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Inspector Henry Tibbett Mystery #4
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The setting is the fast, flip world of London fashion, and the time, the feverishly exciting period just before the latest Paris fashion news is to break. The staff of Style magazine has debated late into the night about which photographs to feature, but only one of them knows that the stakes are so high that a key employee will be dead by morning.
Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1963
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143 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Moyes
63 books50 followersMoyes was born in Dublin on 19 January 1923 and was educated at Overstone girls' school in Northampton. She joined the WAAF in 1939. In 1946 Peter Ustinov hired her as technical assistant on his film School for Secrets. She became his personal assistant for the next eight years. In 1960 she wrote the screenplay for the film School for Scoundrels starring Ian Carmichael, Terry-Thomas, and Alastair Sim. She married photographer John Moyes in 1951; they divorced in 1959. She later married James Haszard, a linguist at the International Monetary Fund in The Hague. She died at her home on the island of Virgin Gorda (British Virgin Islands) on 2 August 2000.
Her mystery novels feature C.I.D. Inspector Henry Tibbett. One of them, Who Saw Her Die (Many Deadly Returns in the US) was nominated for an Edgar Allan Poe Award in 1971. She also wrote several juveniles and short stories.
Series:
* Inspector Henry Tibbett Mystery
Her mystery novels feature C.I.D. Inspector Henry Tibbett. One of them, Who Saw Her Die (Many Deadly Returns in the US) was nominated for an Edgar Allan Poe Award in 1971. She also wrote several juveniles and short stories.
Series:
* Inspector Henry Tibbett Mystery
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
February 3, 2025
Patricia Moyes writes nice little cozies featuring main character Inspector Henry Tibbett of Scotland Yard. He often is helped in his deliberations of "who dunnit" by his wife Emmy but not so in this tale. There is a murder at Style magazine which is the last word in high fashion and where, coincidentally, Tibbett's niece is a model who, like Emmy, gets involved in the chase for the murderer. There are a lot of characters, all of whom are suspects for one reason or another and many are hiding some pretty big secrets. The story moves right along as Tibbett can't seem to get a break but then, suddenly................it all becomes clear to him, although not quite as clear to the reader. The summation of the why and how of the crime is just a bit too hard to believe but it is still a good entry in this series.
February 4, 2025
Patricia Moyes writes nice little British mysteries featuring main character Inspector Henry Tibbett of Scotland Yard. He often is helped in his deliberations of "who dunnit" by his wife Emmy but not so in this tale.
There is a murder at Style magazine which is the last word in high fashion and where, coincidentally, Tibbett's niece is a model who gets involved in the chase for the murderer. There are a lot of characters, all of whom are suspects for one reason or another and many are hiding some pretty big secrets. The story moves right along as Tibbett can't seem to get a break but then, suddenly................it all becomes clear to him, although not quite as clear to the reader. The summation of the why and how of the crime is just a bit too hard to believe but it is still a good entry in this series.
There is a murder at Style magazine which is the last word in high fashion and where, coincidentally, Tibbett's niece is a model who gets involved in the chase for the murderer. There are a lot of characters, all of whom are suspects for one reason or another and many are hiding some pretty big secrets. The story moves right along as Tibbett can't seem to get a break but then, suddenly................it all becomes clear to him, although not quite as clear to the reader. The summation of the why and how of the crime is just a bit too hard to believe but it is still a good entry in this series.
April 16, 2024
In this fourth Inspector Tibbett book, for a change the inspector is not on holiday, but investigating a crime in London, in the world of fashion. A journalist on Style, a glossy fashion magazine, is murder by poison, and Henry has to find out who wanted her dead, and why. An added complication for Henry is that his wife’s niece Veronica, is a glamorous model who just happens to be working for Style at the time of the murder, and is keen to help in his investigations. There are lots of suspects, and some interesting descriptions of the world of high fashion in the 1960s. There are a number of red herrings, and I didn’t guess whodunnit, which is always satisfactory. I particularly liked Veronica, who is a very amusing character. This is my favourite one of the series so far.
November 19, 2022
It seemed to me that this book had author Patricia Moyes channeling Ngaio Marsh! It felt like somewhat of a departure for her and I could really hear echoes of Inspector Alleyn when it was actually Inspector Tibbit speaking!
The story is set in the high-fashion world of a glossy London magazine called "Style." And speaking of echoes, can you say "The Devil Wears Prada?!" Even though this book came first, I guess the people who make fashion magazines just never change! Anyway, who killed Helen Pankhurst, assistant editor, by poisoning her tea thermos with cyanide? Also, who is having an affair with whom? Who is secretly dying of cancer? Who is smuggling fashion prototypes out of Paris? Where has Inspector Tibbit's gorgeous super-model niece disappeared? All these questions are wrapped up Poirot-style at an exclusive fashion collection unveiling. Will you be stumped? I was, not by the flimsy trap set by the Inspector, but rather by the response to it!
And what about those interesting double-entendre names? First of all, there's Helen Pankhurst, herself, named for the famous 19th century Feminist?! Then there's Mr. Godfrey Goring! Goring, as in Hitler's propaganda man?! Well, he does own a fashion magazine that dictates what women should be wearing! The author finally tells the readers straight out who Charles Dodgson is, in case someone doesn't recognize Lewis Carroll's real name
Full of fun, insider info, and even a whiff of the supernatural! I enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone in need of a light-hearted read with a twist of glamour!
The story is set in the high-fashion world of a glossy London magazine called "Style." And speaking of echoes, can you say "The Devil Wears Prada?!" Even though this book came first, I guess the people who make fashion magazines just never change! Anyway, who killed Helen Pankhurst, assistant editor, by poisoning her tea thermos with cyanide? Also, who is having an affair with whom? Who is secretly dying of cancer? Who is smuggling fashion prototypes out of Paris? Where has Inspector Tibbit's gorgeous super-model niece disappeared? All these questions are wrapped up Poirot-style at an exclusive fashion collection unveiling. Will you be stumped? I was, not by the flimsy trap set by the Inspector, but rather by the response to it!
And what about those interesting double-entendre names? First of all, there's Helen Pankhurst, herself, named for the famous 19th century Feminist?! Then there's Mr. Godfrey Goring! Goring, as in Hitler's propaganda man?! Well, he does own a fashion magazine that dictates what women should be wearing! The author finally tells the readers straight out who Charles Dodgson is, in case someone doesn't recognize Lewis Carroll's real name
Full of fun, insider info, and even a whiff of the supernatural! I enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone in need of a light-hearted read with a twist of glamour!
March 16, 2022
Classic mystery (written in the early 1960s) set at a British fashion magazine, where low-key, quietly brilliant Inspector Henry Tibbett--definitely a fish out of water--must solve the murder-by-cyanide of Helen Pankhurst, apparently next-in-line to be editor until her sudden demise. The suspects include her co-workers--publisher, editor, rival staff members, photographers, designers, models--but no one outside the tight circle of the magazine. Patricia Moyes plots as deftly as Agatha Christie, and writes with an elegant flair that captures telling details without sacrificing a brisk pace. Vivid characters and a fascinating, well-observed milieu (Moyes once worked as an editor at British Vogue, and captures the chaos behind-the-scenes at a fashion magazine as only an insider could) make this an exceptionally entertaining read. Highly recommended.
June 1, 2019
"The setting is the fast, flip world of London fashion, and the time, the feverishly exciting period just before the latest Paris fashion new is to break. The staff of Style magazine has debated late into the night about which photographs to feature, but only one of them knows that the stakes are so high that a key employee will be dead by morning. Inspector Henry Tibbett must act quickly to save the life of his niece, a beautiful Style model, who is in danger of becoming the next victim of a crime as ingenious as are the creations of haute couture itself."
~~back cover
Beautifully plotted and written, which is de rigueur for this author.
~~back cover
Beautifully plotted and written, which is de rigueur for this author.
August 5, 2019
I enjoyed this book, although I felt that this mystery was a departure from other Tibbett mysteries, and as another reviewer has stated, was almost a Ngaio Marsh pastiche -- but substituting the fashion and magazine world for the theatre or for art (when Troy is involved).
Moyes' knowledge of the haute couture world, especially in 1960s Paris and London, along with the media and personalities who are so much about that world was fascinating--I loved that aspect of this story. There was so much promise. So many threads to weave in, from mystery relationships and types of relationships, etc. And yet. And yet. The niece/supermodel character and the somewhat OTT ending somewhat deflated my enjoyment of the book.
Somewhere between 3.5 - 4 stars.
Moyes' knowledge of the haute couture world, especially in 1960s Paris and London, along with the media and personalities who are so much about that world was fascinating--I loved that aspect of this story. There was so much promise. So many threads to weave in, from mystery relationships and types of relationships, etc. And yet. And yet. The niece/supermodel character and the somewhat OTT ending somewhat deflated my enjoyment of the book.
Somewhere between 3.5 - 4 stars.
July 13, 2022
I absolutely love this series. They remind me of the cozy mystery series set in the 1920s and 1930s , yet they are set in the 1960s/1970s. Inspector Henry Tibbet is a marvelous character and I enjoy how the author shows some, but not all of his deduction process. The action occurs in the world of dress design and fashion magazines. Patricia Moyes' use of various settings never fails to catch my interest. Each story in this series reveals something new about Henry and Emmy Tibbet. The reveal was a total surprise to me, which makes reading the story more enjoyable. Will be reading all of the books in this series.
June 12, 2008
British fashion magazine Style is just finishing up their big issue featuring the latest fashions from Paris. But one the writers faces her own deadline. Her dead body is found in her office the next morning, her reviews only halfway written. Chief Inspector Henry Tibbett is thrust into the fashion scene as he tracks down a killer. He'd better hurry, since a member of his own family is the next target.
I enjoyed this one. The characters were fun. But there was a lot of talking at the very end.
I enjoyed this one. The characters were fun. But there was a lot of talking at the very end.
September 4, 2022
Scotland Yard Police series previously unknown to me. Tibbett is more ordinary copper than some other literary detectives and has some nice moments of self awareness in this one (that he has no taste, for instance, or is a prude) which concerns a murder of a fashion magazine editor. It’s very good on the always slightly hysterical, highly dramatized world of fashion and publishing. The final ploy that unmasks the killer is a bit over the top (and probably would get Tibbett a reprimand) so 3.75 stars.
October 28, 2025
Henry and wife have returned to their expected form, although Henry shuts off Emily and his niece when he should have listened. In this book I learned about the fashion industry, in which I have absolutely no interest. Good plot with an unexpected (to me) twist. Not sure about the likelihood of the underlying crime.
April 19, 2018
This mystery set in the London fashion industry of the early 60's was a pleasant trifle. As with nearly every mystery, secrets are being kept from the person trying to discover who did it. Some of those secrets just would not be secrets in today's world. I am old enough to remember when cancer was a secret to be kept from the person who had it and that anything that even hinted at homosexuality was a secret worth of blackmail. Both are in the mix of secrets being kept from Inspector Tibbett.
June 26, 2015
This was a really fun "old school" mystery set in the swinging London of 1963 at a fashion magazine. I had not heard of Patricia Moyes, but bought a couple of used paperbacks at the Malice conference. For those who like Christie, Tey, and Marsh.
April 29, 2024
I'm only sorry it took me so long to discover Patricia Moyes. She wrote in the 1960s but her novels have the style / tone / feel of the Golden Age Detective novels. Her prose, witty dialogues, scene setting, and psychological profiles of her characters all have hallmarks of the Grand Dames of Mystery. She's up there with Agatha Christie, Margery Allingham, Nagaio Marsh, and Georgette Heyer in my book.
This is only the second of her books that I've read. She has a robust series featuring DCI Henry Tibbett and he's unusual in how well adjusted and happily married he is. His wife Emmy apparently typically plays a larger role in the proceedings, though in this one she's relegated more to the background. This book reminded me so much of Allingham's versatility with all her settings for her mysteries, and of Marsh because Tibbett's style questioning suspects here is so familiar to Roderick Alleyn's, and I mean both of those comparisons in the most positive light possible.
But back to the mystery at hand: twice a year the staff of Style magazine pulls late nights to put their recap of the Paris shows editions to bed, and this is one of them. The staff returns from the week of shows to write up their exclusive takes on the hottest looks on the runway. As photospreads are debated passionately and hemlines examined, hats assessed, accessories discussed and discarded, the issue painstakingly comes together. We meet the members of the staff, an eclectic sort (as they keep reminding Tibbett when they encounter him later). The not so controlled chaos of it all is palpable, as are the facades and deliberate personality quirks everyone adopts to make themselves seem more interesting.
It's not surprising that Moyes creates the scene so vividly: she worked as an editor at British Vogue for a spell and that experience clearly comes to life on the pages and in her descriptions of fashion. It's frothy and fun, except for the murder in the wee small hours of the morning. The body is not discovered until the messenger boy arrives to collect the final pages for printing at 7am and despairs as his deadline looms ever larger and no one answers the door at the magazine offices. Henry Tibbett is called in, and when his niece Veronica, an up and coming model, shows up for her photo shoot his worlds collide a bit. "Ronnie" as she goes by, is determined to be an undercover sleuth to help her Uncle Henry, trouble is, she's not so subtle about it and Henry is understandably concerned she'll only wind up putting herself in danger. So he has to navigate that family dynamic while solving a murder. The deceased may have been having an affair with a married man on the staff, who may have been recently diagnosed with a fatal cancer unbeknownst to him. There may be smuggling items from Paris during these trips. And / or there may be someone stealing exclusive toiles (custom designs) from the Paris shows and using them to make knock off collections in the UK. There's also the position of editor in chief coming up for grabs - would anyone on the staff kill for that position? So many motives, so many suspects, so few straight answers!
This was just dizzying enough in terms of red herrings, and perfectly straddled the line between satisfying and mystifying as I correctly deduced some but not all of the mystery. I CANNOT wait to read more of these and am so delighted that a whole series awaits!
This is only the second of her books that I've read. She has a robust series featuring DCI Henry Tibbett and he's unusual in how well adjusted and happily married he is. His wife Emmy apparently typically plays a larger role in the proceedings, though in this one she's relegated more to the background. This book reminded me so much of Allingham's versatility with all her settings for her mysteries, and of Marsh because Tibbett's style questioning suspects here is so familiar to Roderick Alleyn's, and I mean both of those comparisons in the most positive light possible.
But back to the mystery at hand: twice a year the staff of Style magazine pulls late nights to put their recap of the Paris shows editions to bed, and this is one of them. The staff returns from the week of shows to write up their exclusive takes on the hottest looks on the runway. As photospreads are debated passionately and hemlines examined, hats assessed, accessories discussed and discarded, the issue painstakingly comes together. We meet the members of the staff, an eclectic sort (as they keep reminding Tibbett when they encounter him later). The not so controlled chaos of it all is palpable, as are the facades and deliberate personality quirks everyone adopts to make themselves seem more interesting.
