Reading the Detectives discussion

Welcome to our first group read of 2025! The Wintringham Mystery by Anthony Berkeley was first published in 1926 and is a stand-alone mystery by the author, originally serialised in The Daily Mirror under the pseudonym, A. Monmouth Platts. Prizes were offered by anyone who could explain the mystery and one winner was Agatha Christie, who entered under her husband's name! Although published in the newspaper as The Wintringham Mystery, it was later released as a novel under the title, Cicely Disappears. Now republished for the first time in 95 years, lovers of GA crime have the opportunity to enjoy this long out of print mystery.

Stephen Munro, a demobbed army officer, reconciles himself to taking a job as a footman to make ends meet. Employed at Wintringham Hall, the delightful but decaying Sussex country residence of the elderly Lady Susan Carey, his first task entails welcoming her eccentric guests to a weekend house-party, at which her bombastic nephew – who recognises Stephen from his former life – decides that an after-dinner séance would be more entertaining than bridge. Then Cicely disappears!

With Lady Susan reluctant to call the police about what is presumably a childish prank, Stephen and the plucky Pauline Mainwaring take it upon themselves to investigate. But then a suspicious death turns the game into an altogether more serious affair…

This classic winter mystery incorporates all the trappings of the Golden Age – a rambling country house, a séance, a murder, a room locked on the inside, with servants, suspects and alibis, a romance – and an ingenious puzzle.

Please do not post spoilers in this thread. Thank you and Happy Reading for 2025!

Having trouble remembering where this book is! Hope to find it soon.

I enjoyed the charming Stephen and the humor - Lady Susan was a game old gal!

Thank you for opening up the threads, Susan! Looking forward to our first group read of 2025 - I'm just getting started with this one.

The spoiler thread is linked below:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

his will be a re-read and I have the book from the library.

I hadn't read this one. An interesting GA read, especially as it was first published in a newspaper as a competition!

I've got the book from the library so hope to start it soon. I seem to be one of a very few readers who really disliked The Poisoned Chocolates Case but know that AB is one of the more popular GA writers so happy to give him another chance.

Susan wrote: "I hadn't read this one. An interesting GA read, especially as it was first published in a newspaper as a competition!"

Yes, we’ve read enough of these GA mysteries where they have a feel to them - so many cliffhangers, one plot device after another crammed in!

I hadn’t read this either, but there was so much packed in it, I was entertained and may have been over generous in my rating. 3.5 may have been more appropriate. ;o)

I think AB can be a bit hit and miss. I have enjoyed some of his books a lot, others less so. I do wish they were all back in print though.

Susan wrote: "I think AB can be a bit hit and miss. I have enjoyed some of his books a lot, others less so. I do wish they were all back in print though."

Same - I remember enjoying the Poisoned Chocolates case…nothing else leaps to memory.

P.S. I checked and this and the chocolates case are the only two I appear to have read! I did buy Roger Sheringham and the Vane Mystery on kindle sale last year along with some others by the same publisher, but when I’ve nominated they weren’t available over there. Odd for us to get the titles before the U.K.

AB is a bit of a mess on kindle and titles seem to appear in print then vanish, rather like Christianna Brand. I try to grab what is available.

I've just finished this and just didn't really enjoy it or find it particularly engaging. Having also given up on The Poisoned Chocolates Case I'm not sure I'll try any more AB-there are too many other writers I'd prefer to read or reread.

Frances wrote: "I've just finished this and just didn't really enjoy it or find it particularly engaging. Having also given up on The Poisoned Chocolates Case I'm not sure I'll try any more AB-there..."

Fair enough. There are many respected authors I've dropped after a couple of tries. There are so many other books I want to read.

Have started this. Enjoying it so far.

Finally located this book - sitting pretty much opposite it on the couch and suddenly realized what book I was looking at. I had thought it was still upstairs.

Hope you both like the book, Neer and Jan.

Judy wrote: "Hope you both like the book, Neer and Jan."

Thank you Judy. Liking it a lot.

As I approach mid-point of the book I'm struck by the transformation that's come over Lady Susan. From being mean and vindictive (albeit selectively) at the start, she's become positively genial.

The mystery element seems somewhat implausible at this stage, but let's see how the author extricates himself.

Mike, I noticed Lady Susan's personality changing quite a lot too. We've had some discussion of this over in the spoiler thread, for when you get to the end.