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A Coin of Edward VII
A detective story.
This edition is optimized for the Kindle.
This edition is optimized for the Kindle.
244 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1903
12 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
Fergus Hume
811 books50 followersFergusson Wright Hume (1859–1932), New Zealand lawyer and prolific author particularly renowned for his debut novel, the international best-seller The Mystery of a Hansom Cab (1886).
Hume was born at Powick, Worcestershire, England, son of Glaswegian Dr. James Collin Hume, a steward at the Worcestershire Pauper Lunatic Asylum and his wife Mary Ferguson.
While Fergus was a very young child, in 1863 the Humes emigrated to New Zealand where James founded the first private mental hospital and Dunedin College. Young Fergus attended the Otago Boys' High School then went on to study law at Otago University. He followed up with articling in the attorney-general's office, called to the New Zealand bar in 1885.
In 1885 Hume moved to Melbourne. While he worked as a solicitors clerk he was bent on becoming a dramatist; but having only written a few short stories he was a virtual unknown. So as to gain the attentions of the theatre directors he asked a local bookseller what style of book he sold most. Emile Gaboriau's detective works were very popular and so Hume bought them all and studied them intently, thus turning his pen to writing his own style of crime novel and mystery.
Hume spent much time in Little Bourke Street to gather material and his first effort was The Mystery of a Hansom Cab (1886), a worthy contibution to the genre. It is full of literary references and quotations; finely crafted complex characters and their sometimes ambiguous seeming interrelationships with the other suspects, deepening the whodunit angle. It is somewhat of an exposé of the then extremes in Melbourne society, which caused some controversy for a time. Hume had it published privately after it had been downright rudely rejected by a number of publishers. "Having completed the book, I tried to get it published, but everyone to whom I offered it refused even to look at the manuscript on the grounds that no Colonial could write anything worth reading." He had sold the publishing rights for £50, but still retained the dramatic rights which he soon profited from by the long Australian and London theatre runs.
Except for short trips to France, Switzerland and Italy, in 1888 Hume settled and stayed in Essex, England where he would remain for the rest of his life. Although he was born, and lived the latter part of his life, in England, he thought of himself as 'a colonial' and identified as a New Zealander, having spent all of his formative years from preschool through to adulthood there. Hume died of cardiac failure at his home on 11 July 1932.
Hume was born at Powick, Worcestershire, England, son of Glaswegian Dr. James Collin Hume, a steward at the Worcestershire Pauper Lunatic Asylum and his wife Mary Ferguson.
While Fergus was a very young child, in 1863 the Humes emigrated to New Zealand where James founded the first private mental hospital and Dunedin College. Young Fergus attended the Otago Boys' High School then went on to study law at Otago University. He followed up with articling in the attorney-general's office, called to the New Zealand bar in 1885.
In 1885 Hume moved to Melbourne. While he worked as a solicitors clerk he was bent on becoming a dramatist; but having only written a few short stories he was a virtual unknown. So as to gain the attentions of the theatre directors he asked a local bookseller what style of book he sold most. Emile Gaboriau's detective works were very popular and so Hume bought them all and studied them intently, thus turning his pen to writing his own style of crime novel and mystery.
Hume spent much time in Little Bourke Street to gather material and his first effort was The Mystery of a Hansom Cab (1886), a worthy contibution to the genre. It is full of literary references and quotations; finely crafted complex characters and their sometimes ambiguous seeming interrelationships with the other suspects, deepening the whodunit angle. It is somewhat of an exposé of the then extremes in Melbourne society, which caused some controversy for a time. Hume had it published privately after it had been downright rudely rejected by a number of publishers. "Having completed the book, I tried to get it published, but everyone to whom I offered it refused even to look at the manuscript on the grounds that no Colonial could write anything worth reading." He had sold the publishing rights for £50, but still retained the dramatic rights which he soon profited from by the long Australian and London theatre runs.
Except for short trips to France, Switzerland and Italy, in 1888 Hume settled and stayed in Essex, England where he would remain for the rest of his life. Although he was born, and lived the latter part of his life, in England, he thought of himself as 'a colonial' and identified as a New Zealander, having spent all of his formative years from preschool through to adulthood there. Hume died of cardiac failure at his home on 11 July 1932.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 1, 2024
Aaahhh! Classic Bigotry!
This book is very old. Probably written during the late nineteenth or early twentieth century. So lookout for the bigotry!
