Death of My Aunt

Rating:
Summary: Death Of My Aunt
Review: The book was published in 1929, and the amateur detective is a stockbroker. But, this is just coincidence; the book doesn't really have anything to do with the Crash of '29. It has everything to do with the suspicious death of one Catherine Cartwright, just when her nephew, Malcolm Warren--the young stockbroker mentioned--is sitting at her bedside. Naturally, this would seem to make Warren, our narrator, the chief suspect, since he had barely handed her something to drink--a health restoring tonic that has possibly had the opposite effect. No wonder it behooves Malcolm Warren to try and unravel the case on his own, as soon as the police can stop querying him.

Turns out dead Aunt Catherine has an extended family, and lots of loyal servants, who certainly would have been affected by changes she meant to make to her will. Turns out the new widower, Hannibal Cartwright, has been ostracized by just about all of his late wife's relatives. Turns out that relatives of Aunt Catherine's first husband--long dead--feel entitled to a piece of the pie. Turns out that there are a lot of minor but unusual occurrences previous to the murder that Malcolm can mull over as he tries to understand who would have had the best motive and opportunity for poisoning his aunt's would-be rejuvenator-conoction (besides him, or her husband, or shifty manservant Dace). And it also turns out that Malcolm the amateur sleuth has a great room when it comes to eavesdropping secretly on all questioning of suspects going on in an adjoining chamber (as long as no one happens to drop in and catch him at it).

This is a fun mystery, full of clues and surprises. I also liked the characterization of Malcolm, who nobly attempts to solve the case, but, in all too human fashion, really wishes his aunt hadn't petitioned him to visit suddenly so she could give him startling news, thus unsettling what could have been a quiet weekend by subsequently dying. Very unfair of her, is Malcolm's attitude. And, like the stockbroker he is, he can't quite get his mind off the money he discovers he'll receive due to the tragedy.

I recommend this neglected, witty mystery to fans of Christie, Marsh, Sayers, etc.