Murder at Hobcaw Barony

Eleanor Roosevelt #3

by Elliott Roosevelt

During the first night of Eleanor Roosevelt's visit to Bernard Baruch's South Carolina estate, an explosion kills a movie producer, and the First Lady is confronted with another murder mystery

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Cozy, Cozy Mystery, Mystery Thriller

233 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1986

About the author

Elliott Roosevelt (September 23, 1910 – October 27, 1990) was an United States Army Air Forces officer and an author. Roosevelt was a son of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.

Reviews

[Scott Drake · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining mystery with actors from the golden age of Hollywood. A little choppy in spots, but passable. Unfortunately the misdirection and red herrings were in ovrrabundence, almost to ridiculousness. The clues are all there, as usual in these Elliott/Eleanor Roosevelt stories, but I must admit I didn't correctly solve it.

[Sherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

#3. Eleanor Roosevelt trains down to South Carolina to spend a week at Hobcaw Barony, the island Home of FDR’s political advisor Bernard Baruch, who has also invited a unlikely crew of Hollywood hard-drinking, big named actors, actresses and producers: Humphrey Bogart, Joan Crawford, Tallulah Bankhead, Darryl F. Zanuck, Benjamin Partridge, Colleen Bingham and John Crown, Partridges’ valet. The first night after dinner Partridge dies in a explosion in his bedroom. All the guests except Eleanor have good reasons to have wanted him dead. But who killed him. The local sheriff, Eleanor, Baruch, and even FDR, join forces to find the killer and keep all the guests convoluted secrets unknown to sensationalist radio journalist Walter Winchell.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books are a lot of fun with characters from history. This one has Bernard Baruch, Darryl Zanuck, Tallulah Bankhead, Joan Crawford, and Humphrey Bogart, to name a few. It is difficult deciding where the historical facts end, and fiction starts. For example, I would assume that Tallulah Bankhead was actually the daughter of the Speaker of the House, a piece of information that took me by surprise. I did find it hard to think of Eleanor Roosevelt as being so tolerant of sexual misconduct, but she was tolerant of so many things that others weren't that I guess I shouldn't be surprised that she might be tolerant of something that so many others were at this time. The Great Depression and the twenties and thirties were a strange period of history in the moral sense, I have found.

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it. I enjoy the celebrities and their personalities, although it was fairly obvious who the guilty party(s) would be. I was a little dissatisfied with the conclusion, as was Eleanor. And for some reason, whenever Eleanor was talking, I kept hearing/seeing Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher. Not exactly sure why. Still, an enjoy pastime.

[Steven Pace]

Amusing. Light whodunit with a load of characters from the past including the parents of the author. I got a little tired of the sometimes trite dialog. And it is a bit dated on reference to African-Americans, a term that did not exist at the author's writing and certainly not in the Roosevelt administration.

[Susan Jo Grassi · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, Mrs. Roosevelt solves the mystery but she has some interesting people along for the ride, Joan Crawford, Tallulah Bankhead, Humphrey Bogart and Walter Winchell, to name a few. Of course, the President arrives in time for the solution.

[Paige Kuether · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting historical mystery with Eleanor Roosevelt as the sleuth, 1940's.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Predictable but entertaining

[Carol Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a cast of characters straight from Hollywood's golden era, this book was quite fun to read. Of course, the ending was a bit unrealistic to me, but it's fiction! Who cares?

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

The people were just so unpleasant in this book that I had a hard time keeping going. I am enjoying the series over all, so I'll try another.

[Jeannie May · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining mystery

[Tiffany E-P]

DNF
This is the first one I just don’t like. All the old Hollywood names…lots of scandal. but this one is just annoying

[Sarah Foote · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Name recognition of a number of stars of the time. Their known foibles exposed but really very blandly and without much emotion attached. Eleanor and Franklin were portrayed as flat and uninteresting, far from what bios have I indicated. Easy read but if you are looking for something far less interesting than an Agatha Christie's mysteries seek another author.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm liking this series less and less. I may not bother with the others. It's still fun to watch the actual historical figures interact, as well as the picture it paints of the time when FDR was president. But as mysteries go, the very fact of having so many historical figures makes it impossible to build up much suspense: one can suspend disbelief and imagine Mrs. Roosevelt as a help in figuring things out; but it's clear that the murderer isn't going to be Bogie, Joan Crawford, or other well-known Hollywood figures, and that leaves very few people to choose from.

I'd give it a 2.5 if I could. But definitely not a 3 any more.

[Rusty · Rating 1 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed the first book in this series. However, this one is filled with famous people as well as the President and Eleanor Roosevelt. The murder was expected because this is a mystery but it took a long time to get to the meat of the tale. Name dropping throughout the book. And, I didn't care for the ending. I wouldn't recommend this one.

[Ellen Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book with lots of Hollywood stars and, of course, President and Mrs. Roosevelt. All were gathered at a fancy southern estate for a relaxing visit when a murder occurred, and Mrs. R. got involved in the investigation. This was a quick read. While not my favorite in this series so far, it was still an interesting book.

[Massanutten Regional Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Susan, Main patron, June 2015, 4 stars:

Mystery with Eleanor Roosevelt as the detective! Eleanor goes to the South Carolina Estate of Bernard Baruch, and joins Hollywood stars such as Bogart and Crawford. A producer is murdered, but just about everyone's a suspect since everyone hated him! Fun and easy read.

[Jan Folks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is fun with Humprey Bogart, Joan Crawford, Tallulah Bankhead, Zanuck & of course President & Mrs. Roosevelt. A simple mystery with history & gossip, a good read. I want to read more of this series of "Eleanor Roosevelt Mystery".

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book in the series, however it wasn't one of my favorites. It was fun to have the hollywood characters added into the stores line, but the story wasn't as strong as some if the others in this series.

[Sarah A · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an old school mystery and features a host of Hollywood stars as well as the detective - Mrs FD Roosevelt. Third in the series, this book is on a island and explores the mysteries of explosives, the up and coming movie world and the difficulties of local and federal justice systems.

[Lisa of Hopewell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sad that Elliott wrote this [had it written?:]--certainly not the way to honor such an amazing woman.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just can't get enough of this 1940's intrique and mystery. I really enjoy reading about Eleanor Roosevelt. This was great becuase it had Humphry Bogart and Joan in it. Whoo-hoo! What a ride.

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun mystery with several movie stars from the golden age (such as Bogart & Tullulah at a house party over the weekend.

[Leah · Rating 1 out of 5]

The problem with using famous, real, people is that you know they can't be the victim or the murderer. It was completely obvious and information about said famous people inaccurate.

[Partridge Public]

Roosevelt, Elliott

[Pam]

I love this series because of the historical information that Elliott Roosevelt includes in each book. But I didn't enjoy this book probably because the focus on Hollywood and celebrities overshadows the historical context. People, who love Hollywood, will probably enjoy it.