book, when explaining the who how and why dunits, there were footnotes to show you where each clue was earlier in the story in case you wanted to go back and check. I've never seen that done before and it saved a lot of backtracking on my part.
When selecting my books for the 666 Challenge I have tried very hard to make sure that each book gives me a feel for the country and culture it is set in. This book did not disappoint, with rhinos and hippos and elephants and lions and buffalo and hyena and all manner of exotic birds. There was a woman pilot who reminded me of Beryl Markham and a bit of Isak Dinesen. And there was the height of British Imperial racism, with native African servants being ordered about casually, spoken of with condescension at best, and disparaged in ways that were blatant and subtle. There was also a clearly gay not-closeted-but-upper-crust-and-willing-to-marry-for-money British interior decorator who was stereotypically pouty and bitchy and barely tolerated. I suppose that these are authentic to the time of writing and the setting but they aren't pleasant.
All in all it was a decent read, particularly when I reminded myself that it was a period piece and the lack of human dignity afforded many of the characters was not unrealistic. I am more interested now in reading The Flame Trees of Thika (nonfiction) by this author and I would read her other mysteries as well given how carefully crafted this one was.
September 26, 2016
Vachell, a young policeman is called in to a safari undercover as a hunter when Lady Baradale's jewels are stolen. Soon after his arrival, she is murdered. Vachell has to sort out all the intrigues and characters and find out what is going on. His solution turns out to be wrong and the actual truth is complex and very interesting. Really enjoyed the setting and the ridiculousness of the rich's idea of a safari with a generator and all sorts of luxuries. It was a different time and this book is grat at capturing that flavor. I found it very satisfying
June 8, 2013
I had seen various copies of Elspeth Huxley's mysteries numerous times at our Friends of the Library bookshop. I had also read a lovely review of Murder on Safari penned by Sergio over at Tipping My Fedora back in 2011. I eventually picked up a copy for myself in June of 2012 and here I am now with my own take on Huxley's book set in Kenya, Africa. I'm afraid that TomCat over at Beneath the Stains of Time will be most disappointed to find that I lean more heavily towards Sergio's rating of the book than I do his. While this is an interesting example of a Golden Age (1930s) mystery in an unusual setting, I wouldn't put it on my all-time Best 100 list.
The story takes place on (surprise!) safari in Africa. Lord and Lady Baradale have paid good money for a luxurious outing in the African veldt for themselves, Lord Baradale's daughter Cara from a previous marriage, and her fiance, Sir Gordon Catchpole. Along for the ride are a mechanic (who is, incidentally, Lady Baradale's toy-boy lover) and a maid. They have hot baths, a top-notch chef, a well-stocked liquor cabinet, one of the best white hunters around--Danny de Mare, an aviatrix to spot game for them--Chris Davis, and more servants in their entourage than might be found at most good hotels. Oh, and Lady Baradale, who wears Chanel No. 5 in the jungle, has brought along her safe full of fabulous jewels. And then seems surprised that someone might relieve her of the choicest pieces of her collection.
Superintendent Vachell of the Chania Police is brought in by Lady Baradale to hunt down the culprit. The assistant to Danny de Mare is let go--both to provide a cover story for Vachell who takes on the position as a disguise and to remove temptation from Cara Baradale's sight. It takes very little time for Vachell to reveal how little he knows about the white hunter business as well as to be faced with the murder of Lady Baradale. Lady Baradale wasn't exactly the most beloved of people. She liked her own way--and had a way of getting it no matter who she had to hurt or anger in the process. So the question is was the murder a result of the jewel robbery or was it more personal? It will take another murder and a couple of attempts on the Superintendent's life before Vachell will be able to put all the pieces together--and even then he won't have enough evidence to prove it without the culprit making a get-away that's as good as a confession.
