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Inspectors Hannasyde & Hemingway #6
A Christmas Party by Georgette Heyer
'Tis the season-to be dead...
Resigned to spending Christmas at Lexham Manor, Mathilda Clare wasn't sure what she dreaded most--the foul temper of Nat Herriard, the filthy-rich old Scrooge who owned the place, or the sweetness-and-light of his brother, Joseph. Joseph had concocted a guest list brilliantly headed for mayhem... acid-tongued young Stephen, his sly sister Paula, and Nat's sharp-dealing partner, with a finger in some strange pies. "There'll be murder before we're through," Mathilda laughed. And she was absolutely right. This it is no ordinary Christmas, when the holiday party takes on a sinister aspect when the colorful assortment of guests discovers there is a killer in their midst. The owner of the substantial estate, that old Scrooge Nathaniel Herriard, is found stabbed in the back, and the six holiday guests find themselves the suspects of a murder enquiry.
For Inspector Hemingway of Scotland Yard, 'tis the season to find whodunit. Whilst the delicate matter of inheritance could be the key to this crime, the real conundrum is how any of the suspects could have entered the locked room to commit this foul deed. The investigation is complicated by the fact that every guest is hiding something-throwing all of their testimony into question and casting suspicion far and wide. The clever and daring crime will mystify readers, yet the answer is in plain sight all along....
Resigned to spending Christmas at Lexham Manor, Mathilda Clare wasn't sure what she dreaded most--the foul temper of Nat Herriard, the filthy-rich old Scrooge who owned the place, or the sweetness-and-light of his brother, Joseph. Joseph had concocted a guest list brilliantly headed for mayhem... acid-tongued young Stephen, his sly sister Paula, and Nat's sharp-dealing partner, with a finger in some strange pies. "There'll be murder before we're through," Mathilda laughed. And she was absolutely right. This it is no ordinary Christmas, when the holiday party takes on a sinister aspect when the colorful assortment of guests discovers there is a killer in their midst. The owner of the substantial estate, that old Scrooge Nathaniel Herriard, is found stabbed in the back, and the six holiday guests find themselves the suspects of a murder enquiry.
For Inspector Hemingway of Scotland Yard, 'tis the season to find whodunit. Whilst the delicate matter of inheritance could be the key to this crime, the real conundrum is how any of the suspects could have entered the locked room to commit this foul deed. The investigation is complicated by the fact that every guest is hiding something-throwing all of their testimony into question and casting suspicion far and wide. The clever and daring crime will mystify readers, yet the answer is in plain sight all along....
Paperback
First published January 1, 1941
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About the author
Georgette Heyer
245 books5,501 followersGeorgette Heyer was a prolific historical romance and detective fiction novelist. Her writing career began in 1921, when she turned a story for her younger brother into the novel The Black Moth.
In 1925 she married George Ronald Rougier, a mining engineer. Rougier later became a barrister and he often provided basic plot outlines for her thrillers. Beginning in 1932, Heyer released one romance novel and one thriller each year.
Heyer was an intensely private person who remained a best selling author all her life without the aid of publicity. She made no appearances, never gave an interview and only answered fan letters herself if they made an interesting historical point. She wrote one novel using the pseudonym Stella Martin.
Her Georgian and Regencies romances were inspired by Jane Austen. While some critics thought her novels were too detailed, others considered the level of detail to be Heyer's greatest asset.
Heyer remains a popular and much-loved author, known for essentially establishing the historical romance genre and its subgenre Regency romance.
In 1925 she married George Ronald Rougier, a mining engineer. Rougier later became a barrister and he often provided basic plot outlines for her thrillers. Beginning in 1932, Heyer released one romance novel and one thriller each year.
Heyer was an intensely private person who remained a best selling author all her life without the aid of publicity. She made no appearances, never gave an interview and only answered fan letters herself if they made an interesting historical point. She wrote one novel using the pseudonym Stella Martin.
Her Georgian and Regencies romances were inspired by Jane Austen. While some critics thought her novels were too detailed, others considered the level of detail to be Heyer's greatest asset.
Heyer remains a popular and much-loved author, known for essentially establishing the historical romance genre and its subgenre Regency romance.
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December 25, 2022
Była dobra, ale zbyt długa
November 22, 2013
Envious Casca by Georgette Heyer was written in 1941.
Joseph wants to be have a holiday party and has invited his niece and nephew, and their current significant others, as well as his brother Nathan's business partner. Apparently old uncle "Nat" was not the holiday cheer type and was up and down with a painful malady, making him grumpier than usual. Having all these people under one roof proved not to be such a grand idea when Uncle Nat was murdered in his bed.
This is a classic "locked door" mystery set during the holidays, making this a good mystery to pull out this time of year. Suspects and motives abound as Inspector Hemingway tries to sort through the evidence and alibi's.
This classic mystery might have you thinking twice about congregating your family under one roof for a little holiday gathering.
This book is a part of my personal book collection and one I've always wanted to read, but somehow never got around to. I'm glad I decided to sneak it in my holiday reading list this year.
This one would appeal to all mystery lovers, but especially to those that enjoy British mysteries and classic mysteries. A+
Joseph wants to be have a holiday party and has invited his niece and nephew, and their current significant others, as well as his brother Nathan's business partner. Apparently old uncle "Nat" was not the holiday cheer type and was up and down with a painful malady, making him grumpier than usual. Having all these people under one roof proved not to be such a grand idea when Uncle Nat was murdered in his bed.
This is a classic "locked door" mystery set during the holidays, making this a good mystery to pull out this time of year. Suspects and motives abound as Inspector Hemingway tries to sort through the evidence and alibi's.
This classic mystery might have you thinking twice about congregating your family under one roof for a little holiday gathering.
This book is a part of my personal book collection and one I've always wanted to read, but somehow never got around to. I'm glad I decided to sneak it in my holiday reading list this year.
This one would appeal to all mystery lovers, but especially to those that enjoy British mysteries and classic mysteries. A+
April 19, 2025
3.5
Heyer was clearly an Agatha Christie devotee (or contemporary) as this is a classic drawing room-style mystery set in an upper crust manor home in the country. Bad tempered rich uncle put upon at Christmas by all the thankless relatives and business partner(s).
Family squabbles lead to a locked room murder. In steps a slightly egotistical Inspector and his Watson-like Sergeant. Slightly funny but way too bogged down with details, there are some nice red herrings and interesting characters sprinkled throughout.
As much as I say I love a good classic who-dun-it, I must admit this was a tad too slow for me until the last few chapters. But if you want a real classic of an English mystery of yesteryear, Heyer delivers.
(Reviewed 12/13/20)
Heyer was clearly an Agatha Christie devotee (or contemporary) as this is a classic drawing room-style mystery set in an upper crust manor home in the country. Bad tempered rich uncle put upon at Christmas by all the thankless relatives and business partner(s).
Family squabbles lead to a locked room murder. In steps a slightly egotistical Inspector and his Watson-like Sergeant. Slightly funny but way too bogged down with details, there are some nice red herrings and interesting characters sprinkled throughout.
As much as I say I love a good classic who-dun-it, I must admit this was a tad too slow for me until the last few chapters. But if you want a real classic of an English mystery of yesteryear, Heyer delivers.
(Reviewed 12/13/20)
Read
December 11, 2016The Hook - ‘Tis the season!
The Line(s) - ”It was Joseph who had been inspired to organize the house-party that was looming over Nathaniel’s unwilling head this chill December. Joseph, having lived for so many years abroad, hankered wistfully after a real English Christmas. Nathaniel, regarding him with a contemptuous eye, said that a real English Christmas meant, in his experience, a series of quarrels between inimical person bound to on another only by the accident of relationship, and thrown together by a worn-out convention which decreed that at Christmas families should forgather.
The Sinker - It’s the time of year when my heart turns to Christmas stories, generally not the murderous mystery kind and yet somehow this is the second I’ve read this season.
I’m a fan of locked room mysteries and this one fits the genre. If you read the summary you’ll know there’s a murder but I’m still going to include the next passage in a spoiler.
This is the first book I’ve read by Georgette Heyer, now deceased. She was a prolific author who wrote many a regency romance and detective stories. Not a fan of romance, I thought Christmas Party the perfect opportunity to acquaint myself with her writing style.
In addition to my love of locked room mysteries, there were many other pluses to this somewhat cozy mystery. Written in 1941, you can imagine that it was a kinder, more genteel style of writing. All the action takes place in one setting so like a play there’s lots of dialog and description of the stately home and its furnishing. I could see and hear the characters like I was in the room with them. The humor is subtle but actually funny, and the mores are purely of a time long past. The lines I quoted above are often how family get-togethers go though intentions of good-hearted souls yearn for the Christmas’s of their youthful memories.
In a word, nostalgic; two words, classic mystery; three words, jolly good fun.
The Line(s) - ”It was Joseph who had been inspired to organize the house-party that was looming over Nathaniel’s unwilling head this chill December. Joseph, having lived for so many years abroad, hankered wistfully after a real English Christmas. Nathaniel, regarding him with a contemptuous eye, said that a real English Christmas meant, in his experience, a series of quarrels between inimical person bound to on another only by the accident of relationship, and thrown together by a worn-out convention which decreed that at Christmas families should forgather.
The Sinker - It’s the time of year when my heart turns to Christmas stories, generally not the murderous mystery kind and yet somehow this is the second I’ve read this season.
I’m a fan of locked room mysteries and this one fits the genre. If you read the summary you’ll know there’s a murder but I’m still going to include the next passage in a spoiler.
This is the first book I’ve read by Georgette Heyer, now deceased. She was a prolific author who wrote many a regency romance and detective stories. Not a fan of romance, I thought Christmas Party the perfect opportunity to acquaint myself with her writing style.
In addition to my love of locked room mysteries, there were many other pluses to this somewhat cozy mystery. Written in 1941, you can imagine that it was a kinder, more genteel style of writing. All the action takes place in one setting so like a play there’s lots of dialog and description of the stately home and its furnishing. I could see and hear the characters like I was in the room with them. The humor is subtle but actually funny, and the mores are purely of a time long past. The lines I quoted above are often how family get-togethers go though intentions of good-hearted souls yearn for the Christmas’s of their youthful memories.
In a word, nostalgic; two words, classic mystery; three words, jolly good fun.
March 4, 2015
I read all of GH's mystery/suspense books (other than Footsteps in the Dark) many years ago. At the time my favourite was Death in the Stocks, but I have just read these two back to back & my new favourite is Envious Casca.
Before I start my review I'll just get two things out of the way. Many reviewers in many reviews of GH's books here have mentioned her fondness for recycling characters & it has never been more obvious than in comparing these two novels. Stephen is an even more unpleasant Kenneth Vereker, Violet becomes Valerie. This time The Good Sort is the breeder of Bull Terriers not The Sister. Did GH only like this particular breed of dog?
& maybe reading Mary Stewart's again has highlighted it so I'm seeing it everywhere, but GH was a smoker herself & smoking features heavily in this book. Changed times now, where you don't see boxes of cigarettes on tables for your guests to help themselves to (that would now be a recipe for bankruptcy)& I can't remember seeing anyone use a cigarette holder since the 70s - & it looked affected even then!
What I loved about the book was her character actors (or dramatis personae as Hemingway would say!) GH clearly had a lot of fun with bumbling Joseph, blank page Maude, overbearing Mummy & the glacially correct Sturry. By GH's standards this was a well constructed mystery although & the wonderful Hemingway is the lead detective!
Highly recommended!
Before I start my review I'll just get two things out of the way. Many reviewers in many reviews of GH's books here have mentioned her fondness for recycling characters & it has never been more obvious than in comparing these two novels. Stephen is an even more unpleasant Kenneth Vereker, Violet becomes Valerie. This time The Good Sort is the breeder of Bull Terriers not The Sister. Did GH only like this particular breed of dog?
& maybe reading Mary Stewart's again has highlighted it so I'm seeing it everywhere, but GH was a smoker herself & smoking features heavily in this book. Changed times now, where you don't see boxes of cigarettes on tables for your guests to help themselves to (that would now be a recipe for bankruptcy)& I can't remember seeing anyone use a cigarette holder since the 70s - & it looked affected even then!
What I loved about the book was her character actors (or dramatis personae as Hemingway would say!) GH clearly had a lot of fun with bumbling Joseph, blank page Maude, overbearing Mummy & the glacially correct Sturry. By GH's standards this was a well constructed mystery although & the wonderful Hemingway is the lead detective!
Highly recommended!
September 2, 2016
"Damn it, he was in here with the door locked!" Stephen said. "He can't have been stabbed!"
I think Heyer wrote a story about people she hated in real life, relished and had a hell of a time making them (an exaggerated version) vapid, insipid, and whiney; but oh so highly quotable. This is second in the Inspector Hemingway series and god love the man for the testimonies and evidence he has to shift through to discover the killer. As a locked door mystery, it's pretty good. The cast of characters is varied but small enough to keep track of and most work as plausible red herrings, I was wrong with my first guess as to who the villain was. The first half is mostly setting the scene with introductions and glimpses into characters' personalities and hints to possible murder motivations as they arrive to the house party. The second half is where the murder occurs and the whodunit gets going. It's a bit slow going as first the sergeant and then Inspector Hemingway arriving on the scene talk to everyone but then the clues start rolling in and the story starts to make headway. How the murder occurs was a little goofy but I would classify this as a cozy mystery with some romance inspirations sprinkled in, so it's all in good fun.
The following quote is a bit of a spoiler and my little comment after it, you'd know who ends up pairing up and probably figure out two characters who aren't the killer. Beware! You can pick back up at the Bonus :)
Lest you forget this is a Heyer and those romance inspirations I was talking about,
He pulled her rather roughly into his arms. "O God, Mathilda, do keep me in order!" he said, in a suddenly thickened voice. "I need you! I need you damnably!"
She found that her own voice was unsteady. "I know. You are such a fool, Stephen: such a dear impossible fool!"
"So are you, to care a damn for me," he said. "I never thought you did. I can't think why you do."
She took his face between her hands, looking up at him a little mistily. "I like savage creatures. Bull-terriers and Stephen Herriard."
Hey, you leave bull-terriers out of this! I had a contentious relationship with Stephen but he, somewhat, redeemed himself in the end. But seriously, bless her heart and all the Mathildas in the world who take these men on.
