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No Wind of Blame
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No Wind of Blame Group Read August 2016 Spoilers Thread
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I've always thought that the murder method in this book was a classic case of "Rube Goldberg Hates Your Guts," though I didn't know to call it that until I ran across the relevant entry in TV Tropes.
Margaret wrote: "I've always thought that the murder method in this book was a classic case of "Rube Goldberg Hates Your Guts," though I didn't know to call it that until I ran across the relevant entry in TV Tropes."That is certainly appropriate for the method in this story! How many steps can you take to commit a murder?
This is my favorite of Heyer's mysteries, due to the hilarious characters and laugh out loud lines.
does anyone know what the title means? I have always wondered that. no, I didn't guess who it was, I am always distracted just like the author wants me to be. :D
No wind of blame is from Hamlet, Act 4, Scene 7: “If he be now return’d, / As checking at his voyage, and that he means / No more to undertake it, I will work him / To an exploit, now ripe in my device, / Under the which he shall not choose but fall: / And for his death no wind of blame shall breathe, / But even his mother shall uncharge the practise / And call it accident.” Spoken by King Claudius.
Abigail wrote: "No wind of blame is from Hamlet, Act 4, Scene 7: “If he be now return’d, / As checking at his voyage, and that he means / No more to undertake it, I will work him / To an exploit, now ripe in my de..."Wow well spotted, Abigail! I had no idea.
Can’t take any credit—the awesome power of Google!
very nice, thank you
About Ermyntrude being so watery, luckily for her, in this story Vicki seems disposed to manipulate her into being happy. It is still quite manipulative, and reminds me a bit of how Sophy 'benevolently' manages everyone in the Grand Sophy. Without the drama, of course, and with much subtler methods.
Read this over the afternoon. It's the first mystery I've made it all the way through--quite fun, even when I recognized some of Heyer's stock characters and situations, like nineteen year old Vicky and thirty-something Hugh bickering but falling in love. Ermy was one of Heyer's stock lovely widgeon aunts/mothers, though not well born. It was a surprise to find the class-conscious Heyer so benign about a social climber. Ermy and her suitors!
Of course the foreigner had to be a phony and a snake--that, too, is stock, but even so the Prince was fun.
The mystery was less interesting than the character interactions, so the sudden leaps in assumption leading to the solving of the case didn't bother me much. I tend to skim clue-testing talk in mysteries anyway (as I did with all the rifle testing here) in favor of character interaction.
My favorite character: Hugh's mother.
I only read one of the crime novels before I joined this group and now I wonder why. I really really enjoyed this one. The characters were great. Even the annoying Vicky had my sympathy at times. I was delighted when Maurice and Mary got together at the end. I guessed the way the wind was blowing and I was glad it was confirmed. I didn't figure out who the killer was which was great. I hate it when I cop it straight away and then the suspense is gone. I hope we do more of the crime books for the challenge.
I have read all of Heyer's mysteries, and unlike some other authors she doesn't inspire plot forgettery, but although I remembered who I didn't remember how--even after rereading it I don't remember how because I don't really understand it! I found it worth reading for the characters (although I completely agree with Sherwood--they are all Heyer stock!) and some of the particularly funny set pieces. I must say I didn't much take to Mary (although we are clearly meant to side with her), but I always enjoy Hemingway and he had pretty much all the best lines in the book. And it was nice to get a little glimpse of Hannasyde, as a bonus!
This was the first Heyer mystery that I read, and it is by far my favorite, being so entirely ridiculous.
I remember not liking Vicky when I first read the book. now I have learned to enjoy her for her willingness to look out for her Mom. I certainly don't blame her for wanting to keep her safe from marriage to another selfish jerk.I've always like Ermy, from the first time. I like the idea of her not caring that her sleeve is in the butter.
Rachel wrote: "I have read all of Heyer's mysteries, and unlike some other authors she doesn't inspire plot forgettery, but although I remembered who I didn't remember how--even after rereading it I don't remembe..."The one thing that I did enjoy about the howdidhedoit was the simple unscrewing of the fancy gun so that it would fit into the hambone case. Not knowing anything about guns does make the solution a big forgettable!
Rachel wrote: "I must say I didn't much take to Mary (although we are clearly meant to side with her)Bit of a goody two shoes wasn't she.
this is about my 6th reading & I loved it all over again! I found Vicki hilarious! She & Hemingway made a great comedy duo!
Carol ♔ Type, Oh Queen! ♔ wrote: "Rachel wrote: "I must say I didn't much take to Mary (although we are clearly meant to side with her)Bit of a goody two shoes wasn't she."
More than a bit of a snob, too. (You could say that was an accurate characterization for the class and time--but then, Hugh seems to have go over it, so...)
the first time or two I read it I liked Mary and didn't like Vicki but the more I read it the more I like them both. Vicki is more fun, certainly.
He is 59 now but I have to say British compere/actor Bradly Walsh would have been an awesome Hemingway!
Here is Bradley in action on The Chase.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDLi5...
Carol ♔ Type, Oh Queen! ♔ wrote: "He is 59 now but I have to say British compere/actor Bradly Walsh would have been an awesome Hemingway!I would have to agree with that one Carol. He'd be perfect!! I'm a big fan of his.
