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Burford Family #2
The Affair of the Mutilated Mink: A delightfully quirky murder mystery in the great tradition of Agatha Christie
The Earl of Burford cannot believe his luck. Rex Ransom, his favourite film star, and a hot-shot producer want to film their next feature at Alderley, the family's seventeenth-century country estate. Somewhat less enthusiastic are the Countess and poor Merryweather, the family's butler, who suddenly find themselves hosting the incoming Hollywood crowd. And that's before there's a murder in the dead of night.
Paying homage to Golden Age crime fiction in which even the red herrings are impeccably turned out, The Affair of the Mutilated Mink is a must-read for armchair sleuths.
Paying homage to Golden Age crime fiction in which even the red herrings are impeccably turned out, The Affair of the Mutilated Mink is a must-read for armchair sleuths.
386 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1981
27 people are currently reading
516 people want to read
About the author
James Anderson
30 books66 followersJames Anderson was educated at Reading University where he gained a History degree and although born in Swindon, Wiltshire, he lived for most of his life near Cardiff.
He worked as a salesman before becoming a copywriter and then a freelance journalist, contributing to many newspapers, house journals and specialist magazines. He later turned to writing novels, the first of which was 'Assassin' (1969).
As well as his general thrillers, he wrote three books featuring Inspector Wilkins beginning with 'The Affair of the Blood-Stained Egg Cosy' in 1975. The series continued with 'the Affair of the Mutilated Mink Coat' (1981) and ended with 'The Affair of the Thirty-Nine Cuff Links' (2003).
He also wrote three novels based on the television series 'Murder, She Wrote', which were 'the Murder of Sherlock Holmes (1985), Hooray for Homicide' (1985) and 'Lovers and Other Killers' (1986). In total he wrote 14 novels and one play.
He died in 2007.
Gerry Wolstenholme
September 2010
He worked as a salesman before becoming a copywriter and then a freelance journalist, contributing to many newspapers, house journals and specialist magazines. He later turned to writing novels, the first of which was 'Assassin' (1969).
As well as his general thrillers, he wrote three books featuring Inspector Wilkins beginning with 'The Affair of the Blood-Stained Egg Cosy' in 1975. The series continued with 'the Affair of the Mutilated Mink Coat' (1981) and ended with 'The Affair of the Thirty-Nine Cuff Links' (2003).
He also wrote three novels based on the television series 'Murder, She Wrote', which were 'the Murder of Sherlock Holmes (1985), Hooray for Homicide' (1985) and 'Lovers and Other Killers' (1986). In total he wrote 14 novels and one play.
He died in 2007.
Gerry Wolstenholme
September 2010
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
March 5, 2020
It’s 1930 England and the Earl of Burford is hosting another house party. His parties are always unusual to say the least and looked forward to by almost everyone….Everyone that is except hais wife, the Countess. The Earl of Burford is very proud of his country holdings… so he is thrilled when he finds out someone wants to film a “talking picture” at his estate starring one of his favorite movie heroes. Not only do the film stars and film crew descend on her but she now has a long-lost cousin who arrives at the same time. Before long the country estate is overflowing with invited and uninvited guests. Then, inevitably, the house party leads to a murder, and Scotland Yard comes to solve the crime. The entire story is populated with bizarre and often funny characters…fiendish plots…red herrings, and surprises. This is a wonderful old time classic detective story that everyone that likes this type of story will be sure to enjoy.
September 10, 2021
Another weekend at Lord and Lady Burford's country estate. Plenty of guests arrive, some invited, others not. Tensions build between the parties, some of whom are involved in the film industry, and eventually a murder is committed. The less than sanguine Chief Inspector Wilkins (he has been promoted since the first disaster at Alderley) arrives as does a Scotland Yard detective. Between them they investigate and despite the Scotland Yard man's supposed better background, Wilkins is the one who unmasks the killer but not after a number of red herrings have been thrown in to muddy the waters.
Once again a rattling good read and jolly good fun!
Once again a rattling good read and jolly good fun!
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October 24, 2017The police investigator in this one pretends to be a yokel, while actually being extremely sharp, so there's a fair bit of humour involved.
Book lost massive points with me where we have a positively-portrayed romantic relationship that included a bit of . Otherwise entertaining.
Book lost massive points with me where we have a positively-portrayed romantic relationship that included a bit of . Otherwise entertaining.
February 17, 2017
I love country house cozies and this send up of the Golden Age is wonderful!
