The mostly elderly occupants of the Presteignton Hydro spa resort like nothing better than to gossip about the other guests. Lately, they’ve had fuel for their fire by the arrival of beautiful Miss Blake, who dares to wear makeup, shorts, and backless evening gowns (this is 1938). Their tongues are wagging even more with the advent of Sir Humphrey Chervil, assuming a connection because he is young and handsome, even if they hardly talk to one another.
All the men at the resort like Miss Blake, but none of the women do. Nurse Hawkins has her eye on Admiral Urwin, so she certainly doesn’t like Miss Blake seeking him out. Even Mrs. Napier, who spends a lot of time falling down on purpose to get attention, thinks Miss Blake is a floozy.
On the night of an entertainment, Sir Humphrey spends some time with Miss Blake, staying up late talking in the drawing room. The next day she is found dead in the same room, a knitting needle plunged through her skull.
Inspector Palk locks onto Sir Humphrey when he finds he went into Miss Blake’s room instead of escorting her to the door. His fate is sealed when her jewels are found in his closet.
However, a few days later, after young Winnie Marston was seen canoodling with her father’s chauffeur, she is also found dead of the same cause. Inspector Palk still thinks he has the right man for the first murder and wants to arrest the chauffeur for the second—until he finds out he has actually married Winnie.
Mr. Winkley appears on the scene after Winnie’s death. He says his hobby is murder and talks everyone into staging a re-enactment of the first crime—the one supposedly solved. But who is Mr. Winkley, anyway?
Although I found this novel entertaining enough, it doesn’t spend a lot of time on characterization (which is common for the time)—usually just giving the characters some defining trait—and it wasn’t enough for me. I kept getting the little old ladies mixed up and even confused the Admiral and the Colonel. Plus, in one instance Rutland only brings in a character right before killing him off, even though he’s been there all along. Still, the novel was fun, except the last chapter where everything is explained, which I felt was an anticlimax.
I received this book from the published in exchange for a free and fair review.
What? Me Read? 
I haven’t read anything by this author. It does sound like an entertaining plot, but it’s a shame about the characters not being stronger.
This is my first one. I haven’t looked at the Dean Street Press line-up to see if they have more.
I enjoyed this one but didn’t wholeheartedly love it. I agree that the characters were ‘types’ rather than being fully developed as individuals, and I felt that eventually it got dark enough that the humorous tone began to jar a bit. I still remember how to kill someone with a knitting needle, though, and I’m sure that will come in handy sometime… 😈
Ha ha ha!
just jumping in here – you’re going to have to add knitting needles to your list of classic golden age murder methods!
No kidding!
Hahaha, yes! Seems much cosier than beheading…
Very cozy indeed
sorry, the comment above was meant to go under FF – not sure what happened!
You’ve encouraged me to go and have a look at DSP crime and I don’t know where to start there are so many! Probably Patricia Wentworth as I know the name – do you have a favourite?
It seems like it would, too. I like Moray Dalton a lot better than Wentworth. Of course, she’s a much earlier writer.
oh great thanks, I saw his name so I’ll go back and have a better look!
Her name!
woops, sorry!