Fun and Games in the Country House

DEATH OF A COZY WRITER

G. M Malliet

Midnight Ink Books

2008

I have always been a fan of the traditional English mystery so G. M. Malliet's Death of a Cozy Writer (winner of the 2008 Agatha Award) has been on my TBR pile for quite a while. I found it to be most enjoyable, quite funny at times, and a very satisfying mystery. I think I discovered Agatha Christie at about the age of ten, and read them ALL, the good, the bad and the somewhat indifferent. 

Death of a Cozy Writer is formed as a traditional English Country House mystery, with limited suspects and a poisonous atmosphere. Sir Adrian Beauclerk-Fiske is a mega best-selling mystery writer who has been churning out books for years featuring a quirky, elderly female detective (Miss Marple, anyone?). He is also a malevolent old spider whose chief amusement in life is setting his four children against each other in the inheritance sweepstakes. Depending on his whim, one or another is on top at any given time. The children are: Ruthven, the eldest, a successful, philandering publishing magnate; George, a self-absorbed, very stupid and somewhat shady art gallery owner; Albert, alcoholic mediocre actor whose career is tottering; and Susan, overweight cookbook author with some very odd new age ideas. The only two of the children who are even remotely fond of each other are Albert and Susan, but the four siblings are united in their loathing of Sir Adrian. When they are all invited to meet their father's prospective bride the cat is truly among the pigeons. First, Ruthven is murdered and then Sir Adrian. DCI St. Just of the Cambridgeshire Constabulary and his Sergeant Fear must solve the case before someone else is murdered. 

The mystery itself is a very intricate puzzler. I certainly didn't figure it out until the end. I also thought the characters were particularly well drawn, from Mrs. Romano, the housekeeper who seems to be the only person Sir Adrian can get along with, to Ruthven's shallow wife and Sir Adrian's former wife Chloe. The only reason that I didn't rate Death of a Cozy Writer higher than 3 stars is St. Just himself. He is the least distinctive character. He doesn't even appear until about the mid-point, and by the end, I still didn't have a handle on what sort of person he is. I don't expect a Poirot type but I would like to know more about him and how he ticks. The solution of the crimes seemed a bit rushed as well. All in all, Death of a Cozy Writer was a quick, enjoyable read and I do plan to continue with the series.