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John Putnam Thatcher #10
Murder to Go
Sloan Guaranty Trust has $12 million riding on the Chicken Tonight restaurant chain. Now the discovery that a mass poisoner has tampered with the "Chicken Mexicali" brings John Putnam Thatcher racing. Unless Thatcher can unravel the plot before it's too late, it will mean bankruptcy for Chicken Tonight ... and death for those who have unwittingly ordered murder to go.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1969
13 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Emma Lathen
41 books22 followersAka R.B. Dominic
Emma Lathen is the pen name of two American businesswomen: an attorney Mary Jane Latsis (July 12, 1927 -October 29, 1997) and an economic analyst Martha Henissart (b. 1929),who received her B.A. in physics from Mount Holyoke College in 1950.
http://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/31/boo...
Emma Lathen is the pen name of two American businesswomen: an attorney Mary Jane Latsis (July 12, 1927 -October 29, 1997) and an economic analyst Martha Henissart (b. 1929),who received her B.A. in physics from Mount Holyoke College in 1950.
http://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/31/boo...
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
October 21, 2011
At one point, I had a mini-shelf full of these “Wall Street” mysteries. Today, after completing Murder to Go, I only have two more in my collection. I’ll probably continue to space them out to be just the right dessert after I’ve finished a more difficult book. Allegedly written by a team of actual “Wall Street” investment executives (probably not at the level of the protagonist of these stories), the pseudonymous Emma Lathen cranked out a delightful series of mysteries that are more like the work of Dorothy Sayers than the dark (and sometimes crude) Hard Case Crime efforts. Don’t get me wrong! I read both, according to my strange and inexplicable moods, and both styles are worth reading. I’m just indicating that there is a more relaxed pace, more comfortable idea of amateur sleuthing (actually, Lord Wimsey and John Putnam Thatcher have a lot more in common than I’ve given thought to prior to this), a few (no pun intended) whimsical aspects to the styles of murder and the suspects involved, and well-crafted stories that always include the obvious red herring suspect and a few “not-so-obvious” ones. Once one experiences the unveiling of the culprit, there is usually adequate foreshadowing that if you haven’t caught the clues, you should have.
And, although these are “Wall Street” mysteries, the protagonist manages, almost, to spend less time on Wall Street than I do (and I rarely get to New York City where I have wonderful friends). The fictional Sloan Guaranty Trust has its dollars in a lot of pies (as long as I’m mixing metaphors, I should probably note that, in Murder to Go the trust has its twelve million dollars invested in Chicken Tonight, a home delivery chicken franchise. In each novel (except for the one on the Winter Olympics) that I’ve read, the mystery always hinges on a murder involving the trust’s investments. Murder to Go is no exception. The culprit poisons several people in order to: a) get revenge on someone or something; b) show that he/she was more competent than others thought; c) create an economic ripple effect that would hurt one or more companies; d) stifle company growth in order to protect his/her personal interests; or e) all of the above. The answer is in one of those five and they all should be plausible enough that you won’t have the mystery spoiled for you.
Murder to Go came out in the late ‘60s within the era of mega-mergers. As such, it reflects the positives of diverse types of companies coming under the same umbrella and not the flaws in “one size fits all” management that later caused many of these mega-corporations to start offloading some of these ill-advised acquisitions. Having been involved in a couple of small mergers myself by being absorbed into larger corporations, I have to say that the due diligence and interaction between the concerned parties in this fictional negotiation ring true. Last minute trips and obligatory social events with people with whom one wouldn’t normally associate were absolutely required. Flashes of that experience imposed themselves upon my memory as I explored Murder to Go.
John Putnam Thatcher, the protagonist for this series, is probably the most “phlegmatic” (in terms of being very intelligent, but VERY passive) of all the detectives—amateur or professional—about whom I enjoy reading. If you’re looking for action, you’re not going to find it in this series. These mysteries are cerebral, social and civilized. In short, they are a nice change of pace from today’s typical fare in film, television, or literature. My only major concern with Murder to Go is that the enforcement agency that Thatcher uses as his mechanism for revealing the murderer(s) seems an unlikely and improbable choice. I don’t think this agency’s jurisdiction would allow such a scene as the author uses to unveil the solution to the mystery. At least, though, it isn’t a dinner party—though there is a point at which the investors actually “sample” the Chicken Tonight menu. Murder to Go may not be a delightful mystery for anyone except me, but these are perfect additions to my menu when they are paired with more challenging reading.
