Published in 1931, this re-published Golden Age crime mystery, was one of six written by Molly Thynne and the first featuring her chess playing amateur sleuth, Dr Luke Constantine. The story begins with a group of people, who are all heading for the exclusive resort at Redsands (though why someone would really want to go to the British seaside at Christmas is beyond me!). Of course, the weather, already bad, turns worse and our central character, author Angus Stuart, finds himself stranded in the snow. Rescuing two, elderly sisters, he is directed to a local inn, the Noah’s Ark, and welcomed by the landlord, Mr Girley.
Stuart is a likeable character; he has recently become a success and is still a little unsure of himself. Before long he has been introduced to Dr Luke Constantine, the drunken Major Carew, commercial traveller, Soames, Lord Romsey, his son and two daughters, the attractive Mrs Orkney Cloude, the brash Mrs van Dolen, an American widow who is known for her famous emeralds, Mrs van Dolen’s secretary, Miss Hamilton, the gigolo Felix Melnotte and the shy young chartered accountant, Trevor.
What we essentially have here is a typically closed house mystery. Our characters are stranded by the snow, there are some expensive emeralds, just crying out to be stolen, lots of secrets and, of course, murder. There is also a great deal of chasing around in the night, with masked men being seen, and Stuart, who joins up with Constantine and Soames, to investigate the goings-on at the hotel, spending almost all of their time climbing in and out of windows, chasing up and down staircases, banging on doors and keeping watch. Overall, this is a fun mystery, with a good setting, interesting characters, but a slightly weak plot. I would try more by her and I do applaud publishers for bringing so many ‘lost’ Golden Age authors back into print.