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A short and entertaining mystery that subverts some of the traditions of the 'English country house murder'. In particular, it's much more politically aware and much more candid about the post WWII inability of the landed gentry to maintain those grand country houses. The characters were well-drawn. (view spoiler)
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Dec 10, 2014
Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂
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review of another edition
Shelves:
mystery-murder-crime-20th-century,
christmassy
3.5 stars.
I really liked this murder mystery, which was also a study of the British social order & anti-semitism. Dr Bottwink owes a lot to Hercule Poirot, but otherwise for me this was quite an original tale & I will be happy to read more by this author.
I really liked this murder mystery, which was also a study of the British social order & anti-semitism. Dr Bottwink owes a lot to Hercule Poirot, but otherwise for me this was quite an original tale & I will be happy to read more by this author.
Aptly named, this was a very enjoyable humorous read. It had all the elements I love: country manor, snowstorm leaving victims and murderer in isolation, snooty upper crust family with the standard butler, poison, and a foreigner—a little like Hercule Poirot—on the scene to ferret out clues until authorities can arrive. Even though I sometimes get lost in the various titles of the British aristocracy, the characters were easy to distinguish and the actual motive escaped my attention completely u
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This is an exceptionally well done Christmas country-house murder mystery, superior in almost every respect from most of its type. The setting of a snow-bound stately pile is hugely appealing and well-rendered. The characterisation is vivid and interesting. The plotting is very strong, gripping and clever, with the title proving unexpectedly apt. And the writing is sharp, unfussy, and witty.
It's also interesting to see a post-war example of the Golden Age type, and done so well. We have here an ...more
It's also interesting to see a post-war example of the Golden Age type, and done so well. We have here an ...more
A most enjoyable whodunnit from the 1950s. So much better than the current slew of writers basing their stories in the 1920s to 1950s. Well-plotted and -written, witty, satisfying.
The GR blurb:
'Warbeck Hall is an old-fashioned English country house and the scene of equally English murders.
All the classic ingredients are there: Christmas decorations, tea and cake, a faithful butler, a foreigner, snow falling and an interesting cast of characters thrown together.
The murders and detective work ar ...more
The GR blurb:
'Warbeck Hall is an old-fashioned English country house and the scene of equally English murders.
All the classic ingredients are there: Christmas decorations, tea and cake, a faithful butler, a foreigner, snow falling and an interesting cast of characters thrown together.
The murders and detective work ar ...more
Well written but I hated it! All the characters bar one were irritating at best and loathsome at worst. They all deserved one another!
Jul 27, 2016
Sydney
marked it as to-read
Oct 27, 2016
Darcy
marked it as to-read
Dec 16, 2016
Catherine
marked it as to-read
Dec 11, 2018
Ruth
marked it as kindle-audible-unread
Aug 30, 2019
Sabrina
marked it as to-read
Jan 01, 2020
Elsbeth Kwant
added it
May 28, 2020
Anna
marked it as to-read
May 27, 2021
Niveditha
marked it as to-read
Oct 14, 2021
Erin Sorrels
marked it as to-read
Nov 29, 2021
Anna
marked it as modern-crime-stories
