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katykelly's review
4.0
I only discovered this writer recently, through the BBC's Mapp and Lucia adaptation, and saw this on the library shelf. I like reading early examples of genres, and early courtroom/murder stories appealed.
This really is early, written in 1908, pre-dating Agatha Christie's own first murder mysteries.
Mostly out of the courtroom though, the set-up involves a young man, Morris Assheton, fond of his new fast car and his girl, who finds himself slandered. The Assheton's lawyer discovers it is his own partner besmirching Morris's good name to the father of his affianced, and also hears Morris's angry threats. When Mills, the slanderer is found murdered, Morris is arrested.
I was surprised to find myself at this point in the plot and already closing in on the end. I expected a more lengthy and tense courtroom battle, but that seems to be a later addition to the genre. Still, a lot of conventions we would expect are there - twists and surprise evidence (though if you've been paying attention, to the title alone, the final revelations are hardly shocking).
It's a lovely period piece, some interesting characters - the family lawyer and Morris are both neither one thing nor another - but if you're looking for a Grisham you may be disappointed.
I intend to read more of the Mapp and Lucia series, as I think Benson's writing is more suited to genteel wit and putdowns, but am glad I tried this. It was the work of only a couple of hours to polish it off.
This really is early, written in 1908, pre-dating Agatha Christie's own first murder mysteries.
Mostly out of the courtroom though, the set-up involves a young man, Morris Assheton, fond of his new fast car and his girl, who finds himself slandered. The Assheton's lawyer discovers it is his own partner besmirching Morris's good name to the father of his affianced, and also hears Morris's angry threats. When Mills, the slanderer is found murdered, Morris is arrested.
I was surprised to find myself at this point in the plot and already closing in on the end. I expected a more lengthy and tense courtroom battle, but that seems to be a later addition to the genre. Still, a lot of conventions we would expect are there - twists and surprise evidence (though if you've been paying attention, to the title alone, the final revelations are hardly shocking).
It's a lovely period piece, some interesting characters - the family lawyer and Morris are both neither one thing nor another - but if you're looking for a Grisham you may be disappointed.
I intend to read more of the Mapp and Lucia series, as I think Benson's writing is more suited to genteel wit and putdowns, but am glad I tried this. It was the work of only a couple of hours to polish it off.
jenmckenzie's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
orangefan65's review
4.0
Great little mystery from the early 1900s. Combination court-room, Perry Mason-type thriller with Hitchcock, wrong-man-set up scenario. Entertaining.
fictionfan's review
5.0
An excellent vintage...
Morris Assheton is due to come into his inheritance when he’s twenty-five. However, a clause in his father’s will allows him to take control of his money earlier, should he marry a woman of whom his mother approves. Morris has met and fallen in love with just such a woman, so his trustee, Edward Taynton, suggests he might want to look over the accounts of the trust. Young Morris has other more important things to think of, though – his future wife, and his new car which he loves with at least as much fervour. This is lucky for Edward, since he and his partner Godfrey Mills have been gambling unsuccessfully with the trust funds. So all seems well, but things are about to go wrong and when they do, it will all lead to murder...
More of a long novella than a novel, this isn’t really a mystery, or at least the possibilities are so limited that most readers will be able to work out whodunit with a fair degree of certainty pretty early on. Instead, it’s an entertaining and quite insightful character study of the three main characters, Morris and the two trustees, and mostly of Edward Taynton.
Edward isn’t a bad man – in fact, his gambles were meant as much to benefit Morris as himself and he still hopes to make good the losses before the trust is wound up. He’s worked hard to give himself a comfortable life, and hopes to retire soon to enjoy life before he’s too old. But we see how he’s affected by pressure as his secret looks in danger. He makes some odd decisions, but happily manages to justify his behaviour himself. A kindly, friendly man whom everyone likes and respects – with a streak of narcissism hidden beneath the surface.
Morris too is a pleasant character, leading a contented, pampered and happy life and with every reason to expect that to continue. However, when things go wrong, suddenly he becomes filled with a rage that surprises everyone, including himself, by its intensity. Godfrey, Edward’s partner, is somewhat less well drawn, and to a degree is a bit of a plot device. He too suddenly behaves in a way that surprises his partner, but I didn’t feel I knew him nearly as well as the other characters so didn’t feel the same surprise.
The murder happens quite late on and Benson builds a great atmosphere of approaching dread, with some fine dramatic writing. After a police investigation in which the police show themselves to be sharper than the murderer anticipated, the whole thing winds up in a courtroom drama where there’s an excellent revelation around a physical clue that turns the prosecution’s whole case on its head at the last minute. It is fair play in that the reader was made aware of the clue at the appropriate place, but this reader, while I had spotted that it was A Clue, couldn’t work it out, which always adds to the fun!
I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It can easily be read in an evening and my interest never flagged despite having very little doubt as to whodunit or how it would end. It’s the character of Edward that makes it entertaining – he may be a cheat and a fraudster, but I found him good company anyway. Highly recommended.
I downloaded this one from the excellent www.fadedpage.com
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
Morris Assheton is due to come into his inheritance when he’s twenty-five. However, a clause in his father’s will allows him to take control of his money earlier, should he marry a woman of whom his mother approves. Morris has met and fallen in love with just such a woman, so his trustee, Edward Taynton, suggests he might want to look over the accounts of the trust. Young Morris has other more important things to think of, though – his future wife, and his new car which he loves with at least as much fervour. This is lucky for Edward, since he and his partner Godfrey Mills have been gambling unsuccessfully with the trust funds. So all seems well, but things are about to go wrong and when they do, it will all lead to murder...
More of a long novella than a novel, this isn’t really a mystery, or at least the possibilities are so limited that most readers will be able to work out whodunit with a fair degree of certainty pretty early on. Instead, it’s an entertaining and quite insightful character study of the three main characters, Morris and the two trustees, and mostly of Edward Taynton.
Edward isn’t a bad man – in fact, his gambles were meant as much to benefit Morris as himself and he still hopes to make good the losses before the trust is wound up. He’s worked hard to give himself a comfortable life, and hopes to retire soon to enjoy life before he’s too old. But we see how he’s affected by pressure as his secret looks in danger. He makes some odd decisions, but happily manages to justify his behaviour himself. A kindly, friendly man whom everyone likes and respects – with a streak of narcissism hidden beneath the surface.
Morris too is a pleasant character, leading a contented, pampered and happy life and with every reason to expect that to continue. However, when things go wrong, suddenly he becomes filled with a rage that surprises everyone, including himself, by its intensity. Godfrey, Edward’s partner, is somewhat less well drawn, and to a degree is a bit of a plot device. He too suddenly behaves in a way that surprises his partner, but I didn’t feel I knew him nearly as well as the other characters so didn’t feel the same surprise.
The murder happens quite late on and Benson builds a great atmosphere of approaching dread, with some fine dramatic writing. After a police investigation in which the police show themselves to be sharper than the murderer anticipated, the whole thing winds up in a courtroom drama where there’s an excellent revelation around a physical clue that turns the prosecution’s whole case on its head at the last minute. It is fair play in that the reader was made aware of the clue at the appropriate place, but this reader, while I had spotted that it was A Clue, couldn’t work it out, which always adds to the fun!
I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It can easily be read in an evening and my interest never flagged despite having very little doubt as to whodunit or how it would end. It’s the character of Edward that makes it entertaining – he may be a cheat and a fraudster, but I found him good company anyway. Highly recommended.
I downloaded this one from the excellent www.fadedpage.com
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
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