It's not surprising that Moyes creates the scene so vividly: she worked as an editor at British Vogue for a spell and that experience clearly comes to life on the pages and in her descriptions of fashion. It's frothy and fun, except for the murder in the wee small hours of the morning. The body is not discovered until the messenger boy arrives to collect the final pages for printing at 7am and despairs as his deadline looms ever larger and no one answers the door at the magazine offices. Henry Tibbett is called in, and when his niece Veronica, an up and coming model, shows up for her photo shoot his worlds collide a bit. "Ronnie" as she goes by, is determined to be an undercover sleuth to help her Uncle Henry, trouble is, she's not so subtle about it and Henry is understandably concerned she'll only wind up putting herself in danger. So he has to navigate that family dynamic while solving a murder. The deceased may have been having an affair with a married man on the staff, who may have been recently diagnosed with a fatal cancer unbeknownst to him. There may be smuggling items from Paris during these trips. And / or there may be someone stealing exclusive toiles (custom designs) from the Paris shows and using them to make knock off collections in the UK. There's also the position of editor in chief coming up for grabs - would anyone on the staff kill for that position? So many motives, so many suspects, so few straight answers!
This was just dizzying enough in terms of red herrings, and perfectly straddled the line between satisfying and mystifying as I correctly deduced some but not all of the mystery. I CANNOT wait to read more of these and am so delighted that a whole series awaits!
May 21, 2023
This was a very interesting mystery in the Henry Tibbett series by Patricia Moyes.
In this story, Inspector Tibbett is caught up in the high-fashion world of London. The Paris Collections have just come out, and those who work at the fashion magazine "Style" are frantic to get out the latest edition, highlighting all the recent styles. As the staff works late into the night, someone works a bit too hard. By the next morning, Helen Parkhurst is dead of cyanide poisoning.
For a while, there is the question as to whether it might have been suicide over a love affair gone wrong. Tibbett quickly discovers that is not the case. And when his nosy niece Veronica, who is a model with several of the fashion houses, goes missing, Tibbett and others begin to wonder if the murderer might strike twice.
While this is an interesting murder mystery, I felt that some of the characters were so similar that I had trouble sorting them out. I had to keep reminding myself who was who, and it became very distracting. Otherwise, this would have been a five-star book.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND
In this story, Inspector Tibbett is caught up in the high-fashion world of London. The Paris Collections have just come out, and those who work at the fashion magazine "Style" are frantic to get out the latest edition, highlighting all the recent styles. As the staff works late into the night, someone works a bit too hard. By the next morning, Helen Parkhurst is dead of cyanide poisoning.
For a while, there is the question as to whether it might have been suicide over a love affair gone wrong. Tibbett quickly discovers that is not the case. And when his nosy niece Veronica, who is a model with several of the fashion houses, goes missing, Tibbett and others begin to wonder if the murderer might strike twice.
While this is an interesting murder mystery, I felt that some of the characters were so similar that I had trouble sorting them out. I had to keep reminding myself who was who, and it became very distracting. Otherwise, this would have been a five-star book.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND
December 27, 2019
This was one of those books I just picked up at random, from a used bookshop. I do that, I like to find a book I've never heard of, and give it a try.
And this is one of the times where it's a winner!
I grabbed this mostly because as someone who likes both mysteries and fashion, I figured it was a good bet. And I was right!
The ending is a touch convoluted, but the writing is good, the characters distinct and interesting, and the whole thing is just a good, old fashioned style mystery.
And this is one of the times where it's a winner!
I grabbed this mostly because as someone who likes both mysteries and fashion, I figured it was a good bet. And I was right!
The ending is a touch convoluted, but the writing is good, the characters distinct and interesting, and the whole thing is just a good, old fashioned style mystery.
November 19, 2020
Early Bird Book Deal | This series is an old favorite, and I was overjoyed to see that Early Bird has an agreement with the ebook publishers so that the books can be discounted.
A few hours after I finished the kindle version I started thinking, and it might be missing a scene. My paperback edition is in storage, so I can't check, but either the scene I'm thinking of occurred in a book with nearly identical set up, or it's been removed for some reason.
A few hours after I finished the kindle version I started thinking, and it might be missing a scene. My paperback edition is in storage, so I can't check, but either the scene I'm thinking of occurred in a book with nearly identical set up, or it's been removed for some reason.
March 10, 2024
Continuing my re-reading of Patricia Moyes’ outstanding Inspector Henry Tibbett series. This 4th entry is another very good outing. It’s the only mystery I can recall dealing with the fashion industry, fashion models, fashion magazines, fashion shows, et al. Not only interesting because of the milieu it’s set in, but it’s just a darn good mystery.
Looking forward to continuing my reading in this series.
Looking forward to continuing my reading in this series.
August 12, 2025
Historia ciekawa, wciągająca. Niestety napisana tak, że nie da się jako czytelnik rozwiązywać zagadki równolegle z głównym bohaterem - dużo rzeczy jest niedopowiedzianych, pominiętych czy po prostu „przeoczonych”, co odbiera tę przyjemność zabawy w detektywa. Ale muszę przyznać, że fabuła dobrze przemyślana :)
Co do polskiego tłumaczenia - DRAMAT. Ale jako absolwentka lingwistyki stosowanej widzę w tej pozycji świetny przykład do omówienia na zajęciach i może warsztatach translatorskich :)
Co do polskiego tłumaczenia - DRAMAT. Ale jako absolwentka lingwistyki stosowanej widzę w tej pozycji świetny przykład do omówienia na zajęciach i może warsztatach translatorskich :)
March 10, 2022
I beginning to really like Patricia Moyes murder mysteries. They are usually lightweight but never the less they are pages turners. "Murder a La Mode" is set in a fashion magazine and it contains the usual assortment of characters with something to hide. If want to spend an enjoyable few hours this book is ideal.
July 22, 2023
B–:
I get the impression that Moyes knows less about the fashion world than she did about skiing or sailing (#1 & #2) and as a result this entry into the Tibbett series is pretty half-baked. The culprit is a genuine surprise but the motive isn't particularly interesting. There's also not enough of Emmy!
I get the impression that Moyes knows less about the fashion world than she did about skiing or sailing (#1 & #2) and as a result this entry into the Tibbett series is pretty half-baked. The culprit is a genuine surprise but the motive isn't particularly interesting. There's also not enough of Emmy!
Read
November 20, 2019Really like this series, however, there was a character, the niece, that I could have throttled.
What is interesting about this series is one can not tell what time period it takes place. Rarely is there mention of something that would give it away.
What is interesting about this series is one can not tell what time period it takes place. Rarely is there mention of something that would give it away.
October 9, 2023
The setting of this mystery--the premises of a London fashion magazine--was interesting and well-portrayed, and the mystery itself was engrossing, although the trap laid to catch the killer was pretty absurd. Still, a good, quick read.
February 5, 2024
The ending was too sudden
It seems like a reach. So much subterfuge by so many people. And they never gave into the elaborate lie. And the sick man just rides off having lost it all. A little too vague. Too many out there sub pieces. The story needed more Emmy too.
It seems like a reach. So much subterfuge by so many people. And they never gave into the elaborate lie. And the sick man just rides off having lost it all. A little too vague. Too many out there sub pieces. The story needed more Emmy too.
February 16, 2024
Henry spends a lot of time with some flamboyant and eccentric fashion people and not very much time with Emmy. (I missed her.) His dim-bulb niece turns out to be a surprise. The mystery was a bit of a stretch but this series is always fun.
May 21, 2019
Excellent mystery in the classic British style. Holds up well, considering it is about the fashion world of several decades ago.
Read
November 22, 2020Enjoyed this so much. I read all of Moyes's books "back in the day" and enjoyed rereading this. Very clever and very sophisticated and a wonderful look at an earlier decade.
May 25, 2021
Very well done.
June 25, 2021
fashion can be a deadly business.
October 6, 2021
A delightful story! I suspected everyone and the ending was a surprise! The best kind of mystery!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews