Murder Within Murder

Mr. & Mrs. North #10

by Frances Lockridge, Richard Lockridge

Highly recommended for the Norths' admirers who by this time have turned into a sizable pressure group. Well-plotted and suspenseful.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Ebooks, Detective, Cozy Mystery

185 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1946

About the author

Frances Louise (Davis) Lockridge wrote popular mysteries and children's books with husband Richard Lockridge. They also published under the shared pseudonym Francis Richards.

Reviews

[Zain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why Isn’t She Getting Paid? 💰

Once again, Pamela North is called upon to assist Lieutenant Weigand and Sergeant Mullins when the morally scrupulous, Miss Amelia Gipson, is righteously poisoned while visiting the library.

She’s there to gather information about the unsolved, true-crime mystery she is laboring on with Jerry North.

With a whole slew of twitchy individuals, growing his list, Lieutenant Weigand, with Mullins, is gratified to have the North’s reinforcement. They are to help weed out the humongous index of names of Miss Amelia Gipson’s well-deserved, spiteful enemies.

Freely willing, once again, to put her life at risk, to unravel the enigma of our suspenseful mystery, Mrs. North closes the book on another thrilling whodunnit, and once more doesn’t receive a paycheck for her life-defying, hard work.

At least, from me, she’ll get five stars ✨.

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Explaining the title of this, the 10th novel in the Mr. and Mrs. North series, would, unfortunately, give away too much. But here’s what I can say: I never suspected the culprit in the murder of Amelia Gipson, the smug martinet whose murder kicks off the novel. Gipson worked for Jerry North, so, needless to say, his ditzy, yet clever, wife Pam becomes involved. As so often happens, her instincts are right — even if not entirely.

Longtime fans will love the crisp, amusing dialogue and the mid-century New York vibe — and, of course, Pam North, her pal Lieutenant Bill Weigand and his stolid sidekick, Sergeant Mullins. Newbies sampling No. 10 first won’t be lost; however, it’s the faithful fans who will enjoy Murder Within Murder the most.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

The review in the Wikipedia article https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._and... tells it best.

I sometimes yearn nostalgically for the khakis and browns, dull reds, black-and-whites, dark greens of the 30's, 40's and 50's. So, I picked up a passel of crime novels by Richard and Frances Lockridge, creators of Mr. and Mrs. North, at a book sale at a Virginia library . (I figured someone died and left their private library behind for their grandchildren, who nowadays could care less about dusty old mystery books and who donated them to the local library.) I started with the earliest of my little collection, knowing that the sub-genre of a loving couple solving a murder together might engender in me that feeling of nostalgia that I get during certain times of year. And, for the most part it did.

Now, I think I'll take down one of these types of novels every now and then and follow up with watching some of the old "Mr. and Mrs. North" television programs. I might also watch some "Hart to Hart", "McMillan and Wife", the "Thin Man" (both the television and movie versions) all of which had pretty much morphed from Mr. and Mrs. North.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder with Pam & Jerry

I am a new convert to the Mr. and Mrs. North mysteries. They are a quirky husband and wife team who are not detectives but they somehow end up solving mysteries in New York City. Murder Within Murder is the 10th book in the series. It is the first book I picked up and it certainly works as a stand alone. I do not know the North’s back story, but this appears to be a series that can be read in any order. In a nice twist, the authors are also a husband and wife team.

Murder Within Murder starts with the poisoning of up-tight spinster Amelia Gipson (with a “p” not a “b!”) She is poisoned in the New York Public Library while she is researching past sensational murders for an upcoming book. The book is to be published by her employer, Mr. Jerry North. There are no lack of suspects as Miss Gipson was quite adept at making people angry. She was rigid, moralistic, and also a tattletale. She has alienated her remaining family, a former co-worker, and her good friend. Jerry and Pam aid their friend Lieutenant Bill Weigand. Pam tends to spin a lot of theories, many of them not as improbable as they sound. There are some good twists and turns before the murderer is revealed.

The mystery series is written in the 1940’s and this particular story takes place post-WWII. The characters, especially Pam North, are funny and quirky. The writing is sharp and witty. It reminds me of movie comedies from that era. My only quibble is that the sentence structure is a bit awkward at times and some sentences require a re-read. This was a very enjoyable book and I would read others in the series.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a murder in one of my favorite settings - a library. Specifically, the murder victim is killed in the North Reading Room of the New York Public Library. As a reader, I had envisioned a stabbing or strangulation in a private alcove- perhaps deep in the book shelves, or in a quiet office. Miss Amelia Gipson, a retired professor, was poisoned and died at a reading desk on the main floor! Since you don’t eat at the library, how was she poisoned? Did I mention she was hired to do research on an upcoming book about famous American murders for Mr. North’s employer. Did she figure out something about one of the murders she was investigating? “Murder Within Murder” is one of my favorite of the North mystery books. A cozy mystery that is a fast read with lots of plausible suspects with good reasons to kill Amelia Gipson. Happy sleuthing!

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, this copy of Murder Within Murder by Frances & Richard Lockridge is an awesome book. I'm not talking about the read yet--just the book. I mean, look at that cover engraved with all sorts of murder weapons. Is that not just perfect? I'm so glad the hubby snagged this off of E-bay for one of my 2011 Christmas presents.

Oh, and the story itself is pretty darn good too. But then I'm biased--I have a thing for the light and breezy novels penned by the Lockridge team.


Miss Amelia Gipson (that's with a "p" and NOT with a "b" as she would most emphatically point out) is very sure of herself. She has a high standard of morals...which practically no one can meet. Except Miss Amelia Gipson, of course. And she loves to point out when someone she knows has fallen short of the mark. She's an ex-teacher who probably never gave out an "A"--because there are no perfect students, you know.

Since retiring from the fictional Ward College (a girl's school in Indiana), she has moved to New York, taken an apartment, meddled in the lives of her niece and nephew (whose trust fund she administers), and signed up as a researcher for North Books. Her current project is to track down info on several murder cases of the near-past (near to 1946, that is) to provide facts for the authors who will write the cases up for an up-coming North publication. She winds up poisoned while sitting in the New York Public Library, hard at work on her note-taking.

Deputy Chief Inspector Artemus O'Malley, as usual, is hoping for a simple answer. He's thinking suicide sounds really good. After all, how could anybody get the retired teacher to down a dose of poison at the library? But Lieutenant Bill Weigand is quick to discover Miss Gipson's ties to North Books--which, of course, means that Pam & Jerry North are going to involved. And O'Malley's hopes for a simple case go out the window....because as Sergeant Mullins always says, when the Norths are involved, it always gets screwy. Miss Gipson's notes soon prove to Weigand that it's a case of murder and not suicide, but there are still some pretty simple possibilities.

Gipson's niece and nephew both have reason to want their meddling, holier-than-thou auntie out of the way. And then there's a former fellow teacher who lost his job because of Gipson's interference and who just happens to be in NYC now as well. And there's also Gipson's long-time friend who wrote the victim a very odd letter just days before the murder. A letter that says what Gipson's doing "isn't safe." It could still turn out to be a nice, simple, easily explained little murder.

But Pam has other ideas. She's just sure that Miss Gipson's research is the root of the problem. That Miss Gipson discovered something new on one of the old murder cases and made things too hot for a murderer who had so far gone undetected. Is Pam right? Or will the clues lead her...and Weigand...to an ordinary murderer?

This book is a very good snapshot of New York City at the end of World War II. The opening has Pam trying to "churn" her own butter (with an egg beater) because she's used up all her ration points. There is also discussion of what life was like for the soldiers returning from the war. Mix that with the humor of the Norths and the light and breezy tone and you have a winning combination. Four stars.

This was first posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks!

********
(November 17, 2014)
I have just finished reading this again--for a comparison post with other books written in 1946. Still a terrific read!

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

see review on alternate edition

[Whistler's Mom · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.

Miss Amelia Gipson is a woman who disapproves of many things - moral laxity, informal manners, sloppy dress, sentimental weakness, alcoholic beverages, talking in the library, and morons who don’t pronounce her name correctly. She's vocal when others fail to live up to her standards. After a career on the staff of a women’s college in the midwest, she’s living in New York City and working for Jerry North’s publishing company as a researcher.

One day she’s sitting in the public library and keels over dead. Lt. Bill Weigand of the NYPD is reluctant to believe that even Miss Gipson died of chronic indignation. Besides, the lab report says she was poisoned. Someone put sodium fluoride in one of her indigestion capsules. Who?

And why is Miss Gipson working at such a low-paying job, when she has lots of money (inherited and otherwise) in the bank? The job involves researching old murders, with the information given out to various writers who’ll put new spins on old crimes. In other words, Amelia is digging up dirt and if there’s one thing she loves, it’s finding out what scandals people have hidden in their closets.

Lt. Weigand starts with the obvious suspects - those with grudges against the dead woman or who benefit from her death. A former professor was fired from his job because Miss Gipson “exposed” a non-existent affair with a student. A niece is begging her aunt not to tell her husband about an indiscretion committed while he was away at war. A nephew wants money to start a business. Aunt Amelia says that plastic is a passing fad and refuses to OK the release of her late brother’s money.

That's three good suspects. But Miss Gipson worked for Jerry North, so the ever-inquisitive Pam North gets involved. She points out that it’s highly suspicious that North Publishing was burglarized the night after the death. Miss Gipson’s desk was rifled and all her research removed. Papers were also stolen from her apartment. Pam’s theory is that Amelia discovered something in her researches that threatens someone. An uncaught killer is a dangerous animal.

And, naturally, there’s someone who KNOWS SOMETHING about the murder. That person should go straight to the police, but never does. Sometimes it’s out of fear or sympathy for the guilty party, but usually it’s a matter of blackmail. Blackmailers never seem to realize that a murderer will murder again. What does he have to lose?

Meanwhile life goes on as America adjusts to the post-WWII world. Everyone's agog about the new materials and inventions that will (supposedly) perform miracles. War-time shortages continue and Pam astonishes Jerry by making butter (still rationed) out of cream (apparently readily available.) Couples separated by war are strangers to each other. Military officers realize that the privileges of rank will soon be a thing of the past. It’s an exciting, scary time and the authors capture it perfectly.

I won’t tell you if Lt. Weigand or Pam North is right about the motive for Miss Gipson’s murder, but I will tell you one thing. Those of you who complain that Pam North is always getting knocked unconscious by blows to the head or exploding bombs can relax. This is her tenth murder investigation and she’s gotten a little more cautious. She IS held at gun-point, but that’s an occupational hazard, right?

I appreciate these books for their excellent writing, their quirky humor, and their insightful look into American life in the 1940’s. Every good mystery tells a lot about day-to-day life during the time it’s set in. This one is no exception. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

[Ethan Hulbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder Within Murder was a good mystery and a good story, though it definitely had some flaws with writing and characters.

Let’s get the bad stuff out of the way first. The worst thing about this book was undoubtedly the writing. No, it wasn’t a badly written book overall. But the way it handled dialog and some narration was some of the most annoying I’ve ever read.

It’s hard to read dialog when half of it is people talking like regular, and then at random, it breaks into the narration describing what they’re saying without using quotes. It’s as if it’s trying to say, “this part of the conversation isn’t important, let’s skip past it quick” except often those parts of the conversation are important. It throws a reader off every single time.

And then it just goes back into the regular dialog pattern like the narration break never happened. Come on! Stay consistent. This isn’t some experimental piece of literature, it’s a mystery novel, and there’s no need to mutilate the conventions of characters talking just to be different.

Conversations like these were very difficult to get past while still maintaining comprehension.

Onto the characters. I get that this is a Mr. & Mrs. North murder mystery, however it seems like the Norths did exceedingly little here. Mr. North was only vaguely involved with the plot and was, at best, a side character. Nothing he said or did truly moved the story in any direction. Even when he got hit in the head early on, no real fuss was made. He could’ve easily been on a vacation this whole story and it wouldn’t have changed much.

Mrs. North was a little more active, but it still seems like she didn’t do much. She had wild ideas the whole time, and then got in some trouble at the end. She even asks near the finish of the novel, “what did we really do?” Not a lot.

In truth, the book could’ve been about the police lieutenant. He was the main character, really, did all the work, and it’s his story that we really followed anyway. The Norths seemed to be tacked on to a pre-existing detective story. Maybe that’s what happened.

So let’s get to the good stuff! The murder mystery was solid. It wasn’t too obvious in my opinion, and it was very well done overall. Good work in the details. Good work leaving red herrings and other loose ends to properly distract a reader. And good work connecting it to something else, making it exciting and bigger than it seemed to be by the end.

As far as mysteries themselves go, without taking into account writing styles or characters or anything else, this is one of the better ones I’ve read.

The story and setting were also very interesting. Post-war New York City was a fascinating time, so it seems, and it’s so cool to get a window to that world like this.

I really enjoyed hearing about what people were doing day to day, how the war had impacted society, what people’s attitudes were regarding it, and more. So cool! So that was a very nice touch.

Overall, despite the dodgy characters and annoying writing, this was still a mostly enjoyable book.

[Leew49 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amelia Gipson, former college instructor, has been doing research for a true crime collection to be published by Jerry North's firm in New York. Though good at her job, she is, unfortunately, a rather priggish, meddlesome and gossipy individual. So, when she is murdered, there are several people in her life--friends, relatives and former associates--who are likely suspects. But Miss Gipson's research might also be a factor, since it involved some not so cold murder cases. What if she discovered a clue that might put someone in jail for a past murder? Detective Weigand of Homicide thinks the people in her immediate circle are the most likely to have killed her, but Pam North, Jerry's inquisitive and eccentric wife, thinks the answer lies in the victim's research notes.

The writing style in this Thin Man-inspired series is light and whimsical, and Pam's unique mode of self-expression can be distracting, but the Lockridge writing team provides a nice escape, temporary though it may be, from our more strident and self-consciously urgent times.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amelia Gipson is a woman of stern and unflinching morals. Having left her job as a professor of Latin at an Indiana women's college, she comes to New York City and gets a job working for Jerry North, researching a book he plans: old unsolved real-life murders reimagined by crime writers of today. When she is murdered in the New York Public Library, it is Jerry who must identify her, and Bill's problem is acute: was she murdered because of her research into the past, or because of her activities in her own life? Her only surviving relatives, a niece and nephew, both have good reason to murder her, and there is an old friend who wrote a very mysterious letter before Amelia died.

Pam and Jerry have another new cat, this one named Martini, the old pair apparently having moved on. The war is over, but rationing is still around ....

There's enough there to keep you guessing until the climax. Enjoyable.

[Anna Katharine · Rating 5 out of 5]

What reader doesn't love a mysterious death in a library? (And, perhaps, think it's not a bad way to go?) When an entirely-too-uptight professor, late of a women's college, is found dead whilst researching a book on famous murders for North Books, the Norths are sure to get involved- much to Deputy Chief Inspector O'Malley's disgust. (A character analysis of O'Malley over the course of the series would be fun, if entirely predictable.) Suspects include henpecked relatives and another former professor, and the cultural details of post WWII New York are fascinating. One of my faves in this series.

[Judi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good amusing comfy murder. Set right after WW2, it may be dated; but, I love the old settings and attitudes. It's pre-Miranda rules; so no reading you your rights. However, no worries about the 'old third degree' either. I absolutely adore Pam and Jerry, Bill and Dorian, Sgt. Mullins and the newest character Martini (a 'teeny' Siamese). I didn't figure out whodunit until 30 pages before the end, just before Pam and Bill... Recommended.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now that my books are unpacked from moving I once again have access to the Lockridge titles that I own. Started re-reading the Mr. & Mrs. North series this summer, but sadly the library only owned a few. Have re-read 4 so far this month and may fit in a few more....

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Early Bird Book Deal | Many red herrings, none convincing | The Lockridges were usually good at providing enough reasonable suspects to keep the reader guessing. In this case there were a lot of suspects, but only one suspicious character, so it's fairly obvious.

[Linda Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good mystery with a number of suspects. Interesting how the North’s and Lt. Weigand discuss plausible suspects and why and how they could have murdered Amelia Gipson (with a p not a b) in the NY Public Library. I Didnot guess the murderer.

[Karen Liebig · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up at a library book sale, so this is the first I've read of this series. Once I became comfortable with the writing style of described dialog mixed with quoted dialog I could enjoy the story. Lots of potential suspects, complex theories, and interesting characters.

[Andrea Wagenhurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun read. Grab this book and something to drink, sit down and enjoy.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit like a ‘Nick and Nora’ for a different era. A witty and fun romp through post WWII New York. I hope I can find a few more of these somewhere...

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This mystery was good - lots of suspects, lots of police grinding down the details, and Mrs. North bumbling into the solution from the side. These books have a nice rhythm - once you get into it, it’s a fun ride.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a great fan of novels from the 30's, 40's and early 50's so this series held a lot of appeal to me.
The writing is a bit less sparkling than I like, but that won't deter me from reading more in the series.

I like the idea of Mr. North working as a book publisher, but reading one book was not enough to understand why the police (despite a personal friendship) allow them to collaborate (or is it interfere?) in murder investigations. For me, in light mystery series' -- more is more. I tend to binge read them until I am "one" with the environment of the book. So, I have a nice, fat, pile of these books waiting for me and will look forward to getting better acquainted with Mr. and Mrs. North.

And, thank you to another reviewer for mentioning the there was a tv series (don't know when) featuring this couple---I will have to seek it out.

[Allyson Dyar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd always wanted to read one of these period mysteries hoping that I'd enjoy it and I'd have plenty to read.

Alas, despite the fact that I really enjoyed reading the post war era mysteries, this series wasn't going to do it for me. I just can't get past Mrs North as the ditz -- she should be much smarter than she is portrays.

This is likely to be the one and only book in the series I will read.

I give the book 2.5/5 stars.

[Christine PNW · Rating 4 out of 5]

This installment was a lot of fun. So many suspects for only one victim.

Note to self: perhaps it's best to live one's life in such a way that, if you get murdered, there aren't dozens of people who hated you so much that the police can't figure out whodunit.

[Lisa Kucharski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my fave of the Mr. & Mrs. North series. The descriptions of person and place are absolutely wonderful to read. The insight into the workings of a person and they way they feel the world around them is spot on! The humor in the writing is also delightful, considering this is a murder mystery.

The story takes place at the end of WW2 and it really gives you the feel of NYC at this time. The entire North Series spans the 1940's thru the 1960's. MWM is about midpoint in the series and Pam and Jerry North have become a little less comical and a little more believable.

Quote from start-
"Miss Ameila Gipson presented a firm front to the world; she stood for no nonsense. For the conscious period of her 52 years she had stood for no nonsense in a world which was stubbornly nonsensical. The nonsense in the world had not been greatly abated by her attitude, but Miss Gipson's skirts were clean. What one person could do, she had done. If that was inadequate, the fault lay elsewhere; there was a laxity in higher places. Miss Gipson often suspected that there was."

Guess who's the first to go? :)

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amelia Gipson is sure that she's right--about everything. The retired teacher, now working as a researcher for North Books, is looking into a series of historical murders when she's poisoned. Bill Weigand is sure that her murder is connected to her control over her late brother's estate--both his son and his daughter have reasons to want Amelia out of the way. But Pam North is equally convinced that Amelia found some clue to one of the murders she's been researching--a clue that put her in danger. Post World War II setting.

[Karen Plummer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one actually is #9 in the series, coming before Death of a Tall Man (the Norths just got Martini the cat in this one... in Death of a Tall Many, they've had her for a bit). This was a fun mystery beginning with the death of a researcher in the New York Public Library and stretching through at least three threads of suspects: the relatives who gain her money, the teacher she had reported for improper behavior in her previous job, and the possibility that one of the crimes she was researching came back to bite her. All in all, another interesting read.

[Jeffrey Marks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story with a twist. The Norths investigate the death of an employee who had been doing research on several murder cases. Which of the cases caught up with her?

[Dogsandbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming. I had read some of these a long time ago and delightful to rediscover. Pam' s scatterbrain depiction not as in your face as other volumes. Period piece, funny. DPL e book via Freading.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light, easy, and entertaining.

[Pat Beard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked the plot line and of course the Norths are always entertaining.