From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

Why Shoot a Butler?

Georgette Heyer

Start date: March 13, 2021

Finish date: April 9, 2021

Discussion: Buddy reads

Why we're reading this: Next in our series of Georgette Heyer buddy reads, which are always popular.
[close] Next in our series of Georgette Heyer buddy reads, which are always popular.

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What Members Thought

May 05, 2010 Susan in NC rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: tbr-with-gr-groups, currently-re-reading, audiobook

3/2021 - reread with Reading the Detectives group, listening to the audiobook. Overall, I’d still give three stars (barely) as a golden age mystery, since the elements are there, but as a Heyer fan who has read several of her mysteries many times, I’m giving it two stars so I remember this is the inferior one. There are glimpses of her usual humor, but after just finishing a reread of her last mystery, “Duplicate Death” with the Heyer group, it’s a cruel comparison! There, we also have a defensi 3/2021 - reread with Reading the Detectives group, listening to the audiobook. Overall, I’d still give three stars (barely) as a golden age mystery, since the elements are there, but as a Heyer fan who has read several of her mysteries many times, I’m giving it two stars so I remember this is the inferior one. There are glimpses of her usual humor, but after just finishing a reread of her last mystery, “Duplicate Death” with the Heyer group, it’s a cruel comparison! There, we also have a defensive, secretive heroine like Shirley in this book, but Heyer knows when to stop with the pointless secrets to move the plot along! Here, the pompous, secretive Frank Amberley, super barrister, apparently (I thought they wore wigs, not capes?), is the only one who knows anything, but he won’t share with the bumbling police, or the hapless reader. He and Shirley just keep circling each other warily, it got old. I’ll finish listening to the audiobook on high speed to get through it, and remind me of the ending, which goes on far too long, but this is my fourth read, and it’s probably my last of this one, her other mysteries are much more entertaining!

2014 - Fun read if you're a fan of Golden Age British mysteries - although I enjoy Heyer's Regency romances even more! In this case barrister Frank Amberley is lost taking a bad shortcut to his family's country house when he comes across a sports car pulled to the side of a country road; it's pitch dark, there's a dead man behind the wheel with a gunshot wound, and a mysterious young woman standing beside the car...

Off to a great start, right? I thought so too, but for some reason it took me a while to get through this book; there were flashes of Heyer's bone-dry British humor and a couple of interesting characters providing comic relief (Sgt. Gubbins and Lady Matthews), but I guess I'm a spoiled Heyer fan and expect more likeable, witty and sympathetic characters. Ah well, as I've said before in my reviews of Heyer's books, her middling efforts at mystery and romance are better than most modern writers in those genres writing today, which is why I buy her books whenever I can find them to enjoy over and over again! ...more

9 likes · Like · see review

Jan 25, 2013 Julie Durnell rated it really liked it

Slow going but great ending, dated writing but the plot was worth the read, so very Christie-like.

2 likes · Like · see review

Feb 08, 2013 Becky rated it really liked it

Shelves: readin2013

While I've read plenty by Georgette Heyer, Why Shoot a Butler (1933) was my first mystery novel by Heyer. I definitely enjoyed it! Mr. Amberley, our detective hero, is on the way to visit his aunt, uncle, and cousin. He's lost his way because he followed his cousin Felicity's directions. While he's trying to find his way, he sees a woman on the side of the road. Upon further investigation, he realizes that this woman is standing by a car...a car with a dead body in it. Amberley is convinced of t ...more

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Jan 02, 2009 Charlotte (Buried in Books) rated it really liked it

I really enjoyed this book, yes it was dated and rather twee. But there were some great characters - Frank Amberley (the rudest man in London) and his Uncle Humphrey and Aunt Marion were great fun.

I didn't guess who did it but I didn't really mind.

The only thing that did upset me was the standard of the editing, it was truely horrendous and at times made it rather hard to follow what was happening. ...more

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Jun 05, 2015 Ruskoley rated it liked it

Shelves: mystery

All the characters are amusingly sarcastic. I didn't really like the main character, but the author told the readers that the character is quite unlikeable.

The running about in a Bentley from country manor to country manor is okay. The characters are as they are, but have witty dialogue. The mystery and thriller parts of the novel are rather droll and tedious. And the explanation for all the events, given at the end by the main character, was way too long. I stopped caring long before he stoppe ...more

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Jun 29, 2011 Abbey rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed, myst-set-andor-auth-uk, vintage, myst-fems-project, myst-cosies, suspense-thriller

A big house, rich folks behaving badly in rural England - all the usual bells and whistles for the time, including a creepy and manipulative Lord of the Manor, his submissive sister, several Pretty Young Things, a couple of Nice Chaps, an extremely intelligent lawyer and his wooly-minded Auntie and her pragmatic husband (a judge), all set in the picturesque rural England of the 1930s.

Filled with twists and turns galore, snappy dialogue and some lovely funny bits, it's a well-crafted - and quick ...more

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Apr 22, 2013 Bhavya Mathur rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery-thriller

I love mysteries where I cannot guess the murderer. The amateur detective Frank Amberly, though extremely rude and dry, is very very likeable. I loved Georgette Heyer for her romances, but after reading this, I love her even more for her mysteries.

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