From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

Death in the Stocks (Inspectors Hannasyde and Hemingway, #1)

Georgette Heyer

Start date: November 13, 2021

Finish date: December 7, 2021

Discussion: Buddy reads

Why we're reading this: Next in our series of Georgette Heyer buddy reads.
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What Members Thought

Nov 18, 2021 Lady Clementina ffinch-ffarowmore rated it it was amazing

Shelves: mystery, humour, georgette-heyer, murder

The first of the mysteries featuring Superintendent Hannasyde published in 1935 was a very enjoyable read with plenty of humour, eccentric but fun characters, sparkling dialogue, and a pretty good mystery as well.

Our story opens in the village of Ashleigh Green, where Constable Dickenson is returning from night patrol. In the stocks, he spots a person sitting in evening dress slouched over as though drunk; but when he approaches him to ask him to move on, he finds it isn’t a man who’s drunk too The first of the mysteries featuring Superintendent Hannasyde published in 1935 was a very enjoyable read with plenty of humour, eccentric but fun characters, sparkling dialogue, and a pretty good mystery as well.

Our story opens in the village of Ashleigh Green, where Constable Dickenson is returning from night patrol. In the stocks, he spots a person sitting in evening dress slouched over as though drunk; but when he approaches him to ask him to move on, he finds it isn’t a man who’s drunk too much, but one who’s been stabbed through the heart. The local police feel the case is beyond their capabilities, so of course, the yard is called in and Superintendent Hannasyde and his deputy, Hemmingway are on the case.

The dead man is Arnold Vereker, the owner of a mining company, a wealthy but not a particularly well-liked man. More than one had a reason to dislike him, among them, the members of his own family. His half-sister Antonia ‘Tony’ who keeps bull-dogs, was in fact down in the village on the night in question, for Arnold had conveyed is disapproval of the man she was engaged to, making her a possible suspect. Her brother, Kenneth thinks little better of Arnold; an artist, he is in dire straits, ever in need of money, and as Arnold’s heir, he is very much a suspect, perhaps with a stronger motive than his sister. Then there is Rupert, Tony’s fiancé who is suspected of some dubious dealings in Arnold’s company where he worked. But while the mystery before him may not be the most complex (in fact, it seems simple on its face), with the eccentric members of the family—including Tony and Kenneth, and even their old housekeeper Murgatroyd, Superintendent Hannasyde feels rather lost in gauging his suspects. The one sensible member of the family, Kenneth and Tony’s cousin and also their solicitor, Giles Carrington helps reign in the two siblings a little, while also assisting the Superintendent in his investigations.

This was a very enjoyable read for me and I had fun all through. In the five Heyer mysteries I have read so far, what stands out is her characters and that was the case in this one as well. The Vereker family (and really those associated with them as well) seems entirely eccentric, and each more trying than the next when it comes to their involvement in the mystery, and interactions with the police. Both Tony and Kenneth are very bright (but perhaps a little more so than is good for them), but also rather over the top, not only cheeky in their responses but discussing the crime and possible suspects including each other in a matter of fact way, which leaves one wondering whether one should be a little shocked (it is murder they are talking about after all) or laugh, though I must say, one does end up laughing a lot (I do realise if I were in Hannasyde’s place, I’d be tearing my hair and not as calm as him). There is also their housekeeper Murgatroyd who seems much on the same lines. Kenneth’s fiancé Violet Williams is visibly a gold-digger (the siblings, particularly, Tony say so to her face); his childhood friend, Leslie Rivers, also in love with him can be rather intense when it comes to anything to do with Kenneth; Rudolph Mesurier, Tony’s fiancé, who is a bit of a crook himself seems tame in comparison (and nowhere as intelligent as the others). Giles Carrington is the only ‘normal’ one who is bright but not eccentric like his cousins, but he too, while helping Hannasyde is unable to quite pinpoint whether or not his cousins were involved.

