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Murder at Melrose Court (Heathcliff Lennox, #1)

Karen Baugh Menuhin

Start date: December 1, 2019

Finish date: December 31, 2019

Discussion: Group reads

Why we're reading this: Winner of our poll for a Christmas-themed group read.
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What Members Thought

Nov 22, 2019 Susan rated it liked it · review of another edition

This is the first in a mystery series, set in 1920. Major Heathcliff Lennox lives in his country house with his dog, Mr Fogg. One morning, his butler, and old batman, Greggs, informs him that there is a large, overweight, corpse on the doorstep. Before he really has time to get to grips with this unforeseen event, Lennox, and Mr Fogg, set off for Christmas with Uncle Charles, at Melrose Court.

Although this is a Christmas, country house, mystery, there are traces of modernity in this novel. Lenn ...more

14 likes · Like · see review

Aug 28, 2021 Julie Durnell rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, england-uk

I waited quite a while to have a copy from the library become available, and it was worth the wait. I really enjoyed this short but fun sort of cozy mystery. Major Heathcliff Lennox is an agreeable WWI veteran pilot who puts his powers of deduction and sleuthing to good use at his Uncle Lord Melrose's home. I loved Mr. Fogg, his golden cocker spaniel of very little brain, who hated dead bodies of any kind. This has a great cast of characters and well plotted murders, I look forward to #2! ...more

10 likes · Like · see review

Jul 22, 2020 Bev rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: virtual-mount-tbr-2020, historical-mystery, mystery, british-mystery, mcpl-book, edwardian, christmas

Menuhin has set her historical mystery series right in the middle of the Golden Age. This debut novel takes place at Christmas time in 1920. Major Heathcliff (please don't call him that) Lennox discovers a dead body on his doorstep. It is established that the man died of a heart attack, but the local police are still suspicious that Lennox knows more than he tells. Which he does. The man had a scrap of paper in his pocket with the name "Countess Sophia Androvich Zerevki Polyakov" on it. The majo Menuhin has set her historical mystery series right in the middle of the Golden Age. This debut novel takes place at Christmas time in 1920. Major Heathcliff (please don't call him that) Lennox discovers a dead body on his doorstep. It is established that the man died of a heart attack, but the local police are still suspicious that Lennox knows more than he tells. Which he does. The man had a scrap of paper in his pocket with the name "Countess Sophia Androvich Zerevki Polyakov" on it. The major tells the police that he has never met the woman--which is, strictly speaking, true; but it's a good thing he didn't say he'd never heard tell of her.

Following on the heels of the deadly discovery, Lennox receives a telegram from his Uncle Charles Lennox insisting that he come home to Melrose Court for the Christmas holidays because he has "important news to impart." The important news? Uncle Charles...long confirmed bachelor, tottering around with his walking stick...is engaged to be married. To (you'll never guess...) the Countess Sophia Androvich Zerevki Polyakov. Other family members are on deck and Uncle is going to change his will. But Uncle Charles is a jolly fellow and we like him, so (unlike many of the Golden Age mysteries written in the 1920s and 30s) he isn't the one who gets murdered. The next dead body to make an appearance is...(you'll never guess) the Countess Sophia Androvich Zerevki Polyakov. And our hero finds himself standing over her, having stupidly picked up the gun lying beside her--because it was his gun and what's it doing there, darn it? Now the local police are really suspicious of him and pretty much the whole house thinks he's a murderer. But he's not and now he's got to prove it. A couple more dead bodies, several red herrings, and a handful of clues later he does. And in classic Golden Age style, he gathers everyone together for a final reveal-all scene.

This was a pleasant first mystery novel. I enjoyed seeing many of the familiar Golden Age tropes employed--sometimes with a bit of a twist. The overall historical feel of the book is good and I appreciated the humor and witticisms strewn throughout. My primary concern with the novel is Major Lennox. His character just doesn't interest me as much as the protagonist in a series should. There are glimmers of a character I could enjoy over the length of a series, but it's not fully realized--not as much as one would like upon a first meeting. I do have hopes (given the glimmers) that Menuhin will build on the major's character in future books and I enjoyed the novel enough to be ready to try the next one when the occasion arises.

First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
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Dec 22, 2019 Susan in NC rated it liked it · review of another edition

3.5 stars - I enjoyed the start of this audiobook because of the outstanding narrator, but then lost interest once he arrived at Melrose Court, his uncle’s estate, for Christmas. The elderly uncle's surprise engagement to a manipulative Russian countess, who came across as an almost cartoonish villainess, caused me to lose interest.

But I needed a book to listen to while I knit, so I started listening again - and once the first murder occurred, and Major Lennox started investigating to clear his ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Sep 15, 2021 Amy rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: brit-trip, read-as-an-audiobook, 2021

The historical inaccuracies killed my ability to lose myself in the story. An Edwardian man wouldn't be going around hugging his elderly uncle. ...more

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Jun 29, 2020 Jan C rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: between-the-wars, england, gr-group-read, mystery, 2020

Started out a little slow. Lennox had to go to his uncle's for Christmas. A messenger arrives and is found dead on the threshold. Of course, the police suspect him. It turns out that his uncle has plans to get married. Not good news for Lennox as his uncle's will probably will be revised and he may no longer be the heir. Plus, the prospective bride has moved his rooms to a cold wing of the house.

Murders mount up. Lennox is still the prime suspect. He has to solve the case in order to clear his n ...more

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Jun 15, 2020 Shabbeer Hassan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: brit-lit, 2020, whodunit, humor

Set in 1920's England (duh, where else, detectives would be set!!), an engagingly written murder mystery of a clumsy retired Major and his little tryst with sleuthing. Filled with little vignettes of humour in between and a satisfying resolution to the plot without dragging it out, for once Amazon's recommendation engine did well!

My Rating - 4/5 ...more

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Aug 16, 2019 Elise Stone rated it really liked it · review of another edition

A classic English mystery that hits all the notes. Major Heathcliff Lennox discovers the body of a fat man on his doorstep just as he’s about to leave to join some friends at their country house for the holidays. He has no idea who the man is or why he’s appeared on his doorstep. After being delayed in his departure while the police investigate, he embarks on his trip.
This is the first of three bodies that Major Lennox will encounter. The second is the Countess Sophia, a Russian émigré who is no ...more

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Dec 04, 2019 Helen (read247_instyle_inca) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: holiday-books

A fun holiday mystery. Just a fun read, nothing heavy, perfect for December!

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Jan 07, 2020 Pat rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: veddy-veddy-english, 1920s

Really about 3.5 stars.

Easy light hearted reading, with some interesting characters. Belongs to the "hero appears somewhat dim witted, but really not, upper English class" country manor genre. Nice antidote to some of the more violent and dark mysteries I've read lately. Will read more in the series to see how the characters develop. ...more

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