A nice twisty, turning mystery. A young woman is murdered in a church cemetery during a midnight sermon. Suspicion falls upon the young lady who is the governess of their home.
A whole cast of characters is brought out to be interviewed and grilled into confessing to the murder of young Miss Daisy Kent.
Just when you think you have identified the murderer and got the whole mystery all wrapped up, another miscreant turns up.
This is a true whodunnit.
Warning! Overtures of racism are sprinkled throughout.
Five stars. 💫💫💫💫💫
This book is very old. Probably written during the late nineteenth or early twentieth century. So lookout for the bigotry!
A nice twisty, turning mystery. A young woman is murdered in a church cemetery during a midnight sermon. Suspicion falls upon the young lady who is the governess of their home.
A whole cast of characters is brought out to be interviewed and grilled into confessing to the murder of young Miss Daisy Kent.
Just when you think you have identified the murderer and got the whole mystery all wrapped up, another miscreant turns up.
This is a true whodunnit.
Warning! Overtures of racism are sprinkled throughout.
Five stars. 💫💫💫💫💫
January 7, 2024
Amazing! __ 5 full stars is my rating __
It's been a long time since I read a classic detective story so engaging and with such an intricate plot full of twists that made me turn the pages one after the other with such great curiosity and interest that I've been tempted several times to go and see the last pages who was the culprit.
___ THE PLOT__ The story begins on Christmas Day in the Morleys' living room, where while the children play happily and someone exchanges greetings and gifts, the village gossip gives us a first glimpse of the situation.
But what she paints is only the facade of fake truth, soon a threatening letter will bring to the surface real resentments which will be followed by a murder and the gears of a race against time, to find the truth, will set in motion without ever stopping until the end of the adrenaline-filled story.
---> With no doubt an unconventional "classic" mystery, and this to me is its charm!
This is a book that will be very enjoyable to those like me who love fast-paced plots, where every theory formulated by the reader is dismantled and then taken into consideration again and then refuted again by unexpected events and evidence and deceptive characters until the unthinkable.
On the contrary, those who read classic detective stories because they love their slowness and dislike action will rate this book only a few stars and will probably call it a mess... so before reading it, make sure you recognize which group of readers you belong to.
As I said, the pace is fast and despite being a classic mystery from 1903 there is a lot of action and a couple of the final chapters could easily be scenes from Mission Impossible or 007.
As for the culprit of the crime, I must admit that I guessed it from the beginning and I disliked him enormously throughout the book.
Despite this, I want to assure you that you will doubt your theory several times and all the events will involve you so much that they will make the novel enjoyable from start to finish.
___THE CHARACTERS __ Since I have already mentioned something about the culprit I will start from this character:
1) THE CULPRIT __ I immediately understood who I think the author planned to make us understand who the culprit could be and then surprise us with an unpredictable plot full of twists and turns, where the Investigations are not carried out only by the detective, but by several people, some of whom are truly unlikely and yet astute (Mrs. Parry!)
2) THE LOCAL GOSSIP __ ok... she's a forked tongue that can destroy the most immaculate reputations, but this character really managed to surprise me and if at the beginning she could have been considered hateful, actually she is really as smart as a fox, she will even end up being nice , because she is the one who knows how to frame each person better than a detective and knows how to find the truth by listening in the right places and reporting the information to the right people.
She may look like a useless character, but actually her role is fundamental to the investigation.
3) THE MAN IN LOVE, THE MAIN CHARACTER ___ I like him! Handsome, kind and friendly, he is also a young man who will not break his word even if it breaks his heart.
Against everyone's thoughts and against all the evidence that could confirm the guilt of his beloved, he will always behave in a correct and polite manner, he will put his reputation and his life at risk until he reaches his desired goal. The best character in the whole book. A hero.
4) THE DETECTIVE ___ character not at the peak of intelligence and perspicacity but not stupid either. He is a man who knows how to recognize his own errors in judgment and although he is helped in the investigations by several characters (each of them manages to solve parts of the puzzle until reaching the final truth) he is still a solid figure who can be counted on.
I liked the fact that he is not at all presumptuous and that he has never created problems for those who tried to find the truth on their own; on the contrary, he accepted the collaboration with the intelligence of those who are really interested in the truth and not to personal prestige ( )
5) OTHER SUPPORTING CHARACTERS __ around the main protagonists there are other supporting characters, each of whom plays a fundamental role both in the crimes related to the crime being investigated and in the investigations.
The characters are all well delineated in character even when they only make a few appearances or have a few lines... the author made them real by highlighting the characteristic that distinguished them from the others (eccentricity, goodness, wickedness, cunning , impulsiveness, greed, intelligence, cowardice... of each one we can clearly see the most distinctive traits of their character).
In some dramatic scenes perhaps some sound a little bit theatrical, but this reminded me of Wilkie Collins' novels and so I liked it.
Overall I liked everything: plot, characters, ending (except that I also wanted humiliation for the culprit), the type of writing and the exciting atmosphere given by the race against time.
This was the first novel I read by Fergus Hume and it certainly won't be the last!
Thanks for reading my review and please, forgive my bad English cause it's not my mother tongue.
It's been a long time since I read a classic detective story so engaging and with such an intricate plot full of twists that made me turn the pages one after the other with such great curiosity and interest that I've been tempted several times to go and see the last pages who was the culprit.
___ THE PLOT__ The story begins on Christmas Day in the Morleys' living room, where while the children play happily and someone exchanges greetings and gifts, the village gossip gives us a first glimpse of the situation.
But what she paints is only the facade of fake truth, soon a threatening letter will bring to the surface real resentments which will be followed by a murder and the gears of a race against time, to find the truth, will set in motion without ever stopping until the end of the adrenaline-filled story.
---> With no doubt an unconventional "classic" mystery, and this to me is its charm!
This is a book that will be very enjoyable to those like me who love fast-paced plots, where every theory formulated by the reader is dismantled and then taken into consideration again and then refuted again by unexpected events and evidence and deceptive characters until the unthinkable.
On the contrary, those who read classic detective stories because they love their slowness and dislike action will rate this book only a few stars and will probably call it a mess... so before reading it, make sure you recognize which group of readers you belong to.
As I said, the pace is fast and despite being a classic mystery from 1903 there is a lot of action and a couple of the final chapters could easily be scenes from Mission Impossible or 007.
As for the culprit of the crime, I must admit that I guessed it from the beginning and I disliked him enormously throughout the book.
Despite this, I want to assure you that you will doubt your theory several times and all the events will involve you so much that they will make the novel enjoyable from start to finish.
___THE CHARACTERS __ Since I have already mentioned something about the culprit I will start from this character:
1) THE CULPRIT __ I immediately understood who I think the author planned to make us understand who the culprit could be and then surprise us with an unpredictable plot full of twists and turns, where the Investigations are not carried out only by the detective, but by several people, some of whom are truly unlikely and yet astute (Mrs. Parry!)
2) THE LOCAL GOSSIP __ ok... she's a forked tongue that can destroy the most immaculate reputations, but this character really managed to surprise me and if at the beginning she could have been considered hateful, actually she is really as smart as a fox, she will even end up being nice , because she is the one who knows how to frame each person better than a detective and knows how to find the truth by listening in the right places and reporting the information to the right people.
She may look like a useless character, but actually her role is fundamental to the investigation.
3) THE MAN IN LOVE, THE MAIN CHARACTER ___ I like him! Handsome, kind and friendly, he is also a young man who will not break his word even if it breaks his heart.
Against everyone's thoughts and against all the evidence that could confirm the guilt of his beloved, he will always behave in a correct and polite manner, he will put his reputation and his life at risk until he reaches his desired goal. The best character in the whole book. A hero.
4) THE DETECTIVE ___ character not at the peak of intelligence and perspicacity but not stupid either. He is a man who knows how to recognize his own errors in judgment and although he is helped in the investigations by several characters (each of them manages to solve parts of the puzzle until reaching the final truth) he is still a solid figure who can be counted on.
I liked the fact that he is not at all presumptuous and that he has never created problems for those who tried to find the truth on their own; on the contrary, he accepted the collaboration with the intelligence of those who are really interested in the truth and not to personal prestige ( )
5) OTHER SUPPORTING CHARACTERS __ around the main protagonists there are other supporting characters, each of whom plays a fundamental role both in the crimes related to the crime being investigated and in the investigations.
The characters are all well delineated in character even when they only make a few appearances or have a few lines... the author made them real by highlighting the characteristic that distinguished them from the others (eccentricity, goodness, wickedness, cunning , impulsiveness, greed, intelligence, cowardice... of each one we can clearly see the most distinctive traits of their character).
In some dramatic scenes perhaps some sound a little bit theatrical, but this reminded me of Wilkie Collins' novels and so I liked it.