The writing is wonderful, and the dialogue—especially between the Vereker siblings—is witty and amusing; for instance;

He wants me to give you his love. He’s just like that.

He always was. I can’t rise to those affectionate heights but tell him I congratulate him on not being dead…

Their discussions about the crime might take one aback for a moment but they are so entertaining that one almost forgets they are speaking of something quite so serious.

But despite all of the humour and wit, there is also a serious mystery involved, and the case does have some twists and turns and developments one doesn’t quite see coming. When whodunit is revealed (and here it is Giles and not Hannasyde who ends up solving things), one realises there were a few hints along the way, but really, the peculiarities of the characters are enough to keep us guessing all through.

I absolutely loved this one and am looking forward to reading more of Heyer’s mysteries soon.

(In some ways, I was reminded of Crispin’s Gervase Fen books where also the writing and wit simply shine all through).
...more

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Feb 19, 2016 Damaskcat rated it really liked it · review of another edition

A man is found dead sitting in the village stocks by a patrolling policeman one moonlit night. He has been stabbed. Superintendent Hannasyde is called in from Scotland Yard and soon finds that there are plenty of suspects for Andrew Vereker's murder.

His half brother and sister - Antonia and Kenneth - seem not to care that he is dead and are almost happy to be cast as first murderer. The dead man had had a row with his company's accountant - engaged to Antonia - because of the man's thefts from ...more

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May 25, 2021 Andréa rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-thriller-crime, british-isles, digital, classics

Another cast of irritating characters! Murgatroyd isn't too bad, though, nor is Giles Carrington or Violet. (view spoiler) As for the romance in this one, (view spoiler) ...more

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Nov 13, 2019 Roger Pettit rated it really liked it

Georgette Heyer is best known for her Regency period romances. Their popularity and success seem to have overshadowed the ten or so detective stories she wrote. And, if ‘Death in the Stocks’ is anything to go by, that is a great pity. It’s a light, breezy and entertaining novel that is very much in keeping with the style of the so-called Golden Age of crime fiction when writers such as Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Dorothy L. Sayers were the principal practitioners of the g ...more

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Oct 14, 2018 Lady Wesley rated it really liked it

Shelves: listened, mystery-with-a-touch-of-romance

I just finished listening again to this book, the first of Heyer’s mysteries. I really enjoyed the book, but most of the characters were hard to like. The plot is complicated, and I guessed the killer’s identity only slightly before the end.

8 likes · Like · see review

Jun 11, 2018 Elinor rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: polar

Je le savais ! On a ici une drôle de famille ^^ et on voit finalement assez peu la police. Un bon petit mystery très sympa :)

1 like · Like · see review

Dec 13, 2021 Frances rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-series

This was the first Georgette Heyer I've read, and the first in her 9 or so volume series of mysteries set among the bright young things in 1920's/30's London. It was a fun read, a decent mystery though not particularly difficult to solve, and the detectives and the amateur detective seemed decent sorts, but the bright young things themselves started to wear on one quite early on. I'll try another at some point, but not sure I'll go through the whole series if they are all similar to this one. ...more

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May 12, 2024 Sarah G rated it liked it

Striking (some were quite awful!) characters and an enjoyable story. Denouement was guessable but it was more about the journey than the destination for me.

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Dec 21, 2024 Neer rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: mysteries, brit-lit, women-writers, downloads, 1930s, reads-24

Insufferable! More here: https://ahotcupofpleasureagain.wordpr...
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Jul 06, 2017 Doris rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, reread, z-2024-challenge

Not one of my favorite Heyers (by which I mean it's one I seldom re-read!). In particular, I find most of the characters annoying. Kenneth and Antonia (Tony) are spoiled brats, Violet is a vapid gold-digger, Rudolph is an embezzler, Murgatroyd is a cliche, (view spoiler). Aside from Hannasyde and Hemingway, the only character I come even close to liking is Giles, and even he doesn't have much going for him. (view spoiler) ...more

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