This, for me, is a quintessentially perfect 1940's mystery.
Terrific writing, unexpected events, and a myriad of characters all of whom not only could have committed murder, but are so well rounded they could be the star of the novel instead of supporting characters. You hope when you stumble onto an old book that it will give a payoff and this is a winner for me.
Coraly Ames is a widow in her late twenties (it's 1940), living on a New England coastal estate. Besides the couple who work in the main house, there is Commodore Fisher and his family just next door, she has renters in the guest house, and her good friend Mac has just called with a renter for the boat house - none other than Wall Street millionaire bachelor Shuyler Adams who arrives in his yacht with butler in tow. With so many characters on the premises, and a few more dropping in to visit, it's hard to believe while they are all within sight of each other sunning themselves on her deck, while Shuyler sits alone on the beach under an umbrella, someone has slit his throat from side to side. How could it have been done? The investigation uncovers all their secrets, and besides a near drowning at sea there are anonymous shootings and a grisly axe murder right on Coraly's sofa. By the way, there is also a fortune of stolen diamonds secreted away that's up for grabs!
This moves right along, yet doesn't get overwhelmed by multiple storylines. The writing is great, and I found it hard to believe when I read online that author FW Bronson was a man - Coraly's reactions and interests were genuinely feminine. Later, I find that Francis Woolsey Bronson was the female (puzzle solved) long-time editor of the Yale Review, who chose to spell her name as males did rather than the female version Frances, leading to mistaken assumptions. There are too many plots and characters to include in a review, suffice to say it never stops directly from page one, as Coraly recites the events after the fact. Complex yet enjoyable, it's a breezy mystery that completely satisfies. Worthy of a second read.
I found an old copy in a thrift store, only to see it is rather rare online with prices to match. I'd really like to read more from FW Bronson, but like this title, not easily found.
1940 / Hardcover / 292 pages
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