Another quirky mystery, another enjoyable read from Joan Fleming. I previously reviewed her title, The Man From Nowhere.
One October evening, 1957, Annabel and Richard Rangward arrive from a trip to their house on Regent's Park, London. They are entertaining two friends - Charles Shefford and Baron Halvorsen for dinner and drinks, served by the butler. The lower floor is the home of the Rudie and Edna, the housekeeping couple and the top floor is home to the actual homeowner, Tobias Totterdell, his housekeeper Miss Emm, and Tiddly Push, his pampered pekinese. No matter that Mr. Totterdell always wears dark glasses, he seems to know exactly what is going on around the house. After dinner, while Annabel and Charles dance, the butler has left, and Mr. Halvorsen is up choosing a new record, Richard suddenly clutches his throat and falls dead of cyanide poisoning. It's a case of murder, but who could have done it? And how?
Interviewing the characters seems simple enough, but each person sees things differently, and has a reason for telling what is not quite the truth. The story alternates different points of view with chapters like 'As Edna Saw It', 'As Annabel Saw It', As Charles Saw It', etc. as each person recalls the events before during and after, to fill the complete back story in. In the telling, the character of each narrator is revealed, too.
No one is as they seem, especially Richard Rangward, who seems to have deserved what he got. Several diversions confound the police and the other housemates, such as two separate confessions (!), and a second wife coming forward. The one person they all confide in is Tobias, on the top floor. Although he rarely leaves his room, he is the one sharp enough to put it all together - a blind detective!
Cleverly written and quite twisted as the history of the characters are exposed. Something about the writing made me think it was written earlier than 1957, reminding of Mary Roberts Rinehart style.
Character, motive, murder, and an ending only a blind man could see coming - everything you want in a unique mystery.
1957 / Hardcover / 255 pages
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