The Christmas Egg (Inspector Brett Nightingale, #3) in Reading the Detectives

Nov 19, 2022 Susan in NC rated it it was ok

2.5-3 stars, for it was ok. Started off intriguing, with old lady found dead in her room. Apparently she was a Russian princess, and had a secret stash of valuables when she escaped Russia after the revolution. I gather she had sold off some in the 1920s, but now (in the 1950s), was living in one dingy room with rather simple-minded adult grandson.

This was apparently Mary Kelly’s third Inspector Nightingale mystery, I would have liked to read the first two. This was read for the Reading the Dete 2.5-3 stars, for it was ok. Started off intriguing, with old lady found dead in her room. Apparently she was a Russian princess, and had a secret stash of valuables when she escaped Russia after the revolution. I gather she had sold off some in the 1920s, but now (in the 1950s), was living in one dingy room with rather simple-minded adult grandson.

This was apparently Mary Kelly’s third Inspector Nightingale mystery, I would have liked to read the first two. This was read for the Reading the Detectives group December read. I felt like I had walked into the middle of a movie, as the inspector and his sergeant, Beddoes, have a shorthand language, as most longtime coworkers do, but I couldn’t always follow what they were getting at. It was frustrating, and I listened to the audiobook mostly, which helps a bit, as the tone of the narrator can give clues as to meaning, but not always.

There was a young woman involved in the plot, and I wasn’t sure what the married Nightingale’s interest was with her - she was very young, late teens perhaps, so it felt creepy. Eventually it seemed like he wasn’t sure if she was working with a gang of crooks, or an innocent witness caught up by circumstances. There were some exciting action scenes in a snowstorm (keeping up the Christmas vibe), especially at the end, but I skimmed it, as I had somewhat lost interest.

I’m not sure I’m a fan of Kelly’s writing, a bit too elliptical for my taste, not sure what she’s trying to say; I don’t know if it’s because this is book three in a series. I might feel differently if I tried book 1, and understood the relationships and slang Nightingale and Beddoes share. Speaking of slang, the two officers kept referring to a Hampstead gang or group, so I think they were referring to a burglary gang, and thought the old lady’s death and the theft of some of her remaining valuables were connected to the known thieves, but I couldn’t really follow their discussions about it. Definitely causes me to lose interest, when I can’t follow what’s happening!

...more

10 likes · Like · see review

Nov 17, 2022 Susan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Mary Kelly wrote in the 1950's and 1960's and, although only a handful of her books have currently been re-published, lovers of Golden Age crime live in a era where many of these forgotten authors are being re-released and we are lucky to be able to read them. For Mary Kelly won The Golden Dagger for her book, 'The Spoilt Kill,' and this mystery, 'The Christmas Egg,' is the third in her series, featuring Inspector Brett Nightingale. Her books are more character driven than many of the time and s ...more

7 likes · Like · see review

Dec 24, 2021 Jill rated it really liked it

This book starts with an elderly woman found dead in her bed. She is in fact a Russian princess who had fled to England during the Russian Revolution. She lived in poverty, however it would seem that she did in fact have a fortune under her bed. When she left Russia she brought with her the many treasures belonging to her family. When police are called to her room, having been found dead, they found the trunk in which the jewels etc were kept, but it was empty. Inspector Brett Nightingale follow ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Dec 23, 2024 Jan C rated it liked it

Shelves: mystery, 2024

My first book by Mary Kelly. It was okay. It was a Nightingale story. Published in 1958. A woman had escaped from Russia before the Revolution, lives with her grandson, Ivan. They had been wealthy, brought many treasures out. Guess what one of them was?

Ivan is seen running away from their residence. Turns out grandmother is dead. Ivan seems to be the prime suspect. Plus there are no more treasures.

A local jeweler has seen the treasures. I got the impression that Nightingale may have seen him as ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Nov 19, 2021 Tracey rated it liked it

Shelves: british-library-crime-classics

Enjoyed meeting Chief Inspector Brett Nightingale, but the mystery was muddled at times.

1 like · Like · see review

Dec 20, 2022 Sandy rated it liked it

Shelves: mystery-detective-grp, mystery-classic, rread-2022

Very good detective pairing: I wish there more books. The plot rambled a bit, wandering off to thieving gangs, but it is a good read.

1 like · Like · see review

Dec 09, 2019 Carol Evans rated it liked it

While the story takes place around Christmas, it's not very Christmassy. There are no interrupted celebrations, no warm feelings. There is a bit of present buying, but even that turns out questionable, and traipsing through the snow can be deadly. It's a tense book, with some moments of definite danger. We follow Nightingale as he searches for clues and questions suspects. The plot moves quickly once it gets rolling. It's a well-written, clever story with fully-developed characters, a good read ...more

Like · see review