Postmark Murder

by Mignon G. Eberhart

From one of the most prolific authors of the Golden Age of “A nice example of [Eberhart’s] powers . . . Intelligently complicated” (The New Yorker).  When Conrad Stanley dies, Laura is the only heir not concerned with her slice of his estate. Orphaned at a young age, she was Stanley’s ward, and cannot celebrate the death of the only father she ever knew. The executors of Stanley’s will find that he had a Polish relative, Conrad Stanislowski, who is due part of the inheritance. A search for Stanislowski produces only his eight-year-old Jonny, who comes to Chicago to live with Laura. Soon a man claiming to be Stanislowski turns up at Laura’s doorstep, demanding his daughter and his chunk of Stanley’s wealth. When the mysterious interloper is found stabbed to death, Laura is a suspect. If she doesn’t move fast, the only inheritance she gets from dear, departed Conrad will be a permanent stay in a federal prison.

Genres: Mystery, Christmas, Fiction

314 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1956

About the author

Mignon Good (1899-1996) was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. She studied at Nebraska Wesleyan University from 1917 to 1920. In 1923 she married Alanson C. Eberhart, a civil engineer. After working as a freelance journalist, she decided to become a full-time writer. In 1929 her first crime novel was published featuring 'Sarah Keate', a nurse and 'Lance O'Leary', a police detective. This couple appeared in another four novels. In the Forties, she and her husband divorced. She married John Hazen Perry in 1946 but two years later she divorced him and remarried her first husband. Over the next forty years she wrote a novel nearly every year. In 1971 she won the Grand Master award from the Mystery Writers of America. She also wrote many short stories featuring banker/amateur sleuth James Wickwire (who could be considered a precursor to Emma Lathen's John Putnam Thatcher) and mystery writer/amateur sleuth Susan Dare.

Reviews

[mark monday · Rating 2 out of 5]

this probably would have been better read in one fell swoop rather than 3 different sittings in 3 different moods. my first dive into it left me intrigued but also a bit nonplussed. surely this story of inheritance and a mysterious orphan and a missing father would involve more than a half dozen characters? would it be all about them and, if so, how much intrigue could there be when there are basically only two or three suspects? it seemed like a lot of table setting for such a slim plot. but Eberhart's ambiguous yet sympathetic portrait of the child in question kept my interest. my second dive was my longest time in, on a gray and chilly day. perfect atmosphere for this book. there was something so diverting about our earnest young heroine and her sweet but odd ward, about the cozy apartment she carefully maintained yet was the scene of so much weird menace and potential danger, about the cloudy and overcast weather that the two moved through, followed by persons unknown. the third dive was just now, before bed. the paucity of characters really stood out because Eberhart has them repeat the same things over and again, to such a tiresome degree. it felt like someone was trying to turn a story into a novel. and when our passive heroine finally finds some agency and decides to do something proactive, and yet everything she does only puts her in more danger, leading to a scene of her and the child screaming and clutching at each other in terror as the men rush in to save the day... sigh, 2 frustrated stars.

[MichelleH H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great writing

This grabbed me by the throat from the first page. This was so out of my comfort zone genre wise, but it was suggested to me when searching for books in the category I do read. That would be historical mystery. And this is historical, just not the Regency where I’m most familiar. Something in the blurb caught my eye and the fact that these books were written back in the last century from the 20’s to the 90’s. And one last thing that caught my attention was that she was born in my hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska.

By the time I got around to reading this I had forgotten all that. There it sat patiently waiting in my TBR list. So now I want to read as much of her books as I can get my hands on.

The mystery was high tension fear, danger, who to trust, I suspected everyone even the one I didn’t want to suspect. Whew! I didn’t guess who it was by the end.

The blurb says just about anything regarding the plot of the story without spoilers. But it doesn’t give a clue to how much I would like the main character Laura, and how much I would come to love the relationship between her and the little girl Jonny. Or how fascinating the other players evolved as the plot played out. The story takes place during a 50’s Chicago Christmas season. It’s very atmospheric. I could see Chicago easily in my mind. The descriptions of Laura’s apartment, downtown department stores, the street traffic, the Great Lake, boat activity sounds. This all made it so visual. I had a tough time putting it down, but made myself put it down when it got too tense. Highly recommended for mystery fans.

I loved this. I borrowed it but I want one for my own library.

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

repetitive

The first quarter of the book is tedious rehashing of a very few facts. The dialogs just droned on and on. It was boring.

[robyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I always pick up Mignon Everhart when I come across her in a used bookstore; the first of her books that I read made such an impression on me - a few from her nurse mystery series, and then one-offs like The House on the Roof and Death in the Fog, which were atmospheric and odd and swimming with descriptive scene setting.

The writing is always good, but I find that a lot of the books I've read since end with me skimming to get ahead in the story. Maybe it was the locked room theme that I enjoyed in those other books (shut up in a hospital, a convalescent's suite, a little house on a roof, a house becalmed by fog). Or maybe I've just been hitting unlucky! At any rate, compared to the others I listed, I give this one a C. Despite a very cute little girl and reasonably appealing lovers.