Bonus:
Heyer provides us with your next time you want to leave work early excuse. If someone accidentally brushes up against you:
Nathaniel at once became a cripple. He said: "My lumbago! Damn you, don't do that!" and tottered to a chair, one hand to the small of his back and his manly form bent with suffering.
Lumbago! Works every time.
I think Heyer wrote a story about people she hated in real life, relished and had a hell of a time making them (an exaggerated version) vapid, insipid, and whiney; but oh so highly quotable. This is second in the Inspector Hemingway series and god love the man for the testimonies and evidence he has to shift through to discover the killer. As a locked door mystery, it's pretty good. The cast of characters is varied but small enough to keep track of and most work as plausible red herrings, I was wrong with my first guess as to who the villain was. The first half is mostly setting the scene with introductions and glimpses into characters' personalities and hints to possible murder motivations as they arrive to the house party. The second half is where the murder occurs and the whodunit gets going. It's a bit slow going as first the sergeant and then Inspector Hemingway arriving on the scene talk to everyone but then the clues start rolling in and the story starts to make headway. How the murder occurs was a little goofy but I would classify this as a cozy mystery with some romance inspirations sprinkled in, so it's all in good fun.
The following quote is a bit of a spoiler and my little comment after it, you'd know who ends up pairing up and probably figure out two characters who aren't the killer. Beware! You can pick back up at the Bonus :)
Lest you forget this is a Heyer and those romance inspirations I was talking about,
He pulled her rather roughly into his arms. "O God, Mathilda, do keep me in order!" he said, in a suddenly thickened voice. "I need you! I need you damnably!"
She found that her own voice was unsteady. "I know. You are such a fool, Stephen: such a dear impossible fool!"
"So are you, to care a damn for me," he said. "I never thought you did. I can't think why you do."
She took his face between her hands, looking up at him a little mistily. "I like savage creatures. Bull-terriers and Stephen Herriard."
Hey, you leave bull-terriers out of this! I had a contentious relationship with Stephen but he, somewhat, redeemed himself in the end. But seriously, bless her heart and all the Mathildas in the world who take these men on.
Bonus:
Heyer provides us with your next time you want to leave work early excuse. If someone accidentally brushes up against you:
Nathaniel at once became a cripple. He said: "My lumbago! Damn you, don't do that!" and tottered to a chair, one hand to the small of his back and his manly form bent with suffering.
Lumbago! Works every time.
December 22, 2025
2024 Re-Read
This mystery may be set at Christmas time, but it is truly an anti-Christmas story. Every member of the Herriard family is despicable in their own way. I had no sympathy when Nathaniel was found stabbed to death in his locked bedroom. My only regret was that the murderer hadn't also extended his hand to include Uncle Joe in his favours too. Heyer was masterful at creating a cast of characters that I could hate without reservation. It quite distracted my attention from the solution.
It had been four years since I first read this novel and I did remember who did it and how, but it was still entertaining to see how Heyer set up her plot and played with her characters. I picked up a copy of this title at a charity book sale and I believe I will hang onto it. It is a bracing antidote to the cloying sentimentality of the Christmas season. 🎶Deck the halls and not your family, Falalalala🎶
Original Review
For a couple of years now I have wanted to read this book (in December, at Christmastime). My library acquired it last year and I placed my hold hopefully. Things did not look encouraging—I had concerns that one copy had gone missing and it looked like it would be well into January before I got my paws on it. But, behold, a Christmas miracle, the lost was found!
This was my first Georgette Heyer novel, but it surely will not be the last. She very skillfully got me to loathe the whole crowd involved in this Christmas party! It was a great relief to me when one of them was finally stabbed to death! Nathaniel is the only one worth enough money to be bothered killing, and he is found dead of a stab wound in his locked bedroom in his palatial country house, fulfilling a couple of mystery story tropes. Then the games begin, as the murderer is pitted against Scotland Yard in a game of wits.
I usually don't figure out the solution to the crime in these kind of books, but I knew who I wanted it to be! I was ready to stick a knife into this person myself, early in the novel. And Merry Christmas to me, I got my wish!
I'll be interested to read more of Heyer's work, either another mystery or a romance. She was able to make me hate her characters so well, I bet her romances are very engaging.
Cross posted at my blog:
https://wanda-thenextfifty.blogspot.c...
This mystery may be set at Christmas time, but it is truly an anti-Christmas story. Every member of the Herriard family is despicable in their own way. I had no sympathy when Nathaniel was found stabbed to death in his locked bedroom. My only regret was that the murderer hadn't also extended his hand to include Uncle Joe in his favours too. Heyer was masterful at creating a cast of characters that I could hate without reservation. It quite distracted my attention from the solution.
It had been four years since I first read this novel and I did remember who did it and how, but it was still entertaining to see how Heyer set up her plot and played with her characters. I picked up a copy of this title at a charity book sale and I believe I will hang onto it. It is a bracing antidote to the cloying sentimentality of the Christmas season. 🎶Deck the halls and not your family, Falalalala🎶
Original Review
For a couple of years now I have wanted to read this book (in December, at Christmastime). My library acquired it last year and I placed my hold hopefully. Things did not look encouraging—I had concerns that one copy had gone missing and it looked like it would be well into January before I got my paws on it. But, behold, a Christmas miracle, the lost was found!
This was my first Georgette Heyer novel, but it surely will not be the last. She very skillfully got me to loathe the whole crowd involved in this Christmas party! It was a great relief to me when one of them was finally stabbed to death! Nathaniel is the only one worth enough money to be bothered killing, and he is found dead of a stab wound in his locked bedroom in his palatial country house, fulfilling a couple of mystery story tropes. Then the games begin, as the murderer is pitted against Scotland Yard in a game of wits.
I usually don't figure out the solution to the crime in these kind of books, but I knew who I wanted it to be! I was ready to stick a knife into this person myself, early in the novel. And Merry Christmas to me, I got my wish!
I'll be interested to read more of Heyer's work, either another mystery or a romance. She was able to make me hate her characters so well, I bet her romances are very engaging.
Cross posted at my blog:
https://wanda-thenextfifty.blogspot.c...
May 27, 2023
Having read, and enjoyed, “No Wind of Blame,” the first Inspector Hemingway mystery, I was keen to read the second. “A Christmas Party,” is also known by the title, “Envious Casca,” and has a similar, light and humorous touch to it, as the first mystery did.
At Lexham Manor, Nathaniel Herriard lives with his brother, Joseph, and Joseph’s wife, Maud. Joseph has planned a family reunion for Christmas, although there is not really much goodwill to all men, or family members, emanating from Nathaniel. It is clear, in fact, that this party is very much the wish of Joseph alone, who seems keen to try to get the ‘young people,’ together for Christmas.
Guests include Nathanial’s niece, Paula, who wants her uncle to back a play she wishes to appear in and who has brought the playwright, a young man called Willoughby, as her guest. Paula’s brother, Stephen, has also arrived, along with his pretty, but vacuous fiancé, Valerie. There is also distant cousin, Mathilda and Nathanial’s business partner, Edgar. Nathanial is a difficult and argumentative man, who has rows with his business partner, objects to his nephew’s fiancé and (understandably) resents having a play he is not interested in read aloud to him over Christmas. When he is killed, there are a plethora of suspects and quite a few motives, revolving around the important issue of who inherits Nathanial’s fortune.
