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A Case of Murder in Mayfair (Freddy Pilkington-Soames Adventures #2)

Clara Benson

Start date: June 15, 2022

Finish date: July 8, 2022

Discussion: Buddy reads

Why we're reading this: The second book in this popular series.
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Buddy reads

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What Members Thought

May 25, 2022 Susan rated it liked it

This is the second in a spin-off series from the Angela Marchmont books, in which Freddy Pilkington-Soames featured. Freddy is a young reporter for the Clarion although, as is clear in this book, he considers himself a cut above his rival, Corky Beckwith.

This mystery revolves around the film industry. Hollywood movie star, Dorothy Dacres, comes to London hoping to take a starring part in a new talkie. A silent film star, she hopes to revitalise her career. However, Freddy's old friend, Augusta L ...more

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Nov 11, 2020 Lady Wesley rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: listened, mystery-cozy, chirpbooks

3.5 stars, rounded up because I laughed out loud (when offhandedly Freddy spins a tale about his sidekick Basil's parentage).

I have enjoyed Clara Benson's Angela Marchmont cozy mysteries, so decided to give Freddy Pilkington-Soames a try. The setting is London in the early 1930s. Freddy is delightfully wry, and his rival reporter, Corky, is annoying but makes an excellent foil. The mystery plot was well developed, and all the clues were there. Nevertheless, there are a couple of surprising twist ...more

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May 11, 2022 Susan in NC rated it liked it

3.5 stars, for sheer entertainment value! I noticed these books say on the cover “A Freddy Pilkington-Soames adventure”, and I think that’s an accurate description of the whole series so far.

There is a mystery because there is a murder, and Freddy is usually nearby or involved somehow, but he doesn’t do all of the actual detecting. He’s smart enough to leave that to the pros at Scotland Yard, and Benson lets us look over their shoulders as they hash out the case, and talk about the clues and su 3.5 stars, for sheer entertainment value! I noticed these books say on the cover “A Freddy Pilkington-Soames adventure”, and I think that’s an accurate description of the whole series so far.

There is a mystery because there is a murder, and Freddy is usually nearby or involved somehow, but he doesn’t do all of the actual detecting. He’s smart enough to leave that to the pros at Scotland Yard, and Benson lets us look over their shoulders as they hash out the case, and talk about the clues and suspects.

But Freddy does have adventures - his first book (A Case of Blackmail in Belgravia), kicks off in style as a drunken Freddy comes across his Society columnist mother trying to dispose of a dead body, which of course leads to complications.

Or in this case, tracking down a possible drug ring on a cold London night with the odious Corky Beckwith, a rival reporter. This results from both young men being present at a hotel penthouse party celebrating the return to the screen of an American silent film actress, hoping to make a brilliant comeback in a new “talkie”, but instead plunging off a balcony to her death. Cocaine is found at the scene, so Corky, who is obsessed with building his reputation with scary stories condemning the wild London party set for rampant drug use, wants to ride the yellow journalism wave for all its worth.

Freddy, however, is there as a private citizen, escorting a childhood friend and rising young actress (Gussie). He can see there is plenty of conflict among the film crowd, and the victim, Dorothy Dacres, had set up plenty of backs in her short time in London. Also, his actress pal was up for the starring role Dorothy announced as her own to the party crowd just before her death.

Freddy knows Gussie could never have done it, but he still feels honor bound to dig into the conflicts among the suspects. His exciting nightmare climb across London rooftops with Corky, as they try to escape a gun-wielding coke dealer, gives him a vital clue as to the murder method. In this “adventure”, he is shot at, attacked in a nightclub by a jealous beau, then raked over the coals by his newspaper publisher for conduct unbecoming! Then there’s the dangerous finale, when he confronts a powerful, angry killer…

Anyway, a fun read, perfect for listening while I knit - so far, I am enjoying this series, reading with the Reading the Detectives group.

...more

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Jun 17, 2022 Doris rated it liked it

Shelves: z-2022-new, z-2022-challenge, mystery, historical-mystery

My impression after reading the first one (A Case of Blackmail in Belgravia) was that Freddy was just a poor man's Lord Peter Wimsey. I decided to give him a second chance and my opinion is unchanged. ...more

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May 20, 2022 Jill rated it liked it

Shelves: jill-s-eighth-year-challenge, clara-benson

This is centred around an American actress, and the American/British film industry. A murder is committed in the penthouse of a London hotel, during a party held by a famous American actress, who is about to take the leading role in one of the first talking films. She is felt to be the wrong actress for film , as the leading role is an English part and her accent is obviously American, however, as usual money plays a huge part in the decision. Freddy, the journalist, is invited to the party by a ...more

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