No Next of Kin

by Doris Miles Disney

Political columnist Fergus MacDonald suspects foul play when a congressional candidate and his lovely daughter, Andrea Langdon, begin receiving serious threats from Andrea's ex-lover, the lowly Seymour Boyd

253 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1959

Reviews

[Sophie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting, well-written scenario, but I struggled with the passive heroine. I would have liked it better if she had done more to rescue herself from her terrible situation rather than just passively paying the blackmailer and hoping he would keep his word and go away (yeah, because extortionists are known for their integrity). It also bothers me that in Googling this book, I found out there really was a circus fire in Hartford, CT, similar to the one that looms so large in this novel, and even an unidentified child known as Little Miss 1565, similar to the Little Sir 915 in the story. That makes me a little queasy. Something inappropriate about mining the details of a tragedy (167+ people died) for a romantic suspense novel.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

No Next of Kin is my first look at the work of American mystery writer Doris Miles Disney and I was pleasantly surprised by it; a most enjoyable, quickly paced mystery. Over the course of her life, 1907 - 1976, she wrote 47 novels, some in series format, others standalone. No Next of Kin is one of her standalones

Andrea Langdon has a deep dark secret. As a young girl, almost 18, she became pregnant at a party, was abandoned and with the aid of a loving teacher, boarded her child with strangers. When Greg was five, she takes him back with the hope of showing Greg to her father and having the youngster become a member of her family. Unfortunately, tragedy strikes at a county fair, when a fire starts and rages. Andrea, injured herself, doesn't identify the body of the little boy as hers and must carry the secret for the rest of her life.

Now begins a tale of blackmail and threats as the father, Seymour Boyd, turns up. Andrea comes from a rich family and her father is running for a seat as a Connecticut Rep. Boyd digs up the dirt, with the help of Walt Horbal (husband of the family who boarded Greg as a child), demands money from Andrea. Reporter Fergus MacDonald, attracted to Andrea, suspects something and begins his own investigation.

It's a fascinating, quick-paced, well-written story. Lots of tension, a bit of action and violence, definitely a page turner. Fergus MacDonald is an excellent character. Andrea, a suitable victim, with sufficient strength and intelligence to appeal to Fergus. The villains are well-presented and interesting. I don't know that it's an original idea, but it's crafted in a satisfactory fashion and draws you in, making you want to see how it will resolve. And the ending is suitably satisfactory. All in all, an excellent mystery and story. Checking out more of Disney's work now. (4.0 stars)

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andrea had always been taken care of but now at the age of 27 she was finding that her indiscretions of ten years ago plus all the lies of keeping them hidden are going to blow up in her face. Could also create enough of a scandal that her father might not win his Congress seat. A political columnist starts suspecting something is wrong in Andrea’s life –finds the solution of Sir 915 (unidentified 5 year old deceased boy), finds a set of blackmailer’s, and a murderer just in time to save Andrea’s life!
This is the fourth book I’ve read by Ms. Disney – believe it must have been one of her first because it was ok but not as good as the other one’s I had read! And, yet once I got in to it, I finished it and wanted to see how it ended!