I really enjoyed this, although I did not think it was as good as the previous Hemingway book, for the simple reason that the culprit was, in my mind, fairly obvious. I am hopeless at spotting ‘whodunnit,’ so, if I was sure of who was responsible, then I’m pretty sure most other readers would be too. Still, an enjoyable read and – should your own relatives drive you crazy at Christmas – you can read this and know you are not alone is objecting to having to socialise during the festive season! Personally, I felt deeply for poor Maud, who just wanted to sit by the fire and read her book…
At Lexham Manor, Nathaniel Herriard lives with his brother, Joseph, and Joseph’s wife, Maud. Joseph has planned a family reunion for Christmas, although there is not really much goodwill to all men, or family members, emanating from Nathaniel. It is clear, in fact, that this party is very much the wish of Joseph alone, who seems keen to try to get the ‘young people,’ together for Christmas.
Guests include Nathanial’s niece, Paula, who wants her uncle to back a play she wishes to appear in and who has brought the playwright, a young man called Willoughby, as her guest. Paula’s brother, Stephen, has also arrived, along with his pretty, but vacuous fiancé, Valerie. There is also distant cousin, Mathilda and Nathanial’s business partner, Edgar. Nathanial is a difficult and argumentative man, who has rows with his business partner, objects to his nephew’s fiancé and (understandably) resents having a play he is not interested in read aloud to him over Christmas. When he is killed, there are a plethora of suspects and quite a few motives, revolving around the important issue of who inherits Nathanial’s fortune.
I really enjoyed this, although I did not think it was as good as the previous Hemingway book, for the simple reason that the culprit was, in my mind, fairly obvious. I am hopeless at spotting ‘whodunnit,’ so, if I was sure of who was responsible, then I’m pretty sure most other readers would be too. Still, an enjoyable read and – should your own relatives drive you crazy at Christmas – you can read this and know you are not alone is objecting to having to socialise during the festive season! Personally, I felt deeply for poor Maud, who just wanted to sit by the fire and read her book…
December 13, 2025
A Holiday Whodunnit with a behind locked door country house party setting was a delicious prospect. I eagerly turned this audio version on and settled in for some enjoyment. It wasn't as sparkling as I expected in that it was draggy and some of the characters came across as annoying more than humorous many times, but still afforded me a good mystery. I figured out quickly enough who did it and why, but I was pleasantly surprised as to the how.
The jocular old uncle staying with his crotchety brother at Nat's country house is determined to have a Christmas house party. Joseph pulls together a motley group of people and there is no hope that his naive attempt will end in disaster. Nat's niece, Paula, brings with her a promising young playwright and hopes to convince him to back a play when he doesn't even care for such stuff and definitely doesn't want Paula involved. His nephew, Stephen, an argumentative young man brings down his fiance' whom Nat sees as a little gold-digger and can't stand. Then there is Nat's business partner who irritates him with the latest business proposal. Joseph and his distant wife Maude along with family friend, Matilda round out the party. It is ghastly from the start and then this is compounded by Nat's murder behind the locked door of his room. Inspector Hemingway has his work cut out for him with so many suspects and motives, but stuck on the means and opportunity with that frustrating locked door.
As I said, it was a teaser, but I worked out some of it. The characters were mostly cantankerous types, but yet I did find their rancor fascinating. It was amusing to have the vapid, stunning yet a bit cunning Valerie and her histrionics set against her opposite, the placid and uninterested Maude always looking to bore people over her book on Elisabeth of Austria. It was a low-key murder and mayhem piece that I found engaging.
The narrator, Ulli Birve, did a splendid job once again with the second book in the Inspector Hemingway series. She had a large cast of quirky characters and she produced them well. She is a great storyteller.
All in all, this was a good period mystery. Not the best by the author, but still engaging.
The jocular old uncle staying with his crotchety brother at Nat's country house is determined to have a Christmas house party. Joseph pulls together a motley group of people and there is no hope that his naive attempt will end in disaster. Nat's niece, Paula, brings with her a promising young playwright and hopes to convince him to back a play when he doesn't even care for such stuff and definitely doesn't want Paula involved. His nephew, Stephen, an argumentative young man brings down his fiance' whom Nat sees as a little gold-digger and can't stand. Then there is Nat's business partner who irritates him with the latest business proposal. Joseph and his distant wife Maude along with family friend, Matilda round out the party. It is ghastly from the start and then this is compounded by Nat's murder behind the locked door of his room. Inspector Hemingway has his work cut out for him with so many suspects and motives, but stuck on the means and opportunity with that frustrating locked door.
As I said, it was a teaser, but I worked out some of it. The characters were mostly cantankerous types, but yet I did find their rancor fascinating. It was amusing to have the vapid, stunning yet a bit cunning Valerie and her histrionics set against her opposite, the placid and uninterested Maude always looking to bore people over her book on Elisabeth of Austria. It was a low-key murder and mayhem piece that I found engaging.
The narrator, Ulli Birve, did a splendid job once again with the second book in the Inspector Hemingway series. She had a large cast of quirky characters and she produced them well. She is a great storyteller.
All in all, this was a good period mystery. Not the best by the author, but still engaging.
July 6, 2023
A man is murdered, but is alone in a locked room. Let's see how they find the culprit!
December 29, 2021
”If you ask me, there very likely wouldn’t have been a murder at all if it hadn’t been for him getting ideas about peace and goodwill, and assembling all these highly uncongenial people under the same roof at the same time.”
That quote sets the stage for the opening of A Christmas Party, a 1941 locked room mystery where a murder takes place at an English country house. Everyone has gathered for a traditional Christmas celebration. However, the characters are greedy, quarrelsome, and narcissistic, who are devoid of any holiday kindness and spirit. Initially, all I saw was constantly bickering people that were tedious to read about. It took several chapters for me to clue into the clever irony Heyer presents here: unhappy, selfish people at a grand country estate that’s trimmed out for a joyous holiday. This irony isn’t the chuckling humor type, that I’ve come to expect in Heyer books, maybe that is why I was slow to realize she was showing me the ignorance of these people.
Imagine if the Grinch (after his heart grew) and his docile wife lived in his brother Scrooge’s (super rich) house free loading. And Grinch decided to hold a Christmas house party and invite the lovely relatives and plus ones against Scrooge’s wishes.
The rude nephew brought his gold digger fiancée, whom Scrooge vehemently dislikes. The actor niece brought a fledgling playwright who aims to have his scandalous art funded by Scrooge. Scrooge’s business manager arrives hoping to persuade him about some questionable dealings. Grinch’s wife takes any available opportunity to info dump about the Life of the Empress book she is reading which everyone finds tiresome. And a distant fashion-conscious cousin who needles the niece at every turn. Later, the gold digger’s mother arrives who makes the daughter seem humble.
This is an old fashioned “whodunit” where murder is committed in a seemingly impossible situation. Once Inspector Hemingway of Scotland Yard is on scene, he aptly assesses the problem, ”Here I’ve got no fewer than four hot suspects, and three possibles, all without alibis, and most of them with life-size motives, and I’m damned if I see my way to bringing it home to any of them.”
The second half of the book engaged my interest the most with the investigation. Interviews were conducted, scant clues were examined, and a brilliant scheme played to oust the culprit. Of course, there are red herrings to boot. All the time with Maud, the Grinch’s wife, searching for her (darn!) mislaid book, and “merely expressed the hope that in the course of his investigations the Inspector might find her missing book.”
The supersmart plot made me guess for a while and had a satisfying conclusion. Overall, this is a very enjoyable mystery even if it lacks the typical witty dialogue that I’m accustomed to in Heyer novels. The Christmas setting makes it a fun seasonal read, if you like a little murder with your holiday joy. Definitely recommended.
That quote sets the stage for the opening of A Christmas Party, a 1941 locked room mystery where a murder takes place at an English country house. Everyone has gathered for a traditional Christmas celebration. However, the characters are greedy, quarrelsome, and narcissistic, who are devoid of any holiday kindness and spirit. Initially, all I saw was constantly bickering people that were tedious to read about. It took several chapters for me to clue into the clever irony Heyer presents here: unhappy, selfish people at a grand country estate that’s trimmed out for a joyous holiday. This irony isn’t the chuckling humor type, that I’ve come to expect in Heyer books, maybe that is why I was slow to realize she was showing me the ignorance of these people.
Imagine if the Grinch (after his heart grew) and his docile wife lived in his brother Scrooge’s (super rich) house free loading. And Grinch decided to hold a Christmas house party and invite the lovely relatives and plus ones against Scrooge’s wishes.
The rude nephew brought his gold digger fiancée, whom Scrooge vehemently dislikes. The actor niece brought a fledgling playwright who aims to have his scandalous art funded by Scrooge. Scrooge’s business manager arrives hoping to persuade him about some questionable dealings. Grinch’s wife takes any available opportunity to info dump about the Life of the Empress book she is reading which everyone finds tiresome. And a distant fashion-conscious cousin who needles the niece at every turn. Later, the gold digger’s mother arrives who makes the daughter seem humble.
This is an old fashioned “whodunit” where murder is committed in a seemingly impossible situation. Once Inspector Hemingway of Scotland Yard is on scene, he aptly assesses the problem, ”Here I’ve got no fewer than four hot suspects, and three possibles, all without alibis, and most of them with life-size motives, and I’m damned if I see my way to bringing it home to any of them.”
The second half of the book engaged my interest the most with the investigation. Interviews were conducted, scant clues were examined, and a brilliant scheme played to oust the culprit. Of course, there are red herrings to boot. All the time with Maud, the Grinch’s wife, searching for her (darn!) mislaid book, and “merely expressed the hope that in the course of his investigations the Inspector might find her missing book.”
The supersmart plot made me guess for a while and had a satisfying conclusion. Overall, this is a very enjoyable mystery even if it lacks the typical witty dialogue that I’m accustomed to in Heyer novels. The Christmas setting makes it a fun seasonal read, if you like a little murder with your holiday joy. Definitely recommended.
January 10, 2014
Heyer is usually funnier than this.
The clever young man is a stock character of Heyer's -- almost every mystery of hers has one, whether clownish, sarcastic, socially-inappropriate, or merely ill-behaved. Usually he is in love with the pleasant but not alluring young woman character who is clearly innocent of the crime. In this case, Stephen is downright rude and pretty much an asshole to everyone. Everyone else is pretty much an asshole as well, but that didn't make me like him better. Christmas haters! Maud was the most interesting character, and it was pretty clear that her role in the story wasn't going to be very active. The banter between the detective and sergeant was sometimes amusing, but overall I found this one of the duller of the series.
The clever young man is a stock character of Heyer's -- almost every mystery of hers has one, whether clownish, sarcastic, socially-inappropriate, or merely ill-behaved. Usually he is in love with the pleasant but not alluring young woman character who is clearly innocent of the crime. In this case, Stephen is downright rude and pretty much an asshole to everyone. Everyone else is pretty much an asshole as well, but that didn't make me like him better. Christmas haters! Maud was the most interesting character, and it was pretty clear that her role in the story wasn't going to be very active. The banter between the detective and sergeant was sometimes amusing, but overall I found this one of the duller of the series.
December 11, 2020
This is not the first time that I’ve read Envious Casca, as it was originally titled. I think I’ve read it through a full three times – the first and second times I couldn’t quite remember the solution to the mystery. This time, I knew the ending and was able to see the clues as they were embedded in the story.
This is a classic English mystery – closed circle, locked room, country-house, Christmas mystery. I’ve read other Heyer mysteries, and will complete the list at some point, but, right now, I think this is her best.
The book opens with the gathering of the Herriard family for Christmas at the behest of Uncle Joseph, who lives with his brother, Nat Herriard. Nat is the patriarch of the family, and the one with all of the family money.
“Joseph, having lived for so many years abroad, hankered wistfully after a real English Christmas. Nathaniel, regarding him with a contemptuous eye, said that a real English Christmas meant, in his experience, a series of quarrels between inimical persons bound to one another only by the accident of relationship, and thrown together by a worn-out convention which decreed that at Christmas families should forgather.”
Nat has no children, but his nephew, Stephen, has been acknowledged as his heir. Stephen is the child of his other brother, who died many years ago. Stephen’s mother lives in Canada with her 3rd husband and isn’t in the picture at all. Paula, Stephen’s sister, is also a guest for Christmas. Paula has brought along her latest squeeze, a playwright named Royden, and Stephen’s vacuous but pretty fiancee, Valerie, is also there for the holiday. There’s also a random cousin, Mathilda, Nat’s business partner, Mottisfont and Joseph’s wife, Maud, to round out the guest list.
The Herriard family is an obstreperous and argumentative bunch. Nat is not so awful as Simeon Lee from Christie’s holiday classic, Hercule Poirot’s Christmas, but he enjoys a wrangle as much as the next guy. Some families get together for a game of Pictionary during the holidays, the Herriard’s get together for their own version of Festivus, which primarily relies on the airing of grievances.
‘Miss Herriard,’ responded Mathilda coolly, ‘treated the assembled company to a dramatic scene – she’s an actress, good in emotional rôles. I wasn’t present, but I’m told that she and Mr Herriard had a really splendid quarrel, and enjoyed themselves hugely.’
‘Seems a funny way to enjoy yourself, miss.’
‘It would seem funny to you or to me, Inspector, but not, believe me, to a Herriard.’
When Uncle Nat ends up dead in his locked bedroom, having been stabbed in the back, everyone is a suspect and everyone, almost, has a motive. This is an exceptionally clever mystery, relying on misdirection, and some legal and medical intricacies for the solution.
This is a classic English mystery – closed circle, locked room, country-house, Christmas mystery. I’ve read other Heyer mysteries, and will complete the list at some point, but, right now, I think this is her best.
The book opens with the gathering of the Herriard family for Christmas at the behest of Uncle Joseph, who lives with his brother, Nat Herriard. Nat is the patriarch of the family, and the one with all of the family money.
“Joseph, having lived for so many years abroad, hankered wistfully after a real English Christmas. Nathaniel, regarding him with a contemptuous eye, said that a real English Christmas meant, in his experience, a series of quarrels between inimical persons bound to one another only by the accident of relationship, and thrown together by a worn-out convention which decreed that at Christmas families should forgather.”
Nat has no children, but his nephew, Stephen, has been acknowledged as his heir. Stephen is the child of his other brother, who died many years ago. Stephen’s mother lives in Canada with her 3rd husband and isn’t in the picture at all. Paula, Stephen’s sister, is also a guest for Christmas. Paula has brought along her latest squeeze, a playwright named Royden, and Stephen’s vacuous but pretty fiancee, Valerie, is also there for the holiday. There’s also a random cousin, Mathilda, Nat’s business partner, Mottisfont and Joseph’s wife, Maud, to round out the guest list.
