Wigs on the Green (1935) by Nancy Mitford #NovNov24

Book Beginnings on Fridays (hosted by Rose City Reader):

No, I'm sorry,' said Noel Foster, 'not sufficiently attractive.'
He said this in unusually firm and final accents, and with a determination which for him was rare he hung up his office telephone receiver.

💚 After a high brow spiritual novella I've read earlier, a witty satire from Nancy Mitford seems like a perfect option to get into next. And it was pretty hilarious - its comical quality isn't unlike P.G. Wodehouse, but with a center theme of British fascism, Mitford is unbeatable. Fun fact: Mitford was actually inspired by her sisters' political enthusiasm, and the book caused a rift between the sisters.

💚 When Noel Foster came upon a small fortune, he retired from boring clerk job to hunt for wealthy heiress to marry. His biggest mistake was to boast about it to his sycophant playboy scheming friend of Jasper Aspect. The later knew of an unworldly but rich and beautiful Eugenia Malmains who lives in the countryside. They find her to be an ardent supporter of Union Jackshirts movement, headed by a Captain Jack.

💚 Also coming from London are two young women, one Miss Smith and one Miss Jones. They are in fact Poppy Saint Julien, who's considering to divorce her unfaithful husband, and is accompanying her friend Lady Marjorie, who's running away from a Duke she's just jilted on the altar. A fourth young woman who was to complicate the story is a local beauty, Mrs. Lace. The two friends from London represent their generation and background, the 1930s of metropolitan city like London, when young people, especially the rich, were reckless, irresponsible, and ignoring moral conventions.

Friday 56 Quote (hosted by Head Full of Books):

"There's nothing radically wrong with your nature, darling, but your upbringing and environment, so far, have been lousy. I never met anybody more invited to cope with the ordinary contingencies of life - especially the emotional side of it."

💚 As expected, Jasper turned out to be a rival rather than assistant to Noel's cause. And their whole wealthy heiresses scheme is thwarted by many unforeseen but hilarious events, from falling in love with the "wrong" women, to the appearance of mysterious detectives, to Union Jackshirt fanaticism. It is the latter aspect that provided this story with loads of incredibly foolish, but witty at the same time, humour, and comical scenes that will make you laugh. Like I said, the story feels like a mixture of Mitford's sharp and witty satire and Wodehouse's slapstick comic; a thoroughly fun and hilarious read!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

Read for:

Novellas in November 2024 #NovNov24

hosted by Cathy @ 746 Books and Rebecca @ Bookish Beck

The Cornish Coast Murder (1935) by John Bude

🔵 Reverend Dodd and his best friend Doctor Pendrill love to spend their Friday evenings together by the fireside, discussing detective novels they had just buddy-read, and each would, alternately, bring some more detective novels to be perused before their next meeting. Some authors they cherish are Edgar Wallace, J.S. Fletcher, Farjeon, Sayer, Freeman-Willscroft, and "my dear old friend Christie". That's one thing I've been dreaming to do after my retirement - hopefully I'd find the perfect friend to do it with when the time comes!

🔵 One stormy night, on one of those meetings, Doctor Pendrill is summoned to the neighboring house, because one Julius Tregarthan, an ill-tempered man who quarreled with everybody, was found dead, with a bullet through his head. A murder! A real one, not in a novel.

🔵 The investigator, Inspector Bigswell from Boskawen police force, puzzled over the case as it has limited clues, besides some of the strangest things that he found. Three bullets were shot from outside the victim's study in three wide ranges of direction - only one of it got through the victim. Then sets of footprints they had found were also inexplicable. Bigswell's suspects are Miss Tregarthen (the deceased's niece), and her lover, a writer who inexplicably left his abode on a hurry on the night of the murder, and seemed just to vanish.

🔵 Inspector Bigswell is fortunate that the local vicar is surprisingly not only good at delivering sermons, but is equally good at deduction. The combination of Bigswell's investigating experience and Reverend Dodd's insight of human nature bring in a beautiful conclusion to this simple-but-complicated mystery.

🔵 It was a super fun read, and a celebration of the Golden Age crime novel. The Cornish coast, with its sea, boats, and all, isn't only the nice background, but it forms an essential character of the crime itself. Bravo!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

Holiday Reads: A Children Classic and A Golden Age Mystery

My last Christmas holiday reads consisted of two books, one was a readalong with my mother, and the other was a book I've intended to read for #DeanStreetDecember, but I ran out of time to review it. So, here they are...

A mother-daughter semi-readalong of
Little House on the Prairie (1935) by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Watching Little House on the Prairie on TV was a family tradition in my childhood. I remember how we (my parents and me) sat in front of our black and white television after Sunday lunch, patiently waiting for the series to play. My mother and I, especially, keep the happy memories to this day.

Mama is 82 now, and her eyesight is declining with every year. For years she can't read or watch movies anymore, and even performing daily tasks is becoming more difficult these days. Early this year, I have read (listened to) Little House in the Big Woods, and casually told the story to Mama, which, surprisingly made her so happy. So, this holiday I have prepared to do what I called a "semi" readalong of Little House on the Prairie.

Everyday I listened to the audiobook (narrated charmingly by Cherry Jones), for 45 minutes, each session covering a chapter or two. I took notes of some important events, and some little details which I know my mother would love to hear. It's usually the household chores details, or of the meals. Then, during our mother-daughter-time each afternoon, I told it to my mother. Though I'm not a good storyteller, Mama cherished each second of these moments, which made me so happy. I know that one day I would be much grateful that I had made the efforts!

For me personally, it's a reread. Here's my review of the 1st read. Listening to audiobook made a different impression of the story. It feels like I'm living the same life of a settler with the Ingallses. My favorite moments would be the one when Charles was encircled by a pack of wolves while riding a horse. That's a horrifying scene! Then, of course, there's the Christmas story where Mr. Edwards (their bachelor neighbour) took mighty efforts to cross a roaring creek to bring presents for Laura and Mary - who were afraid Santa Claus won't come - pretended that he acted as Santa Claus' courier. It's heartwarming and very wholesome to read!

The Murders near Mapleton (1929) by Bryan Flynn

I have originally read this for #DeanStreetDecember - an event hosted by Liz @ Adventures in reading, running and working from home, of reading books published by Dean Street Press. I have actually finished it around Christmas, but with one thing or others, I couldn't write the review until after New Year.

It's my first Bryan Flynn, and I was pretty impressed by the intricate plot. The story is set in a usual English countryside, on Christmas Eve dinner, hosted by Sir Eustace Vernon, and attended by his niece, as well as several of his friends. After dinner he went away after receiving a very bad news, and never came back. His body was later found near train station by Anthony Bathurst - the amateur sleuth who would investigate the case. A red bon bon was found on Sir Eustace's clutched hand. The same was also found on his butler's dead body, which was proved surprisingly to be a woman!

It's a proper Golden Age murder mystery with intricate plot red herrings, one-on-one interview with each suspect, and all that. Quite the perfect read for the season.

How's your holiday been, reading wise? What kind of books you usually enjoy during holiday?

The Belgrave Manor Crime (1935) by Moray Dalton, for #RIPXVIII

🔴 I must thank Dean Street Press for recommending this book for Halloween read; it is a wonderful crime story, and, with occultism and a satanist rite, made it a perfect read for Halloween.

🔴 Cosmo Thor is a psychic investigator (of course he is, with a name like that!), thus an authority in occult sciences. On board a train, he met Madame Luna, a downtrodden palmist who had been unjustly imprisoned, and now was going home to pick up her daughter, whom a philanthropist woman has been willingly taking care of. One day Madame Luna desperately sought Thor's help when he's not home. But when he knew about it, he couldn't find her. He confides in his friend, Inspector Hugh Collier, about this puzzling incident, and later find out that she was actually dead, murdered.

🔴 Tracing her footsteps, Thor visits the Belgrave Manor, where Mrs. Maulfry, a wealthy eccentric philanthropist, is keeping Allie, Madame Luna's little beloved daughter. She hires a governess, a Miss Kent, to look after the child. But the whole arrangement is hushed up and very suspicious to Thor.

🔴 Thor makes friend with Dennis Garland, the property agent who'd rented the Belgrave Manor to Mrs. Maulfry. The young man is infatuated with Miss Kent. Then a series of sinister things happen. Thor escaped a grave accident after having invited to dinner at Belgrave Manor, and is now unconscious. With no evidence of foul play, but only strong instinct, Inspector Collier decides to unofficially investigate the case during his holiday, without backup from Scotland Yard.

🔴 This was the 5th book in the series, and I found that Inspector Collier is none the wiser than in his first case in One by One They Disappeared. He talks too much about the case to persons involved, like he trusts them too much. Not the sign of a good detective, methink, but perhaps Dalton intended him to be more believable? With the vulnerability of a human being, and not a superhero?

🔴 But besides that, this is an unusual crime story. Belgrave Manor as the setting provides an eerie atmosphere to the case - the red pillars on the hall almost felt like a living being. It was quite suspenseful when Dennis entered it in order to save the woman he loves. I loved Dennis Garland, by the way. He is a brave, dependable, and loving person. I also liked Celia Kent, though I think she is too trustworthy to her employer. When your boss must conceal you from public eyes, there's got to be something amiss, despite all the boss' kindness or charities.

🔴 The villains are mostly honorable and high ranking people, and the Superintendent's first reluctance is quite understandable. The dilemma between saving your own career (and with it, people you loved most) and seeking truth and justice is often nerve wrecking. I admired the Superintendent's decision when revealing the true identity of the Master behind the Satanic occultism rites.

🔴 All in all, it is a fast-paced, eerie, sinister, suspenseful, but enjoyable crime story with a little hint of sweet romance. Another superb writing from Dalton!

Rating: 4 / 5

This book counts for:

#RIPXVIII

British Crime Classics Challenge 2023

For Monthly Theme: Spooky Mysteries