Tag Archives: 1930s crime fiction

#BookReview ‘Murder in First Class’ by Helena Dixon @NellDixon #cosymystery #crime

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Captain Matthew Bryant and his new fiancé Kitty Underhay await the arrival of the train from Paddington to Dawlish. The title of the eighth installment in the Kitty Underhay 1930s crime series by Helena Dixon, Murder in First Class, tells you what happens next. The train stops, someone screams, and a dead body is found in first class. In a closed carriage on a corridor-less train. Helena DixonThe murder is rather embarrassing for Matt. He had been asked by his old boss to provide a safe house for Simon Travers who was an important witness in the jewellery theft trial. Now Travers is dead and the trial is at risk. However the closed room nature of the murder, the man was definitely alive during the first part of the journey, should mean this is a simple crime for the local police. And of course, the crime-cracking duo quickly start asking questions.
There are a number of continuing story strands in Murder in First Class. The young lovers are enjoying a new stage in their romance, taking a few days holiday to enjoy the Devon seaside together. But a few tricky questions hang over their sunny days; where will they live when married, will Kitty continue to work at the Dolphin Hotel, and what are they going to do with Bertie, the black and grey cocker spaniel whose owner is now dead. Matt has given Bertie a temporary home but he is chewing everything and barking constantly. Ezekiel Hammett is another continuing dark shadow; Kitty has obtained permission to visit the killer of her mother, he is in prison awaiting trial.
Familiar characters reappear. Kitty’s friend Alice, housemaid at the Dolphin, provides clever suggestions about the murder based on her love of movies. Mrs Craven returns, in fact she discovers the dead body. She had travelled on the train sitting next to the victim, without realising he was dead until she rose from her seat at the station. Inspector Greville is in charge of the investigation and Doctor Carter does the post-mortem. Into this circle are introduced the murder suspects; a cocky brush salesman, a tarty cabaret singer, a titled lady, a vicar and an elderly lady just returned to England from India. Kitty is sure the brush salesman is the murderer, except he is the next victim.
There are lots of secrets, motives, alliances and hidden identities. Kitty, supported by Matt, is adept at untangling impossible murders such as this. All the key characters are likeable though I did miss Alice who has a minor role this time. A well-written mystery with a dark dramatic chase at the end. And what’s going to happen to Bertie?
Another enjoyable Kitty Underhay mystery.
Next in line is Murder at the Country Club.

Here are my reviews of other books in the series:-
MURDER AT THE DOLPHIN HOTEL #1MISSUNDERHAY
MURDER AT ENDERLEY HALL #2MISSUNDERHAY
MURDER AT THE PLAYHOUSE #3MISSUNDERHAY
MURDER ON THE DANCE FLOOR #4MISSUNDERHAY
MURDER IN THE BELLTOWER #5MISSUNDERHAY
MURDER AT ELM HOUSE #6MISSUNDERHAY
MURDER AT THE WEDDING #7MISSUNDERHAY

If you like this, try:-
‘A Cornish Seaside Murder’ by Fiona Leitch #6NOSEYPARKER
‘The Marlow Murder Club’ by Robert Thorogood #1MARLOWMURDERCLUB
‘Murder in the Snow’ by Verity Bright #4LADYELEANORSWIFT

And if you’d like to tweet a link to THIS post, here’s my suggested tweet:
#BookReview MURDER IN FIRST CLASS by Helena Dixon @NellDixon https://wp.me/p2ZHJe-8At via @SandraDanby

COMING SOON… THE NEXT BOOK I REVIEW WILL BE:- Lucy Foley

#BookReview ‘Angel with Two Faces’ by @nicolaupsonbook #JosephineTey #crime #mystery

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Angel with Two Faces by Nicola Upson is second in the 1930s crime series featuring real-life author Josephine Tey. I admit to finding the first, An Expert in Murder, a slow start but I’m glad that I gave the series a second chance. Angel with Two Faces ticks so many ‘mystery’ boxes. The unexplained death of a handsome man. A beautiful setting on a Cornish estate. A community bound by complex relationships going back generations. Secrets, love, lies, jealousy and tragedy. Nicola UpsonNovelist Josephine Tey arrives in Cornwall to stay at the Loe Estate, childhood home of her friend Detective Inspector Archie Penrose. Inspired by the beauty of the lake and the coastline, Josephine hopes to start work on a new crime novel. But the disappearance of an estate worker means Archie is called to investigate and Josephine, despite her best intentions, finds herself curious about the hidden secrets in this seemingly idyllic place. When the missing man is discovered drowned and his death is recorded as an accident, Archie is unsure and asks Josephine for subtle help. As she chats to locals, she finds herself welcomed by some and ignored by others. The variety of snubs, memories, answers and contradictions form an impenetrable knot leaving her feeling guilty at being an outsider with a story she is unable to unravel. Meanwhile the community nurses its grief by continuing with daily life, including the staging of a play in an open air cliff-top theatre. But when another man dies, the original verdict of accidental drowning is questioned.
Like the first novel, I found myself confused at times by the number of characters, the complex truth and lies told that are impossible to differentiate. There are familiar characters from the first novel which bring continuity. Archie’s cousins, the theatrical costumiers Ronnie and Lettice, add a touch of glamour. It felt good to learn more of Archie’s early years and family history, I hope a future novel gives the same treatment to Josephine.
Like all good mysteries, the possible answer to the problem came upon me slowly. But when the truth was revealed, my guess was only partly correct. A satisfying, page-turning mystery with emotional depth, Angel with Two Faces is about the long-term nature of friendships and family relationships, young love, grown in a rural situation throughout times of war, struggle and tragedy. Not one of the characters living on the Loe Estate is untouched by what happens in Angel with Two Faces.

Read my review of these other novels by Nicola Upson:-
AN EXPERT IN MURDER #1JOSEPHINETEY
STANLEY AND ELSIE

And here’s my review of BRAT FARRAR by the real-life author Josephine Tey.

If you like this, try:-
‘The Silver Bone’ by Andrey Kurkov #1KyivMysteries
‘The Guest List’ by Lucy Foley
‘A Death in Valencia’ by Jason Webster #2MaxCamara

And if you’d like to tweet a link to THIS post, here’s my suggested tweet:
#BookReview ANGEL WITH TWO FACES by @nicolaupsonbook https://wp.me/p2ZHJe-82b via @SandraDanby

COMING SOON… THE NEXT BOOK I REVIEW WILL BE:- Ava Glass