Stand Up and Die: A Captain Heimrich Mystery

Captain Heimrich #6

by Frances Lockridge, Richard Lockridge

She - as such a beautiful blonde it was unfrortunate, indeed, that she was dead when a handsome young Marine, just - out of service, met her on a lane in Westchester County. But-she had a younger sister, equally beautiful, and an invalid grandmother with an income tax in the upper brackets. Naturally, there was a doctor prescribing for grandma, a lawyer ministering to the needs of mammon, and, shortly, Captain Heimrich of the State Police investigating murder. The young Marine did not get the situation well in hand. Grandma forgot her script and stood up to die. Whodunit? You'll be surprised

Genres: Mystery, Procedural, Crime

255 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1953

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

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stand Up & Die (1953) by Frances & Richard Lockridge is the sixth book featuring Captain M. L. Heimrich, NY State Police. Heimrich was introduced in the second Mr. and Mrs. North book, Murder Out of Turn, working with a vacationing Bill Weigand. He had another "guest appearance" in Death of a Tall Man before the Lockridges started a series he could call his own. Once the Lockridges began developing several investigators (the Norths/Weigand, Heimrich, Lt. Shapiro, etc), it was interesting to find small (and sometimes a little larger) connections between the different "worlds" of each series. In this particular book, the first victim has connections withing New York City, so Heimrich calls on Weigand to dig up some information and even goes to town himself and has lunch with the "Acting Captain."

The story begins with a young man recently released from duty in the Korean War who has found it difficult to settle back in the States. He sets out "bumming" in the country and finds himself wandering down a nice little lane that he "liked the looks of" and discovers something not very nice at all. Virginia Monroe has been stabbed to death in what looks at first glance to be a "sex crime"--that some man who likes to play with knives has gone a bit berserk. But when Captain Heimrich examines the body and the begins talking to the suspects, he finds certain things that just don't add up. And one too many coincidences. As he says in conversation with his right-hand man, Charlie Forniss:

Still, there are coincidences, Charlie. Very annoying things, they can be. Now and then you have to accept one....One. I wouldn't want to accept two, of course. One's two many.

And there are at least two...if not more.

There's Timothy Gates, our veteran, who just happened to have danced with Miss Monroe at one of those parties they're always doing for servicemen--and who just happened to take a walk down the lane where her body was waiting to be found. Then there's the nature of the wounds and a mysterious list of figures that she kept clipped in her checkbook. A list that doesn't seem to match any of the deposits or withdrawals and that doesn't seem to add up to anything that means anything.

Then when Virginia's grandmother just happens to "stand up and die" before she can be told that her elder granddaughter has died and before she could consider changing the terms of a will that was very strange indeed when it came to her younger granddaughter, Liz. Well, that was an odd coincidence too. Heimrich suspects that he's getting two murders for the price of one...but an autopsy seems to prove him wrong. It will take a call or two to Bill Weigand and a visit to a certain address (also noted among Virginia's things) to help Heimrich clear the path to a final solution.

This Lockridge book has a slightly darker feel to it--from the discovery of the mutilated body of Virginia to fact that neither she nor her grandmother were sympathetic characters to the battle fatigue (read PTSD) of Tim Gates. But that doesn't prevent the story from being enjoyable. One of the Lockridges' strengths is character and they do a particularly good job portraying Tim's state of mind and his difficulties re-entering civilian life. Heimrich provides a very sympathetic view of him even while questioning and perhaps not believing everything he says.

I had read this one before (from the library and back in the mists of time pre-blogging) and had a feeling that I knew who the culprit was--though I wasn't 100% sure and couldn't figure out (or remember) exactly how the second death had been engineered. So, it's difficult for me to say how fair the mystery is to the reader. Certain clues seemed quite plain to me, but I honestly don't remember how plain they seemed the first time around. A very pleasant read from one of my go-to series--especially when I've been suffering from reader's block as I have been since the work from home and stay at home thing has been in force. I gave this ★★★★ before and see no reason to alter that rating now.

First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting portions of review. Thanks.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still re-reading this series; this is one that I own. Interesting mystery and think they are developing Heimrich's character better--either that or I am getting used to the difference between this series and the Mr. & Mrs. North books.

[Amy Winsand · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another "whodunit" with so many possible perpetrators when a beautiful young woman is found brutally murdered. Captain Heimrich is brought into the investigation which involves the young marine who discovered the body, the beautiful sister who was jealous of and slandered by her sister, a lawyer who may or may not be engaged to the deceased, then jilted, and even a handsome doctor who looked after the deceased's grandmother.

The "plot thickens" when the wealthy grandmother dies suddenly, shortly after the murder. She just "stood up and died." And though she had been in failing health, Captain Heimrich does NOT like coincidences. There had to be a connection, but so many puzzling factors didn't seem to bring any answers.

I loved Captain Heimrich's methodical and suspicious mind. No one was in the clear, and this meant a lot of questioning, plenty of "footwork", and dogged persistence, and, as he realized, "one had to waste a day to find out it was wasted." I love the language of this 1953 murder mystery.

I also appreciated the mystery right up to the end, and then, an unexpected ending. A fast, excellent little murder mystery. I'm glad our son brought the Lockridge mysteries to my attention! Thank you!

[Lisa Kucharski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story is finally told predominantly from Heimrich's POV. The murder is of a young woman, stabbed and beaten then left naked in a ditch. A specific group of characters in this story. There's a tendency toward all the characters to have the reaction of "hysteria" and "indignation" when Heimrich talks to the people involved. This can become wearing but the mystery itself is very interesting. The second death also adds to the mystery but ultimately helps explain it.

Takes place in a smaller town in New York with big old homes and lots of money hidden away in the purses of old ladies.

PS- Reference to the Mr. & Mrs. North Mystery Murder Out of Time is referred to by Heimrich. Also, Heimrich contacts Weigand a few times for helping secure information. So, the world of Lockridge's mysteries are intertwining here.

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Early Bird Book Deal | Always satisfying when the person I want to be the killer turns out to be just that. | The victim was not sexually assaulted, but it is specifically mentioned twice, which isn't common with cozy mysteries (also, to use both the word "rape" and the word "molested" isn't common, in Golden Age British cozies they tended toward "interfered with"), and did give an impression of it being more sordid than it ended up being (fortunately). A very quick cameo for Bill Weigand, and Heimrich is wholly himself, so it's a good choice for those who enjoy the series.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed many of Lockridge’s Mr. and Mrs. North mysteries. . . And loved them for their mid-century Manhattan focus. As much as I appreciated reading those light mysteries, I found the author’s Inspector Heimrich novels much more interesting.

He is a formidable presence in any room and his patience and omnipresence make his investigations fascinating to me. I tend to read for character, more than plot, and it is Heimrich’s insight into the characters he encounters that makes these books work. I cant wait to pick up another one.

[LeAnne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now, Mr. So and So .... Now. Now Annoying

The mystery was good and challenging, but the executive's quirks were getting on my nerves. Then there was his irritating habit of having conversations with his eyes closed ... often while interviewing a suspect. That was very strange. I don't plan on reading anymore of this series.

[Michele bookloverforever · Rating 4 out of 5]

Head scratcher. But good story if a bit dated.

[☯Emily Ginder · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. I finally found a book by the Lockridges that I hadn't read before. It was great to meat Captain Heimrich again. This time he is called to investigate the death of a young woman, who was found by a wandering veteran of the Korean conflict. Was the young man the killer? After all, he is a stranger and was wandering aimlessly. Or did the young woman have enemies? Her sister certainly didn't like her, so maybe a family member did it.

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love the Lockridge mysteries. They are light and breezy..but always satisfying!

[Helen Fleischer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heimrich investigates 2 murders, 1 death by postural hypotension!