From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

The Warrielaw Jewel

Winifred Peck

Start date: August 1, 2019

Finish date: August 31, 2019

Discussion: Group reads

Why we're reading this: Winner of the poll for our August group read.
[close] Winner of the poll for our August group read.

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Group reads

* Nominations for November 2025 group read
By Judy · 18 posts · 21 views

last updated Sep 05, 2025 03:20PM

* Sept 25: Lonesome Road (#3 Miss Silver Mysteries) by Patricia Wentworth
By Susan · 13 posts · 11 views

last updated Sep 03, 2025 12:03PM

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What Members Thought

Aug 06, 2019 Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: female-gumshoe, historical-crime-whodunnit

The aristocratic Edinburgh family is famed for three things - a fabulous jewel that has been in the family's possession for hundreds of years, their unusual blazing gold green eyes

...and being as crazy as loons.

Newly married & new to Edinburgh, Betty Morrison (a marvellous narrator) is reluctantly drawn into the Warrielaw world. And of course eventually there is a crime...

I loved this book. Published in 1933 this was a historical whodunnit about early 20th century Edinbu ...more

31 likes · Like · see review

Aug 03, 2019 Susan rated it really liked it

Originally published in 1933, this is one of two mysteries written by Winifred Peck – the other being, “Arrest the Bishop?” – as well as a number of other works. I first came across Winifred Peck while reading, “The Knox Brothers,” by Penelope Fitzgerald, about her uncle’s; one of whom was Ronald Knox, a founder member of the Detection Club. That family also had two sisters, of which Winifred was one and I was intrigued to read something by her.

This mystery is set in 1909 when Betty marries John ...more

12 likes · Like · see review

Aug 12, 2020 Jan C rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, 2020, scotland

It took a while for me to get interested in this. But eventually it caught fire for me. I was going along, half-drowsing, when all of a sudden this unpleasant family was in an argument over a jewel and Mrs. Betty Morrison noticed that her husband, a lawyer or solicitor, was being drawn into it because he had the misfortune of working for the firm that had drawn up the trust/will documents.

Next thing you know somebody turns up dead.

Ms. Peck is author Ronald Knox's sister. I think that two other ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Jul 22, 2019 Jill rated it liked it · review of another edition

I did like this book, as the plot was good and the characters were interesting, once I had sorted them out. Set in the Edwardian era in Edinburgh, we encounter the feuds and ill-feeling of the clans and families. The family in question have a long history revolving around a jeweled pendant and it's worth. The narrator being a solicitor's English wife, who I did find a little annoying. I did feel that the book was dragged out longer than necessary, but it was unique insofar, as at one point the b ...more

2 likes · Like · see review