Overall I liked everything: plot, characters, ending (except that I also wanted humiliation for the culprit), the type of writing and the exciting atmosphere given by the race against time.
This was the first novel I read by Fergus Hume and it certainly won't be the last!
Thanks for reading my review and please, forgive my bad English cause it's not my mother tongue.
December 27, 2018
The Morley family--a husband, his wife and her three children from a former marriage, one young ward, and a governess. Add Giles Ware, a young man who was engaged by a family agreement to the young ward, the fact that he's in love with the governess and you have the start of a mystery. Not long after, the young ward is found dead and the governess has disappeared with a mysterious man. Mr. Ware and a detective, Mr. Steel, search for the governess and unravel the mystery. A couple of princesses from another country also come into the story.he title is an interesting choice since the coin has less to do with the mystery than with a relationship in the story.
Well-written classic mystery with quite a few surprises and twists.
Well-written classic mystery with quite a few surprises and twists.
January 8, 2022
Da cosa si capisce che il Natale sta arrivando? Dai gialli ambientati durante le feste, meglio se nella campagna inglese tra neve, addobbi e stilettate alle spalle!
Questo “La Morte Bussa a Natale” di Fergus Hume è più un rosa che un giallo, con una damsel in distress da salvare da un’ingiusta accusa, ossia la tipologia di storia meno nelle mie corde.
Aggiungiamo pure che il colpevole si intuisce praticamente subito, come pure tutta una serie di colpi di scena da feuilleton di quarta categoria. Ma siamo a Natale, siamo tutti più buoni, ed io il mio “Crimini e Misteri” targato Lindau a tema natalizio anche quest’anno non me lo sono fatto mancare 😉
Questo “La Morte Bussa a Natale” di Fergus Hume è più un rosa che un giallo, con una damsel in distress da salvare da un’ingiusta accusa, ossia la tipologia di storia meno nelle mie corde.
Aggiungiamo pure che il colpevole si intuisce praticamente subito, come pure tutta una serie di colpi di scena da feuilleton di quarta categoria. Ma siamo a Natale, siamo tutti più buoni, ed io il mio “Crimini e Misteri” targato Lindau a tema natalizio anche quest’anno non me lo sono fatto mancare 😉
January 18, 2024
First premise with this tale is just how dated it feels, but then it was written in 1903 with cringe-worthy character comments regarding foreigners and Jews. Its enjoyable but not a tale that particularly exciting. There are almost two many twists and turns in this, meant to mislead the readers away from what I saw was a pretty obvious suspect.
The story begins at a pre-Christmas holiday gathering in which two older (nee: elderly) women are trading gossip regarding people at the function. One of them, Mrs. Perry, takes much pleasure in detailing her wide-ranging collection of "news," particularly that surrounding the Morleys — Mr. Morley and Mrs. Morley; their three children; their ward, Daisy Kent; and most pointedly, their governess, Anne Denham. Perry points out that there is a definite attraction between the governess and Daisy's fiance, Giles Ware.
But Giles and Daisy's fathers both wished that they marry, and Giles feels honor bound to follow through. Sadly, Daisy comes across as an extremely immature, juvenile and petty young woman that Giles struggles to soothe. When it comes to a midnight mass, Giles takes Daisy for a spin in his car and she seems happy. But something is a foot and soon, there is a death and the prime suspect is Anne, who has disappeared.
Giles may be the only one who believes that Anne is innocent, and he is soon trying to find her, as well as prove her innocence.
If you haven't already guessed, A Coin of Edward VII is a period melodrama with nearly every character suspected. There is loads of deception and other assorted twists as a Scotland Yard detective as well as Giles seek answers. While I enjoyed the tale, I have to say it didn't have as much to recommend it as Fergus Hume's most successful book, The Mystery of a Hansom Cab, which was written 20 years before this one.
The story begins at a pre-Christmas holiday gathering in which two older (nee: elderly) women are trading gossip regarding people at the function. One of them, Mrs. Perry, takes much pleasure in detailing her wide-ranging collection of "news," particularly that surrounding the Morleys — Mr. Morley and Mrs. Morley; their three children; their ward, Daisy Kent; and most pointedly, their governess, Anne Denham. Perry points out that there is a definite attraction between the governess and Daisy's fiance, Giles Ware.
But Giles and Daisy's fathers both wished that they marry, and Giles feels honor bound to follow through. Sadly, Daisy comes across as an extremely immature, juvenile and petty young woman that Giles struggles to soothe. When it comes to a midnight mass, Giles takes Daisy for a spin in his car and she seems happy. But something is a foot and soon, there is a death and the prime suspect is Anne, who has disappeared.
Giles may be the only one who believes that Anne is innocent, and he is soon trying to find her, as well as prove her innocence.
If you haven't already guessed, A Coin of Edward VII is a period melodrama with nearly every character suspected. There is loads of deception and other assorted twists as a Scotland Yard detective as well as Giles seek answers. While I enjoyed the tale, I have to say it didn't have as much to recommend it as Fergus Hume's most successful book, The Mystery of a Hansom Cab, which was written 20 years before this one.
December 26, 2021
L'atmosfera suggestiva, con l'omicidio nel vecchio cimitero, in mezzo alla neve, all'inizio è molto accattivante. Ma col proseguimento della storia e gli vari spostamenti di indiziati e investigatori, il libro diventa quasi un giallo d'azione, più che giallo deduttivo.
Il "cattivo" della storia ad un certo punto, per il solito intuito da giallista che ormai ha poco a che fare con indizi veri e propri, chissà perché mi era balenato nella mente. Qualcosa mi diceva che non la raccontava giusta.
Alla fine un po' di confusione fra i vari "chi ha ucciso chi e perché" mi fa dare solo 3 stelle e non 4.
Il "cattivo" della storia ad un certo punto, per il solito intuito da giallista che ormai ha poco a che fare con indizi veri e propri, chissà perché mi era balenato nella mente. Qualcosa mi diceva che non la raccontava giusta.
Alla fine un po' di confusione fra i vari "chi ha ucciso chi e perché" mi fa dare solo 3 stelle e non 4.
September 27, 2019
I love Fergus Hume's books more with each mystery. He paints such vivid scenes!
December 17, 2023
Bella la prima parte, verso la fine non si capisce una mazza
December 23, 2024
Una bella sorpresa di Natale!
Ho comprato questo libro perché mi piace leggere gialli ambientati nel periodo natalizio che mi accompagnino fino al 25.
Inizialmente ero leggermente scettica perché ho visto che l’autore è morto agli inizi del 900 quindi temevo che la scrittura sarebbe stata lenta e la storia mi avrebbe annoiata. Tutt’altro!
Ho trovato una scrittura estremamente scorrevole e per certi versi al pari di autori moderni.
Verso le ultime 80 pagine poi un colpo di scena dietro l’altro che ammetto però un po’ mi hanno confusa perché a un certo punto non capivo più se l’assassino l’avessero rivelato o meno.
Nonostante questo davvero una piacevole piacevole scoperta che mi ha proprio dato le vibes da cosy mystery.
Consigliato!
3,75⭐️
Ho comprato questo libro perché mi piace leggere gialli ambientati nel periodo natalizio che mi accompagnino fino al 25.
Inizialmente ero leggermente scettica perché ho visto che l’autore è morto agli inizi del 900 quindi temevo che la scrittura sarebbe stata lenta e la storia mi avrebbe annoiata. Tutt’altro!
Ho trovato una scrittura estremamente scorrevole e per certi versi al pari di autori moderni.
Verso le ultime 80 pagine poi un colpo di scena dietro l’altro che ammetto però un po’ mi hanno confusa perché a un certo punto non capivo più se l’assassino l’avessero rivelato o meno.
Nonostante questo davvero una piacevole piacevole scoperta che mi ha proprio dato le vibes da cosy mystery.
Consigliato!
3,75⭐️
January 5, 2025
Penso che questo "La Morte bussa a Natale" sia uno dei più brutti romanzi gialli che abbia mai letto. Questa mia critica non è tanto per lo stile, che tutto sommato al di là di alcune assurde ripetizioni e lentezza estrema in alcuni momenti, è più che passabile, ma per la storia, dove una povera ragazza perde la vita e sostanzialmente non gliene frega una mazza a nessuno, nemmeno al suo promesso sposo, che anzi sembra ben contento di poter sposare finalmente la sua tanto desiderata Anne. Praticamente tutto il romanzo gioca intorno a questo binomio Anne-Giles, dove lei compare e scompare come se fosse un fantasma, e nel mezzo l'autore infila di tutto, persino una principessa ungherese di origini "giamaicane". Orribile.
