The Hamlet Trap

Constance and Charlie #1

by Kate Wilhelm

A beautiful set designer with a background of methodical madness is accused of murdering a member of an Oregon repertory theater company, and psychologist Constance Liedl and her husband, private detective Charlie Meiklejohn, investigate.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Theatre

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Kate Wilhelm’s first short story, “The Pint-Sized Genie” was published in Fantastic Stories in 1956. Her first novel, MORE BITTER THAN DEATH, a mystery, was published in 1963. Over the span of her career, her writing has crossed over the genres of science fiction, speculative fiction, fantasy and magical realism, psychological suspense, mimetic, comic, and family sagas, a multimedia stage production, and radio plays. She returned to writing mysteries in 1990 with the acclaimed Charlie Meiklejohn and Constance Leidl Mysteries and the Barbara Holloway series of legal thrillers.

Wilhelm’s works have been adapted for television and movies in numerous countries; her novels and stories have been translated to more than a dozen languages. She has contributed to Quark, Orbit,  Magazine of Fantasy and ScienceFiction, Locus, Amazing Stories, Asimov’s Science Fiction, Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine,  Fantastic, Omni, Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, Redbook, and Cosmopolitan.

Kate Wilhelm is the widow of acclaimed science fiction author and editor, Damon Knight (1922-2002), with whom she founded the Clarion Writers’ Workshop and the Milford Writers’ Conference, described in her 2005 non-fiction work, STORYTELLER. They lectured together at universities across three continents; Kate has continued to offer interviews, talks, and monthly workshops.

Kate Wilhelm has received two Hugo awards, three Nebulas, as well as Jupiter, Locus, Spotted Owl, Prix Apollo, Kristen Lohman awards, among others. She was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 2003. In 2009, Kate was the recipient of one of the first Solstice Awards presented by the Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA) in recognition of her contributions to the field of science fiction. 

Kate’s highly popular Barbara Holloway mysteries, set in Eugene, Oregon, opened with Death Qualified in 1990. Mirror, Mirror, released in 2017, is the series’ 14th novel.

Reviews

[Cherie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have always enjoyed Kate Wilhelm's writing.
Some of her stories are really dark and brooding.
Others are strange and have quirky, unlikeable characters.
I have never been able to figure out any of the mystery stories.
I never get the bad guys correct.
This story was a little different. There were events in the story that had happened twenty-five years in the past, and then there were events in the present. I figured out the clues to the past and who was to blame, but I completely missed the guilty party in the present day story.

I enjoyed meeting Constance and Charlie and look forward to seeing if my library has the rest of the books in the series available.

[L.E. Fidler · Rating 2 out of 5]

(sung to the tune of "Let's Get Together" from the seminal flick The Parent Trap)

Let's commit murder, yeah yeah yeah.
Why don't you and I combine?
Let's commit murder, what do you say?
We can have a swinging time.
We'd be a crazy team.
Hey, let's make a crime scene...Together!

oh, oh, oh, oh
Let's commit murder, yeah yeah yeah.
Think of all those we could kill.
Let's commit murder, everyday
Every way...it's such a thrill..
And though we haven't got a lot,
We could be homicidal til we're caught. Together.

Oh! I really think you're sick.
Uh huh! We'll beat you with a stick..
Oo wee! And if you stick with me
All the ways we'd harm her, say hey Jeffrey Dahmer.

Let's commit murder, yeah yeah yeah.
Two is twice as nice as one.
Let's commit murder, right away.
We'll be having twice the fun.
And you can always count on me.
A gruesome twosome we will be.
Together, yeah yeah yeah.

sorry about that. the entire time i kept waiting for hayley mills to show up and recite "to be or not to be."

oh, the 1980s, you were a fun time, weren't you???

look, this is a pretty decent "first effort" for a mystery. it's obvious there are some major issues that need to get worked out (one, hide your bad guys better. sheesh.) but the writing isn't appallingly awful.

just a little trite.

i'd even wager that later efforts by this author got much, much better. as long as she stopped naming characters things like "roman" and "sunshine" and stopped introducing everyone like we were standing next to her at a club: "that's cindy. cindy likes apples and is married to tom who is a manager at the bank and likes a hot toddy."

there are no cindy or todds in this book, but, perhaps, you catch my meaning.

of course, since this was written in the 80s, there are also some truly spectacular inaccuracies (my favorite? when Ginnie catches "autism" for a year after her parents death and won't talk to anyone. i think you'll find that's now called selective mutism or shock or something).

that really took me out of the book's reality though.

and there's the issue of the central image to the book (it's title: the hamlet trap). i get providing sneaky hints for the reader, but COME ON. you might as well just put a sign on the door that the uncle isn't as swell as he seems.

not that he seems particularly swell at all.

i don't know. the real mystery was why it took anyone so long to figure out what was really happening here.

i did like the psychologist angle; that was clever, if not, you know, marred by the horrid misinformation of the time.

and i liked that the author wasn't afraid to throw an F-bomb or three. i felt that was pretty ballsy for an older writer in the 80s. i'd try a later book in this series but this one was just "eh" for me.

[Tasula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very readable little mystery - ex-cop Charlie and psychologist Constance are asked to clear a young woman of the murder of her boyfriend. The young woman is a set designer of a rep company in Oregon, whose father and mother both died before she turned 14, leaving her in the care of her uncle, the owner of the rep company. Not inspired or groundbreaking but still a good read.

[Moira]

I've read several other mysteries by Wilhelm, and while they're usually competently plotted and characterized, I never find them as wonderful as most of her searing early-to-middle science fiction/fantasy stories and novels. This one was kind of meh - a pleasant way to while away an afternoon in between reading books I focus on more, but it kind of fizzled. Then again I usually have that problem with mysteries; I start getting bored when all the clues and suspects begin to be funneled down towards the conclusion and when The Big Explanation inevitably arrives I sulkily pick holes in it. (Just once I'd like to read a mystery where everything's not helpfully explained at the end. Just once.) I enjoyed the beginning and the focus on Ginnie very much; I wanted to read more about Ashland and stagecraft, and sadly Constance and Charlie didn't really interest me. (I thought Laura was the most compelling character after Ginnie, and wanted to dump Gray down a well. Is Wilhelm sort of unaware that Gray is spookily like the villain Ro? She can't be - she's too good a writer. Is it meant to cast a shadow over the ending, intimating patterns repeat interminably, or suggest instead that this time Ginnie can be happy - the full performance rather than a botched rehearsal?) I also found the non-mystery genre elements off: between vivid horrible memories being suppressed for decades only to SUDDENLY return (the human brain doesn't actually work that way) on the one hand, and possible telepathy/clairvoyance on the other, I was annoyed. I didn't like the similar mixing-up in the otherwise great Death Qualified (it might just be a personal thing). I'll probably look for some more mysteries by Wilhelm (maybe more recent ones - was horrified to realize 1987 was over two decades ago), because I like her writing style, but I doubt I'll be delving into this series. (Also Miss Marple, sirenlike, beckons....)

One bit of cleverness I specially liked - the title supposedly comes from an argument over whether the trap in a theatre door is named for Macbeth or Hamlet. But in the twenty-second chapter out of twenty-five, Constance and Charlie start drafting a fake play, and if you know the plot of 'Hamlet' at all she's essentially handed you the key to her own mystery. It's like a sly little moment of collusion between reader and author that for some reason really charmed me. (Other than that I found the windup terribly rushed.)

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Convoluted but interesting tale of life in Ashland, Oregon around a professional theater with almost half of the book told in flashbacks to a couple of significant events in the theater owner and his niece the set designer's life. I really like the husband and wife couple of retired detective and psychologist who figure out what really happened in the past that is affecting the murders that happened today.

[Rogue Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wilhem was an annual visitor to Ashland for much of her life, taking in the plays for a week, enjoying the small town, slower pace. This Charlie Meiklejohn and Constance Liedl mystery concerns the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and is sort of a departure from her other Charlie and Constance mysteries.

[Phil · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm glad I had not dug these up until now. I love this couple. Married 50 year olds who love each and still have a passion for each other. He a retired cop, she's a clinical psychologist, the bad guys don't stand a chance.

Set in Ashland, Oregon. Kate slips in some tidbits about hiking and Oregon life. She even goes so far as to list the ten essentials for hiking. Yay!

[Fran Lemieux · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick fun read with a surprising end.

Typical Kate Wilhelm, mysterious and a quick read. I thought I had it figured out but she added a nice twist to the story. I would recommend this book.

[Myku · Rating 3 out of 5]

great lead up but bit of a fizzle denoument

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked it. Solid 3 stars. On to the next one.

[Deb · Rating 2 out of 5]

oh, my goodness - what a tangled web

I had to stop, re-read and re-read some more, and I’m still not sure why he “dunnit” and how they figured it out.

[Cricket Muse]

Quite honestly, I selected this title due to the Hamlet connection. The title pretty much announces the plot., however. The pacing meandered, fell short, and almost became interesting when Charlie and Constance showed up. The insertion of swearing seemed forced and contrived, which could have been planned. The characters of the acting company become members of the murder mystery, thereby becoming cliched characters themselves. Lots of behind the scenes theatre insights, along with glimpses of living in a town captivated by the stage. Overall, a disappointment, but not truly terrible. Wait, after rethinking the ending--definitely a two star, unfortunately. I did want to like it.

[Sheela Word · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Theater-based mystery, set in Ashland, Oregon (a real place that hosts a Shakespearean festival every year). Started well. The protagonist is a talented set designer with an independent bent and an optimistic outlook. Then the murders happen, and things go downhill. The cast of characters is so small that the culpable parties are easy to identify. Justice is done, but the protagonist ends up a shadow of her former self. Could've been taken in a different direction and been a better book, I think.

[Carrieuoregon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this author, she is from Eugene, and her psychological mysteries are terrific. This book, set in the theater world of Ashland was interesting. Many characters were well drawn, and it really felt like Ashland. I found the end a little unsatisfying, but was excited to find what seems to be a series that is new to me.

[Ann Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first book in a series. I really enjoyed number 5 so decided to go back and read the rest. This book wasn't really bad but it was so cliche in that all of a sudden they knew who the killer was but it wasn't mentioned how they came to that conclusion. I like the characters still, Charlie and Constance, but I think Kate Wilhelm gets better as she goes alone.

[Grey853 · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is advertised as a Constance and Charlie mystery, but they don't even show up until chapter 11. The first 10 chapters are just building up to two murders. Then they come in and investigate.

I didn't much care for the characters. The plot wasn't very realistic. I doubt I'll read more in the series.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first Constance and Charlie mystery... in fact the first Kate Wilhelm novel I picked up. It kind of jumped off the library shelf at me, and I found myself intrigued. I went back to seek out others with the same detectives, and then discovered she dabbled in other genres as well.

[Twidlebug · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a horrible book. It was so boring. I read it until they told who the killer was and why, but I just could get though the last 4 or 5 pages. I hope this authors other books aren't this terrible.

[Marijalas · Rating 2 out of 5]

This author's later books are great, I can only chalk this book up to learning the craft, since it was written so many years ago. I don't know if I will read authors in this series, but I enjoy her Barbara Holloway series.

[Clarice · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the small town theater culture of "The Hamlet Trap" very interesting and the characters were likable. Then, at about the 80% mark, the wheels driving the plot just seemed to start falling off. It went from bad to worse when the murderer was revealed and motives explained.

[Teea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great mystery. There is some language, but I read over it and enjoyed the characters. The investigators cross over to the next novel so I think I'll pick it up as well.

[Bill Rakowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't remember.

[Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed it. Plot moved fast enough and good character development.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

The addition of a psychologist to the mix of crime fighting individuals is unique (at the time of original writing). The unexpected twist at the end is surprising and unusual in a murder mystery.

[Helen Fleischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent

[Allison Henle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice old-school mystery about a squabbling theater company.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first Charlie Meiklejohn and Constance Liedl mystery. I tried to find an audio version of this book, but it doesn't appear to exist anywhere in that format. So, I had to read a real, honest-to-goodness book.

My first reaction is when do people find the time to read real books? I can listen to audiobooks when I am doing things when I can't read books. Even being able to read an entire line in one instant, it still took me a while to get through this book.

I learned some things about Charlie and Constance. I learned about why he left arson investigation, and why he retired from the Police Department. It fills in some of the holes from later books.

Near the beginning of the book, two people are murdered in a small town in Oregon. Charlie is hired to investigate and determine if the suspect actually committed the murders. They have the same happy go lucky attitude as in later books.

I found the ending to be a little weak and disappointing. It doesn't come to a firm conclusion at the end. You'll see that when you read the book.

[Judy]

Charlie Meiklejohn, detective, and Constance Liedl, psychologist, are paid to go to defend a young woman Ginnie charged with murder at a small theater company in Ashland, Oregon, run by Ro Cavenaugh. Ginnie, a very talented set designer, is Ro's niece whom he has been taking care of since her father was killed in a fire. Guy is a new director who comes to produce this year's play which was written by a very needy and weird woman, Sunshine, who reads Taro cards, has strict dietary habits, and is disruptive both to Guy's marriage and the theater company. Charlie writes his own plot to solve the murders by delving into past motives to smoke out the culprits.