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Asey Mayo Cape Cod Mystery #19
Three Plots for Asey Mayo
Nora Latimer doesn't know the girl with the Wander Bird trailer, or what she's doing on her Weesit property. She doesn't know the dead man in the trailer, either. So naturally she turns to Asey Mayo in "The Wander Bird Plot." — Asey surely didn't travel to Boston to deal with the shooting of a young reporter in the Public Garden. But that's what he's up against, thanks to his Cousin Jenny, in "The Swan Boat Plot."
Finally, could Colonel Tiberius Head's mania for collecting merry-go-round horses, cigar store Indians, and other "woodiana" have been tied in with his murder? That's the big question for Asey. Mayo to answer in "The Headacre Plot."
Finally, could Colonel Tiberius Head's mania for collecting merry-go-round horses, cigar store Indians, and other "woodiana" have been tied in with his murder? That's the big question for Asey. Mayo to answer in "The Headacre Plot."
- GenresMystery
318 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1939
About the author
Phoebe Atwood Taylor
46 books47 followersTaylor is an American mystery author. She is best known for her Asey Mayo series, based in Cape Cod. She additionally wrote and published under the pen names Alice Tilton and Freeman Dana.
Phoebe Atwood Taylor, born in 1909 in Boston, Massachusetts, was the first member of her family to have been born off Cape Cod in more than 300 years. Upon graduating from Manhattan's Barnard College, she moved to Weston, Massachusetts, to pen her first work, The Cape Cod Mystery (1931), which was published when she was 22. The book was written while Taylor was caring for her invalid aunt, Alice Tilton (the source of one of her two publishing pseudonyms, the other being Freeman Dana). Taylor was one of the first mystery writers to give a regional and rural rather than urban focus during the time known as the "golden age" of mystery writing (1918 - 1939). Gone with the Wind's author, Margaret Mitchell, was a great fan of the Asey Mayo series, and encouraged Taylor to pack the books with Cape Cod detail. In all, she authored 33 books. She died in 1976 at age 67.
- Bio by The Countryman Press
https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL685...
Phoebe Atwood Taylor, born in 1909 in Boston, Massachusetts, was the first member of her family to have been born off Cape Cod in more than 300 years. Upon graduating from Manhattan's Barnard College, she moved to Weston, Massachusetts, to pen her first work, The Cape Cod Mystery (1931), which was published when she was 22. The book was written while Taylor was caring for her invalid aunt, Alice Tilton (the source of one of her two publishing pseudonyms, the other being Freeman Dana). Taylor was one of the first mystery writers to give a regional and rural rather than urban focus during the time known as the "golden age" of mystery writing (1918 - 1939). Gone with the Wind's author, Margaret Mitchell, was a great fan of the Asey Mayo series, and encouraged Taylor to pack the books with Cape Cod detail. In all, she authored 33 books. She died in 1976 at age 67.
- Bio by The Countryman Press
https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL685...
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 18, 2019
I heart Asey Mayo, and I really don't know why except that he is a little like what I would like to be when I grow up: humble, beloved, capable, and wicked smart. This collection of three novellas is a fun read and I enjoyed it immensely!
May 18, 2016
A collection of three Asey Mayo stories. Phoebe Atwood Taylor’s mysteries are always an entertaining mix of mystery, interesting characters, and humor, which varies from light (most Leonidas Witherall stories) to screwball (certain Asey Mayo stories). These particular stories were published in the early 1940s. They’re rather far-fetched at times, but are definitely worth a look.
It has been 10 years since the original Asey Mayo novel, The Cape Cod Mystery, and things have changed quite a bit for Asey. He is no longer a handyman. He is now a well-known detective and a director of Porter Motors. However, Asey himself has not changed – he is still clever, down to earth, and resourceful.
The Headacre Plot
His unexpected visitor is David Arlington, a young man who is searching for his wife. Lora Arlington is a member of the wealthy Head family, but she has been disowned because she chose to marry the penniless David rather than the man chosen for her by her family. Now Lora’s uncle, Captain Tiberius Head, who is the head of the family, has held out an olive branch to the couple, though David is suspicious.
David reluctantly took Lora to Headacre House, but panicked when she did not return after a long period of time. He also found Lora’s skirt, badly stained, lying on Headacre House’s lawn. David is about to storm the mansion until Asey intervenes. The hot-headed young man will just make a mess out of everything. Things don’t quite turn out like the two men planned – instead of Lora, they find her uncle – dead! And it isn’t long before there is a second murder.
I feel a little for Asey here, stuck among some rather foolish and spoiled rich people who don’t know the first thing about taking care of themselves. Lora’s cousin Penny is typical – selfish, immature, and totally lacking in empathy. As long as she and her boyfriend are fine, nothing – and no one – else matters. David is rather annoying – just as immature as Penny, rather paranoid, and lacking in common sense. Lora is a little smarter than either of them, but not by much. Asey has his work cut out for him.