The Herriard family is an obstreperous and argumentative bunch. Nat is not so awful as Simeon Lee from Christie’s holiday classic, Hercule Poirot’s Christmas, but he enjoys a wrangle as much as the next guy. Some families get together for a game of Pictionary during the holidays, the Herriard’s get together for their own version of Festivus, which primarily relies on the airing of grievances.
‘Miss Herriard,’ responded Mathilda coolly, ‘treated the assembled company to a dramatic scene – she’s an actress, good in emotional rôles. I wasn’t present, but I’m told that she and Mr Herriard had a really splendid quarrel, and enjoyed themselves hugely.’
‘Seems a funny way to enjoy yourself, miss.’
‘It would seem funny to you or to me, Inspector, but not, believe me, to a Herriard.’
When Uncle Nat ends up dead in his locked bedroom, having been stabbed in the back, everyone is a suspect and everyone, almost, has a motive. This is an exceptionally clever mystery, relying on misdirection, and some legal and medical intricacies for the solution.
September 10, 2022
Christmas 2017 - Naughty
Did not finish/no review.
This was the worst party ever. I left early.
Did not finish/no review.
This was the worst party ever. I left early.
December 27, 2020
A Christmas/house party goes terribly wrong when everyone is at loggerheads with one another, and the head of the family, a thoroughly bad-tempered fellow named Nathaniel is found murdered.
There's humour, much arguing, and a difficult to figure out murder for Inspector Hemingway from Scotland. Along the way, feelings are revealed, a book about an Empress is discussed, and a there's a happy ending for a few of the individuals.
And, ha! I was right! I figured out who did it, how they did it and when they did it, thanks to an episode of Bandersnatch Cummerbund's Sherlock.
There's humour, much arguing, and a difficult to figure out murder for Inspector Hemingway from Scotland. Along the way, feelings are revealed, a book about an Empress is discussed, and a there's a happy ending for a few of the individuals.
And, ha! I was right! I figured out who did it, how they did it and when they did it, thanks to an episode of Bandersnatch Cummerbund's Sherlock.
May 31, 2025
3.75 🌟
Mood/ Seasonal Reading: set during Christmas but didn’t have a lot to do with the holiday so anytime is fine
This has been on my tbr for a long time. It’s one of my most anticipated reads. So much so in fact I considered paying full price for it (I almost never do this). Yet, I also put it off for so long due to that very reason - I had hyped it up so much.
My past with Mrs. Heyer is interesting because I absolutely adored the first book I read by her. It played a major role in getting me back into reading during my university days. This set the stage for me to dive further into her books. Sadly, I found the second I read harder to get through.
This was my 3rd and the most polarizing. It began rocky. I struggled immensely to get into it; having to restart many times until finally it clicked and I was able to follow along. The characters are decently easy to identify and the typical golden age plot of a cast of characters coming together to a mansion with a murder is always going to please me. As the story progressed I found myself getting bored by it sadly. In fact, I wanted to DNF but trudged on to honour Mrs. Heyer. I’m really glad I did.
The final quarter of this book really brought it home for me. It felt so reminiscent of an Agatha Christie from the likeable female heroine who assists the main detective (also likeable and quirky) to the way the murder is pulled together. One thing I absolutely loved about this book that really set it apart from others I’ve read is how the conclusion occurred. To me, it was a fairly obvious mystery but I’m having it be revealed so much earlier on it then meant it became important for the detectives to prove their theory. While in other books a reveal this early has bothered me, I found it really worked in this one.
Overall, this was a decent read. While
It didn’t live up to my lofty expectations (I’m glad I got it from the library instead of purchasing) it still ended my year on a decent note with a nostalgic feeling for the very mysteries that got me into reading in the first place. I think this is a poetic end to what was my most successful reading year to date.
Mood/ Seasonal Reading: set during Christmas but didn’t have a lot to do with the holiday so anytime is fine
This has been on my tbr for a long time. It’s one of my most anticipated reads. So much so in fact I considered paying full price for it (I almost never do this). Yet, I also put it off for so long due to that very reason - I had hyped it up so much.
My past with Mrs. Heyer is interesting because I absolutely adored the first book I read by her. It played a major role in getting me back into reading during my university days. This set the stage for me to dive further into her books. Sadly, I found the second I read harder to get through.
This was my 3rd and the most polarizing. It began rocky. I struggled immensely to get into it; having to restart many times until finally it clicked and I was able to follow along. The characters are decently easy to identify and the typical golden age plot of a cast of characters coming together to a mansion with a murder is always going to please me. As the story progressed I found myself getting bored by it sadly. In fact, I wanted to DNF but trudged on to honour Mrs. Heyer. I’m really glad I did.
The final quarter of this book really brought it home for me. It felt so reminiscent of an Agatha Christie from the likeable female heroine who assists the main detective (also likeable and quirky) to the way the murder is pulled together. One thing I absolutely loved about this book that really set it apart from others I’ve read is how the conclusion occurred. To me, it was a fairly obvious mystery but I’m having it be revealed so much earlier on it then meant it became important for the detectives to prove their theory. While in other books a reveal this early has bothered me, I found it really worked in this one.
Overall, this was a decent read. While
It didn’t live up to my lofty expectations (I’m glad I got it from the library instead of purchasing) it still ended my year on a decent note with a nostalgic feeling for the very mysteries that got me into reading in the first place. I think this is a poetic end to what was my most successful reading year to date.
November 23, 2019
A perfectly good Christmas murder mystery set at an English country house party with all your usual suspects- the detestable old rich guy and all the relations chomping at the bit for him to kick the bucket. Not quite a true isolated closed circle mystery, as the detective and others are able to come and go, but very close to that trope & does have a locked room component for those who like that kind of puzzle mystery. There was something about the authorial voice, however, that kept me at an arms distance and I couldn't seem to get fully into the flow
October 8, 2023
I know, I know: Georgette Heyer’s famous for her clever regency romances. But what I really love are her mysteries, which do not get the credit they deserve. She’s the equal of Ngaio Marsh, Josephine Tey and Dorothy L. Sayers — not that anyone else seems to recognize that.
As the title of this sixth novel to feature Scotland Yard Inspector Hemingway indicates, this time it’s a swank Christmas party that goes awry with a murder. The family patriarch of sorts, wealthy Uncle Nathaniel Herriard, lets his cheerful younger brother talk him into a family Christmas party. It’s not a spoiler to reveal that there’s a murder — hey, everyone knows how these cozies go! What’s amazing is that, in Heyer’s skillful hands, this tried-and-true scenario still leaves readers rapidly turning pages as they devour each twist and surprise. And I was blown away by the denouement! Highly recommended.
This novel was originally released with the title Envious Casca, although I can’t imagine why.
As the title of this sixth novel to feature Scotland Yard Inspector Hemingway indicates, this time it’s a swank Christmas party that goes awry with a murder. The family patriarch of sorts, wealthy Uncle Nathaniel Herriard, lets his cheerful younger brother talk him into a family Christmas party. It’s not a spoiler to reveal that there’s a murder — hey, everyone knows how these cozies go! What’s amazing is that, in Heyer’s skillful hands, this tried-and-true scenario still leaves readers rapidly turning pages as they devour each twist and surprise. And I was blown away by the denouement! Highly recommended.
This novel was originally released with the title Envious Casca, although I can’t imagine why.
December 27, 2019
This is my first Georgette Heyer mystery, although I have read two of her books previously. I enjoyed this mystery much better than the other books and I will definitely look for more of her mysteries. I enjoyed the humor and also the way the detective worked through the clues meticulously. I did however guess the murderer prior to the end but it was still a fun read.
February 27, 2009
Murder at Christmas — hasn’t it crossed everyone’s mind? There may be even more motives in this family gathering than in your own, though. At the estate of crabby old Uncle Nathaniel, a disparate assortment of relatives and their even more bizarre significant others assemble to spend an awkward Christmas, made even more awkward by the unflagging cheerfulness of Uncle Matthew, who wants to put up tacky decorations and play parlor games. Naturally someone is murdered...but murdered without a weapon in a room locked from the inside! The “how” is as interesting as the “who”, but the real charm of this book is in Heyer’s characterizations of all the loopy relatives.
December 17, 2019
This is a classic locked-room murder mystery. But it's the incredibly annoying - yet very entertaining - cast/suspect list that made this a five star book for me.
December 15, 2011
The second last in my 2011 project of reading all of Georgette Heyer's mysteries, this was a fun read. It's an old-fashioned mystery of the locked room kind, complete with an old house, cantankerous victim, eccentric suspects and plenty of red herrings.
Heyer is not, in my view, the most talented of British Golden Age mystery writers. To my mind, that accolade goes to Dorothy L. Sayers, although a number of other writers of the period also deserve high praise. That said, a Heyer mystery has its attractions. This one, like the others, has lots of style and is easy and undemanding to read. It also has some snappy dialogue and witty one-liners as well as an obligatory romance. While I guessed the identity of the culprit (with luck rather than through a deductive process), I didn't work out how the murder was done until seconds before the big reveal. This was a plus, because there's nothing I hate more in crime fiction than solving the mystery before the detective has come even close to working it out.
I re-read a number of Heyer's romances fairly regularly. They are amongst my favourite comfort reads. While I may not read the mysteries again, I've had lots of fun with them over the past few months. It has been particularly good to tackle this one as a buddy read with my friend Jemidar.
Recommended for Heyer completists and fans of British Golden Age crime fiction. For me this is was a 3-1/2 star read.
September 14, 2011
Rating Clarification: 3.5 Stars
My final Heyer mystery, and while not a personal favorite like Why Shoot a Butler?, it was certainly up to par with almost all other Heyer whodunnits. This is a true "locked room" murder in every sense of the word, and while I figured out the "who" of the crime pretty early on, I never did figure out the "how" until the final reveal.
As usual with Heyer's stories, her cast of characters fulfill every "ic" I can think of: eccentric, acerbic, and sarcastic, and if her characters do come across in every book as interchangable stereotypes (which they do), at least they are well done stereotypes; the kind you would enjoy spending a few hours of reading time with.
All in all, I'm pleased with my Heyer whodunnit reading adventure and look forward to re-reads in the distant future - perhaps in my retirement years :D
*****
Two things that will alert the reader to the resolution of the murder (do not read the spoilers below unless you really want to be ahead of the game):
1.
2.
My final Heyer mystery, and while not a personal favorite like Why Shoot a Butler?, it was certainly up to par with almost all other Heyer whodunnits. This is a true "locked room" murder in every sense of the word, and while I figured out the "who" of the crime pretty early on, I never did figure out the "how" until the final reveal.
As usual with Heyer's stories, her cast of characters fulfill every "ic" I can think of: eccentric, acerbic, and sarcastic, and if her characters do come across in every book as interchangable stereotypes (which they do), at least they are well done stereotypes; the kind you would enjoy spending a few hours of reading time with.
All in all, I'm pleased with my Heyer whodunnit reading adventure and look forward to re-reads in the distant future - perhaps in my retirement years :D
*****
Two things that will alert the reader to the resolution of the murder (do not read the spoilers below unless you really want to be ahead of the game):
1.
2.
December 9, 2018
Not as good as her Regency books but quite enjoyable. I found it to be a bit drawn out and it ended very abruptly.
It had the most horrible set of characters I ever read in a book. Mathilda was the only one I had any liking for.
I only started reading her crime novels when I joined the GH group here on GR and I'm glad I did. It's a totally different style to her romances and I will read more of them.
It had the most horrible set of characters I ever read in a book. Mathilda was the only one I had any liking for.
I only started reading her crime novels when I joined the GH group here on GR and I'm glad I did. It's a totally different style to her romances and I will read more of them.
November 16, 2019
I must have read all of Georgette Heyer’s Regency romances at least twice, starting out with These Old Shades when I was about 11. I loved them, and know the recurring patterns so well that I can pick the key words that tell you what role the character is going to play.
Sardonic, saturnine - these are the marks of the usually very unpleasant man who turns out to be the romantic lead.
Then there’s the beautiful silly simperer; the common sense woman, usually not beautiful; and at least one villain who’s there all the time projecting kindliness and concern but really has deadly intent.
I thought I’d try one of the 1930’s crime novels - which I’ve done before but years ago.
Once the cast of characters assembled, I could guess pretty quickly who would turn out to be the villain and who were going to end up in each other’s arms. I was RIGHT! Then there’s Maud, whose main role seems to be drawing attention to the means of murder through their endless reference to a biography of the assassinated Elizabeth of Austria.
Apart from two women (common sense girl and Maud) and a hopeful playwright, the characters are all egoistical and mostly rude.
In the best of the Regency novels the sharp dialogue is often funny, but here the same strategies don’t work. The acute class distinctions somehow pass into the background in the Regency books, but they are a source of discomfort for me here.
Sardonic, saturnine - these are the marks of the usually very unpleasant man who turns out to be the romantic lead.
Then there’s the beautiful silly simperer; the common sense woman, usually not beautiful; and at least one villain who’s there all the time projecting kindliness and concern but really has deadly intent.
I thought I’d try one of the 1930’s crime novels - which I’ve done before but years ago.
Once the cast of characters assembled, I could guess pretty quickly who would turn out to be the villain and who were going to end up in each other’s arms. I was RIGHT! Then there’s Maud, whose main role seems to be drawing attention to the means of murder through their endless reference to a biography of the assassinated Elizabeth of Austria.
Apart from two women (common sense girl and Maud) and a hopeful playwright, the characters are all egoistical and mostly rude.
In the best of the Regency novels the sharp dialogue is often funny, but here the same strategies don’t work. The acute class distinctions somehow pass into the background in the Regency books, but they are a source of discomfort for me here.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2023
6/23: Still a delightful holiday reread for me - Heyer’s typically unpleasant characters, young and old, create darkly funny and awkward scenes at this uncosy Christmas House party! Intriguing and diabolical murder method, and murderer.
12/2022: Wow, great ending, some fascinating characters in this one, and an intriguing locked room Murder plot. Inspector Hemingway gets plan of opportunity to show off his “flair” in this case!
12/18: bumped up to 4 stars; yes, several brittle, unpleasant characters at this Christmas house party, but wickedly funny nonetheless, in typical witty Heyer fashion - it’s like Ab Fab meets Golden Age locked door murder mystery! Add in a very clever, historically inspired murder method, and you’ve got a fine, entertaining read, as far as I’m concerned.
2014 - One of the few Heyer mysteries I hadn't read, this was fun and I enjoyed the Christmas house party setting (despite the murder!) I have to admit I saw the murderer and the method coming, but only because I had seen a similar murder method used in a recent BBC mystery production - otherwise it was very clever.
Heyer manages to produce some of the most unpleasant characters for her mysteries, particularly her snarky, moody, well-bred and spoiled young people! It's very hard to be sympathetic or find a character to root for, but I love her skewering of upper-class behavior and stereotypes typical of a Golden Age mystery; I have to admit I like her Regencies better, but I always enjoy her mysteries.
12/2022: Wow, great ending, some fascinating characters in this one, and an intriguing locked room Murder plot. Inspector Hemingway gets plan of opportunity to show off his “flair” in this case!
12/18: bumped up to 4 stars; yes, several brittle, unpleasant characters at this Christmas house party, but wickedly funny nonetheless, in typical witty Heyer fashion - it’s like Ab Fab meets Golden Age locked door murder mystery! Add in a very clever, historically inspired murder method, and you’ve got a fine, entertaining read, as far as I’m concerned.
2014 - One of the few Heyer mysteries I hadn't read, this was fun and I enjoyed the Christmas house party setting (despite the murder!) I have to admit I saw the murderer and the method coming, but only because I had seen a similar murder method used in a recent BBC mystery production - otherwise it was very clever.
Heyer manages to produce some of the most unpleasant characters for her mysteries, particularly her snarky, moody, well-bred and spoiled young people! It's very hard to be sympathetic or find a character to root for, but I love her skewering of upper-class behavior and stereotypes typical of a Golden Age mystery; I have to admit I like her Regencies better, but I always enjoy her mysteries.
December 22, 2021
I really didn't enjoy the first third of this one. The characters assembled at Lexham Manor for the Christmas Party are almost universally horrible. I knew there would be a murder but frankly I was hoping for a massacre.
However it all improves when the police arrive and I actually really enjoyed it by the end. Another win for Georgette Heyer.
However it all improves when the police arrive and I actually really enjoyed it by the end. Another win for Georgette Heyer.
October 2, 2018
The second of Heyer’s Inspector Hemingway mysteries—this was one I was supposed to read last year for a ‘buddy read’ but only got down to now. This one is set in a classical country setting, in a manor house, Lexham Hall, owned by one Nathaniel Herriard, an ill-tempered old man, who shares his home with his brother Joseph and Joseph’s wife Maud. At Christmas Joseph wishes to have a traditional celebration and invites his nephew Stephen and niece Paula, besides a cousin Mathilda Clare, and Nathaniel’s partner, a Mr Mottisford. Stephen brings his rather empty-headed but pretty fiancée Valerie and Paula arrives with a young playwright Willoughby Roydon, whose play she wants her uncle to finance, and in which she is to play the lead. Nathaniel wanted neither the celebration, nor approved of Valerie or the play, and this leads to the typical Christmas scenario of flared tempers and strong words. But when on Christmas eve, Nathaniel who had gone up to his room to change for dinner, is found dead, things take a completely different turn. The local police are unable to handle the matter as their detective-inspector is down with the flu and Inspector Hemingway is sent over from Scotland Yard to handle the matter.
This was an enjoyable enough read for me, since I like murder stories in these classical settings, and while the murderer was not too much of a surprise for me (partly, may be, because the person reminded me very much of someone in the Dickens book I’m reading), I hadn’t quite been able to figure out very much more of the plot, which had quite a few layers to it, and the answer to the whole mystery, or rather how the Inspector came upon it, I thought was really fun. It was also much easier to follow than the ‘how’ in the first book. The book definitely had the same humorous tone as the first book did though perhaps a touch less. However, the characters seemed just a little too similar to some in the first Hemingway book, one connected with the theatre who seemed to act a part often (actually constantly); a young lady who seemed to enjoy provoking the Inspector, and such. I did like how some of the characters were done though one may not have ‘liked’ them as people. So while I liked the book quite a bit, I might have enjoyed it all the more had I not read the first one before this.
This was an enjoyable enough read for me, since I like murder stories in these classical settings, and while the murderer was not too much of a surprise for me (partly, may be, because the person reminded me very much of someone in the Dickens book I’m reading), I hadn’t quite been able to figure out very much more of the plot, which had quite a few layers to it, and the answer to the whole mystery, or rather how the Inspector came upon it, I thought was really fun. It was also much easier to follow than the ‘how’ in the first book. The book definitely had the same humorous tone as the first book did though perhaps a touch less. However, the characters seemed just a little too similar to some in the first Hemingway book, one connected with the theatre who seemed to act a part often (actually constantly); a young lady who seemed to enjoy provoking the Inspector, and such. I did like how some of the characters were done though one may not have ‘liked’ them as people. So while I liked the book quite a bit, I might have enjoyed it all the more had I not read the first one before this.
December 23, 2019
I love a good English manor home Christmas murder, and this is a great one. I did peg the murderer pretty quickly, but that didn’t matter, I still enjoyed it all the same. I’m having my car serviced today and have spent the past two hours laughing out loud at this book. I’m clearly having more fun than everyone else in the waiting room.
November 22, 2023
This is a wonderful golden-age, locked room, country house mystery. And it takes place at Christmas! What more could a mystery lover want?
Pity poor Cousin Joseph, who only wants to celebrate a traditional country Christmas with mistletoe, plum pudding, and all his loved ones about him. You may think your family's not much fun at the holidays, but they're nothing to his, with his curmudgeonly older brother Nate continuously complaining about lumbago and fighting with everyone. Add in a depressed modern playwright, empty-headed ingenue, shifty business partner, stuffy butler and missing library book and you have a great setting for murder.
This story has plenty of suspects with motives galore, a puzzle worthy of a top mystery writer, and enough humorous dialogue to keep you smiling. Heyer knows how to write, and this book is a wonderful example of her mystery series. I always enjoy rereading it.
NB - The title refers to Servilius Casca, the first man to stab Julius Caesar, (in the back), during his assassination. In Shakespeare's play, Mark Antony calls him "envious Casca", saying "See what a rent the envious Casca made". This has recently been reissued as "A Christmas Party", which is a better title, if a big vague.
Pity poor Cousin Joseph, who only wants to celebrate a traditional country Christmas with mistletoe, plum pudding, and all his loved ones about him. You may think your family's not much fun at the holidays, but they're nothing to his, with his curmudgeonly older brother Nate continuously complaining about lumbago and fighting with everyone. Add in a depressed modern playwright, empty-headed ingenue, shifty business partner, stuffy butler and missing library book and you have a great setting for murder.
This story has plenty of suspects with motives galore, a puzzle worthy of a top mystery writer, and enough humorous dialogue to keep you smiling. Heyer knows how to write, and this book is a wonderful example of her mystery series. I always enjoy rereading it.
NB - The title refers to Servilius Casca, the first man to stab Julius Caesar, (in the back), during his assassination. In Shakespeare's play, Mark Antony calls him "envious Casca", saying "See what a rent the envious Casca made". This has recently been reissued as "A Christmas Party", which is a better title, if a big vague.
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