I will say that this is the best mystery yet that I've read which was set in Africa.The safari setting was interesting and unusual and provided much of the exciting elements of the story--from encounters with elephants, lions, and a wounded buffalo to rains that cut the safari off from outside help to a plane crash. It managed to provide some of the "closed society" feel of the Golden Age novels. And I did appreciate how fairly clued the mystery was. So much so that Huxley provides footnotes to refer readers to where the clues appeared in the story. I didn't find this nearly as distracting as Sergio did. What I did find a bit annoying was that after being hit over the head and important evidence removed from Lady Baradale's safe right under his nose Vachell didn't seem to give any thought to leaving all his evidence locked in his evidence case in his tent while he went wandering around the camp and hunting areas. A safe is much more impregnable than a locked evidence case and yet he just assumed that all his little accumulations would be fine in a tent that he repeatedly notes has no door to lock. Even if someone didn't force the lock and take the evidence (which they did), all they had to do was grab the case and go hide it out in the jungle somewhere or drop it in the river full of crocodiles. At the very least, I'd be carrying those items around with me....
I didn't really care for most of the characters either. It was hard to have sympathy for any of them, even our intrepid Superintendent...the best of the bunch is Chris Davis, a very independent woman for the time period. I like the way she so easily spots that Vachell is no white hunter and the easy repartee between them--and I can appreciate her difficulties as revealed in the denouement.
Overall, this was a pleasant read and good puzzle--but I rate it middle of the road at three stars.
This was first posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting any portion. Thanks!
The story takes place on (surprise!) safari in Africa. Lord and Lady Baradale have paid good money for a luxurious outing in the African veldt for themselves, Lord Baradale's daughter Cara from a previous marriage, and her fiance, Sir Gordon Catchpole. Along for the ride are a mechanic (who is, incidentally, Lady Baradale's toy-boy lover) and a maid. They have hot baths, a top-notch chef, a well-stocked liquor cabinet, one of the best white hunters around--Danny de Mare, an aviatrix to spot game for them--Chris Davis, and more servants in their entourage than might be found at most good hotels. Oh, and Lady Baradale, who wears Chanel No. 5 in the jungle, has brought along her safe full of fabulous jewels. And then seems surprised that someone might relieve her of the choicest pieces of her collection.
Superintendent Vachell of the Chania Police is brought in by Lady Baradale to hunt down the culprit. The assistant to Danny de Mare is let go--both to provide a cover story for Vachell who takes on the position as a disguise and to remove temptation from Cara Baradale's sight. It takes very little time for Vachell to reveal how little he knows about the white hunter business as well as to be faced with the murder of Lady Baradale. Lady Baradale wasn't exactly the most beloved of people. She liked her own way--and had a way of getting it no matter who she had to hurt or anger in the process. So the question is was the murder a result of the jewel robbery or was it more personal? It will take another murder and a couple of attempts on the Superintendent's life before Vachell will be able to put all the pieces together--and even then he won't have enough evidence to prove it without the culprit making a get-away that's as good as a confession.
I will say that this is the best mystery yet that I've read which was set in Africa.The safari setting was interesting and unusual and provided much of the exciting elements of the story--from encounters with elephants, lions, and a wounded buffalo to rains that cut the safari off from outside help to a plane crash. It managed to provide some of the "closed society" feel of the Golden Age novels. And I did appreciate how fairly clued the mystery was. So much so that Huxley provides footnotes to refer readers to where the clues appeared in the story. I didn't find this nearly as distracting as Sergio did. What I did find a bit annoying was that after being hit over the head and important evidence removed from Lady Baradale's safe right under his nose Vachell didn't seem to give any thought to leaving all his evidence locked in his evidence case in his tent while he went wandering around the camp and hunting areas. A safe is much more impregnable than a locked evidence case and yet he just assumed that all his little accumulations would be fine in a tent that he repeatedly notes has no door to lock. Even if someone didn't force the lock and take the evidence (which they did), all they had to do was grab the case and go hide it out in the jungle somewhere or drop it in the river full of crocodiles. At the very least, I'd be carrying those items around with me....
I didn't really care for most of the characters either. It was hard to have sympathy for any of them, even our intrepid Superintendent...the best of the bunch is Chris Davis, a very independent woman for the time period. I like the way she so easily spots that Vachell is no white hunter and the easy repartee between them--and I can appreciate her difficulties as revealed in the denouement.
Overall, this was a pleasant read and good puzzle--but I rate it middle of the road at three stars.
This was first posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting any portion. Thanks!
August 10, 2013
Danny De Mare leads safari trips. He comes to Superintendent Vachell's office to persuade him to join the current safari in order to investigate the theft of Lady Baradale's jewels. Vachell agrees to go and travels back to the group with De Mare. The day after their arrival, Lady Baradale is dead of a gunshot wound to the head. So now he has a theft case and a murder case on his hands.
Re-read in 2013. I got a sense of the group and of the daily events of the safari - the kind where the point is to kill an animals to have the skin as a trophy. The surroundings are described well so I had a sense of the area. The solution is well written and the edition I read had footnotes at the bottom indicating the pages where the clue was laid out.
Re-read in 2013. I got a sense of the group and of the daily events of the safari - the kind where the point is to kill an animals to have the skin as a trophy. The surroundings are described well so I had a sense of the area. The solution is well written and the edition I read had footnotes at the bottom indicating the pages where the clue was laid out.
June 2, 2019
Admittedly, there is quite a bit of this book that’s ‘stuck in its time’ - some of the language used about native Africans is pretty shocking by modern standard, and frankly I’ve never seen so many euphemisms for a gay man!
All that said, it’s a very clever and well written book. I struggled to get into the first few chapters with the long descriptions of hunting technique, but by the murder I was gripped.
A tough read at times, but well worth the read nonetheless
All that said, it’s a very clever and well written book. I struggled to get into the first few chapters with the long descriptions of hunting technique, but by the murder I was gripped.
A tough read at times, but well worth the read nonetheless
April 13, 2018
Read all 3 mysteries now. The parts about Africa are first rate - landscape, tribes, natives, culture, safari. She just funks it with the actual mystery. Not a fan of sexual repression as motive/murderer, and strongly agree in Fair Play by authors.
September 21, 2019
Well written but of it's time! Elspeth Huxley takes the classic group of people trapped together theme and a murder occurs and transports it to the wilds of Africa.
Great discriptions and a wonderful plot line kept me reading and wanting to get to the end!
Again I read this whilst on Safari myself so I think that helped 👍
Great discriptions and a wonderful plot line kept me reading and wanting to get to the end!
Again I read this whilst on Safari myself so I think that helped 👍
August 21, 2016
Well and truly enjoyed this book. Well defined characters, authentic setting, and nicely paced. A delight for the mind.
September 7, 2020
Inspector Vachell is called in to investigate the theft of jewelry by the leader of a safari in the African colony of Chania. But, of course, as soon as he arrives, the owner of the jewelry is murdered and skullduggery ensues.
The setting is wonderfully described, from scenery to clothing, but the language is very 1930's, making it racist and sexist by today's standards. Stereotypes abound. The Inspector and the lady pilot are the best characters IMO. Obviously, Huxley has opinions about the wholesale slaughter of animals since the so-called safari does little hunting and then pointedly makes the hunter look ridiculous. This probably isn't a realistic picture judging from non-fiction of the same period.
Actually, while the camp and the main characters are well-described, the rest of the safari party gets very blurry beyond the possible suspects. We know that there are a cook, gun bearers, and that each person has a "boy" but the logistics of an actual safari are vague compared to fiction by Wilfrid Robertson or Dock Hogue, for example.
Page 126 Spousal Privilege is no longer ironclad protection as it was back in the day when spouses could not testify against their partner, even if they wanted to. Now the spouse who is called as a witness has the choice to answer the questions or not.
The setting is wonderfully described, from scenery to clothing, but the language is very 1930's, making it racist and sexist by today's standards. Stereotypes abound. The Inspector and the lady pilot are the best characters IMO. Obviously, Huxley has opinions about the wholesale slaughter of animals since the so-called safari does little hunting and then pointedly makes the hunter look ridiculous. This probably isn't a realistic picture judging from non-fiction of the same period.
Actually, while the camp and the main characters are well-described, the rest of the safari party gets very blurry beyond the possible suspects. We know that there are a cook, gun bearers, and that each person has a "boy" but the logistics of an actual safari are vague compared to fiction by Wilfrid Robertson or Dock Hogue, for example.
Page 126 Spousal Privilege is no longer ironclad protection as it was back in the day when spouses could not testify against their partner, even if they wanted to. Now the spouse who is called as a witness has the choice to answer the questions or not.
July 17, 2019
After watching The Flame Trees of Thika on television and Out of Africa in the theater, I became fascinated with Kenya during the time period of 1900-1940. There were some highly interesting people there doing all sorts of things, and I read one book after another about them. One of those interesting people was the author of The Flame Trees of Thika, Elspeth Huxley. The memoir of her childhood in Africa is excellent, so it didn't come as any surprise when I enjoyed Murder on Safari so much. The woman knew how to write.
The setting is absolutely superb. I felt as though I were on safari with the cast of characters, and it was a treat to be on such a swanky one. In addition, it's through this vibrant setting that Huxley often shares her opinions of big game hunting, poaching, and Britain's behavior as a colonial power.
Vachell, formerly of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, is new to the country and his position as superintendent, and he's not in camp long before it's been proven to him that he's among a bunch of rich, entitled twits. Huxley's sly sense of humor raises her head with Vachell. Lady Baradale insists that he would do a much better job if everyone else didn't know he was a policeman, so he's persuaded to go undercover as a great white hunter. It's an ill-fitting disguise and provides some laughs along the way.
The mystery in Murder on Safari kept me guessing as well as providing a few chills and thrills. There's nothing like trying to search for clues in a tent "...in total dark, knowing [you're] not alone." I normally don't care for crime fiction written in the 1920s and 30s, but Huxley's mystery is certainly an exception to the rule. I'll be looking for more.
The setting is absolutely superb. I felt as though I were on safari with the cast of characters, and it was a treat to be on such a swanky one. In addition, it's through this vibrant setting that Huxley often shares her opinions of big game hunting, poaching, and Britain's behavior as a colonial power.
Vachell, formerly of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, is new to the country and his position as superintendent, and he's not in camp long before it's been proven to him that he's among a bunch of rich, entitled twits. Huxley's sly sense of humor raises her head with Vachell. Lady Baradale insists that he would do a much better job if everyone else didn't know he was a policeman, so he's persuaded to go undercover as a great white hunter. It's an ill-fitting disguise and provides some laughs along the way.
The mystery in Murder on Safari kept me guessing as well as providing a few chills and thrills. There's nothing like trying to search for clues in a tent "...in total dark, knowing [you're] not alone." I normally don't care for crime fiction written in the 1920s and 30s, but Huxley's mystery is certainly an exception to the rule. I'll be looking for more.
October 5, 2018
So again the detective is Vachell, and here he is selected to come and figure out who has stolen some extremely valuable jewels. Which suddenly includes the murder of woman whose jewels were stolen.
Here there are various moving parts, and quite a bit of action as well, to really keep the story moving for the short length of the novel. And Vachell is thrown a bit into unfamiliar territory of having to “pretend” to be a game hunter which he is not... however he is still a policeman (not perfect) but one who is always observing.
It’s also an interesting portrait of the riche of England coming to Africa to “hunt” the wild beasts. Even the topic of why are you killing/slaughtering all these animals? Arises in the story as well.
I was able to pick out the two likely suspects and one was correct. However, like Vachell you had to constantly be observing to figure out which one did it... and then knowing like him- how to prove would be practically impossible. And of course, where are the jewels?
Here there are various moving parts, and quite a bit of action as well, to really keep the story moving for the short length of the novel. And Vachell is thrown a bit into unfamiliar territory of having to “pretend” to be a game hunter which he is not... however he is still a policeman (not perfect) but one who is always observing.
It’s also an interesting portrait of the riche of England coming to Africa to “hunt” the wild beasts. Even the topic of why are you killing/slaughtering all these animals? Arises in the story as well.
I was able to pick out the two likely suspects and one was correct. However, like Vachell you had to constantly be observing to figure out which one did it... and then knowing like him- how to prove would be practically impossible. And of course, where are the jewels?
February 18, 2022
I was drawn into the story from the start. The author tells a good story. And, in spite of some of the derogative actions of some of the characters, and the fact that animals are killed, I had a good time reading the book and getting a view of how things were back in the 1930s. It's a really good mystery and I look forward to reading the other 2 books in this series.
April 24, 2024
A Canadian police officer new to Africa is called in to investigate stolen jewellery on a safari camp. Soon after he arrives, the lady of the camp is murdered. Who did it????
The action of this book takes place out in the African bush in the 1930s, making it very atmospheric with details of the hunts and of the African bush itself. Would highly recommend.
The action of this book takes place out in the African bush in the 1930s, making it very atmospheric with details of the hunts and of the African bush itself. Would highly recommend.
February 14, 2024
Written in 1938 this shows its age with regard to language and attitude towards Big Game. It was entertaining nevertheless and I liked how when the crime was being summed up there were footnotes to tell the reader where the clues were.
August 24, 2024
Kept you guessing I suppose, but there were so many characters involved it was hard to track through it and they all seemed bleh to me. I found one of the hunting group interesting enough to keep plugging through.
June 15, 2018
I very much enjoyed this mystery (devilishly complex solution) set in Colonial Africa, although it is now very dated, and thankfully we have come a long way since then.
Want to read
November 27, 2018Synopsis: Lady Baradale insists on bringing her jewelry on safari, and becomes the prey. Inspector Vachell is called in. Set in 1930s Kenya.
June 21, 2021
This was a great summer read for me, taking me out of my usual environment and successfully entertaining me without having to leave the house! Fun!
December 11, 2023
Quit about 20% in. Didn't like any of the characters, and the colonialism was just too grating. Also the gay character is a complete stereotype. Much too dated.
June 16, 2025
The killing of wild animals for sport bothered me, even though I know it was common at the time.
February 24, 2018
I recently picked up Murder on Safari by Elspeth Huxley and greatly enjoyed reading through it. Elspeth Huxley is a good writer who’s from Africa originally, and knows a great deal about safaris, guns, wildlife, and native culture, and it shows. This book was a no thrills mystery, but the mystery was well developed.
Also, “Elspeth Huxley”. What a name! I love it.
Murder On Safari starts out with only Theft On Safari. An investigator is called in, and goes undercover as a hunter to keep tails on the small party out on holiday. It’s a rich British family and their guides, attendants, and staff, and the matriarch’s jewels have been stolen. Before our police protagonist can figure out who did it, the matriarch is shot.
Then there are more victims, while other suspects outright disappear. No one matches the profile of the killer. The clues are stolen, but for no reason our hero can discern. A strong-willed female pilot seems to know too much. And a storm isolates their camp from civilization for days, while a band of illegally armed poachers makes their rounds nearby.
Can our investigator figure out what the hell is going on?
The mystery itself was at the heart of this book, and while I thought I knew who did it, it was only for plot/writing based reasons – how they accomplished what they did in the story, and who did and knew what, was held out of my reach until the end.
Plus, I’ll admit, I love any book with a map in the front.
There was a good amount of detail on the weapons used to hunt, which I had assumed was for flavor, but ended up being integral to the mystery. Had I paid more attention to that, I may have been able to figure it out. But I enjoy it when the evidence is right there in front of you – you and the protagonist both – and you’re both straining to figure out what it is you missed.
The characters were fine, hardy but nothing special, and there was a love story shoehorned in at the very, very end. That’s weird, but expected in books from this era, so I’m just glad that at least it didn’t awkwardly dominate the book.
There were also no “thriller” aspects here, nothing exciting that drove you to turn the page to see what happens next in the action. But you were given heavy motivation to figure out just how the thefts and murders occurred. So it was a page turner, but not an action book.
I definitely enjoyed Murder On Safari, though. It was just the right length and had me guessing until the end. Very cool.
Also, “Elspeth Huxley”. What a name! I love it.
Murder On Safari starts out with only Theft On Safari. An investigator is called in, and goes undercover as a hunter to keep tails on the small party out on holiday. It’s a rich British family and their guides, attendants, and staff, and the matriarch’s jewels have been stolen. Before our police protagonist can figure out who did it, the matriarch is shot.
Then there are more victims, while other suspects outright disappear. No one matches the profile of the killer. The clues are stolen, but for no reason our hero can discern. A strong-willed female pilot seems to know too much. And a storm isolates their camp from civilization for days, while a band of illegally armed poachers makes their rounds nearby.
Can our investigator figure out what the hell is going on?
The mystery itself was at the heart of this book, and while I thought I knew who did it, it was only for plot/writing based reasons – how they accomplished what they did in the story, and who did and knew what, was held out of my reach until the end.
Plus, I’ll admit, I love any book with a map in the front.
There was a good amount of detail on the weapons used to hunt, which I had assumed was for flavor, but ended up being integral to the mystery. Had I paid more attention to that, I may have been able to figure it out. But I enjoy it when the evidence is right there in front of you – you and the protagonist both – and you’re both straining to figure out what it is you missed.
The characters were fine, hardy but nothing special, and there was a love story shoehorned in at the very, very end. That’s weird, but expected in books from this era, so I’m just glad that at least it didn’t awkwardly dominate the book.
There were also no “thriller” aspects here, nothing exciting that drove you to turn the page to see what happens next in the action. But you were given heavy motivation to figure out just how the thefts and murders occurred. So it was a page turner, but not an action book.
I definitely enjoyed Murder On Safari, though. It was just the right length and had me guessing until the end. Very cool.
October 8, 2010
A fun, old-fashioned murder mystery set in the African bush. It's age shows and makes you laugh as English ladies and lords stalk around the bush in evening gowns and tucks, sitting formally down to dinner while the "natives" or "savages" enjoy a good old maize meal.
Of course, it's not entirely "politically correct" ;) but it gives a glimpse of the colonial mind set still firmly in place in the 1930s and has quite a few rather hilarious lines and things taking place (e.g. having a bath in bath tub in the middle of the African bush - my mind is imaging all sorts of hilarious things...).
Of course, it's not entirely "politically correct" ;) but it gives a glimpse of the colonial mind set still firmly in place in the 1930s and has quite a few rather hilarious lines and things taking place (e.g. having a bath in bath tub in the middle of the African bush - my mind is imaging all sorts of hilarious things...).
May 20, 2010
Another good mystery set in Africa. Given its publication date (late 1930s) I actually found it pretty progressive as far as attitudes toward the native Africans and concerns about over-hunting of big game animals (elephants, lions, hippos, etc.) It's not the zippiest mystery I ever read, and I guessed the murderer about halfway through, but the atmosphere and exotic locale made it an enjoyable book overall.
August 18, 2016
Super mystery!! Published in 1938 Huxley really paints such a vivid image of life of the times, things that happened on safaris and the mystery is outstanding. What was really cool was at the end, when the sleuth is unveiling who done it is there are footnotes with references to where in the book those clues were!
June 22, 2011
Jolly good time. Tells the story of a lord and his lady on safari. Starts with a jewel heist...ends in murder. Love the language of the 1930's (when the book was written and takes place). A rainy Saturday afternoon read.
March 31, 2008
This should appeal to fans of Alexander McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. Elspeth knows her Africa!
January 31, 2017
Good plot. Good wordsmith. Clever ending
September 14, 2009
An enjoyable and intriguing crime in an extraordinary setting. Very good
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews