Death in the Grand Manorby Anne Morice
Rating: ★★★½
Series: Tessa Crichton #1
Publication Date: July 1, 1970
Genre: mystery: silver age (1950-1979)
Pages: 220
ReRead?: No
Project: 2025 read my hoard, a century of crime
'For God's sake don't get the idea that you're Miss Marple. It could quite conceivably lead to your being whacked on the head.'
The narrator of this classic mystery is fashionable young actress, Tessa Crichton-obliged to turn private detective when murder strikes in the rural stronghold of Roakes Common. Leading hate-figures in the community are Mr. and Mrs. Cornford - the nouveaux riches of the local Manor House - suspected by some of malicious dog killing.
Tessa however has other things on her mind when she goes to stay with her cousin Toby and his wife Matilda. There's her blossoming career, for one thing, not to mention coping with her eccentric cousins. Also the favourable impression made by a young man she meets under odd circumstances in the local pub. If it wasn't for that dead body turning up in a ditch . . .
The murder mystery will lead Tessa to perilous danger, but she solves it herself, witty, blithe and soignée to the last. The story is distinguished by memorable characterisation and a sharp ear for dialogue, adding to the satisfaction of a traditional cunningly-clued detective story.
Death in the Grand Manor was originally published in 1970. This new edition features an introduction and afterword by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.
I had never even heard of this series when DSP announced that they were reissuing it. Death in the Grand Manor is the first book in the series, published in 1970. There are a total of 23 books, the last of which, Fatal Charm, was published in 1989. Whenever I think that I’m fairly well-versed in the history of crime fiction, someone comes up with a 20 book series that I’ve never encountered.
I liked this first book, but I didn’t love it. Having said that, I was intrigued enough that I will seek out a few more books in the series, especially since they are available for the kindle for $3.99 each.
I was 4 when this one was published, and I think part of what I enjoyed was the time period. I was just starting law school in 1989, when the final book was published. One of the things that attracts me to the series is the feeling that I will be able to reimmerse myself in a time that feels very familiar to me from my childhood, although I grew up in the U.S. and these books are set in England. Based on this first entry, the series isn’t exactly “cozy,” but it’s also not a police procedural or any kind of noir.
I started it in December, as my last Dean Street December book, but didn’t finish it until January 2, 2025.