June 2, 2015
I would have liked to like this book; it's got a flavor of Georgette Heyer's mysteries, which by and large I DO enjoy. Where it falls down for me is in the amount of exposition - pages of it, which frankly I skipped - and in the sheer involvedness of the final solution. Agatha Christie managed to have everyone on the Orient Express murder the same guy without half the explanations that come in this book.
That's part of my issue too. When it comes to murder mysteries of the Golden Age, you have the Agatha Christie treatment - the characters aren't deep, but they're vivid, sort of slashed in and stock, but you know who they are and what they're like. Lots of dark and sulky girls and fair, forthright boys, or vice versa. On the other end of the spectrum, you have the Dorothy Sayers treatment, where the characters are fully drawn, from their literary preferences to their preferred wines, and lead (it seems to me) a fuller interior life than *I* do.
In either method, the story works because the solution is in tune with the writing. Christie writes puzzles, really; all the clues provided if you only squint hard enough, and the solution can be thought out, and not felt too deeply. People are being murdered left right and center, sometimes children even, or old ladies, and the writing style keeps you at a safe remove. Sayers sort of developed from writing that way as well, on to very emotionally real story telling and murders, but it's consistent with HER characters. You take your cue on how to feel from the way that the characters feel about it. I can't see a Christie hero having a mental breakdown at the end of a successful case because an unrepentant murderer is being hanged. We don't have one either, but we can understand why Lord Peter Wimsey does, and we can even be relieved about it.
Different styles.
These books, the motives and solutions sort of fall into the Sayers camp while the entire story and the characters are in the Christie vein. The style sort of changes up a bit, from situation comedy to drama, and it just - lost me. I know that's true because I found myself jumping forward 6 pages at a time and I rarely do that.
Anyway. What I do like? In this one, I liked the spoofing of the Scotland Yard expert, very much. I liked his cat burglar valet, which is a wonderful send-up of at least three Golden Age detectives I can think of off the top of my head. I liked the name dropping, one character mentioning he'd had dinner with Lord Peter Wimsey, another listing off available detectives and naming Appleby and Alleyn among them. Not a far leap, to treat those famous literary detectives as real in a murder mystery of the appropriate time period, but I've never actually seen it done, I suppose you have to get permission. I like the main detective, though I'm glad we don't see too much of him, his hapless "oh dear oh dear" cover persona would probably wear on me pretty quickly.
At any rate. I can't rate this book highly because I don't think it works. But I wish it did.
That's part of my issue too. When it comes to murder mysteries of the Golden Age, you have the Agatha Christie treatment - the characters aren't deep, but they're vivid, sort of slashed in and stock, but you know who they are and what they're like. Lots of dark and sulky girls and fair, forthright boys, or vice versa. On the other end of the spectrum, you have the Dorothy Sayers treatment, where the characters are fully drawn, from their literary preferences to their preferred wines, and lead (it seems to me) a fuller interior life than *I* do.
In either method, the story works because the solution is in tune with the writing. Christie writes puzzles, really; all the clues provided if you only squint hard enough, and the solution can be thought out, and not felt too deeply. People are being murdered left right and center, sometimes children even, or old ladies, and the writing style keeps you at a safe remove. Sayers sort of developed from writing that way as well, on to very emotionally real story telling and murders, but it's consistent with HER characters. You take your cue on how to feel from the way that the characters feel about it. I can't see a Christie hero having a mental breakdown at the end of a successful case because an unrepentant murderer is being hanged. We don't have one either, but we can understand why Lord Peter Wimsey does, and we can even be relieved about it.
Different styles.
These books, the motives and solutions sort of fall into the Sayers camp while the entire story and the characters are in the Christie vein. The style sort of changes up a bit, from situation comedy to drama, and it just - lost me. I know that's true because I found myself jumping forward 6 pages at a time and I rarely do that.
Anyway. What I do like? In this one, I liked the spoofing of the Scotland Yard expert, very much. I liked his cat burglar valet, which is a wonderful send-up of at least three Golden Age detectives I can think of off the top of my head. I liked the name dropping, one character mentioning he'd had dinner with Lord Peter Wimsey, another listing off available detectives and naming Appleby and Alleyn among them. Not a far leap, to treat those famous literary detectives as real in a murder mystery of the appropriate time period, but I've never actually seen it done, I suppose you have to get permission. I like the main detective, though I'm glad we don't see too much of him, his hapless "oh dear oh dear" cover persona would probably wear on me pretty quickly.
At any rate. I can't rate this book highly because I don't think it works. But I wish it did.
September 3, 2016
Let's call this a fun, affectionate, tribute to the country house whodunnits of the 1930s. The second in a series of three based at the same house where the Earl would like a quiet life but is persuaded to have a large house party, they all require the bluff Chief Inspector Wilkins to solve the murder.
Secret passages, nocturnal wanderings, etc, etc. Good fun, but as a re-read it was just a 3*.
Secret passages, nocturnal wanderings, etc, etc. Good fun, but as a re-read it was just a 3*.
March 19, 2020
My first listen through in 2015 garnered 4 stars, I enjoyed my listen through more this time. Makes for good late-night listening and has a nice tying up of things for, Lady Geraldine, Gerry.
November 28, 2019
A reasonable read with some interesting characters and a fun plot, this is the first book in this series that I have read. It was enjoyable and fun to read, however the pacing was a little off for me and the book took an age to get going. Once it did though, it was a reasonable pace and held my attention. The characters were the strongest point for me, and I adore Gerry as a character. The solution surprised me and it was not a disappointment when the reveal happened. One thing that was frustrating was the fact that the characters were aware of information before the reader - we knew there was information to be had but the author was not giving it to us. This may be down to personal preference but I feel that there are subtler ways of providing information and hiding the meaning in the text rather than deliberately hiding it from the reader. Otherwise a fun read and I hope to get more in this series.
February 5, 2025
A very well constructed murder mystery. Although there were several characters, they were all introduced so well that you didn't lose track of them. The plot was coherent and brought all the storylines together. Just as it should be!
October 17, 2019
""Mistaken Identity, a Mutilated Mink Coat, and Murder.
"Outside Alderly, the Earl of Burford's 17th century estate, the weather is decidedly parky; inside the atmosphere is definitely nervous-making. The loopy lord has thrown an impromptu house party for his favorite film star and a Hollywood producer who wants the family manse for the set of his next movie. Lady Geraldine, the Earl's daughter, has brought home two suitors of questionable pedigree, and the Countess Lavinia, the Earl's wife, is looking aghast at a growing list of guests that includes a long lost cousin, a hot-tempered femme fatale, a bespectacled librarian, and an eccentric screenwriter. Put this zany cast of characters into the milieu of 1930s upper-class England, add a secret passage, a famous gun collection, and a butler name Merryweather, and you have the stuff mysteries are made of .. a particularly pleasing puzzler sure to baffle and delight whodunit fans."
Zany is a good description of the murder and mayhem captured in this English cozy. There's the usual sneaking around in the dark, colliding with unknown house guests and getting scratched or receiving a black eye, there's the Scotland Yard Inspector who envisions himself a cut above everyone else, and then there's our Wilkins, the inoffensive, seemingly useless local detective.
There are at least six imposters who are unmasked at the end, and all's well that ends well.
"Outside Alderly, the Earl of Burford's 17th century estate, the weather is decidedly parky; inside the atmosphere is definitely nervous-making. The loopy lord has thrown an impromptu house party for his favorite film star and a Hollywood producer who wants the family manse for the set of his next movie. Lady Geraldine, the Earl's daughter, has brought home two suitors of questionable pedigree, and the Countess Lavinia, the Earl's wife, is looking aghast at a growing list of guests that includes a long lost cousin, a hot-tempered femme fatale, a bespectacled librarian, and an eccentric screenwriter. Put this zany cast of characters into the milieu of 1930s upper-class England, add a secret passage, a famous gun collection, and a butler name Merryweather, and you have the stuff mysteries are made of .. a particularly pleasing puzzler sure to baffle and delight whodunit fans."
Zany is a good description of the murder and mayhem captured in this English cozy. There's the usual sneaking around in the dark, colliding with unknown house guests and getting scratched or receiving a black eye, there's the Scotland Yard Inspector who envisions himself a cut above everyone else, and then there's our Wilkins, the inoffensive, seemingly useless local detective.
There are at least six imposters who are unmasked at the end, and all's well that ends well.
October 19, 2020
Always a pleasant surprise to read a random thrift store find (25 cents, baby!) and have it turn out to be such a fun book. I was not expecting a lot going into it, based on that hokey 1980's cover (which grew on me the more I read it - it's very indicative of the era when it was published).
Anderson is obviously a big fan of Golden Era mysteries. I loved his throwaway references to other famous fictional detectives (Wimsey, Allyen and Appleby). The setting - 1930's English country estate - is classic Golden Era. The locked door aspect is more classic Golden era. Even the characters - the butler, the deb, the mousy secretary, the laconic local policeman etc. reference that type of mystery.
I did not guess the killer which is always a huge plus in a mystery book. I will definitely read his other two books in this series at some point.
Anderson is obviously a big fan of Golden Era mysteries. I loved his throwaway references to other famous fictional detectives (Wimsey, Allyen and Appleby). The setting - 1930's English country estate - is classic Golden Era. The locked door aspect is more classic Golden era. Even the characters - the butler, the deb, the mousy secretary, the laconic local policeman etc. reference that type of mystery.
I did not guess the killer which is always a huge plus in a mystery book. I will definitely read his other two books in this series at some point.
August 8, 2017
Wonderful spoof and a throwback to the Golden Age of British stately-home mysteries involves a group of American movie people who descend on the Burford estate in the guise of checking out the home as a possible movie set. Lord Burford, as a confirmed fan of swashbucklers like Errol Flynn, eagerly welcomes them—actors, director and writer—however Lady Burford is not as enthusiastic. Naturally, the characters are not all who they say they are. False accusations fly as guns go off in the night and bodies drop. The explanation offered by Inspector Wilkins in the end is properly convoluted and covers every base, including smashed alibis at the climax. And it's all great fun!
March 15, 2023
Entertaining, even though it’s slightly predictable…especially if you’ve read the previous book!
I also enjoyed the love story angle of this one…as clichéd as it may be!
Planning not to read the third and last one in this series…but who knows ! :p
I also enjoyed the love story angle of this one…as clichéd as it may be!
Planning not to read the third and last one in this series…but who knows ! :p
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2018
oh dear - I know I've read this, but I didn't make a note when I finished.
February 19, 2018
This book was great! An English manor, a Butler, a zany cast of characters. Everything that makes up a perfect cozy read. I was very surprised at who-dun-it, the Poirot-esque way the killer was revealed was great and I enjoyed the small literary references (ie. Ariadne Oliver and Lord Whimsey are mentioned) It was almost like the movie Clue, but more serious. I will look for more in this series.
April 28, 2020
Lord George Burford, a recent convert to the joy of the Silver Screen is startled to receive a request from movie star Rex Ransom to come and stay at the family seat Alderley, with a view to using his home as a location if they can persuade Lady Lavinia to agree which will be no easy task. Very soon there is a full house when long lost relatives from Australia descend, their daughter Geraldine takes it upon herself to invite two rivals for her heart as well and more unexpected house guests arrive. But a murder soon puts the cat amongst the pigeons.
This is a parody/homage to the detective series of the 1930s, think Downton Abbey the murder mystery with all the cliches of the genre thrown in. It is written in the same world as Lord Peter Wimsey, P.G. Wodehouse with elements of Pride & Prejudice and lots of name dropping. It is impossible to deduce who is the guilty party many of the guests are not who you think they are and the plot becomes more and more preposterous as the story unfolds but it is a good romp. There is an exciting denouement with the rescue of a damsel in distress to top it off.
This is a parody/homage to the detective series of the 1930s, think Downton Abbey the murder mystery with all the cliches of the genre thrown in. It is written in the same world as Lord Peter Wimsey, P.G. Wodehouse with elements of Pride & Prejudice and lots of name dropping. It is impossible to deduce who is the guilty party many of the guests are not who you think they are and the plot becomes more and more preposterous as the story unfolds but it is a good romp. There is an exciting denouement with the rescue of a damsel in distress to top it off.
March 7, 2011
I am a huge James Anderson fan. I think I read The Affair of the Blood Stained Egg Cosy when I was a teenager shopping in a used bookstore in Maine. It is just my absolute favorite twisted plot novel. This sequel was so much fun that I devoured it in two days. I will have to reread it someday to see how I was led down the wrong path when I REALLY thought I had cleverly solved the puzzle. You can't go wrong with James Anderson.
December 10, 2011
A new-to-me find in the Golden Age Detectives mystery field! Though there are only three books in this series - sigh.
I found this book reminiscent of Heyer's and Christie's mysteries with the 1930s British country house setting. The ending was completely unexpected but lovely, and I of course bought the other two books immediately.
And oh, the references to other fictional detectives (Wimsey and Alleyn) made me laugh.
I found this book reminiscent of Heyer's and Christie's mysteries with the 1930s British country house setting. The ending was completely unexpected but lovely, and I of course bought the other two books immediately.
And oh, the references to other fictional detectives (Wimsey and Alleyn) made me laugh.
March 7, 2016
This series continues to delight, although for a bit it looked like our intrepid hero might not pull it out, so I was a wee impatient on that front. But Anderson pulls it off and there are some genuinely hilarious moments and overall some very clever plotting. And some very appreciated nods to beloved authors and sleuths. I'm sad there there's only one more book in the series, but that won't stop me from reading in p.d.q.
November 5, 2020
This was FUN! A 1930's romp of a murder mystery. 4.5*
It has everything you want in a Golden Age Mystery - a country house party, mistaken identities, secret passages, Hollywood 'movie-types', long-lost relations, multiple suitors, dressing for dinner, bridge, people sneaking around at night, and an unflappable butler named Merryweather who definitely didn't do it!
It has everything you want in a Golden Age Mystery - a country house party, mistaken identities, secret passages, Hollywood 'movie-types', long-lost relations, multiple suitors, dressing for dinner, bridge, people sneaking around at night, and an unflappable butler named Merryweather who definitely didn't do it!
August 11, 2011
Another great read - great for a day when it's raining outside and you have the luxury of just curling up with a good book.
December 12, 2011
Loads of fun. An easy read, but don't underestimate it. There is an undercurrent of (affectionate) satire of the genre, complete with over-confident celebrity directive.
August 30, 2023
Completely absorbing with delightful twists!
Once again the author delivers a great story, wonderful atmosphere and and a bit of quirkiness. Lots of twists and surprises!
Once again the author delivers a great story, wonderful atmosphere and and a bit of quirkiness. Lots of twists and surprises!
June 10, 2022
Spoiler
I read the first book, and thought the murderer was unexpected, was out of character. I said to myself that maybe I just didn’t pick up on the signs.
So I read the 2nd book. I am sorry the author has a tendency to pick the person with no motive and as the reader nothing has been written or other characters have even hinted at a motive or any hints that would lead to the reader guessing of the characters motive. No the author just makes up a whole new motive that has nothing to deal with anything you have read and decides that person is the killer.
The killer/murder the author picked isn’t logical, doesn’t show any signs of stress or planning in the 10 chapters before the murder, it makes no sense or it cruel to the reader
It’s just my thoughts. . I like books that you can solve with the characters not be denied the facts or clues. It’s unfortunate because the author is a really good writer. .
I read the first book, and thought the murderer was unexpected, was out of character. I said to myself that maybe I just didn’t pick up on the signs.
So I read the 2nd book. I am sorry the author has a tendency to pick the person with no motive and as the reader nothing has been written or other characters have even hinted at a motive or any hints that would lead to the reader guessing of the characters motive. No the author just makes up a whole new motive that has nothing to deal with anything you have read and decides that person is the killer.
The killer/murder the author picked isn’t logical, doesn’t show any signs of stress or planning in the 10 chapters before the murder, it makes no sense or it cruel to the reader
It’s just my thoughts. . I like books that you can solve with the characters not be denied the facts or clues. It’s unfortunate because the author is a really good writer. .
December 1, 2017
Another fun romp in the Burford Family's universe! I enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed the first. Anderson has a light, deft hand and his work is both relaxing and pleasant, the kind of book you curl up with on a rainy afternoon with some hot chocolate by your side. Country-house murder at an awkward house party strikes again, this time with added film stars! What's not to like?
I particularly enjoyed the tongue-in-cheek affectionate sendup of some of the genre standbys. Whether Anderson is name-dropping famous fictional detectives, or bringing to life a deliciously supercilious and cocky Scotland Yard detective with a cat-burglar valet, it's simply delightful.
I wasn't quite a fan of one of the romantic subplots, but I recognize why it needed to be the way it was.
Looking forward to the third book! Pity there's only one more.
I particularly enjoyed the tongue-in-cheek affectionate sendup of some of the genre standbys. Whether Anderson is name-dropping famous fictional detectives, or bringing to life a deliciously supercilious and cocky Scotland Yard detective with a cat-burglar valet, it's simply delightful.
I wasn't quite a fan of one of the romantic subplots, but I recognize why it needed to be the way it was.
Looking forward to the third book! Pity there's only one more.
December 10, 2018
Hmmm - not really sure what to make of this book. It's the first of this genre I have ever read and I don't think I would rush out to read another one. That said, I did read this to the end and found it somewhat enjoyable.
The characters are a bit stereotypical, but quite amusing. There's quite a few people pretending to be what they're not, which gives the whole thing a bit of a murder-mystery-game kind of vibe. The trouble is, there isn't that many clues to all this, so the reader can't really play along, just witness events and be astounded by the Detective's brilliant deduction (and the long explanation that entails!). That said, I did guess who the culprit was (although not why), mainly because that's what I would have done if I was writing this story.
So kept me entertained for a couple of days, but didn't rock my world!!
The characters are a bit stereotypical, but quite amusing. There's quite a few people pretending to be what they're not, which gives the whole thing a bit of a murder-mystery-game kind of vibe. The trouble is, there isn't that many clues to all this, so the reader can't really play along, just witness events and be astounded by the Detective's brilliant deduction (and the long explanation that entails!). That said, I did guess who the culprit was (although not why), mainly because that's what I would have done if I was writing this story.
So kept me entertained for a couple of days, but didn't rock my world!!
May 5, 2023
P. G. Wodehouse/D. Sayers type Characters.
This is a pleasant surprise! A thoroughly English Aristocracy tale who are a cross between Wooster and Whimsey. With an authentic Jeeves type Butler! Everything I love about this genre of whodunnit!
The story is worthy of Christie and the rest. I truly love the Chief Inspector and I truly didn’t spot the culprit and suspected everyone!
A stately home with a mix of invited/invited guests, American, Australian, English, French and Italian characters. All of the classes (add an extra class for the Actors). 2 cars and a motorcycle with a sidecar. What could possibly go wrong?
I listened to the audiobook version of this title, with absolutely perfect work done by Cornelius Garrett! He can’t be faulted!
This is book 2, I hadn’t read book 1, I shall remedy that today.
This is a pleasant surprise! A thoroughly English Aristocracy tale who are a cross between Wooster and Whimsey. With an authentic Jeeves type Butler! Everything I love about this genre of whodunnit!
The story is worthy of Christie and the rest. I truly love the Chief Inspector and I truly didn’t spot the culprit and suspected everyone!
A stately home with a mix of invited/invited guests, American, Australian, English, French and Italian characters. All of the classes (add an extra class for the Actors). 2 cars and a motorcycle with a sidecar. What could possibly go wrong?
I listened to the audiobook version of this title, with absolutely perfect work done by Cornelius Garrett! He can’t be faulted!
This is book 2, I hadn’t read book 1, I shall remedy that today.
May 15, 2021
What a treat! The second instalment of the Burford Family series by James Anderson is an excellently plotted and beautifully laid out country house mystery. I have read the series before, so this time I listened to the audiobook narrated by Cornelius Garrett - it made the book even better.
"The Affair of the Mutilated Mink" is a complex and intriguing but still relaxing and fun listen. The book is full of unexpected twists and turns, fascinating characters, and funny references to famous literary detectives. My favourite character in all three books is Chief Inspector Wilkins - his understated brilliance and genius shine even more in this volume.
Cornelius Garrett makes this wonderful book even better with his performance, truly bringing the characters to life.
"The Affair of the Mutilated Mink" is a complex and intriguing but still relaxing and fun listen. The book is full of unexpected twists and turns, fascinating characters, and funny references to famous literary detectives. My favourite character in all three books is Chief Inspector Wilkins - his understated brilliance and genius shine even more in this volume.
Cornelius Garrett makes this wonderful book even better with his performance, truly bringing the characters to life.
August 14, 2025
This seems to be a little too padded with conversation, secret passages and mysterious movements at night. A fading Hollywood star jumps at the chance to appear in a historical film set in English stately homes. One such home is our location, where the landowner is recently a keen follower of talkies. The money and entertainment value are appreciated.
A death and some blackmail later...
A young woman we meet at the start has two young men dangling after her, and is considering whether to get engaged to one and break it off, for show. This doesn't win her my admiration and proves that she had little in the way of problems. The mink of the title is of course a mink coat.
The contrast between American and English upper crust is pleasant and amusing.
A death and some blackmail later...
A young woman we meet at the start has two young men dangling after her, and is considering whether to get engaged to one and break it off, for show. This doesn't win her my admiration and proves that she had little in the way of problems. The mink of the title is of course a mink coat.
The contrast between American and English upper crust is pleasant and amusing.
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