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Hildegarde Withers #6
The Puzzle of the Red Stallion
A model is dead in Central Park, and the only witness to the crime is a horse named Siwash
The evening’s party is over, and modeling sensation Violet Feverel wants to get in a quick horse ride before the dawn breaks. She saddles up Siwash the stallion, and gallops onto the Central Park bridle path, eager to begin what will be the last ride of her life.
On the other side of the park, Miss Hildegarde Withers—schoolmarm and expert sleuth—breaks into a grin when she hears a patrolman’s radio mention a “Code 44.” As she knows all too well, “Code 44” means a dead body—and “dead bodies” mean adventure. Miss Withers follows the cop to the crime scene, where they find Violet Feverel lying dead, having apparently fallen from her horse. But if she died when she hit the ground, then why is Siwash marked with a spot of blood? For Miss Withers, answering this question will prove more exciting than an afternoon at the races—and much more risky.
The Puzzle of the Red Stallion is part of the Hildegarde Withers Mysteries series, which also includes The Penguin Pool Murder and Murder on the Blackboard.
The evening’s party is over, and modeling sensation Violet Feverel wants to get in a quick horse ride before the dawn breaks. She saddles up Siwash the stallion, and gallops onto the Central Park bridle path, eager to begin what will be the last ride of her life.
On the other side of the park, Miss Hildegarde Withers—schoolmarm and expert sleuth—breaks into a grin when she hears a patrolman’s radio mention a “Code 44.” As she knows all too well, “Code 44” means a dead body—and “dead bodies” mean adventure. Miss Withers follows the cop to the crime scene, where they find Violet Feverel lying dead, having apparently fallen from her horse. But if she died when she hit the ground, then why is Siwash marked with a spot of blood? For Miss Withers, answering this question will prove more exciting than an afternoon at the races—and much more risky.
The Puzzle of the Red Stallion is part of the Hildegarde Withers Mysteries series, which also includes The Penguin Pool Murder and Murder on the Blackboard.
313 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1936
36 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
Stuart Palmer
76 books31 followersPseudonyms Theodore Orchards, Jay Stewart
Stuart Palmer (1905–1968) was an American author of mysteries. Born in Baraboo, Wisconsin, Palmer worked a number of odd jobs—including apple picking, journalism, and copywriting—before publishing his first novel, the crime drama Ace of Jades, in 1931. It was with his second novel, however, that he established his writing career: The Penguin Pool Murder introduced Hildegarde Withers, a schoolmarm who, on a field trip to the New York Aquarium, discovers a dead body in the pool. Withers was an immensely popular character, and went on to star in thirteen more novels, including Miss Withers Regrets (1947) and Nipped in the Bud (1951). A master of intricate plotting, Palmer found success writing for Hollywood, where several of his books, including The Penguin Pool Murder, were filmed by RKO Pictures Inc.
Stuart Palmer (1905–1968) was an American author of mysteries. Born in Baraboo, Wisconsin, Palmer worked a number of odd jobs—including apple picking, journalism, and copywriting—before publishing his first novel, the crime drama Ace of Jades, in 1931. It was with his second novel, however, that he established his writing career: The Penguin Pool Murder introduced Hildegarde Withers, a schoolmarm who, on a field trip to the New York Aquarium, discovers a dead body in the pool. Withers was an immensely popular character, and went on to star in thirteen more novels, including Miss Withers Regrets (1947) and Nipped in the Bud (1951). A master of intricate plotting, Palmer found success writing for Hollywood, where several of his books, including The Penguin Pool Murder, were filmed by RKO Pictures Inc.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 23, 2021
Seemed to be a slow read but I’m blaming that on the fact that it was written 90 years ago not on the story itself. I like the characters, although in my head I’m seeing the actors from the movie that was made based on the book.
April 5, 2022
3.5 stars
November 7, 2015
This entry of the Hildegarde Withers series sees a horse riding ex-model murdered. Of course, everybody she knew hated her guts, so there is no end of suspects. Hildegarde hides evidence for the entire book, tries to bring young lovers together, and attends a horse race.
The puzzle is a good fair play mystery, and Miss Withers' hi jinks are entertaining. It's weird how this long running popular series has been all but forgotten.
The puzzle is a good fair play mystery, and Miss Withers' hi jinks are entertaining. It's weird how this long running popular series has been all but forgotten.
April 27, 2020
A woman is killed riding her horse in Central Park. Miss Withers and Detective Oscar Piper narrow their few clues down to find the killer. Plenty of red herrings. And a trip to the track.
November 9, 2017
Sehr gut geschrieben, leider mit dem absurdesten Motiv, das mir je untergekommen ist.
January 15, 2020
Who's eating apples in the Big Apple?
This is the sixth in the series of mysteries featuring professional school teacher/amateur detective Hildegarde Withers. Since her involvement in "The Penguin Pool Murder" in 1931, Miss Withers has become a traveler, solving murder mysteries in California and in England. This book appeared in 1935 and finds the forty-ish spinster back in New York City but venturing into a strange new culture. The world of racetracks and betting sheets is completely foreign to a woman of impeccable New England breeding, but she's not after a hot tip in the third race. She's looking for a murderer.
It all starts when she's walking her dog and notices that police cars are being called to Central Park. Naturally, she follows her pointed nose and finds the body of a young woman. The police are satisfied that the girl was fatally injured by a fall from her horse, but Miss Withers smells a felony. Of course, she's absolutely correct.
While at the scene, she pockets a clue overlooked by the police and that clue leads her on a merry chase. Eventually, she shares the secret with her friend Homicide Bureau Inspector Oscar Piper, but It's Hildigarde who discovers an unusual aspect of the common object she's picked up. And SHE'S the one who's offering apples to all the suspects in hopes of finding one with false choppers.
The dead woman is a beautiful model known for her photogenic face and her love of money. So who wanted Violet Feverel dead? There's a sister who inherits and a naive young westerner who had a crush on her. There's the stable owner she owed money to and who hopes to acquire her former race horse Siwash. The guy with the clearest motive is her former husband. Is his alibi really as airtight as it looks or did someone who loves him do the job?
Meanwhile, on a horse farm north of the city, Violet's former father-in-law is convinced that someone's trying to kill HIM. Pat Gregg is a tough old bird, although his doctor insists that he stay away from the nearby racetrack. Betting on the nags can be bad for your blood pressure, especially if you picked the wrong horse to win, place, or show.
Eventually, Miss Withers and Inspector Piper end up at the Beaulah Park Racetrack, along with all the suspects and a large crowd of people hoping for a lucky bet. Miss Withers is convinced there will be another murder and she aims to stop it. Meanwhile, she does some profitable investigation into the subject of gambling on racehorses. Do you believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, or exotic animals with pouches?
I'll be honest. The motive for two murders doesn't strike me as the most believable thing I've ever heard. But I read old mysteries for the characters, the humor, and the accurate depiction of life in the first half of the twentieth century. This book delivers in all categories and the banter between Miss Withers and Inspector Piper is worth the price of admission by itself.
It's also fascinating to piece together what I've learned about this author from his books. There's little biographical information on Stuart Palmer, but it's obvious that he was an animal lover and hated those who are cruel to animals. Like his school mistress creation, he was opposed to corporal punishment, but willing to make an exception if the kid was sufficiently annoying.
And he shows a most tender sympathy for young Don Gregg and his jail-mates, who have been deprived of their liberty for the crime of owing alimony. We know that Palmer was divorced four times. Did he (at the age of 30) already have personal experience of "alimony jail"?
This series is witty and well-written. I can see why the books were best-sellers and why the public demanded to see Miss Hildegarde Withers on the Big Screen. She's simply one of the most entertaining detectives ever created.
This is the sixth in the series of mysteries featuring professional school teacher/amateur detective Hildegarde Withers. Since her involvement in "The Penguin Pool Murder" in 1931, Miss Withers has become a traveler, solving murder mysteries in California and in England. This book appeared in 1935 and finds the forty-ish spinster back in New York City but venturing into a strange new culture. The world of racetracks and betting sheets is completely foreign to a woman of impeccable New England breeding, but she's not after a hot tip in the third race. She's looking for a murderer.
It all starts when she's walking her dog and notices that police cars are being called to Central Park. Naturally, she follows her pointed nose and finds the body of a young woman. The police are satisfied that the girl was fatally injured by a fall from her horse, but Miss Withers smells a felony. Of course, she's absolutely correct.
While at the scene, she pockets a clue overlooked by the police and that clue leads her on a merry chase. Eventually, she shares the secret with her friend Homicide Bureau Inspector Oscar Piper, but It's Hildigarde who discovers an unusual aspect of the common object she's picked up. And SHE'S the one who's offering apples to all the suspects in hopes of finding one with false choppers.
The dead woman is a beautiful model known for her photogenic face and her love of money. So who wanted Violet Feverel dead? There's a sister who inherits and a naive young westerner who had a crush on her. There's the stable owner she owed money to and who hopes to acquire her former race horse Siwash. The guy with the clearest motive is her former husband. Is his alibi really as airtight as it looks or did someone who loves him do the job?
Meanwhile, on a horse farm north of the city, Violet's former father-in-law is convinced that someone's trying to kill HIM. Pat Gregg is a tough old bird, although his doctor insists that he stay away from the nearby racetrack. Betting on the nags can be bad for your blood pressure, especially if you picked the wrong horse to win, place, or show.
Eventually, Miss Withers and Inspector Piper end up at the Beaulah Park Racetrack, along with all the suspects and a large crowd of people hoping for a lucky bet. Miss Withers is convinced there will be another murder and she aims to stop it. Meanwhile, she does some profitable investigation into the subject of gambling on racehorses. Do you believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, or exotic animals with pouches?
I'll be honest. The motive for two murders doesn't strike me as the most believable thing I've ever heard. But I read old mysteries for the characters, the humor, and the accurate depiction of life in the first half of the twentieth century. This book delivers in all categories and the banter between Miss Withers and Inspector Piper is worth the price of admission by itself.
It's also fascinating to piece together what I've learned about this author from his books. There's little biographical information on Stuart Palmer, but it's obvious that he was an animal lover and hated those who are cruel to animals. Like his school mistress creation, he was opposed to corporal punishment, but willing to make an exception if the kid was sufficiently annoying.
And he shows a most tender sympathy for young Don Gregg and his jail-mates, who have been deprived of their liberty for the crime of owing alimony. We know that Palmer was divorced four times. Did he (at the age of 30) already have personal experience of "alimony jail"?
This series is witty and well-written. I can see why the books were best-sellers and why the public demanded to see Miss Hildegarde Withers on the Big Screen. She's simply one of the most entertaining detectives ever created.
August 21, 2020
Hildegarde Withers, a school teacher, is once again prompt on the scene of a murder - which the police had figured was an accident and pushes the police to the truth! A quick, fun read --- Hildegarde is a loved character of mine!
March 28, 2022
The cat thing is a stretch
I liked the bird thing at the end but the cat solution was silly. So was the confession on paper for safety. Seriously? They would just bump off Hildegard. And I missed Piper.
I liked the bird thing at the end but the cat solution was silly. So was the confession on paper for safety. Seriously? They would just bump off Hildegard. And I missed Piper.
March 23, 2020
Cute
This mystery seemed simplistic to me. The police detectives were a bit too stupid. The horse and other personalities were endearing.
This mystery seemed simplistic to me. The police detectives were a bit too stupid. The horse and other personalities were endearing.
November 23, 2021
Clever twists and unexpected turns.
October 15, 2016
Violet Feverel certainly isn't making friends as the book opens. She is a top model who manages to anger her friends, her younger sister (who feels like she's being treated like a child), the stable manager who houses her prized stallion, Shiwash, and the woman who owns the stable. It seems there is also an ex-husband and maybe even more who would wish her ill, so when she turns up dead, it's not a surprise to the reader.
Hildegarde Withers isn't impressed by the two men who try to ticket her for having her dog unmuzzled in the park. So when a call for a dead body comes out, she follows along.
The description of this story from
Hildegarde Withers isn't impressed by the two men who try to ticket her for having her dog unmuzzled in the park. So when a call for a dead body comes out, she follows along.
The description of this story from
November 20, 2015
Beautiful Violet Feverel is thrown from her horse in Central Park and dies. Fortunately, Hildegarde Withers is on the scene and able to point out to the police that the avaricious model was murdered. There are a lot of people who were angry with Violet, but none of them really seem to have a motive, except her former father-in-law. But he's in the country where he raises race-horses, and his son, Violet's ex-, is in alimony jail. Or is he? Miss Withers helps her old buddy Chief Inspector Piper find a resolution to this case.
March 1, 2016
I saw this movie, Murder on the Bridle Path, a while ago, but I couldn't remember any of the details. Satisfying '30s mystery that I love for the atmosphere and era.
March 25, 2015
Stuart Palmer knew how to combine humor and mystery in their stories. Good plot.
March 1, 2022
For my full review click on the link below:
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews