Even though she was as healthy as a horse, Aunt Isabel liked nothing better than checking herself into a hospital. Her redheaded niece is just glad that the hospital's murderer prefers blondes. First published in 1940.
Jessie Constance Little (1899-1980) co-authored with her sister Gwenyth Little mysteries in the screwball-comedy fashion. The Little sisters are referred to as "queens of the wacky cozy." They were sometimes published as Conyth Little, a portmanteau of their names.
Their youngest sister Iris wrote under the pseudonym Robert James.
Constance Little married Lawrence Baker, a men's clothing designer for the Dubois Uniform Company in New York City.
I got four of the Little sisters 1940-era mystery-comedies. They have been republished by Rue Morgue. All the titles, except te firs--Grey Mist Murders--have the word "Black" in them.The sister writing team was born in Australia, but grew up in East Orange, NJ, so expect snappy comebacks in the dialogue. All the mysteries are free standing. This one is based on nursing and shows a familarity with the daily routines in a hospital wing.
Jessie, the hard-boiled narrator of this delightful book, accompanies her wealthy hypochondriac aunt for a hospital visit. Aunt Isabelle wants Jessie to marry her doctor, and although--or because--she's attracted to him, she's putting up a fight. Meanwhile, there's some strange behavior among the other visitors to the hospital. Then the first blonde nurse is murdered--in Jessie's room. For a while, Jessie feels fairly safe--after all, her hair is bright red--but since nobody knows why the murders are taking place, how can she be really secure?