I Want to Go Home

Captain Heimrich #1

by Frances Lockridge, Richard Lockridge

From the authors of the "excellent" Mr. and Mrs. North Mysteries: Captain Heimrich investigates family secrets behind closed doors (TheNew Yorker).

Capt. M. L. Heimrich of the New York State Police may not have the flash of hard-boiled city detectives, but there's no lead the intrepid investigator won't follow until his every hunch is satisfied . . .

After four years serving as a lieutenant in the US Naval Reserve, all World War II widow Jane Phillips wants is to reunite with her great-aunt Susan Meredith at her home in Westchester, New York. But Jane's journey soon proves to be fraught with danger.

First, a series of unfortunate events almost causes Jane to miss her train. Then, another passenger attempts to trick her into a premature disembarkation. Jane would like to think the mishaps are simple coincidence, but what she doesn't know is someone doesn't want her to make it home at all . . .

When Susan's grandson insists the family matriarch is being poisoned to death, police detective Captain Heimrich is duty bound to investigate. And soon he'll uncover a dastardly plot involving greedy relatives, a woman in peril, and the kind of wealth some people would kill for.

I Want to Go Home is the 1st book in the Captain Heimrich Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1948

About the author

Frances Louise (Davis) Lockridge wrote popular mysteries and children's books with husband Richard Lockridge. They also published under the shared pseudonym Francis Richards.

Reviews

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Discounted | Stressful read. | The cruelty involved, and the suspense, made me anxious, but I definitely kept turning the pages, so they were effective. I was beyond done with Alice's "dear" every other word by the second page she appeared on (I can't overstate how annoying that was), and I hope Heimrich becomes less of a caricature in future books (I don't really remember much about him from the second Mr & Mrs North book).

[Lisa Kucharski · Rating 2 out of 5]

An early Heimrich Mystery, and quite rough around the chapters. The book is confusing to read both from flipping around points of view but also just the writing quality in general. Also, in the first chapter one character is a woman and then in a paragraph later is a man.

Heimrich, as a character is also very sketchy, there are the bare strokes of a person there but in later books he is described a bit differently, and has more depth.

The book, being of in the 1940's period, has characters like the damsel in distress, the good man going to save her. A cast of crazy family members and The stoic detective.

It's interesting to read in that you can see the makings of Heimrich... but it is not an easy read.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having finished reading all of the Mr. & Mrs. North mystery series, am now starting to read another less well known series by the Lockridges featuring Captain Heimrich of the New York State police force. Has many of the same characteristics, with an informal conversation style to the writing. Am enjoying them and looking forward to more--some I have not read before.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read! Going home should be an easy task. Suddenly an easy thing not only becomes difficult but it’s also fraught with danger. The big question is why and how does it relate to a dying old woman? The story literally had be on the edge of my seat. It would make a great Alfred Hitchcock style film 🎥 I work could have put 4.5. It’s a really good story.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe 2.5 stars. A bit hard to read, but easier once I figured out who was who. Page 43-44 in ebook sketches out the family tree. The long journey east was also hard to follow, but things picked up once Jane finally arrived home.

[Barbara Klein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not particularly violent, but surprisingly scary.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard to put down. Would love to see this as a movie.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up.
This earlier Heimrich book is definitely not my favorite. Author Richard Lockridge wrote two types of novels, suspense books and mysteries. In this one he tried to split the baby. It begins as a female in flight tale, shifts to a who done it, and ends with a clumsy Agatha Christie type denouement. Watching Jane's frantic attempts to return home certainly makes for a nail biting read. In that way, the book is successful because you're anxious on her behalf. But if you enjoy a traditional mystery, skip this one and read a different entry in the series.

[Debie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would try another by this author.