January 2021- The Poisoned Chocolates Case by Anthony Berkeley (1929)

[Susan]

Welcome to our first group read of 2021, The Poisoned Chocolates Case by Anthony Berkeley. The Poisoned Chocolates Case is the fifth in the Roger Sheringham series, first published in 1929.

n this, the best-known of Anthony Berkeley's novels, amateur detective Roger Sheringham investigates his most famous case. When Joan Bendix makes a bet with her husband for a box of chocolates, no one imagines that winning will cost her her life. The seven she eats poison her and the two her husband eats nearly kill him. The Sheringham Crime Circle find the unusual case baffling, but eventually come up with some very interesting theories - which they then proceed to disprove one by one. Due to a series of false clues the identity - and motive - of the killer appears to be out of reach...

Please do not post spoilers in this thread. Thank you.

[Susan]

Happy New Year - welcome to our first group read of 2021.

[Piyangie]

Happy New Year to everyone! I'll be joining in once I'm clear of my present reads.

[Judy]

Thank you for opening up the new threads, Susan.

I really enjoyed this one and am looking forward to our discussion.

[Roman Clodia]

Best wishes to everyone for the New Year!

And what a book to kick it off to a fun start! I really enjoyed this one partly for the light and witty writing, but also because of its smart relationship to the genre.

Has anyone read any other Berkeley?

[Carol]

I'm reading this one! Finally found it at my library :-)

[Susan in NC]

I could only get hold of this on audiobook, which was delightful and funny in parts due to the witty writing and wonderful narrator, but an unfortunate medium because it was such a “talky” mystery, lots of telling, not showing. I know, by the very nature of the premise, a crime circle discussing and offering their theories, this plot structure was unavoidable. I just think I would have enjoyed it even more if I had an ebook or physical book - early on, I found my mind wandering a bit. I think I may have read a Berkeley short story in one of the British Library Crime Classics collections, Sheringham seemed familiar. I would read more by this author, I appreciate his humor.

[Susan]

It is such a shame that so few of Anthony Berkeley's books are available on kindle, as I really enjoyed this. Good fun and an unusual mystery.

[Pamela]

I have just started this and found the introduction of the characters very amusing.

[Sandy]

I will be delayed in starting as my library has closed contactless pickup until Jan 18, at least. Frustrating as the book is "in transit". On the plus side, I got Lighthouse, Evans, and Fog of Doubt on my last visit.

I couldn't find a kindle version on Amazon in the US. I might spend an audible credit but, like Susan in NC, I prefer to have a physical book available as my mind often wanders off to parts unknown.

[Susan in NC]

Sandy wrote: "I will be delayed in starting as my library has closed contactless pickup until Jan 18, at least. Frustrating as the book is "in transit". On the plus side, I got Lighthouse, Evans, and Fog of Doub..."

Well, I think it’s worth waiting for the book then - so much of this book is conversation and exposition, but there is some delightful humor, I’d be afraid of missing it if your mind drifts off. The narrator has a lovely, plummy accent - easy to drift off to! ;)

[Susan in NC]

Interesting- I was looking on GR to see what other Berkeley mysteries are listed, and if they are available in the U.S., and found our retiring, rather shy Mr. Chitterwick had a couple of mysteries alsoThe Piccadilly Murder. He’s one of the crime circle club in this book - he got to go last, stating his theory of the case, and wasn’t an author or academic, so I wasn’t sure what his background was supposed to be.

[Michaela]

I bought this one, as I love the BLCCs. :)

[Judy]

There is a collection of Berkeley short stories, The Avenging Chance and Other Mysteries from Roger Sheringham's Casebook, which includes the original short story, The Avenging Chance - Berkeley later expanded this into the novel The Poisoned Chocolates Case.

I've been thinking I'd like to read this soon and compare it with the novel, as I believe it has a different solution!

I have a feeling the story may be in one of the BLCC anthologies but I think I'll probably treat myself to the collection (it's on Kindle but costs £7) to read the other Berkeley short stories too.

[Piyangie]

I'll be starting this tonight - my first detective fiction for the year. :) I've not read this author before, and that makes it all the more interesting since I don't know what to expect.

[Brenda]

I started this a few days ago, and am enjoying it so far. It's also my first read by this author.

[Michaela]

He´s new to me too, and after the first chapters I´m curious how it will turn out. I think so far they missing something out...

