Not a Creature was Stirring - Jane Haddam - SPOILER thread

[Susan]

First published in 1990, this is the first book in the long running, Gregor Demarkian, series. Not a Creature was Stirring

Summoned to a Christmas feast at the isolated country estate of multimillionaire Robert Hannaford, retired FBI agent Gregor Demarkian is soon back on the job when Hannaford is murdered. Originally in paperback. Google Books
Originally published: 1990
Followed by: Precious Blood
Nominations: Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original

https://murderbytype.wordpress.com/20...

Feel free to post spoilers in this thread.

[Judy]

Did anyone get anywhere with guessing the solution to this mystery? I didn't, and am not sure if there were many pointers.

[Judy]

I was also a bit surprised that we have sometimes seen through the killer's eyes - this was against the Golden Age 'rules' and still seems slightly wrong to me. But then again, we know it is one of the grown-up children and I think we have seen through all their eyes by the time of the big reveal!

[Susan]

You missed the clue of the tin bell, Judy :) I have read this several times, so I knew who did it, but I can't recall whether I worked it out the first time.

[Sandy]

I didn't solve the mystery the first time I read the book but did catch that clue this time. It helps that the pool of suspects was getting a lot smaller and I eliminated a couple of the weak sons.

[Susan]

What did everyone think of Benna? She becomes a major character later in the series, but did you get the feeling that she would do so? Did you ever feel she was guilty?

[Judy]

I never thought she was guilty - I don't think she had a motive. I thought she was a bit more interesting than the other members of the family, and wondered if there might be hints of a future romance between her and Gregor.

I found Bennis' name a bit distracting - not a name I've come across previously.

[Judy]

Susan wrote: "You missed the clue of the tin bell, Judy :) I have read this several times, so I knew who did it, but I can't recall whether I worked it out the first time."

Tin bell?! This clearly passed me by completely!

[Susan]

All the daughters are wearing a tin ornament and Gregor steps on it when he first enters the crime scene. The ornaments are a bit much and the piped music would have driven me insane! Anyone could be forgiven for committing murder if constantly played Christmas Carols in my mind.

[Judy]

Ah yes, I forgot about the ornament...

[Susan]

I have read the book a few times, so I was clued up for that one, don't worry.

[Sandy]

I agree about the piped music. The family's standard Christmas celebration was way too much; lots of reasons why the kids only came back under protest.

[Susan]

The idea of piped music did make me shudder slightly. However, the whole book, generally, seems to make a big deal about decorations. Cavanaugh Street certainly goes the whole hog for every major holiday, but then, I guess, that is a theme of the early series.

[Judy]

Sandy wrote: "I agree about the piped music. The family's standard Christmas celebration was way too much; lots of reasons why the kids only came back under protest."

Totally agree, it sounded completely OTT. I was also puzzled that they still carry on with the festivities, apparently on autopilot, even after the first couple of murders - can't let a a little thing like a serial killer get in the way of decorations and piped music! Actually a bit odd they were going in for this even without the killer, given how ill the mother is.

[Susan]

I think the mother was the one who was keen on keeping Christmas going and having the children around her. I guess they thought it's her last Christmas, so let's go for it.

[Leslie]

Susan wrote: "The idea of piped music did make me shudder slightly. However, the whole book, generally, seems to make a big deal about decorations. Cavanaugh Street certainly goes the whole hog for every major h..."

I finished this today -- I think I have read this before but none of it was familiar (other than Gregor & his Armenian neighborhood). I either guessed the culprit or subconsciously remembered it...

The piped music made me shudder too. And Teddy creeped me out with his wanting to have everyone open their gifts Christmas morning, just hours after the first murder.

[Susan]

Have you read any of the other books, Leslie? I must say, this has prompted me to want to re-read the series. I don't think there was much enthusiasm for it, but it remains a favourite of mine.

[Leslie]

Susan wrote: "Have you read any of the other books, Leslie? I must say, this has prompted me to want to re-read the series. I don't think there was much enthusiasm for it, but it remains a favourite of mine."

The only one I really remember is A Stillness in Bethlehem but I do think that I read others. I am tempted to read/reread the series but don't know if I can take on a whole series at the moment...

I really enjoyed the Armenian-American neighborhood and people. I grew up in a Boston suburb that had a significant Armenian-American population and the names and behavior of Gregor's neighbors reminded me of the parents of kids I went to school with :)

[Susan]

Like you, Leslie, I am tempted to re-read, but lack time. I will try to continue and I also really want to read the Phil Rickman Merrily Watkins series, which I never seem to get around to...