A quirky little mystery from 1934, this takes place in Mexico around the resort village of Taxco. It's one of several Mexican themed mysteries written by Tod Downing, who was a quarter Choctaw. Other novels of his include his first in 1933 Murder on Tour, Vultures In The Sky, and Murder Over Mexico. It's an unusual mystery in the style of Mignon G. Eberhart, beginning with a strange epidemic of random suicides sweeping the village.
Hugh Rennert is travelling by train when he meets Mr. Riddle, the wastrel son of an oil millionaire. They are both headed for the pension of old Madame Fournier on the hillside high above the town. Riddle is going to meet up with his beloved Gwendolyn Noon, a Broadway star of some years who is in Mexico on mysterious business, as well as escaping her love for Riddle because of his disapproving father. Other guests include Mr. Shaul - the gossip columnist, Dr. Parkyn - the archeologist, Mandarich - the artist, Mrs. Giddings - Gwendolyn's maid, Mr. Crenshaw - the private eye, and some disgruntled staff - notably Esteban, who has contracted what the natives call Pinto, a blotchy skin rash that might be smallpox. The pension is quickly quarantined by local soldiers no less, trapping them all inside for a few days until Esteban can be properly diagnosed.
You would think that when Mr. Shaul winds up smothered to death with a pillow they could easily discover who did it, but it will take another death, an investigation into it all by General Perez (with Hugh Rennert acting as his "interpreter" as an excuse to play detective) and revelations of secret marriages, drug addiction, blackmail, bankruptcy, and arsenic poisonings before the holiday is over. Meanwhile, native superstitions run wild though the minds of the chef (a local curandera who dispenses magical potions) and many guests when a missing Jade artifact disturbs the ancient ones, and Mura - the Siamese cat - wanders the house in the night, screaming in the moments before another evil befalls the house.
"Naugal", Esteban calls through his delirium, evoking the name of the Mesoamerican folk spirit who has the power to transform spiritually or physically from human into animal form. Yes, Downing has incorporated quite a lot of native spirituality and mythical beliefs into this mystery. Over the course of a few days, Rennert is able to tie all the clues together better than I did, solving not only the murders but explaining the rash of suicides as well. A clever result I did not see coming.
As I read it, I found the pace as slow as a hot afternoon siesta, but looking back at the clues and the twists, (and knowing this was written and enjoyed way back in 1933 but still holds up today) my hat is off to Downing.
Recommended.
1934 / Hardcover / 311 pages
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