It seemed to be an impossible crime.
Mary Gregor was murdered in her own bedroom, at Duchlan castle in the Highlands of Scotland. She died from a shoulder wound and was found huddled by her bed with a wound to her shoulder. The bedroom door had been locked from the inside – a complex lock created by a former laird had to be removed when the alarm was raised – the closed windows were equally secure. There was almost no bleeding from the wound, there was no weapon to be found and, maybe the most puzzling thing of all, there was a single herring scale in the wound ….
The Procurator Fiscal sent for the police; and he also sent for Doctor Eustace Hailey, who he knew was visiting friends who lived not far from the castle.
The household was stunned, and nobody could offer a single reason why someone would want Mary dead. There was her widowed brother, Duchlan; there was his son, Eoghan, Duchlan’s son who had come home on the night of Mary’s death; there was his wife, Oonagh; there was his son, Hamish; and there was a small band of loyal and long-serving family retainers.
Mary Gregor had been a pillar of the community; but it soon became clear that, behind her glossy public image, she had been a hard and controlling woman who had bent all of her family to her own will for years and year.
Watching the characters and the relationships being brought into the light, watching relationships under great strain as family members suspect each other and try to divert suspicion, was fascinating; and that made this book quite unlike and other Golden Age mystery I can remember.
There was a great deal of incident; there were more seemingly impossible murderers; there was a strong suggestion that supernatural forces had been at work; and there some interesting references to art and culture dropped in.
Thing got a little too melodramatic at times, but the plot, the characters are very well done and that always kept the story on track.
I was sorry that the story was a little over-stuffed with diverse elements; some of them were interesting but some of them had me wishing that the author would get on with solving the mystery.
The solution is very clever – the practicalities were highly improbable, but the logic and the psychology worked – and, though I didn’t see it coming, when I looked back I realised that there had been a few little clues.
Anthony Wynne wrote well, the story was always engaging, and he caught the atmosphere, as unfolding events generated fear and hysteria, very well indeed. That was what held things together, and that was what kept me turning the pages.
I can’t say that this is the greatest Golden Age crime novel; but it is different and it is entertaining.
Beyond Eden Rock 
I’ve seen this one on the shelf at my local mystery bookstore, and it did look interesting, but I’ve talked myself out of buying a couple of times now. Reading your post makes me think that I should add it to my library list.
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Definitely – it’s not a book I’ll want to revisit but I am glad that I read it once.
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Nice…very eerie , very late night by the fire read…I especially like the combination of Scotland and supernatural elements.
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There isn’t too much of the supernatural, but I think you’d enjoy this late night by a fire,
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Lovely review, Jane – I like how you’ve positioned this book in the broader context of other Golden Age mysteries. I must try one or two of these British Library Crime Classics at some point.
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Thank you – the British Library Crime Classics I’ve read so far have been engaging, so I can definitely recommend trying them out when you’re in the mood for that kind of book.
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Nice review Jane. Funnily enough I was looking at this and several other BL classics in Waterstones yesterday and almost bought one. But lovely as they are I think they’re one read books and so ill probably rely on the local library!
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I think you’re right 0 I’ve enjoyed the ones I’ve read but they don’t merit keeping alongside authors like Dorothy L Sayers, Josephine Tey and P D James who will always have a home on my shelves.
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I really enjoy these BL Crime Classics, but as you say, they’re not always the best example of the Golden Age. It does make you realise why Christie, Allingham, Sayers & Marsh etc stood the test time while others didn’t! I will definitely read this though 🙂
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Exactly! So may the BL Crime Classics I’ve read have been good readers but not keepers,
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I’ve yet to read any of this series – but I love reading everyone’s reviews of them and will try some I hope. Love the covers too (and your current wallpaper is wonderful).
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There’s a lovely selection to chose from now, and I’m sure you’ll find one to your taste when you want to try a new author from the Golden Age.
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This sounds like a tempting read, shame about the melodrama, but I like the sound of it having a surprising ending.
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Please don’t let the melodrama put you off if you like the sound of the book – there wasn’t too much and it certainly didn’t spoil story.
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A lovely review although it sounds like the book was slightly lengthened by unnecessary details but I do like a locked room mystery.
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The book could have been a little more focused but I found much to appreciate, and I’ll be interested to see if you like it too,
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Not seen this BL classic when browsing their titles on the past. The Scottish setting appeals to me- as does the old locked room scenario.
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I think this one is quite new. It was the setting that drew me to the book, and I love a locked room scenario too,
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I really loved this one precisely because it was somewhat melodramatic. Far fetched at times but a great book to curl up with on a dark night.
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I do like a little melodrama, but I didn’t really think this story needed it. And I have to agree with your assessment.
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Ah! The good old locked room mystery! I haven’t read this particular novel in this series but I do think that the publishers have got to be careful with what they put out. Just because a book was written in the golden age of crime it doesn’t make it automatically worth re-publishing and the last one or two that I have read have been a bit of a let down. It makes me wonder whether to give time to any more, which is a shame.
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They do, and I’m a little worried that the books are being sent out into the world a little too quickly. I’ve found the books I’ve read to date worth reading but not in the same class as those well remembered authors or those reissued by Dean Street Press.
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I recently read my first BL Crime Classic (The Santa Klaus Murder) and it was a fast, fun read. I have Murder of a Lady on pre-order so I look forward to reading it when it arrives. As others have mentioned, I too love a locked room mystery!
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I hope you’ll enjoy this one too – it isn’t crime fiction at its best but it is entertaining
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I have this one waiting to be read, so I’m glad you enjoyed it. Like you and others have said, though, most of these BL forgotten classics seem to be one time only reads and really highlight just how great the ‘unforgotten’ classics are!
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Exactly. This is a book to be picked up when you want to be entertained rather than when you want your mind stretched by a great piece of crime fiction.
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Sounds like a good cosy crime. I am very attracted to these beautiful British Library Crime Classics. I really must try some of them soon; I particularly fancy the short story collections.
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They do look lovely. I have the London anthology lined up to read soon, and the others look very tempting.
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