Green for Danger

Rating:
Summary: Alternative Christie
Review: A mystery who dunnit set in a World War II military hospital in England. Brand has a very similar style to Agatha Christie, she is a very accomplished writer in the genre in her own right and does not suffer in comparison with such elevated company. I am reluctant to spell out too much of the plot other than to say it revolves around the Doctors, Nurses and Patients. After all the point of mystery novel reading is trying to fathom out the real evidence from the red herrings yourself and I would hate to rob a potential reader of the fun of trying to solve the crime. I didn't figure it out myself until it was laid out before me by the detective at the end of the book. A worthwhile read from an excellent writer of murder mystery.

Rating:
Summary: Classic murder mystery in a "closed" community
Review: Another book that can be read over and over, and one that the reader will enjoy even more after seeing the wonderful movie starring Alistair Sim as the detective. A great way to be introduced to Ms. Brand's other entertaining reads.

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating mystery
Review: Christianna Brand is one of the lesser-known lights of Golden Age detective fiction, which is a shame, because she has enough talent to be far better-known. This mystery, set at a military hospital during World War II, is one of my favorites. Brand knew her stuff when it came to military hospitals, and the details really serve to ground the plot; she knows exactly how the wards would have been laid out, how much medicine the patients would have been given, who did what, who went where... and, of course, there were the usual vagaries of the war: bombing, cramped shelters, black-out. The mystery itself is interesting. I think the story wouldn't have been half so powerful if she had taken a more minimalist approach, which is yet another reason to love her-- every detail matters.