And, although these are “Wall Street” mysteries, the protagonist manages, almost, to spend less time on Wall Street than I do (and I rarely get to New York City where I have wonderful friends). The fictional Sloan Guaranty Trust has its dollars in a lot of pies (as long as I’m mixing metaphors, I should probably note that, in Murder to Go the trust has its twelve million dollars invested in Chicken Tonight, a home delivery chicken franchise. In each novel (except for the one on the Winter Olympics) that I’ve read, the mystery always hinges on a murder involving the trust’s investments. Murder to Go is no exception. The culprit poisons several people in order to: a) get revenge on someone or something; b) show that he/she was more competent than others thought; c) create an economic ripple effect that would hurt one or more companies; d) stifle company growth in order to protect his/her personal interests; or e) all of the above. The answer is in one of those five and they all should be plausible enough that you won’t have the mystery spoiled for you.
Murder to Go came out in the late ‘60s within the era of mega-mergers. As such, it reflects the positives of diverse types of companies coming under the same umbrella and not the flaws in “one size fits all” management that later caused many of these mega-corporations to start offloading some of these ill-advised acquisitions. Having been involved in a couple of small mergers myself by being absorbed into larger corporations, I have to say that the due diligence and interaction between the concerned parties in this fictional negotiation ring true. Last minute trips and obligatory social events with people with whom one wouldn’t normally associate were absolutely required. Flashes of that experience imposed themselves upon my memory as I explored Murder to Go.
John Putnam Thatcher, the protagonist for this series, is probably the most “phlegmatic” (in terms of being very intelligent, but VERY passive) of all the detectives—amateur or professional—about whom I enjoy reading. If you’re looking for action, you’re not going to find it in this series. These mysteries are cerebral, social and civilized. In short, they are a nice change of pace from today’s typical fare in film, television, or literature. My only major concern with Murder to Go is that the enforcement agency that Thatcher uses as his mechanism for revealing the murderer(s) seems an unlikely and improbable choice. I don’t think this agency’s jurisdiction would allow such a scene as the author uses to unveil the solution to the mystery. At least, though, it isn’t a dinner party—though there is a point at which the investors actually “sample” the Chicken Tonight menu. Murder to Go may not be a delightful mystery for anyone except me, but these are perfect additions to my menu when they are paired with more challenging reading.
February 28, 2020
The Sloan has invested 12 million dollars in the Chicken To Go company when 100s of their customers are taken ill when the Chicken Mexicali is dosed with zinc salt. John Putnam Thatcher finds himself involved to protect the Sloan's investment (and not because he can resist a puzzle or because he wants to avoid the machinations of the Charlie Trinkam anniversary committee).
This book is what I've always thought of as the Thatcher formula. It's not exact, but it's very distinct. Along with the mystery we get to know people from all parts of the business from the founder to the franchisees. Thatcher finds himself on the scene as clues or crimes come to light and ultimately it's his understanding of how any business person or organization is supposed to work that leads to the solution.
The people are always interesting. The plot seemed ahead of it's time. I don't remember any historical crimes of product tampering like this before Tylenol in the 80s. Doesn't mean there wasn't one.
I've said this before but it's good to revisit an old friend.
This book is what I've always thought of as the Thatcher formula. It's not exact, but it's very distinct. Along with the mystery we get to know people from all parts of the business from the founder to the franchisees. Thatcher finds himself on the scene as clues or crimes come to light and ultimately it's his understanding of how any business person or organization is supposed to work that leads to the solution.
The people are always interesting. The plot seemed ahead of it's time. I don't remember any historical crimes of product tampering like this before Tylenol in the 80s. Doesn't mean there wasn't one.
I've said this before but it's good to revisit an old friend.
January 1, 2018
"To-oo Make Life Bright
Have Chi-i-cken To-oo-nite!"
Murder to Go (1969) is my first novel by Emma Lathen, a pseudonym of a mystery-writing duo of economists, Mary Jane Latsis and Martha Henissart. Alas, it is not a particularly auspicious introduction to the authors. I may try to read another book of theirs, but my interest has substantially decreased. Wikipedia tells us that all mysteries by Emma Lathen are situated in the world of business and that each novel deals with a different type of industry. While indeed the complicated business/finance/economics matters are presented in a way accessible to a layman reader like myself, I tend to be less interested in business activities than in watching gray paint dry on a gray wall.
John Putnam Thatcher is a senior vice-president of Sloan Guaranty Trust, "the third-largest bank in the world". The bank happens to be financing the Chicken Tonight company, a chicken dinner home delivery franchising operation that has been booming under the leadership of Frank Hedstrom. Mr. Hedstrom "built up a million-dollar business - almost overnight": he is a "boy wonder" in the business world and he is planning to expand into other areas by taking over an insurance company.
But then 72 people in six states are hospitalized with acute food poisoning and the health authorities quickly establish that Chicken Tonight is to blame. The seemingly accidental poisoning was in fact the result of tampering with the food ready be delivered. One of the victims dies so that the police and other government agencies now have to deal with murder. The authorities suspect a disgruntled employee. However, it is actually Mr. Thatcher who solves the case and uncovers business machinations that underlie the tampering.
We learn a lot about various aspects of franchising business and gain insights into the basics of finance:
This competently written and somewhat engaging mystery might be quite interesting for readers interested in business intrigues. Certainly not for me.
Two stars.
Have Chi-i-cken To-oo-nite!"
Murder to Go (1969) is my first novel by Emma Lathen, a pseudonym of a mystery-writing duo of economists, Mary Jane Latsis and Martha Henissart. Alas, it is not a particularly auspicious introduction to the authors. I may try to read another book of theirs, but my interest has substantially decreased. Wikipedia tells us that all mysteries by Emma Lathen are situated in the world of business and that each novel deals with a different type of industry. While indeed the complicated business/finance/economics matters are presented in a way accessible to a layman reader like myself, I tend to be less interested in business activities than in watching gray paint dry on a gray wall.
John Putnam Thatcher is a senior vice-president of Sloan Guaranty Trust, "the third-largest bank in the world". The bank happens to be financing the Chicken Tonight company, a chicken dinner home delivery franchising operation that has been booming under the leadership of Frank Hedstrom. Mr. Hedstrom "built up a million-dollar business - almost overnight": he is a "boy wonder" in the business world and he is planning to expand into other areas by taking over an insurance company.
But then 72 people in six states are hospitalized with acute food poisoning and the health authorities quickly establish that Chicken Tonight is to blame. The seemingly accidental poisoning was in fact the result of tampering with the food ready be delivered. One of the victims dies so that the police and other government agencies now have to deal with murder. The authorities suspect a disgruntled employee. However, it is actually Mr. Thatcher who solves the case and uncovers business machinations that underlie the tampering.
We learn a lot about various aspects of franchising business and gain insights into the basics of finance:
"When trouble befalls a debtor, there is a period when he covers up, when he minimizes his predicament, [... when] he is the one who does the worrying. But let things go really sour and positions get reversed. The creditor does the worrying, and the debtor holds the whip hand."The novel also provides slight comedy relief: one of the threads describes preparations to celebrate work anniversary of a high-ranking employee of the bank. The preparations are so elaborate that they virtually bring all other activities of the third-largest bank in the world to a standstill.
This competently written and somewhat engaging mystery might be quite interesting for readers interested in business intrigues. Certainly not for me.
Two stars.
February 25, 2024
This crime story set in the world of food delivery franchises is at once dated and timely. In its background there is the steampunk imagery of the Chicken-To-Go fully automated kitchen, able to produce by the pressing of buttons and pulling of levers (provided that pumps are regularly cleaned and filled) forty-three different flavours of chicken. (And perhaps the side dishes as well, but that is not explicitly stated. Nobody seems to be making them.)
And in the foreground, there is the uneasy mix of old money and new money, of staid executives whose wives breed horses, and homines novi whose background is rumoured to be less than pristine. And a hysterical wife — a stock character in the series, through Iris is not as loathsome as most and allowed to redeem herself.
Plot-wise, the two authors behind "Emma Lathen" took a risk with this book: The clue to the identity of the murderer is glaring, though surrounded with all kinds of red herrings. If you don't allow yourself to get distracted, it is easy to figure it out and that removes the tension. And this story isn't as funny as others in the series. The supporting cast lacks depth of character. The side story of Charlie Trinkham's big anniversary fails to provide the intended laughs and ends in an anticlimax.
Nevertheless, the book works. It just is one of the weaker ones in the series.
And in the foreground, there is the uneasy mix of old money and new money, of staid executives whose wives breed horses, and homines novi whose background is rumoured to be less than pristine. And a hysterical wife — a stock character in the series, through Iris is not as loathsome as most and allowed to redeem herself.
Plot-wise, the two authors behind "Emma Lathen" took a risk with this book: The clue to the identity of the murderer is glaring, though surrounded with all kinds of red herrings. If you don't allow yourself to get distracted, it is easy to figure it out and that removes the tension. And this story isn't as funny as others in the series. The supporting cast lacks depth of character. The side story of Charlie Trinkham's big anniversary fails to provide the intended laughs and ends in an anticlimax.
Nevertheless, the book works. It just is one of the weaker ones in the series.
December 19, 2022
I love the John Putnam Thatcher mysteries. They are unique, I believe, in making Wall Street financial deals central to solving murders, with a sense of humor and irony which still plays well today. This one is one of my favorites. When an up-and-coming fast food dinner delivery franchise has customers poisoned by the newest flavor of chicken it seems like a drastic way for competitors to even the playing field. However, there's always more to the mix than that and this one is really fun.
December 25, 2016
Wall Street banker John Putnam Thatcher is one of my favorite characters to read about so even though the plot in this entry dragged a bit I did find this entertaining enough.
August 2, 2022
Who writes about fast food franchises? Emma Lathen, that's who! The greasy details are given dignity, while human underhandedness rises to the highest levels. At her best. This was awesome.
March 23, 2024
3 stars - 1 star for still being under copyright = 2 stars.
"Pyrotechnics are not a standard weapon in the armory of the United States Public Health. Great conflicts over great issue occupy arenas from the US Supreme Court to the Bureau of Standards. Even traffic courts in Georgia get their share of homely drama. Public Health hearings, however, rarely rise above chagrin. A contest, after all needs adversaries. And no one is seriously opposed to public health on principle. Partisans of the spread of disease and contamination can be numbered on the fingers of one hand.
Even when vigilance unmasks a miscreant, does the villain fight like a trapped rat? Does right vanquish wrong? Does society exact its price for sin?
"Fat Chance" as Mr. Denton once put it in a low moment.
The Public Health isolates the guilty party and the guilty party, nine times out of ten, is more horrified than anybody else. Fish filleters in Gloucester, frozen turkey purveyors in Pennsylvania, even bakers selling custard pies in July, react the same way -- with stunned disbelief with horror at what they have unknowingly done, and with touching gratitude to the public health for bringing them to their senses.
The public health, in short, does all the work and gets very little of the fun."
If only we could still be in this world, where purveyors of disease do not have a vocal, organized, coherent minority with a stranglehold on political power across the world and especially near me.
"Pyrotechnics are not a standard weapon in the armory of the United States Public Health. Great conflicts over great issue occupy arenas from the US Supreme Court to the Bureau of Standards. Even traffic courts in Georgia get their share of homely drama. Public Health hearings, however, rarely rise above chagrin. A contest, after all needs adversaries. And no one is seriously opposed to public health on principle. Partisans of the spread of disease and contamination can be numbered on the fingers of one hand.
Even when vigilance unmasks a miscreant, does the villain fight like a trapped rat? Does right vanquish wrong? Does society exact its price for sin?
"Fat Chance" as Mr. Denton once put it in a low moment.
The Public Health isolates the guilty party and the guilty party, nine times out of ten, is more horrified than anybody else. Fish filleters in Gloucester, frozen turkey purveyors in Pennsylvania, even bakers selling custard pies in July, react the same way -- with stunned disbelief with horror at what they have unknowingly done, and with touching gratitude to the public health for bringing them to their senses.
The public health, in short, does all the work and gets very little of the fun."
If only we could still be in this world, where purveyors of disease do not have a vocal, organized, coherent minority with a stranglehold on political power across the world and especially near me.
June 12, 2018
Příjemná a oddechová detektivka - vskutku čtení na dovolenou, jak avizoval Odeon. Nudnou rutinu wallstreetské praxe a připravovanou fúzi mezi Jihovýchodní společností a novou hvězdou Wall Street firmou Kuře k večeři naruší případ těžkých otrav kuřetem a vražda. Ačkoliv by čtenář očekával, že bude sledovat práci policie, příběhem ho provede velký bankéř John Putnam Thatcher.
Vrah je bohužel uhádnutelný už v půli knihy, jelikož se autorka drží staré dobré zásady předložit čtenáři všechny "falešné vrahy" a jednoho po druhém je rozpitvat, až se dobere k vrahu skutečnému. Na druhou stranu se čtenář může zabavit přemýšlením nad motivem vraždy a otravy.
Vrah je bohužel uhádnutelný už v půli knihy, jelikož se autorka drží staré dobré zásady předložit čtenáři všechny "falešné vrahy" a jednoho po druhém je rozpitvat, až se dobere k vrahu skutečnému. Na druhou stranu se čtenář může zabavit přemýšlením nad motivem vraždy a otravy.
September 4, 2018
A business whiz kid sets up an especially efficient chain of chicken dinner franchises - so efficient that someone sets out to ruin the chain. John Thatcher is dragooned into protecting the Sloan's investment. We are rooting for the likable business founder and his franchise holders in what looks like a disaster.
Read 3 times
Read 3 times
July 16, 2021
This is the 10th of 37 Emma Lathen best sellers featuring John Putnam Thatcher, Senior Vice President of the Sloan Guaranty Trust. When a fast-food fried chicken franchise, busy acquiring a staid insurance company, has a top executive murdered, John Putnam Thatcher steps in to rescue a $12 million loan made by the Sloan by solving the case. A Mystery Guild selection.
June 5, 2017
Murder most tasy
Like all the Emma Lathen mysteries, murder is best explained by searching for the money involved. John Putnam Thatcher is the banker who can think through all the complicated issues and solve it. A enjoyable book.
Like all the Emma Lathen mysteries, murder is best explained by searching for the money involved. John Putnam Thatcher is the banker who can think through all the complicated issues and solve it. A enjoyable book.
November 25, 2023
Throughout the read, I was plagued by the earworm of the Chicken Tonight jingle from the 90s. I feel like chicken tonight, like chicken tonight...
Still, lots of fun. I spotted whodunnit early and am smug.
Still, lots of fun. I spotted whodunnit early and am smug.
July 8, 2024
chicken Tonight
Old fashioned but good fun, and Thatcher gets his man. A highly successful franchised chicken delivery company called Chicken Tonight suffers severe financial reverses when someone poisons their deliveries.
Old fashioned but good fun, and Thatcher gets his man. A highly successful franchised chicken delivery company called Chicken Tonight suffers severe financial reverses when someone poisons their deliveries.
March 9, 2022
John Putman Thatcher, my favourite banker!
April 10, 2011
This story is set in the fast-food industry and financial world. The chapter headings are cooking instructions of a recipe. The cast of characters ranges from the head of the fast-food chicken company and the financial bankers interested in his takeover of an insurance company down to a franchisee in NJ. This story ties up like a Sherlock Holmes story with the last chapter being the explanation of how it all happened. A nice afternoon cozy-type read.
December 18, 2011
Many people are sickened and one man dies when ingredients for take-out chicken are adulterated. Later, the man who was responsible for the deed is found dead at a club attended by several suspects. Thatcher is involved because the Sloan has invested several millions of dollars with the business. Naturally, Thatcher helps solve the mystery.
July 21, 2012
When I read this, I thought of the Tylenol poisonings and the effects they had on the industry. Food tampering here leads to murder.
This story has a more serious edge to it, and while I miss the humor greatly, the ladies of Emma L have shown some really fantastic crafting of characters from all walks of life.
This story has a more serious edge to it, and while I miss the humor greatly, the ladies of Emma L have shown some really fantastic crafting of characters from all walks of life.
March 31, 2011
VG, interesting parallels to Tylenol case though 1969
May 7, 2012
Boring.
May 10, 2012
A bit slow getting started, but very good.
December 27, 2016
Unfortunately, solved by at least page 60 and that was also about when I started to actually know characters.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews