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Line Up for Murder
Waiting outside Bonnard's department store for the famous New Year's sale, Dorrie Wilson and the crowd burst with excitement and anticipation. But things begin to sour by the fourth day, and Dorrie realizes that something is rotten in the line for the Sale of the Century. TP: Walker.
- GenresMysteryCozyCozy Mystery
200 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1980
2 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Marian Babson
62 books87 followersMarian Babson, a pseudonym for Ruth Stenstreem, was born in Salem, Massachusetts, but lived in London for the greater part of her life.
She worked as a librarian; managed a campaign headquarters; was a receptionist, secretary, and den mother to a firm of commercial artists; and was co-editor of a machine knitting magazine, despite the fact that she can’t knit, even with two needles.
A long sojourn as a temp sent her into the heart of business life all over London, working for architects, law firms, the British Museum, a Soho club, and even a visiting superstar.
She also served as secretary to the Crime Writers’ Association. She became a full-time writer whose many interests included theatre, cinema, art, cooking, travel, and, of course, cats, which feature in many of her mystery books. Her first published work was 'Cover-Up Story' in 1971 and 'Only the Cat' (2007) was her 44th novel.
The publisher's tagline for her style is "Murder Most British," a style reflected in each of her novels. Any violence is not graphically described and the sleuths are usually amateurs.
She re-used certain characters, such as the publicity firm Perkins & Tate, and a couple of ageing actresses, her books all stand-alone and can be read in any order.
Gerry Wolstenholme
September 2010
She worked as a librarian; managed a campaign headquarters; was a receptionist, secretary, and den mother to a firm of commercial artists; and was co-editor of a machine knitting magazine, despite the fact that she can’t knit, even with two needles.
A long sojourn as a temp sent her into the heart of business life all over London, working for architects, law firms, the British Museum, a Soho club, and even a visiting superstar.
She also served as secretary to the Crime Writers’ Association. She became a full-time writer whose many interests included theatre, cinema, art, cooking, travel, and, of course, cats, which feature in many of her mystery books. Her first published work was 'Cover-Up Story' in 1971 and 'Only the Cat' (2007) was her 44th novel.
The publisher's tagline for her style is "Murder Most British," a style reflected in each of her novels. Any violence is not graphically described and the sleuths are usually amateurs.
She re-used certain characters, such as the publicity firm Perkins & Tate, and a couple of ageing actresses, her books all stand-alone and can be read in any order.
Gerry Wolstenholme
September 2010
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 27, 2019
Line Up for Murder by Marian Babson is a 1991 Warner Books (NY) Books publication. Originally published in 1980.
After Christmas sales! It wouldn't surprise me if a tragic crime occurred while people fought over rock bottom discounts. I thought that might be the premise of this book, and in a way it was, but it wasn't exactly what I had imagined....
Unfortunately, this is not one of Babson’s best efforts. The mystery is flat and uninspired until the last couple of chapters. Once the action starts, it was just too rushed. Maybe if Babson had a featured a cat in the story, as she so often does, the book would have been more interesting.
This book is from my personal paperback collection and I’ve been meaning to read it for years. I’ll keep the book as part of my Marian Babson collection, but I couldn’t recommend it to read.
2 stars
After Christmas sales! It wouldn't surprise me if a tragic crime occurred while people fought over rock bottom discounts. I thought that might be the premise of this book, and in a way it was, but it wasn't exactly what I had imagined....
Unfortunately, this is not one of Babson’s best efforts. The mystery is flat and uninspired until the last couple of chapters. Once the action starts, it was just too rushed. Maybe if Babson had a featured a cat in the story, as she so often does, the book would have been more interesting.
This book is from my personal paperback collection and I’ve been meaning to read it for years. I’ll keep the book as part of my Marian Babson collection, but I couldn’t recommend it to read.
2 stars
May 19, 2016
Bonnard's Department Store is celebrating is 100th anniversary over the New Year's holiday and, just as every year at this time, they have advertised some spectacular bargains--everything from an entire living room suite to a floor-length mink to a top-of-the-line refrigerator to a state-of-the-art camera/film-maker's dream in addition to bargain prices throughout the store. Every year patrons line up days in advance to have the first shot at their most desired items, bringing sleeping bags and carryalls full of supplies for the wait. Dorrie Witson loves waiting in the queues. She's a good-natured, inoffensive busybody who loves to people-watch and make friends with anyone and everyone around her. This time she isn't waiting in line for herself, but as a favor for friends who have their eye on the fridge and can't afford to miss work to wait in line. Also in the queue is Lucy Bone (alias Lucinda Bonnard, daughter of the Bonnard empire) who has had a falling out with her widowed father over his intended remarriage to a younger woman. She's brought along an undesirable, intense, and possessive boyfriend and the tension caused by these two, a self-centered gentleman ahead of Dorrie who doesn't seem to mind who he insults, a couple who would like nothing better than to ditch the self-centered gent and play board games with Dorrie, and a rather nice young man with an interest in the camera set...as well as in Lucy makes this one of Dorrie's least favorite line-ups.
But is there more to the tension than just abrasive personalities grating upon one another? Lucy is obviously planning some sort of mischief to either embarrass her father or otherwise cause a scene. And someone in that line has murder on their mind. One has a gun and another arranges for an odd concoction to be brought to their place in line...poison, perhaps? Dorrie manages to inadvertently foil several plots and save the day on many fronts....and still grabs the refrigerator for her dear friends.
Line Up for Murder (aka 1980 Queue Here for Murder) by Marion Babson is gentle mystery. Full of charm--it was a delight to read. There is very little action in the generally accepted mystery sense of the word, but Babson draws such vivid characters and sets the scene so expertly that one doesn't really notice. The big mystery is finding out exactly what the plot is, who's behind it, and who is the intended target.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
But is there more to the tension than just abrasive personalities grating upon one another? Lucy is obviously planning some sort of mischief to either embarrass her father or otherwise cause a scene. And someone in that line has murder on their mind. One has a gun and another arranges for an odd concoction to be brought to their place in line...poison, perhaps? Dorrie manages to inadvertently foil several plots and save the day on many fronts....and still grabs the refrigerator for her dear friends.
Line Up for Murder (aka 1980 Queue Here for Murder) by Marion Babson is gentle mystery. Full of charm--it was a delight to read. There is very little action in the generally accepted mystery sense of the word, but Babson draws such vivid characters and sets the scene so expertly that one doesn't really notice. The big mystery is finding out exactly what the plot is, who's behind it, and who is the intended target.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
July 14, 2020
Looking for a classic humorous, light cozy quintessentially British cozy mystery to read? Look no farther than the many cozies written by Marian Babson. Many of the titles have been Americanized as here (original title is Queue Here for Murder), but never fear, the rest is just so deliciously British!
It's the end of December, and London's premier department store, Bonnard's, annual January Sale kicks off on January 4th. Since it features phenomenal deals, like a high quality livingroom set, are on sale for pence on the pounds so to speak. The queue starts 5 days before as it is first come first served to win the best bargains. I've been in London during the January sales and they are pretty phenomenal (ditto in Paris).
Middle aged Dorrie is queueing for a nice young couple with small children and jobs who want the giant fridge freezer, and while hoping to be first in line, she's third. Queueing for herself and others is you could say Dorrie's hobby, her calling. She's a pro at it. This isn't her first Bonnard's and as she says, it's considered a premier experience on every level. One key to it being so is the presence of The St. Edmund's Hotel across the street - what we would call a 5 star hotel -- with convenient and lovely facilities. The juxtaposition of The St. Edmund's is key the events that happen later in the mystery.
So we have Dorrie on the Bonnard's queue and from the beginning, it's not quite as it should be. I either side of her are questionable individuals whose motives for being there are suspect. But, Dorrie is committed to seeing it through and ultimately, has a front row seatcha, and even a key role to play, as events, and murder, unfold.
This is the quintessential British contemporary cozy. And a total delight.
It's the end of December, and London's premier department store, Bonnard's, annual January Sale kicks off on January 4th. Since it features phenomenal deals, like a high quality livingroom set, are on sale for pence on the pounds so to speak. The queue starts 5 days before as it is first come first served to win the best bargains. I've been in London during the January sales and they are pretty phenomenal (ditto in Paris).
Middle aged Dorrie is queueing for a nice young couple with small children and jobs who want the giant fridge freezer, and while hoping to be first in line, she's third. Queueing for herself and others is you could say Dorrie's hobby, her calling. She's a pro at it. This isn't her first Bonnard's and as she says, it's considered a premier experience on every level. One key to it being so is the presence of The St. Edmund's Hotel across the street - what we would call a 5 star hotel -- with convenient and lovely facilities. The juxtaposition of The St. Edmund's is key the events that happen later in the mystery.
So we have Dorrie on the Bonnard's queue and from the beginning, it's not quite as it should be. I either side of her are questionable individuals whose motives for being there are suspect. But, Dorrie is committed to seeing it through and ultimately, has a front row seatcha, and even a key role to play, as events, and murder, unfold.
This is the quintessential British contemporary cozy. And a total delight.
May 3, 2016
4 STARS | This charming mystery reminded me why I loved Marian Babson's books. Intriguing situations, quirky characters that ring familiar, with a clever payoff at the end. In this one, Londoners are queuing outside four days early for Bonnard's big New Year sale. It coincides with their Centenary year as well, so the bargains are extra good. As characters join the queue, with all their overnight equipment, we begin to suspect that one or more of them has an agenda other than bargain hunting, but we're not sure until the end what the mystery really is. Though it's a quick read, I could get impatient with a book like this, but Babson knows so well how to take the reader on a fun and rewarding ride. You won't know what hit you. I loved it!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews