Murder Machree

Clara Gamadge Mystery #3

by Eleanor Boylan

"Clara Gamadge is a detective in the honorable tradition of Hercule Poirot....Boylan's writing is crisp and intelligent, her heroine endearing."
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
When Clara Gamadge's friend Armand Evers predicts his own death, he's right on target. But Clara wonders if the body is Armand's or his evil look-alike cousin, Boyd. Disturbed and baffled, Clara becomes worried about Armand's sister Rachel, and goes to Dublin to warn her. Her dicey transatlantic adventure entangles her in further confusing identities, remembrances of things past, and a killer as stealthy as the Celtic twilight....

Genres: Mystery

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Eleanor Daly Boylan was born in New York City in 1916. She began writing mystery fiction in the 1950's. Her short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock and Ellery Queen mystery magazines and in Yankee Magazine. She was the daughter of Edward (a lawyer) and Kathleen (Ewing) Daly, and married Paul Boylan (a teacher) on September 9, 1944. Her children were: Paul, Jr., Edward, Thomas, Virginia, Eleanor.

She is the niece of Elizabeth Daly, who originally created the Gamadge characters. Eleanor Boylan has also been a professional puppeteer. She raised her family in Newton, Massachusetts and moved to Anna Maria Island in Florida in 1985. She is the creator of ‘Clara Gamadge’, widow of a forgery expert.

Series:
* Clara Gamadge Mystery

Reviews

[Bev · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent...but the Elizabeth Daly series with Henry Gamadge (instead of featuring his wife Clara) is SO much better."

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Terrifically odd plot, but you really shouldn't be reading this series for the plotlines | Five books in the series, four available on kindle, and for some reason it's the middle book that's not. So irritating. In this entry, Clara feels so much like Mrs Pollifax, and I miss Mrs Pollifax. I enjoyed this, because I'm reading the series for the characters, but let's be honest, the whole story is utter nonsense. No murderer would be able to get away with this scheme, and they wouldn't think they could. Nobody confronted with it would decide it was best to pretend to go along with it and rush off to Ireland instead of just telling the police. No potential victim with a robust support network, family, friends, paid companion, and her own car, would sit around for two weeks pretending to go along with her guest's lies for no apparent reason, let him leave, and not follow up. Nobody so hard up for money as to put this plan into action could race from murdering one person, across the Atlantic, in the late 80s, in order to murder another who was not their biggest threat. On and on. Disappointingly, the setting doesn't feel like Ireland for a single paragraph. She could have had Rachael live in Canada, Minnesota, or Oregon and it would have made no difference to the book whatsoever.

[Chazzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clara Gamadge is once more on the case, solving the death of an old friend.

While vacationing with family Clara is surprised by a visit by Arman Evers, an old family friend. But he is not there for the sea air. He has a request for her to investigate. He is vague about it and seems to make light, but it is serious business. The question is if he is really Armand Evers or his look-alike cousin Boyd? The mystery to solve is whether his sister is really his biological sister.

Clara tries to ignore it, but when she calls Rachael to see if all is right a chill comes over her. It seems that Armand is visiting her at the moment. Rachael lives in Ireland and Clara is in the U.S. How could that be so?

What brings it to a head is when Arman/Boyd is found dead in a Manhattan hotel pool. Clara is there and so is someone who looks like Arman/Boyd. Who is who? And who is killing who? Clara must go to Ireland to find the truth behind the multiple mysteries.

Written in the style of Agatha Christie, it is a good read that moves along. Clara and her friend Sadd are not spring chickens but they do have sharp minds and are on the go to solve the murder and the mystery of Rachael's heritage.

[Dorothy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing exciting but still enjoyable. Quick easy read.

[Khanson919 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking for a quick read, fun read and this book was definitely that.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Clara Gamadge super sleuth investigation begins when a friend’s death forces Clara to play cat and mouse with a killer. An easy, entertaining, quick moving read! With quite a few surprising twists, turns quite enjoyable! Her characters seem so real and alive and could be your next store neighbor, almost

[Siisso · Rating 3 out of 5]

With a relentless 30s film buff, book and poetry discourse, it has been decided Murder Machree is a bookslut's guide through booklusts. But referencing can only get as interesting as to a limit.

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

not my favorite woman detective

[Janet Fogg · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fast, fun little mystery. Good character development.