Here is Bradley in action on The Chase.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDLi5..."
Critterbee wrote: "Abigail wrote: "No wind of blame is from Hamlet, Act 4, Scene 7: “If he be now return’d, / As checking at his voyage, and that he means / No more to undertake it, I will work him / To an exploit, n..."It's right there on the title page in the first American edition. Did the other publishers remove it?
This is my first time reading this book and I think my 4th Heyer mystery.
I liked Mary but she was a bit of a Mary Sue. I did not like any of the other characters. Vicky drove me nuts and Ermyntrude wasn't much better with her hysterics and drama queen act. The one character I like is Hemingway but he showed up too late. In fact the murder happened to late and I nearly lost interest in the story.
The Prince thing was never really resolved. Was he a foreign prince? He was surely a fortune hunter, that much was plain, and eager to pin the blame on someone else for the murder. I really thought he did it. Wally told the Prince where he was going and how he usually goes. I had a long list of suspects, not excluding the women.
I wasn't surprised though that White did it. He was alone in the gun room so he had the opportunity. I just couldn't figure out how until they found the magnet and then I realized the magnet must be involved. I thought the hair slide and nail file would play into it too, but I guess they were red herrings. It was a pretty complicated set up. I thought his motive would be that he didn't want to pay Wally back for the money he borrowed, that he had found some other cash cow or get rich quick scheme. I feel sorry for Aunt Clara. I had forgotten White claimed to be some relation of Carter until the revelation. Guess no one else remembered either or remembered to tell the inspector. It sounds like the whole relationship was a con- a set up for murder. Why this moment I don't know unless White was keeping up on Aunt Clara's health and realized Wally wouldn't drink himself to death before Aunt Clara died. If I were Mary, I would wonder if she existed too and if she did, whether she was really mad or just tight with her money.
The one character I really feel sorry for is Gladys. Vicky, Mary and Ermentrude came out with new relationships, but what about Gladys? The cavalier attitude towards men taking advantage of women really bothered me. Old-fashioned values don't usually bug me that much but sometimes Heyer goes over the top conservative. There was that off-hand mention that White gets his employees into trouble and doesn't pay for "maintenance" that made me wonder whether he was the one who had seduced Gladys but made Percy believe it was Wally.
I thought for the longest time that Vicky did it. She certainly had the opportunity and something of a motive. I actually guessed the remote gun possibility when Hemingway found the magnet, the nail file and the marks on the tree but I couldn't picture how the thing was rigged even after the explanation. I've shot revolvers and know how they work but I've never handled a rifle so I had no idea about the different parts. Perhaps, given that so many British hunted in those days and/or served in the war, the explanation would have been much more satisfying than it was to me.
Since so much of the book was about the great characters and their interactions and since there were so many suspects, I was kind of rooting for a Murder on the Orient Express solution. That would have been fun. I've forgotten the publication of Agatha Christie's book--she probably wrote it before GH's book.
All in all, my second GH mystery and I really enjoyed it.
HanaI also suspected Vicki. She said she could shoot, she was coming along the path, her dog didn't bark- it all added up until she saw Wally's body. She may be an actress but she isn't that good of an actress. I did keep her on my suspect list though.
I don't even pretend to understand how White fired the gun from inside the study but I did guess when they found the magnet that it had something to do with it. I saw something like that on an episode of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries.
QNPoohBear wrote: "HanaI also suspected Vicki. She said she could shoot, she was coming along the path, her dog didn't bark- it all added up until she saw Wally's body. She may be an actress but she isn't that good ..."
Rube Goldberg!
Hana wrote: "I thought for the longest time that Vicky did it. She certainly had the opportunity and something of a motive. I actually guessed the remote gun possibility when Hemingway found the magnet, the n..."
I am glad you liked it - it is my favorite GH mystery.
Louise Culmeri liked the prince, he was funny, would not have liked him to be the murderer. I'm glad the murderer turned out to be White, he was horrible. i felt sorry for poor old janet, she had obviously been horribly bullied by her father all her life, i hope she found happiness with her tea planter.
Sorry for originally removing to wrong thread. It was late at night in NZ & I was tired.
Just reread this book, and like many others, I love Heyer's mysteries, not for the mysteries themselves, but the slice-of-life view they give us. Love the characters and how each is so distinct, the description of clothing and styles....I'd say old-time mores too, but am a cynic, and think these old attitudes never went away, just are better hidden now. Anyway, not to take away the points that ring so true even now. This reread, I was particularly struck by the description of Vicki plucking out her eyebrows and penciling in new ones....ouch!! And the bit that really resonated: Sir William Derring's pride in his son - that whole bit about how his public scorn over him, and private pride. His happiness that Hugh wants his opinion and wants to go places with him....really hits home!
Ah, yes! This is a good one. Might be time for a re-read myself. Vicki was so fun to read - and how accurately the inspector understood her manipulations!
Yes, I loved Vicki - she was so outrageous! I could picture her hi jinx in my mind - it was like watching one of those glorious screwball comedies from the 1930s (my mom was an old movie buff!)
Yes absolutely loved Vicki - and this would make the perfect comedy movie! Oh to see those fashions in color!
Did you figure out who the culprit was early on? Were you surprised?
How does this mystery compare to others by Georgette Heyer?