[Tania]

I love the premise of this one. It's my first by this author too. Good to know Mr Chitterwick turns up in The Piccadilly Murder, I don't know why, but I quite like him, he seems the most interesting character.

[Susan]

I agree, Tania, he was a good character. Also, as the interested amateur, he seems to represent the reader.

[Tania]

Susan wrote: "I agree, Tania, he was a good character. Also, as the interested amateur, he seems to represent the reader."

That's a good point, he does. I thought he might be the one to crack the case, as he goes last, but I'm only a third into it at the mo.

[Brenda]

Does your version have an introduction with a novella of a similar case? I’m not sure what to make of this.

I’m also about a 1/3 in so I’m not sure if it parallels. It just seemed odd.

[Tania]

No novella, but in the back there is 'A New Denoument' by Christianna Brand and an Epilogue by Martin Edwards.

[Brenda]

I should have said short story, sorry. It’s called The Avenging Chance. I’m reading a Mystery Library edition from 1979.

[Tania]

No short story either. In Judy's msg (14), she mention that that short story was later expanded into this book.

I'd be curious to read it, but not until I've finished this.

[Brenda]

Thank you again Tania, and my apologies to Judy. I swore I read something about it but now somehow missed it.

I’m a bit perturbed and wished I hadn’t read it, but I suppose it will still be interesting to see how the different players see the clues and if it’s still the same end.

[Judy]

No worries, Brenda! I believe it's a completely different solution to the book, so I don't think you need to worry.

I want to reread the short story and compare - I haven't bought the Kindle book of short stories which includes it yet, but will do so soon!

[Brenda]

Thanks Judy, I hope so. We'll see! :)))

I did like the short story.

[Angie]

I completely agree with Susan in NC in that this mystery is probably best read as a book. I listened to the audio book and while the narrator does a really good job by putting on different voices for different characters, I got a bit muddled up towards the middle of the story. The fact that the crime circle tosses around several theories about what the solution to the case might be, only added to my confusion.
I did however really like the humour in this mystery and the diverse cast of characters.

[Susan]

I often find that I find the written page easier to concentrate on than audio versions - although I do enjoy both. With this, I did read it, rather than listen, and that helped.

[Susan in NC]

Angie wrote: "I completely agree with Susan in NC in that this mystery is probably best read as a book. I listened to the audio book and while the narrator does a really good job by putting on different voices f..."

Yes! I got muddled in the middle, and was trying to follow Mr. Chitterwick’s theory, but his was the only voice I felt the narrator fumbled- he was trying to make him sound hesitant and apologetic, as the “amateur” of the group, but he sounded so awkward and almost breathy, I had a hard time following him! Plus, I felt he wasn’t really convinced of his own theory if he was so tentative.

Then, before I could get the gist, the next chapter, with the Brand alternative denouement or ending (I can’t even remember which it said) started, with no explanation of what it was, when it was added, whether the author agreed with it, etc. I found it frustrating- would love to get hold of a physical copy, reread the last couple chapters.

[Tania]

I didn't really see the point of the Brand ending, I didn't really think it added anything to the story.

[Susan in NC]

I didn’t, either- I’m still not sure who did it, or rather, who the author intended to have done it!

[Susan in NC]

Thanks, now I remember! That’s what I thought, but then the two other alternative endings muddled me up - wasn’t sure!

[ChrisGA]

Scribd only has audiobook. I started it today and am on the third theory. You all are right-- this is a difficult one to just listen to.

[Judy]

I've been listening to a few episodes of the Shedunnit podcast, and there is one all about Anthony Berkeley which pays some attention to The Poisoned Chocolates Case. I didn't notice any spoilers:

https://shedunnitshow.com/anthonyberk...

[Judy]

I've just belatedly realised that this is the non-spoiler thread and Tania's post 33 above mentioned the eventual solution, so I'm reposting it below with spoiler tags just to be on the safe side, though I don't think spoilers are such a big issue with this book Hope that is OK Tania:)

Tania wrote:

I think as far as the author was concerned, (view spoiler)[it was Miss Dammers, but it seems she would get away with it. The members of the club don't know what to do about it. (hide spoiler)]

[Tania]

Oops, sorry Judy. Of course it's ok.

[Judy]

Thanks Tania, no worries.

[Judy]

According to the Shedunnit podcast, the Sheringham Crime Circle in this book helped to inspire Berkeley to found the Detection Club - I was a bit muddled on this and must admit I thought it was the other way round!