The Affair of the Mutilated Mink

Rating:
Summary: Marvelous mystery mixed with mayhem --
Review: Dear Mr. Anderson,

Please, sir, if we all ask very nicely, might you be persuaded to write more of these books? As with the Bloodstained Egg Cosy, this was pure delight, and I am sure I am not alone in wishing for more, more -- more!!

Once again, Lord Burford and his stately home, Alderly play a major role, this time because of the Earl's love for movies. He is especially fond of Rex Ransom, one of the talkies' first cowboy/action stars, and blithely offers Alderly as the setting for a proposed new movie about the English Civil War. The Countess is not quite so certain about all this, but would never bespeak her husband. Further, it provides their daughter, Lady Geraldine, the opportunity to invite her two most amorous, and possibly serious suitors, the Olympian track star, Paul Carter, and the rather Bohemian painter, Hugh Quartus, to come stay for a week or so.

The producer of the film company, Cyrus Haggermeir, is delighted at the prospect of such a visit, even if he does have to put up with the writer of the original screenplay, Arlington Gilbert. And here, he'd thought he could re-write at will. Then, of course, there are secretaries (the sly Maude Fry) involved, as well. And finally, a long-lost cousin of the Countess, Cecily Bradsaw (as was), now Everard, and her current husband, Sebastian, recently from Australia.

Well now, isn't this an interesting mix? And it is, too, but it gets far more interesting with the advent of the famous Italian actress, Laura Lorenzo, who has come to Alderly from London, because of a telegram she received from Cyrus-who doesn't recall having sent it. And finally, we have Miss Dove, Jemima, that is, who has been engaged to catalog the library, but gets her dates mixed up and arrives a week earlier than expected.

A blizzard, an auto that runs out of petrol, a stolen motorcycle (carefully separated from the side-car first, however), and a local talent show all combine to produce a murder. Thus we have not only the delightful Inspector Wilkins and his trusty Sergeant Leather to investigate, but -- (fanfare, please!) St. John Allgood of the Yard. One of the Three Great A's, the other two being John Appleby and Roderick Alleyn, no less!

Allgood is rather full of himself, and needs to be taken down a peg or so, and in spite of himself, Wilkins is just the man for the job. One after the other, Allgood makes a case for each of the inhabitants as first murderer, only to have the case crumble around him. Surprises tumble all over each other, presenting laughs galore before the final, final dénouement. Hardly anyone is quite who or what they seem, and my best advice is to not only read the book, but be sure to pay special attention to the prologue. Marvelous. More! More!

Rating:
Summary: A Masterful Whodunit
Review: Takes place in England during the 1930's. It's the 2nd novel in the Inspector Wilkins series. The Earl of Burford has stars in his eyes when he finds out someone wants to film a talking picture at his country estate starring one of his favorite swash buckler heroes. His wife isn't thrilled at all and now a long-lost relative is arriving at the same time as the star and soon their home is inundated with invited and uninvited guests. Here we go again a house party that leads to the same extra curricular activities as the last one. But this time Inspector Wilkins boss wants Scotland Yard to help out.

The author as in his last title The Affair of the Bloodstained Egg Cozy just as masterfully weaves this mystery. I found myself following the leads closely to see if I could figure out whodunit before the end of the book, but I couldn't. I am honest in saying both Inspector Wilkins novels will go on my favorite mystery list.

Rating:
Summary: Curl up by the fire with this book!
Review: The Case of the Mutilated Mink is a marvelous mystery that perfectly evokes the ambiance of the classic English country house mystery and at the same time spoofs it (with affectionate Wimsey, I mean wimsy). My only regret is that Mr. Anderson's corpus is not larger. I hope he's just getting warmed up!