February 9, 2024
My rating 3 1/2 stars First published in 1903, this is a very enjoyable mystery tale. However, a current day reader will need to make allowances for the blatant bigotry in Fergus Hume’s time. Prejudice against multiple groups is stated by a few characters throughout the book. Also, Hume often focuses on the romantic feelings of his characters. This over emotional tone was popular in books at this time. Most importantly, there is a wonderful mystery here with many twists and turns that make it worth reading. And it all starts with a young heiress found stabbed to death on her father’s grave right after a Christmas service.
November 19, 2017
I found this mystery to be very convoluted and confusing. The characters were not very interesting. I guessed many things before they happened, even if later they were proved to be red herrings. I only finished the book to see how the author would finally explain this mess of events. I'm still a bit confused.
February 11, 2024
Because this was book was written over 100 years ago, so it's not very politically correct, particularly about certain groups of people. Taking that aside, this story felt pretty convoluted with most of the characters potentially guilty. I felt it had too much information that were unnecessary. Wanted to put it down several times, but then I plodded on. Have to admit that the last maybe quarter of the story moved faster. Not something I would read again though.
December 26, 2024
Questo è quello che si può considerare un bel giallo classico: non ci sono giochi di parole, rebus, anagrammi, capitoli nascosti... c'è semplicemente un delitto, un'indagine e la scoperta del colpevole. Quello che piace a me.
December 19, 2021
“La candida coltre di neve rifletteva la luce lunare. Daisy scrutò impaziente il viale e ad un tratto vide un uomo girare l’angolo della casa e avviarsi a passo svelto. Mrs. Morley le aveva detto che c’era un ospite in biblioteca e lei si domandò perché avesse deciso di uscire dalla portafinestra”
Mentre a casa della famiglia Morley, i bambini si divertono con i regali di Natale e gli adulti si scambiano gli auguri, rancori e gelosie finiscono per tornare alla luce colorando il Natale con un accozzo di tinte sospette. Un litigio per futili motivi legati alla rivalità in amore, una lettera anonima dai tristi presagi e il ritrovamento di un cadavere portano lo scompiglio generale anche perché dell’omicidio viene accusata la bella e sfuggente Anne Denham. Incaricato delle indagini è il detective Steel di Scotland Yard,ma il giovane Giles Ware, segretamente innamorato di Anne e tuttavia promesso sposo della dolcissima Daisy si tuffa a capofitto in questa indagine dalle apparenze ingannevoli. Una eredità che viene da lontano, una misteriosa Croce Scarlatta, complica non poco la situazione e le indagini procedono a rilento tra false piste , scambi di persona e fughe improvvise.
🎄La morte bussa a Natale crea quel tanto di suspence che induce il lettore ad immischiarsi dei fatti privati di tutti i personaggi senza tralasciare alcunché , spinto dalla curiosità di districare un groviglio di moventi che spesso sono solo frutto di fantasie ben congegniate!
Una lettura scorrevole che a tratti mi ha ricordato qualche caso della mia amata Agatha Christie senza peraltro mai eguagliarla in stile e potenza.
Un libro che si legge velocemente perché il ritmo c’è e la curiosità è sufficientemente alimentata dai continui cambiamenti di scena.
🎄con questo libro ho iniziato ufficialmente la mia full immersion nel periodo natalizio. Per adesso ho contato un discreto numero di gialli e thriller ispirati al Natale che mi aspettano festosi!
...che sia un modo per andare oltre le apparenze di un Natale che a stento mi ricorda quelli passati ? 🤔 🤔🤔
Chissà!
Gli elementi ci sono tutti ...le sensazioni anche!
🎄🤔🎄🤔🎄
Mentre a casa della famiglia Morley, i bambini si divertono con i regali di Natale e gli adulti si scambiano gli auguri, rancori e gelosie finiscono per tornare alla luce colorando il Natale con un accozzo di tinte sospette. Un litigio per futili motivi legati alla rivalità in amore, una lettera anonima dai tristi presagi e il ritrovamento di un cadavere portano lo scompiglio generale anche perché dell’omicidio viene accusata la bella e sfuggente Anne Denham. Incaricato delle indagini è il detective Steel di Scotland Yard,ma il giovane Giles Ware, segretamente innamorato di Anne e tuttavia promesso sposo della dolcissima Daisy si tuffa a capofitto in questa indagine dalle apparenze ingannevoli. Una eredità che viene da lontano, una misteriosa Croce Scarlatta, complica non poco la situazione e le indagini procedono a rilento tra false piste , scambi di persona e fughe improvvise.
🎄La morte bussa a Natale crea quel tanto di suspence che induce il lettore ad immischiarsi dei fatti privati di tutti i personaggi senza tralasciare alcunché , spinto dalla curiosità di districare un groviglio di moventi che spesso sono solo frutto di fantasie ben congegniate!
Una lettura scorrevole che a tratti mi ha ricordato qualche caso della mia amata Agatha Christie senza peraltro mai eguagliarla in stile e potenza.
Un libro che si legge velocemente perché il ritmo c’è e la curiosità è sufficientemente alimentata dai continui cambiamenti di scena.
🎄con questo libro ho iniziato ufficialmente la mia full immersion nel periodo natalizio. Per adesso ho contato un discreto numero di gialli e thriller ispirati al Natale che mi aspettano festosi!
...che sia un modo per andare oltre le apparenze di un Natale che a stento mi ricorda quelli passati ? 🤔 🤔🤔
Chissà!
Gli elementi ci sono tutti ...le sensazioni anche!
🎄🤔🎄🤔🎄
February 14, 2022
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Avete presente quei vecchi gialli, databili verso la fine dell’ottocento e l’inizio del novecento, ambientati in Inghilterra con le vecchie signore che sanno tutto del paese in cui abitano, i rampolli di buona famiglia che devono sposarsi a causa di accordi fatti dai loro genitori anche se il loro cuore è altrove, e detective che inseguono criminali che sembrano a tratti fantasmi tanto sono bravi a non farsi trovare?
Ecco “La morte bussa a Natale”, un romanzo giallo che a tratti mi ha ricordato gli sceneggiati gialli che si trasmettevano in tv fino a qualche anno fa e a tratti un romanzo di Miss Marple.
Di Natale c’è poco – quindi se volete infilarlo in liste di letture natalizie come ho fatto io, forse non è proprio il romanzo adatto – ma il caso che tratta è intricato, ricco di colpi di scena e di collegamenti creati ad arte: niente di quello che viene detto dai personaggi è inutile, anche se magari in un primo momento potrebbe sembrarlo.
Come tutti i “gialli di un tempo” posso forse dire che i personaggi impegnati nell’indagine pecchino a tratti di ingenuità, cadendo in alcuni tranelli che sarebbero abbastanza ridicoli al giorno d’oggi – ma personalmente trovo questi particolari come parte del fascino delle vecchie storie investigative, dove non ci sono DNA o riconoscimento facciale, o quella malizia moderna dataci dai polizieschi da cui siamo bombardati.
Meno piacevoli alcuni stereotipi razziali che vengono nominati qui e lì (compreso uno sugli italiani a quanto pare molto amanti delle lame…).
Avete presente quei vecchi gialli, databili verso la fine dell’ottocento e l’inizio del novecento, ambientati in Inghilterra con le vecchie signore che sanno tutto del paese in cui abitano, i rampolli di buona famiglia che devono sposarsi a causa di accordi fatti dai loro genitori anche se il loro cuore è altrove, e detective che inseguono criminali che sembrano a tratti fantasmi tanto sono bravi a non farsi trovare?
Ecco “La morte bussa a Natale”, un romanzo giallo che a tratti mi ha ricordato gli sceneggiati gialli che si trasmettevano in tv fino a qualche anno fa e a tratti un romanzo di Miss Marple.
Di Natale c’è poco – quindi se volete infilarlo in liste di letture natalizie come ho fatto io, forse non è proprio il romanzo adatto – ma il caso che tratta è intricato, ricco di colpi di scena e di collegamenti creati ad arte: niente di quello che viene detto dai personaggi è inutile, anche se magari in un primo momento potrebbe sembrarlo.
Come tutti i “gialli di un tempo” posso forse dire che i personaggi impegnati nell’indagine pecchino a tratti di ingenuità, cadendo in alcuni tranelli che sarebbero abbastanza ridicoli al giorno d’oggi – ma personalmente trovo questi particolari come parte del fascino delle vecchie storie investigative, dove non ci sono DNA o riconoscimento facciale, o quella malizia moderna dataci dai polizieschi da cui siamo bombardati.
Meno piacevoli alcuni stereotipi razziali che vengono nominati qui e lì (compreso uno sugli italiani a quanto pare molto amanti delle lame…).
October 1, 2011
It was obvious who the murderer was right away. I basically read the book to find out how they caught him/her.
February 26, 2023
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