An English Murder by Cyril Hare

This Christmas mystery is a winner.

An English Murder by Cyril Hare has everything you are looking for: a wintry mansion cut off from the world over the holiday, with a family fortune to inherit - if they make it through the night.

"I want to get away before it is too late. There is a curse on this house. It smells of death."

Warbeck Hall is the oldest house in Markshire, and Dr. Wenceslaus Bottwink, (Professor of Modern History of Heidelberg and Prague) has been given free rein of the muniment room to study the papers of the third Viscount Warbeck.

It is two days before Christmas and congenial Lord Warbeck is looking forward to the annual gathering of his small family.

First cousin Sir Julius Warbeck holds the position of Chancellor of the Exchequer in present government, to the chagrin of the black sheep son Robert Warbeck, leader of the League of Liberty and Justice, a fascist organization bent on overthrowing power.

Warbeck's young niece Lady Camilla Prendergast once loved Robert, and may still do. Mrs. Carstairs is de facto family, the daughter of the local rector who grew up in Warbeck Hall.

Dr. Bottwink observes the tension when he is invited to dine with them, as Robert feels his visit is a disagreeable series of surprises. After dinner, they throw open the blinds to see an incoming snowstorm, the telephone lines go down, and with churchbells celebrating the arrival of Christmas, Robert takes a drink and falls dead.

Sir Julius has a bodyguard in the background, a constant shadow for his safety, who steps forward to discover what happened. Cut off from the world, Sergeant Rogers must decide what buried secrets lead to the death, or is it as Sir Julius claims (and they are all quick to agree) that Robert committed suicide? Rogers is aided by Mr. Briggs - the kind of dedicated butler who dons his coat to answer the telephone - along with the keen observation of Dr. Bottwink, an outsider who can see the correlation between this death and another case from 1789.

There will be more murder before the storm thaws, the surprise appearance of Mr. Briggs' daughter (who has been recently widowed) - and the twist at the end of just who will inherit Warbeck Hall.

This is a terrific mystery - fresh and well plotted. This classic theme is not new, so it is all about the pacing and the characters, to which the author injects humour and mystery.

Cyril Hare's real name was Alfred Alexander Gordon Clark, a barrister and judge. His 1942 novel, Tragedy At Law, has never been out of print, considered one of the best detective stories set in the legal world.

There is a background of English politics and customs, but not enough to cloud the reader's enjoyment. The characters are unique and it never loses momentum. If you are looking for a Christmas whodunnit, this is highly recommended.

Available in print, eBook, audio, and free pdf download from sites like Gutenberg.

My other review for Cyril Hare:

Untimely Death

1951 / Tradeback / 208 pages