Which Mrs. Bennett? by Anne Littlefield

In this 1958 Crime Club selection, there are four Mrs. Bennetts summering on Martha's Vineyard, one of whom ends up stabbed on the beach—but Which Mrs. Bennett?

David and Doro Bennett return from a Europe and ferry over to Martha's Vineyard to meet his elder brother Barney and his rich new wife Renee. Not to the family's sparse Pond Cottage, but to Barney's new clifftop home of glass and steel. A flawless blonde, Renee greets them wrapped in gold linen (with real amber buttons, no doubt), one-upping them with her own stories of Europe. She was first a friend of Catherine's (Barney's first wife) and swooped in when Catherine became an alcoholic and they divorced. They are all surprised to hear Catherine is now staying at Pond Cottage with the eccentric matriarch of the family, Mrs. Bennett, whom everyone calls 'Maroo'. Free-spirited Catherine is a painter, her smock and unruly hair a far cry from Renee. Maroo has a secret plan to reunite Barney and Catherine, but Renee has her own plan to rid herself of Catherine. Friends for lunch are Will and Polly Stark—Will once dated Catherine but married quiet, good girl Polly.

The other featured character is Hollywood producer Abe Feldspar, who is staying at a local cottage for his health. He came over on the same ferry, attracting looks in his lederhosen and Tyrolean cap. He is more accustomed to his salmon-pink convertible in Beverly Hills than a rickety bike and rundown shack. He is walking with David when they discover the body of Mrs. Bennett, stabbed through the heart. Despite the arrival of the Medical Examiner, the Doctor, Constable Ephraim Frakes, Sergeant McBain, Lieutenant Root, and State Detective Orpheus Mills, none of them figures much in the story, especially when a torrential windstorm blows in overnight. They never take summer people very seriously anyway. Someone killed Mrs. Bennett—and it is up to Abe Feldspar and the family to solve the case themselves.

This mystery features location and character over action or drama. Reviewers called it 'lively, fresh, vital', and 'fascinating, sophisticated, sparkling' - to which I would add 'affable, amiable, innocuous'. Not words I look for in a mystery, which was fine if unremarkable. As far as I know, Anne Littlefield only wrote this one novel despite being hailed 'one of the brightest new mystery writers'. Harder to find, but entertaining for an afternoon if you are inclined.

1958 / Paperback / 126 pages