[Anna Mussmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unconventional clause in a will, an orphaned heir who might actually have parents, mysterious people appearing from behind the iron curtain and trying to kill each other, foggy weather, and a young lady given to feeling instincts about people--it’s all here. Mignon Everhart’s books don’t perhaps withstand intellectual scrutiny, but they create such a robust atmosphere that it’s surprisingly easy to enter in and believe.

Of course, I’m not sure that anyone would really behave in the ways her characters do; but it’s easier to accept improbable policemen and oddly-behaved heroines in a vintage book than a modern one. I also had a hard time with the idea that the child in the story was eight. She is treated more like a three-year-old (she even takes a daily afternoon nap!).

But again, a clean, fun palate-cleanser between more serious reads.

I got a kick out of a passage where the point is made that one of the female characters is not wearing lipstick-- clearly a much more notable occurrence in the fifties than today!

[Robyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Early Bird Book Deal | Longer than it needed to be | This really started to feel like it was dragging at the 56% mark, enough that I checked to see if there was a preview of another book at the end because I just couldn't imagine there was that much book left. The heroine frustrated me, because she just let things happen to her and around her, just floated along. And she kept mentally repeating that Matt had emotions that he'd never said he had. And Jonny not speaking English made her more of a prop than a character. But I did finish, to see how it all shook out in the end. I'll try another Eberhart if an earlier one gets discounted, I suspect her earlier work may be better.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book at a haunted thrift store in Sidney and I have to say it was definitely a fun read. I’m a mystery book lover and this was a fun read based in New York City.

With a limited cast, the suspects list was even shorter and had me guessing until the final 2 pages where the plot was finally revealed.

I’d definitely read another book from this author if I come across them again!

The only negatives here for me was that the name of the book was a bit off-placed, the pace in the first half could have been more engaging as it was a tad repetitive (because the second half rocked) and the ending had me wishing for just a few more pages to see how things really land after the big reveal.

[eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Fascinating Read!

Relatable, but interesting, characters drew me steadily into this book. The intricate and complex plot kept me turning the pages. The author had me completely fooled as to whodunit. As a longtime mystery reader, I was delighted to be taken for a ride. I enjoyed the warm tone and happy ending very much.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another dull American classic.

I found this one terminally tedious. There were acres of repetition and dialogue which seemed never-ending.

Potentially it was an interesting set-up and in another author's hands it might have developed well. With Eberhart in charge, a short story or novella might have held interest.

I may try another, but then again...

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read several Eberhart books recently and I'm just not that impressed. I think at one time she would have felt more modern, with women being the main characters, sometimes having a job or at least money to do what they want, but it just feels that they end up being too much the damsel in distress for my tastes most of the time.

[Britt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting

I've not read that many books by Mignon Eberhart. I think I have to take the gothic vibe in small doses. The suspense factor is always really strong with these stories. Anyway. I enjoyed this one. Laura and Matt and Jonny were lovely to read.

[Cate · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice lightweight murder mystery, quick and easy read, although rather obvious plot but still fun.

[Mare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable. She's one of my comfort authors.

[Marilyn Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

The basic story was interesting but there was too much rehashing of information within conversations and characters' thoughts but too little action.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that this book took place during December and referenced so many seasonal things. I was a little confused about some specifics of the will and motive, but I enjoyed it very much anyway.

[Karin Tillotson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who killed Stanislavski and why??? Jonny and the money??? I enjoyed this story and recommended the book.

[Jay Goldberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

The protagonist was a bit annoying but Ms Eberhart does have a very pleasant writing style. I did not love the story line.

[Gypsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A large amount of bequeathed money, an orphaned Polish child, and a murdered stranger combine with a likable heroine in this light novel of mystery and suspense. Eberhart had a knack for creating a sinister atmosphere in the most normal of environs, and did so nicely in this entertaining story.

[Scilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the fifties, Conrad Stanley, a rich Polish immigrant in Chicago has died. His recently married young wife Doris; Laura, the daughter of a friend who he had cared for and educated; and Charlie, his friend will split millions unless his Polish nephew, Conrad Stanislowski is found and comes to claim a large fund. Matt, Doris' lawyer, goes to Europe and finds Jonny, Stanislowski's daughter at an orphanage in Switzerland. Laura has quit her job to care for Jonny, and is helped by Matt, who are falling in love. A man claiming to be the nephew Conrad comes to Laura's apartment to see Jonny and asks her to keep his visit a secret until he has settled some matters. Later a woman calls and asks Laura to come to Conrad's rooming house with a doctor quickly. Laura finds Stanislowski dead and the woman, Maria, leaving the house. The suspects are Laura, Doris, Charlie, and Matt. Then a woman who looks like Laura's description of Maria is killed in Laura's apartment building. There is suspense, and Laura and Matt begin some sleuthing on their own.