The Black House

by Constance Little, Gwenyth Little

When his boss assigns Henry the task of bodyguarding his beautiful red-haired daughter, he has no idea that he'll end up at his eccentric aunt's house--she painted it entirely in black--surrounded by bodies. First published in 1950, it's one of 21 screwball mysteries by the two Little sisters.

Genres: Mystery, Golden Age Mystery

155 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1950

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Daniel Stainback · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not great, but not awful. I found myself constantly irritated by the "witty" barbs and one-liners, most of which did not come across as amusing but instead oozed aggression for no apparent reason. The first book of theirs I read, "The Black-Headed Pins", was both fun and witty, I'm hoping it wasn't a one off.

[Gypsi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Henry reluctantly agrees to be bodyguard to his boss's daughter because an escaped criminal is on the loose. They all end up at house with a moving dead body, a sherry-drinking ghost, and an isolating snow storm. This wasn't as laugh-out-loud funny as is usual with the Little Sisters, nor was the plot as engrossing. It's still a fun read, in their particular loony style, but it's just not their best.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

First published in 1950, it's vintage Little mayhem, although told for the first time from a entirely male point of view.'
This was my first Little sister's mystery. Mayhem is a good word for it! It reminded me of those old screwball movies, think Arsenic and Old Lace!
It was lots of fun and a very good mystery to boot.
The old black house Henry inherited was a fun place to set the mystery. It's remote, old, large and has been remodeled into a duplex so that means lots of fun, quirky spaces! Diana commented "This house is really very peculiar. The stairs are so narrow and the hall downstairs too. Up here the hall is much wider." Henry, plodding through the deep snow, looked up at the house and muttered, "Hideous old wreck!". Great fun! I read that the Little sisters always have a great old house or building at the center of their mysteries. I'm looking forward to more madcap mystery from this duo!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young lawyer Henry is given an odd assignment: to act as bodyguard for his boss's beloved stepdaughter Diana, who may be the target of an escaped convict with a grudge against the boss. And, his boss Mr. Boster emphasizes, Diana is not to be frightened by being told the truth. Henry's quest takes him to a hospital, thanks to his friend Ted, a young doctor. It eventually takes Henry, Mr. Boster and Diana to the ramshackle black house left to Henry by his eccentric aunt, who's reputed to haunt the place, in the middle of a severe snowstorm. But the trio are not alone in the house...

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

After you read a few of these Little books they begin to run together.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

For my full review click on the link below:
https://crossexaminingcrime.wordpress...