Monday, 21 December 2015


I found this in a charity shop back in the summer, thought it would make a good Christmas read, and so it has proved. I haven't been smitten by other titles I've read from this British Library crime series - and I see that Rachel at Book Snob found The Lake District Murder quite as tedious as I did, because it might just as well be sub-titled The Garage Owner's Compendium to Everything You Want to Know About Petrol Deliveries. Although, having said that, I can think of some boring old blokes I've known over the years who would probably quite like droning on about cubic gallons of four-star.
However, I do love the covers in this series, which are irresistible.
Anyway, Mystery in White, originally published in 1937,  is far and away the best I've read so far and has been a nice brisk read over the weekend. (J Jefferson Farjeon was Eleanor's brother.)
It's a classic country house murder mystery with a twist, as a mismatched bunch of passengers (chorus-girl, bore, brother and sister, psychic, limp young man) find themselves stranded in a snowbound train on Christmas Eve - and struggle through the blizzard to take shelter in a deserted house where the door is conveniently unlocked, the fire is blazing, the table is set for tea ... and there is a creepy sensation that something horrible has happened - but when?
All jolly good stuff and it has put me in the mood for Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None.

2 comments:

  1. Dear Mrs Miniver, your blog is so pleasant and educative without being stuffy and didactic. For the poor exile from London, your accounts of exhibits and theatres are manna for the soul. Thanks for writing, and best wishes for a Happy and busy 2016!

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  2. Dear GSGReat Escaper, Thank you for your lovely comment. I'm thrilled that someone from Minnesota is interested. Best wishes from London for 2016 - and maybe we'll be seeing you here for a holiday some day?

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