The Santa Klaus Murder by Mavis Doriel Hay

With a love for classic Golden Age detective mysteries, I was looking forward to recommending this well-liked 1936 Christmas crime novel, reprinted by British Library Crime Classics.

However, this was not entertaining.

Sir Osmond Melbury gathers his family for Christmas at the Flaxmere estate, whether they like it or not. Youngest daughter Jennifer yearns to marry her beau Philip and move away from her controlling father, who threatens to disinherit her if she does. Perhaps her widowed sister Hilda could take care of him instead? The other siblings, Edith, Eleanor, and George, are all married with children.

Hilda brings her grown daughter Carol, Edith brings her husband David (whom she no longer loves), Eleanor brings her gambling husband Gordon and their two children, George brings his fussy wife Patricia and their three children. Sir Osmond's sister Aunt Mildred arrives, and it is a full house with the ex-chauffeur Ashmore and the current chauffeur Bingham. They are all wary of Miss Portisham, Sir Osmond's personal secretary they feel oversteps her mark. When his lawyer recently visited, they feared he would change his will to give Portisham a share.

Sir Osmond wishes Jennifer would marry young Oliver Whitcombe (whom she cares nothing for) and, wanting to appear a benevolent grandfather, has asked him to dress up as Santa for the kids. While the excited children open presents, Sir Osmond goes into his study and is shot dead point-blank at his desk.

Chief Constable Colonel Halstock arrives to investigate, and they are all told to stay put.

Everyone is interviewed, and written statements form the first chapters of the book.

Reviewing the clues of an open window, a secret door, a hallway mirror, tampered evidence, too many Santa sightings, and a typewritten note, this was a slow read with a disappointing payoff. Everything was in place for a festive read - the tree and the presents, a trapped resentful family stuck in the manor house, and murder - but a lack of pace left me surprisingly bored. Not a mystery I can recommend.

Mavis Doriel Hay wrote two other mysteries: Murder Underground (1934) and Death On The Cherwell (1935).

1936 / Tradeback / 252 pages