Dead Center

by Mary Collins, Ashley Lawson (Introduction)

Janet Keith is just one of the artists who occupy the old building at 706 Montgomery St. She comes from money, but she wants to be a writer. Her fellow residents—all artists, Bohemians one and all—put up with her, but most of them feel like she doesn’t belong. Then, after a party where Bob Ehman’s wife Anne antagonizes just about everyone, Keith finds her brutally murdered body in the workroom the next day, and immediately starts playing detective, trying to find out which one of them did it.

Suspicion first falls on Rosman, the labor organizer. He’d been at the party. But outside of being a thorn in the side of the police, he had no motive. Still, the artists are relieved when Rosman is pulled in for questioning, because there is a real fear that all their past secrets will come out. And with Keith making everyone’s business her own, it is only a matter of time before the murderer strikes again.

261 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1942

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite of Collins' tales of mystery and suspense. Janet Keith just wants to write in her rented room where social obligations can't distract her. But the others living in the shabby house are struggling to make the rent, and may be quietly envious of Janet, who has a trust fund and wealthy parents. When she discovers the body of an unpopular woman, everyone becomes a suspect--but the San Francisco police are solicitous of Janet, fearing her father's political clout. In the middle of the mystery, she's also (finally!) being wooed by a man she's long loved. The timing, however, causes her to question his motives. Lots of humor and even a lovable little dog.

[Bev · Rating 2 out of 5]

So...I discovered why I've never heard of this author before. She's not exactly among the ranks of Christie or Sayers or, on this side of the pond, Daly. A mediocre mystery at best....it certainly didn't play fair by Golden Age rules (despite it's being produced during the proper time period). Having vital information sprung upon the reader at the end was most disconcerting. The best part was the accurate portrayal of police reaction to an "amateur sleuth"....regarding Janet Keith as a nuisance rather than greeting her with an "oh, yes, please do our job for us." It was rather nice to see her deflated at the end when the official detectives revealed that they had already discovered all the clues she so eagerly had to offer (and had misinterpreted). I'm usually on the side of the amateur--after all I have a great fondness for Lord Peter Wimsey and Miss Marple--but Miss Keith was immensely annoying in her sleuthing style. I think Ms. Collins would have done better to use this character in a straight fiction novel--of the drawing room comedy sort. The Keith household (apart from delving in the murder) is a delightful mix of eccentrics and would have been better used in a different sort of book.

[Lisa Kucharski · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing style feels a lot more current than the time it was written, though I suspect that it was pretty accurate to the time itself. Janet Keith (her last name is used a bit so at first you think it's a guy) is well off but has decided to take a room with a bunch of other artists and writers so she can work on writing. It may sound precious, but after finding out her home life you understand.

She is the only one that doesn't however live in her studio. After a party one night at the studios, she returns and finds a dead body of someone who a lot of people loathed. After this, the ball really starts to roll as does her obsession to figure out who did the murder. Which leads to all sorts of discoveries and mishaps.

The writing style here reminds me of the snark and zaniness that of Craig Rice, and even Louisa Revell for that matter. They all feature women that absolutely will not remain in the social mold. I would say the narrator in this story wasn't a great detective, but she was persistent and almost a victim. Gives an unvarnished glimpse of the time.

[Carol Scheherazade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in the 40s but still a good yarn.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

For my full review click on the link below:
https://crossexaminingcrime.wordpress...