This is a neat little mystery. I figured out who did it fairly early on, but could not figure out how the murder was committed. Taylor’s solution for that is worthy of Ellery Queen. It was quite well done.
The Wander Bird Plot
When wealthy Nora Latimer gets angry over a young woman trespassing on her property. The young woman has set up a camper and appears to be making herself at home. Asey is reluctant to go with Nora, but it’s her speedboat that they’re in. The girl, Cordelia Alcott, was totally oblivious to the fact that she was camping on private property. Embarrassed, Cordelia hurries to leave:
Cordelia insists that she has no idea who the man is. She cannot explain what happened to her car, her trailer, or her uncle who was traveling with her. She insists that all three were switched while she was enjoying the beach. Needless to say, Cordelia has a hard time convincing anybody of this – except, of course, for Asey Mayo.
A fun Asey Mayo story, though I found the behavior of Cordelia’s uncle hard to understand.
The Swan Boat Plot
Asey Mayo goes to Boston to pick up his cousin (and housekeeper) Jennie Mayo, who is returning home from a funeral in Chicago. Jennie is late and Asey suspects she has wandered off to the Public Garden:
Impatient, Asey goes looking for Jennie, but just finds her luggage – and a body. A young man has been shot in the head. A quick examination of the scene shows that the man was probably taking photos of a very strange subject indeed:
Jennie soon shows up being chased by a cop, who claims that she is a purse snatcher. However, Jennie insists she witnessed the murder of the photographer by a young woman. Jennie tried to grab the young woman, but just ended up with her purse. However, the cop is having none of it and soon Jennie and Asey find themselves running from the law. Asey realizes he has to clear both of them by solving the murder.
I liked this mystery the least of all three stories, though it was amusing. The killer was easy to figure out and the motive wasn’t difficult either. As with “The Headacre Plot,” though, the how of the murder was the most interesting part. You can’t believe everything you see.
All in all, a good collection of mystery stories, but I believe the novels are better.
It has been 10 years since the original Asey Mayo novel, The Cape Cod Mystery, and things have changed quite a bit for Asey. He is no longer a handyman. He is now a well-known detective and a director of Porter Motors. However, Asey himself has not changed – he is still clever, down to earth, and resourceful.
The Headacre Plot
“Overhead, a hot sun beat down on the high September tide creeping in from Cape Cod Bay to cover the marshes at the foot of Asey Mayo’s orchard. It beat down, too, on the bare head of the man in the crumpled green cotton suit, creeping his stealthy, persistent way through the orchard toward the driveway where Asey Mayo stood.
For ten minutes the man had been edging toward Asey, and for seven of those minutes Asey had been watching him, covertly following his movements as they were reflected in the side and rearview mirrors and against the brightly burnished chromium body of the sleek Porter roadster he was pretending so earnestly to clean.”
His unexpected visitor is David Arlington, a young man who is searching for his wife. Lora Arlington is a member of the wealthy Head family, but she has been disowned because she chose to marry the penniless David rather than the man chosen for her by her family. Now Lora’s uncle, Captain Tiberius Head, who is the head of the family, has held out an olive branch to the couple, though David is suspicious.
David reluctantly took Lora to Headacre House, but panicked when she did not return after a long period of time. He also found Lora’s skirt, badly stained, lying on Headacre House’s lawn. David is about to storm the mansion until Asey intervenes. The hot-headed young man will just make a mess out of everything. Things don’t quite turn out like the two men planned – instead of Lora, they find her uncle – dead! And it isn’t long before there is a second murder.
I feel a little for Asey here, stuck among some rather foolish and spoiled rich people who don’t know the first thing about taking care of themselves. Lora’s cousin Penny is typical – selfish, immature, and totally lacking in empathy. As long as she and her boyfriend are fine, nothing – and no one – else matters. David is rather annoying – just as immature as Penny, rather paranoid, and lacking in common sense. Lora is a little smarter than either of them, but not by much. Asey has his work cut out for him.
This is a neat little mystery. I figured out who did it fairly early on, but could not figure out how the murder was committed. Taylor’s solution for that is worthy of Ellery Queen. It was quite well done.
The Wander Bird Plot
When wealthy Nora Latimer gets angry over a young woman trespassing on her property. The young woman has set up a camper and appears to be making herself at home. Asey is reluctant to go with Nora, but it’s her speedboat that they’re in. The girl, Cordelia Alcott, was totally oblivious to the fact that she was camping on private property. Embarrassed, Cordelia hurries to leave:
“She stopped short, and stared at the trailer.
“What’s the matter?” Asey inquired.
“That— that’s not our car! That’s not our trailer! Ours has insignia on the side!”
Asey followed her to the door, and peered over her shoulder at the interior, and at the figure of a man sprawled on the floor. He stepped inside for a moment, then turned and faced the girl. “I s’pose,” he said in a voice that purred, “that this unfortunate an’ very dead gentleman whose head has been bashed in so nasty an’ so thorough, I s’pose he ain’t your uncle, either?”
Cordelia insists that she has no idea who the man is. She cannot explain what happened to her car, her trailer, or her uncle who was traveling with her. She insists that all three were switched while she was enjoying the beach. Needless to say, Cordelia has a hard time convincing anybody of this – except, of course, for Asey Mayo.
A fun Asey Mayo story, though I found the behavior of Cordelia’s uncle hard to understand.
The Swan Boat Plot
Asey Mayo goes to Boston to pick up his cousin (and housekeeper) Jennie Mayo, who is returning home from a funeral in Chicago. Jennie is late and Asey suspects she has wandered off to the Public Garden:
“The Public Garden was her favorite spot in Boston. She loved its statues and prim flower beds, and particularly its swan boats. If it were later in the day and the boats were out paddling their leisurely course about the tiny artificial lake, Asey knew he would have found Jennie perched on the front bench of one, gurgling with pleasure while she fed peanuts to the ducks. Maybe even at this early hour she might have strolled over to the boat landing by the bridge.”
Impatient, Asey goes looking for Jennie, but just finds her luggage – and a body. A young man has been shot in the head. A quick examination of the scene shows that the man was probably taking photos of a very strange subject indeed:
“He discovered now that the metal swan on the nearest boat had a framed background of blue velvet propped up behind it. And posed with her arms around the swan’s neck was an amazingly likelife dummy of a girl, scantily and bizarrely clad in red and white striped shorts and a blue, star-spangled bra! Her straight blond hair dangled to her shoulders, and she stared at Asey with the bland, disconcerting disdain of a store-window model.”
Jennie soon shows up being chased by a cop, who claims that she is a purse snatcher. However, Jennie insists she witnessed the murder of the photographer by a young woman. Jennie tried to grab the young woman, but just ended up with her purse. However, the cop is having none of it and soon Jennie and Asey find themselves running from the law. Asey realizes he has to clear both of them by solving the murder.
I liked this mystery the least of all three stories, though it was amusing. The killer was easy to figure out and the motive wasn’t difficult either. As with “The Headacre Plot,” though, the how of the murder was the most interesting part. You can’t believe everything you see.
All in all, a good collection of mystery stories, but I believe the novels are better.
January 19, 2020
Very good assortment of Asey Mayo novellas—an excellent intro to Asey and the screwball-type plots of the mysteries. As always, rich people are bad news.
My favorite is the weird impossible crime story, “The Headacre Plot.” But the other two are just as good.
My favorite is the weird impossible crime story, “The Headacre Plot.” But the other two are just as good.
June 30, 2026
I have been working my way through the Asey Mayo books. This is a 1942 collection of three novellas.
What I enjoy most about the books is the description of what Cape Cod was like in the 1930s and the war years. I am not a fan of the rather complicated plots which Taylor enjoyed. She sometimes has multiple suspects who are hard to keep straight and the solution sometimes comes out of nowhere.
Unfortunately, these novellas have less time for local color, and the plots are just as intricate as in the full novels. The gimmick that is used to create the murder in one story is not believable. One of the stories, unusually, is set in 1940s Boston but we don't get much of a sense of the city. A financial motive shows up out of nowhere at the end of a third story.
I would take a pass on this one, unless, like me, you are a completist. On the other hand, I recommend any of the novels. "Cranberry Bog" or "Spring Harrowing" are good places to start.
What I enjoy most about the books is the description of what Cape Cod was like in the 1930s and the war years. I am not a fan of the rather complicated plots which Taylor enjoyed. She sometimes has multiple suspects who are hard to keep straight and the solution sometimes comes out of nowhere.
Unfortunately, these novellas have less time for local color, and the plots are just as intricate as in the full novels. The gimmick that is used to create the murder in one story is not believable. One of the stories, unusually, is set in 1940s Boston but we don't get much of a sense of the city. A financial motive shows up out of nowhere at the end of a third story.
I would take a pass on this one, unless, like me, you are a completist. On the other hand, I recommend any of the novels. "Cranberry Bog" or "Spring Harrowing" are good places to start.
November 20, 2025
Three entertaining short stories involving a murder or two. Asey at his humorous best.
September 5, 2014
A fun read
I enjoyed this one more than previous Asey Mayo stories I've read. This one is quick and fun and the third story in particular was enjoyable as it took place in Boston and I recognized all the locations. still not one of my favorites but definitely worth a read. Asset is like the Cape Cod version of a cowboy of sorts...and all that that implies.
I enjoyed this one more than previous Asey Mayo stories I've read. This one is quick and fun and the third story in particular was enjoyable as it took place in Boston and I recognized all the locations. still not one of my favorites but definitely worth a read. Asset is like the Cape Cod version of a cowboy of sorts...and all that that implies.
September 19, 2013
These three short stories seemed a bit weaker and more formulaic than the earlier books. Still fun reads especially since I was vacationing on the Cape.
Want to Read
September 24, 2016AKA: Alice Tilton, Freeman Dana
February 24, 2023
And more Asey Mayo: three short stories of the New England sleuth.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews