The Case of the Abominable Snowman by Nicholas Blake- SPOILER Thread

[Susan]

Published in 1941, this is the seventh mystery in the Nigel Strangeways series. This was, in fact, the last Strangeways novel until after the end of WWII, in 1947, when the series re-started.

Poet turned detective Nigel Strangeways is summoned to Easterham Manor in the depths of winter to investigate a series of strange events. Although not a Christmas mystery, it is set in winter, with a classic Golden Age setting of a snowed-in house party, culminating in murder and a cast of suspects who all have secrets to hide...

Please feel free to post spoilers in this thread.

[Judy]

I’m very near the start still, but just venturing into this thread to say I was a bit irritated that the US alternate title for this book, which I noticed on GR, gives away the early plot twist of where the corpse turns up!

[Sandy]

I've finished and Nigel is growing on me; I like him more in each book. As Judy said, my version, The Corpse in the Snowman, gave away the early plot twist. I don't think it spoiled where the corpse was found but I did know there was going to be a second murder. I suppose with the British title I may have assumed Snowman referred to the cocaine dealer.

[Sandy]

After more thought (and more coffee) knowing the body was in the snowman should have told me the brother was the one still alive as he worked on the snowman and it was mentioned he was good at it. The doctor had no connection to the snowman. However, this is only hindsight (always 20-20 as the saying goes).

[Susan]

Good to hear that Nigel is growing on you, Sandy :)

[Judy]

I've finished listening to this now, and enjoyed it, although the final plot twists were incredibly convoluted! That other meaning of "snowman" hadn't struck me, Sandy.

I did think at the start that someone else had made Elizabeth up, but that was probably the only thing I worked out in the whole book!

[Susan]

Glad to hear you enjoyed it, Judy.

[Emma]

This is one of my favourite Strangeways novels. I particularly enjoyed the wintry atmosphere - the snow is almost a character by itself - and the child characters are realistic and funny (Blake wrote very good children, in my opinion - I think Whisper in the Gloom reminds me a lot of his The Otterbury Incident).