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Gift of Death
A nice neat murder for profit...was something the police could understand. They readily accepted the theory that the Merritt heirs were killing each other off to get the family fortune. But the case wouldn't stay solved; new motives kept turning up.Jealousy, revenge, hatred, the too-revealing secret diary - all these could be reasons for the outbreak of violence. The Merritts were in danger, all right - but the police had no way to protect them till they knew what the killer was after, and from which direction he might strike again.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1948
14 people want to read
About the author
Edward S. Aarons
266 books17 followersAKA Paul Ayres, Edward Ronns.
Edward Sidney Aarons (September 11, 1916 - June 16, 1975) was an American writer, author of more than 80 novels from 1936 until 1962. One of these was under the pseudonym "Paul Ayres" (Dead Heat), and 30 were written using the name "Edward Ronns". He also wrote numerous articles for detective magazines such as Detective Story Magazine and Scarab.
Aarons was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and earned a degree in Literature and History from Columbia University. He worked at various jobs to put himself through college, including jobs as a newspaper reporter and fisherman. In 1933, he won a short story contest as a student. In World War II he was in the United States Coast Guard, joining after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. He finished his duty in 1945, having obtained the rank of Chief Petty Officer.
Edward Sidney Aarons (September 11, 1916 - June 16, 1975) was an American writer, author of more than 80 novels from 1936 until 1962. One of these was under the pseudonym "Paul Ayres" (Dead Heat), and 30 were written using the name "Edward Ronns". He also wrote numerous articles for detective magazines such as Detective Story Magazine and Scarab.
Aarons was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and earned a degree in Literature and History from Columbia University. He worked at various jobs to put himself through college, including jobs as a newspaper reporter and fisherman. In 1933, he won a short story contest as a student. In World War II he was in the United States Coast Guard, joining after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. He finished his duty in 1945, having obtained the rank of Chief Petty Officer.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 17, 2021
Edward Aarons is best known for his hit espionage "Assignment" series, but here he offers up a gothic murder mystery in small-town Connecticut where numerous cousins stand to inherit and not all are happy to share even with kin.
There are some haunting scenes on an old estate with a revolutionary war hanging tree and a figure in shadows with a scythe, like death himself walking on earth. And, there are points where Aarons gives us some great creepy prose, but he doesn’t maintain that tension or that sense of pervasive horror. Interspersed with the bloody murders are a collection of interpersonal dramas that play out.
There are some haunting scenes on an old estate with a revolutionary war hanging tree and a figure in shadows with a scythe, like death himself walking on earth. And, there are points where Aarons gives us some great creepy prose, but he doesn’t maintain that tension or that sense of pervasive horror. Interspersed with the bloody murders are a collection of interpersonal dramas that play out.
September 20, 2020
Probably closer to a 3.5 but its a solid mystery thriller that has just enough red herrings to keep you guessing. Though it can be guessed at. Has an interesting cast of characters and the old dark house vibe is always a fun plot device even if its more of a red herring then true old dark house tale. Must be at least a 2 book series though since it mentions that the newspaper cartoonist main character had solved an earlier crime and even has the book as a foot note.
Recommended, again is a fine mystery and at 150 or so pages is a quick easy read.
Recommended, again is a fine mystery and at 150 or so pages is a quick easy read.
March 10, 2024
Edward Aarons brought more than just another murder mystery to the market with Gift. His novel contains elements drawn from Hawthorne and Poe. An exhausted blood lineage exhibits itself among the Merritt family in a Connecticut village. Their sins and madness are the underlying themes. Perhaps the symbolism is a little overt--the ancient farmhouse being crushed by an equally ancient elm tree (the tree even has a name, Timothy) which has been shackled in iron throughout its limbs to prevent it blowing over in a wind storm. But it's effective, as it was was elsewhere in House of Seven Gables and Fall of the House of Usher.Aarons if anything is making the reader self aware of this lineage.
Two other things stand out. This is also a noirish novel. But with a twist. Post World War II film noirs and fiction mainly situated themselves in corrupt cities, in dark alleyways, and hidden crime. Here, its the powerful forces intimidating a small village, with tree-lined forest walkways, and criminals being diffused among every class and background. Second is the parallel protogonist, Amanda Merritt, who doesn't get the space of the main hero, Jerry Benedict, but whose own disintegrating mind matches her physical decline. She is an obese woman, over fifty, with gray hair. But she is essential to the story. It's captivating how Aarons focuses on her and creates conflicting currents of sympathy, exasperation, and revulsion for her actions. She is much more multifaceted than Jerry.
Two other things stand out. This is also a noirish novel. But with a twist. Post World War II film noirs and fiction mainly situated themselves in corrupt cities, in dark alleyways, and hidden crime. Here, its the powerful forces intimidating a small village, with tree-lined forest walkways, and criminals being diffused among every class and background. Second is the parallel protogonist, Amanda Merritt, who doesn't get the space of the main hero, Jerry Benedict, but whose own disintegrating mind matches her physical decline. She is an obese woman, over fifty, with gray hair. But she is essential to the story. It's captivating how Aarons focuses on her and creates conflicting currents of sympathy, exasperation, and revulsion for her actions. She is much more multifaceted than Jerry.
May 8, 2011
Quick paced murder mystery with gruesome murders and light-hearted comedy. The killer becomes easy to guess about 100 pages in, but it's still a blast!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews