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Death on Herons' Mere
‘Mr Gabb, your son did not commit suicide. He was murdered.’
Simon Gabb has everything – or so it a beautiful house on a large estate, a flourishing business and two sons, both evidently endowed with the capacity to carry on the family firm. The moody Giles is brilliant and inventive; the married Basil is dependable and efficient. And yet something is manifestly wrong. A secret invention, on which his business was engaged for the government, becomes known to those who had no right to know it. But how and where did the leak occur? It is a conundrum which creates suspicion and dissension within the family and engulfs everyone who dine with them one Saturday night. Giles has become friendly with young Arden and Billy Laforte, who were the previous owners of Herons' Hall until their father's death left them penniless, and who now rent one of the lodges on the property. When Giles brings the Lafortes to the Hall for the first visit to their old home in three years, the Gabbs hardly know what to expect. Yet the Lafortes seem completely at ease, so when a fierce storm develops, Mrs Gabb insistes they stay the night.
The next morning, Gabb's elder son, Giles, is found dead in a motorboat on the lake, his body propped up by a shotgun. But it is soon apparent that the gun was not the cause of death, nor did he die in the boat; a skilled marksman shot him from a distance. Superintendent Mallett is assigned the case and must deal with the smouldering emotions the flare up between everyone present that evening.
Mary Fitt was the pseudonym of Kathleen Freeman (1897–1959), a classical scholar who taught Greek at the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire in Cardiff. Beginning in 1937, Freeman wrote twenty-nine mysteries and a number of short stories as Mary Fitt, and was elected to the Detection Club in 1950. Aside from her detective novels, Freeman published many books on classical Greece, scholarly articles and children’s stories. She lived in St Mellons in Wales with her partner Dr Liliane Marie Catherine Clopet, a family physician and author.
Simon Gabb has everything – or so it a beautiful house on a large estate, a flourishing business and two sons, both evidently endowed with the capacity to carry on the family firm. The moody Giles is brilliant and inventive; the married Basil is dependable and efficient. And yet something is manifestly wrong. A secret invention, on which his business was engaged for the government, becomes known to those who had no right to know it. But how and where did the leak occur? It is a conundrum which creates suspicion and dissension within the family and engulfs everyone who dine with them one Saturday night. Giles has become friendly with young Arden and Billy Laforte, who were the previous owners of Herons' Hall until their father's death left them penniless, and who now rent one of the lodges on the property. When Giles brings the Lafortes to the Hall for the first visit to their old home in three years, the Gabbs hardly know what to expect. Yet the Lafortes seem completely at ease, so when a fierce storm develops, Mrs Gabb insistes they stay the night.
The next morning, Gabb's elder son, Giles, is found dead in a motorboat on the lake, his body propped up by a shotgun. But it is soon apparent that the gun was not the cause of death, nor did he die in the boat; a skilled marksman shot him from a distance. Superintendent Mallett is assigned the case and must deal with the smouldering emotions the flare up between everyone present that evening.
Mary Fitt was the pseudonym of Kathleen Freeman (1897–1959), a classical scholar who taught Greek at the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire in Cardiff. Beginning in 1937, Freeman wrote twenty-nine mysteries and a number of short stories as Mary Fitt, and was elected to the Detection Club in 1950. Aside from her detective novels, Freeman published many books on classical Greece, scholarly articles and children’s stories. She lived in St Mellons in Wales with her partner Dr Liliane Marie Catherine Clopet, a family physician and author.
- GenresMystery
270 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 2, 2022
6 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Mary Fitt
51 books5 followers"Mary Fitt" was the pen-name used for her crime novels by Dr. Kathleen Freeman, who for several years was Lecturer in Greek at the University of Wales at Cardiff.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 15, 2016
why was the eccentric genius killed--love or money?
June 1, 2022
Discounted | Too many awful people for my taste, but not bad.
August 3, 2025
Disappointing introduction to Mary Fitt.
September 1, 2022
I am delighted to find that this is the first of five of the author's mystery novels to be reissued by Moonstone Press in 2022. It comes with an illuminating Introduction and biography by Curtis Evans.
Although, as Mr Evans points out, this has many elements of the "traditional" GAD story, with, for instance, a setting on a country estate and conflict between old and new money, it is not entirely conventional.
Fitt was a Classics scholar, and this is evident in the clarity and lucidity of her prose. The plot is presented in a filmic manner, with evidence presented in the present and with flashback. The characters are clearly delineated, and, while somewhat typical of their class and era, do come across as real. There is some fairly smart dialogue.
The detection is carried out by Inspector Mallet, aided by Drs. Fitzbrown and Jones. Of the Inspector, one of the characters observes:-
" '... He’s a good man – a dangerous customer, because he’s unorthodox in his approach; and yet he looks so much like a policeman that people are apt to underrate him.’"
The author shows much shrewdness about human foibles and a deal of psychological insight, especially into family dynamics. The solution is neatly done, albeit a tad predicable, and is presented crisply and satisfyingly.
A highly-enjoyable and recommendable read
Although, as Mr Evans points out, this has many elements of the "traditional" GAD story, with, for instance, a setting on a country estate and conflict between old and new money, it is not entirely conventional.
Fitt was a Classics scholar, and this is evident in the clarity and lucidity of her prose. The plot is presented in a filmic manner, with evidence presented in the present and with flashback. The characters are clearly delineated, and, while somewhat typical of their class and era, do come across as real. There is some fairly smart dialogue.
The detection is carried out by Inspector Mallet, aided by Drs. Fitzbrown and Jones. Of the Inspector, one of the characters observes:-
" '... He’s a good man – a dangerous customer, because he’s unorthodox in his approach; and yet he looks so much like a policeman that people are apt to underrate him.’"
The author shows much shrewdness about human foibles and a deal of psychological insight, especially into family dynamics. The solution is neatly done, albeit a tad predicable, and is presented crisply and satisfyingly.
A highly-enjoyable and recommendable read
July 28, 2024
4.0
Leak, invention, scheme…
Simon Gabb has two sons, Giles and Basil, who both have the potential to continue the family-owned business. Until Giles, the eldest son is murdered.
The guests have all arrived at Herons’ Hall for dinner. Conflict, suspicion, and disunity will be served up.
Who could the murderer be? The previous inhabitants of the estate? The father? The uncle? The brother? The lawyer? Superintendent Mallett will try to unravel the clues.
*This is a 2022 reissue. The book was originally published in 1941. Other books of this author will be reissued.
*I read this for yesterday’s book club meeting. The book club member that suggested the book said when she went to the UK, she saw many people reading this author. (Not necessarily this particular book). She decided to randomly choose a book. Nobody in the book club had ever heard of this author.
*I felt this book was very formally written. A traditional detective story.
*The entire book club agreed that the number of characters was confusing. We all kept a written chart! I personally thought the female characters were especially hard to track. Each woman had more than one name. Ex: Polly / Mrs. Gabb and Pauline / Mrs. Gabb.
*A slow build-up. The explanation at the end was very thorough. Keeps you guessing!
Leak, invention, scheme…
Simon Gabb has two sons, Giles and Basil, who both have the potential to continue the family-owned business. Until Giles, the eldest son is murdered.
The guests have all arrived at Herons’ Hall for dinner. Conflict, suspicion, and disunity will be served up.
Who could the murderer be? The previous inhabitants of the estate? The father? The uncle? The brother? The lawyer? Superintendent Mallett will try to unravel the clues.
*This is a 2022 reissue. The book was originally published in 1941. Other books of this author will be reissued.
*I read this for yesterday’s book club meeting. The book club member that suggested the book said when she went to the UK, she saw many people reading this author. (Not necessarily this particular book). She decided to randomly choose a book. Nobody in the book club had ever heard of this author.
*I felt this book was very formally written. A traditional detective story.
*The entire book club agreed that the number of characters was confusing. We all kept a written chart! I personally thought the female characters were especially hard to track. Each woman had more than one name. Ex: Polly / Mrs. Gabb and Pauline / Mrs. Gabb.
*A slow build-up. The explanation at the end was very thorough. Keeps you guessing!
September 23, 2024
This book was written in the 30’s and captured that time. One bother is murdered and things are weird. The cause of death and the mystery surrounding it is a surprise the reader could
D not have suspected.
D not have suspected.
November 14, 2024
Nasty people; unconvincing murder. I'd look somewhere else.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews