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The Mystery at Underwood House (Angela Marchmont Mystery #2)

Clara Benson

Start date: July 13, 2018

Finish date: August 10, 2018

Discussion: Buddy reads

Why we're reading this: The second in the Angela Marchmont series, after members enjoyed the first book.
[close] The second in the Angela Marchmont series, after members enjoyed the first book.

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What Members Thought

Sep 26, 2014 Susan rated it it was amazing

After her success at Sissingham Hall (and a rather exciting past hinted at by her friend at Scotland Yard, Inspector Jameson), Angela Marchmont is approached by an old friend of hers, Louisa Haynes. Louisa lives at Underwood House with her husband John and son Donald. Her father in law, the mischievous and eccentric Philip Haynes, enjoyed nothing better than causing trouble between his family. John Haynes, as the eldest son, should have received his beloved Underwood House in his father’s will. ...more

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Jul 25, 2018 Lady Clementina ffinch-ffarowmore added it

Shelves: 1920s

This is the second in the Angela Marchmont series (the first was The Murder at Sissingham Hall). In this one, Louisa Haynes, a friend of Angela’s calls on her to look into a series of mysterious deaths that have been taking place in her family. At first thought to be natural or accidental, the most recent one has raised suspicions among some of the Haynes, enough for Louisa at least to want the thing looked into. Philip Haynes, patriarch of the family was an old tartar who enjoyed playing games This is the second in the Angela Marchmont series (the first was The Murder at Sissingham Hall). In this one, Louisa Haynes, a friend of Angela’s calls on her to look into a series of mysterious deaths that have been taking place in her family. At first thought to be natural or accidental, the most recent one has raised suspicions among some of the Haynes, enough for Louisa at least to want the thing looked into. Philip Haynes, patriarch of the family was an old tartar who enjoyed playing games with his family, playing one against the other simply to watch the fun (somewhat comparable to Agatha Christie’s Simeon Lee or Mrs Boynton). In his will he has left only half his legacy to his children absolutely, the rest in trust (life interest only) and contingent on them and their families meeting twice a year for dinner and an evening spent together at the old family home. But of course, they hate each other so nothing can be expected but unpleasantness. But at each of these meetings, besides the terrible rows between the family, tragedy has also struck with one of the family dying. Angela is not keen to get involved in the matter but because of her friend’s insistence and a nudge from Inspector Jameson, she takes the investigation on. At first she feels that she isn’t getting anywhere but soon enough, attempts are made to thwart her investigation, even putting her in danger.

I enjoyed this book much more than the first one (though that was a good read as well). Angela Marchmont herself is more in the forefront in this one, unlike the first where she was only on the sidelines. As a result, one gets to know her a little better than one did in book 1. She is a spunky lady with a bit of the daredevil in her, with more to her credit (some of her ‘achievements’ were a tad much, I think) in her past than one would have suspected. Still I enjoyed the character far more than I did in book 1 (where it hardly seems that we know her). The mystery itself again worked out better for me. In book 1, I was able to guess the murderer quite early on. This was not the case in this book, though I did fix on two characters and one of them did do it, but I only guessed the right one very close to the denouement. The characters overall (suspects/family) were reasonably well done (the formidable Ursula and the eccentric artist, Susan/Euphosyne, for instance) except may be Philip Haynes himself, who I thought didn’t come through as strongly or well as a character as he could have. It felt as if the author was trying to recreate that Agatha Christie style atmosphere of family tension and dislike, and while it did come through, it wasn’t of course anywhere as good as the Queen of Crime. But overall, the book was an enjoyable and entertaining read which held my interest throughout. Three and a half stars.
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Jan 04, 2017 ShanDizzy rated it really liked it

This series is my new addiction. Angela Marchmont is a clever lady. She reminds me of Diana Rigg's character Adela Bradley in "The Mrs. Bradley Mysteries." The mysteries are absorbing and interesting. ...more

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Jun 11, 2018 Jill rated it liked it

Shelves: clara-benson

Bit disappointing, as with the first one, I had guessed the murderer early on and this book was the same. I do like the Angela Marshmont character , and it is this that kept me reading the book.

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Mar 23, 2014 Damaskcat rated it it was amazing

Louisa Haynes asks Angela Marchmont to look into why her husband’s brother and sisters have all met untimely deaths in her home, Underwood House. Angela very quickly gets the idea that she could be poking a stick into a hornet’s nest and wonders seriously whether to refuse. Then she meets her friend Inspector Jameson of Scotland Yard who asks her unofficially to take on the task.

This is an entertaining and complex mystery written in the nineteen twenties and featuring the Haynes family who are c ...more

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