Many Happy Returns
a.k.a Who Saw Her Die? – Patricia
Moyes
The eccentric Lady Balaclava requires her daughters Primrose,
Violet, and Daffodil and their European husbands to cross the Channel to visit
their mother in order to wish her many happy returns on her natal day. Fearing that she may be murdered, Lady B. has
leaned on her influential friends to have Yard Inspector Henry Tibbett attend
the party and prevent any killings.
Much to Henry’s chagrin, Lady B. croaks during the
celebrations. A forensic autopsy
reveals, however, that no toxic agent seems to have been responsible for this
unfortunate blow to Henry’s police pride. Though the death is ruled natural
causes, Henry knows there is a plethora of suspects collected at the run-down
country house. Who is culprit, dammit?
This 1970 mystery won the Edgar Allan Poe Special Award
from the Mystery Writers of America. It is a worthy updating of standard
whodunit elements (country house, rich people, ingenious weaponization). Lady
B. is a mild satire on the good-time aristos that populate Margery Allingham’s
smart Campion mysteries from between the wars (see The Fashion in Shrouds and Dancers in Mourning). Moyes seems
to be saying, “Not pretty in old age, are these fashionable people? But still
good grist for the whodunit mill!”
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