The White Cottage Mystery by Margery Allingham, 1927

 

About the author: Margery Louise Allingham (1904 – 1966) was an English novelist from the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", best remembered for her hero, the gentleman sleuth Albert Campion. Initially believed to be a parody of Dorothy L. Sayers's detective Lord Peter Wimsey, Campion formed the basis for 18 novels and many short stories. (from Wikipedia)

Major characters:

• Chief Inspector W. T. Challoner
• Jerry Challoner, his son
• Roger William Christiansen, owner of The White Cottage
• Eva Grace Christiansen, his wife
• Joan Alice Christiansen, their daughter, age 5
• Norah Phyliss Bayliss, Eva's sister
• Eric Crowther, their neighbor at The Dene, and the victim
• Clarry Gale, a.k.a. William Lacy, valet to Eric Crowther
• Latte Cellini, resident of The Dene

Locale: England, Paris, and Mentone, France

Synopsis: Jerry Challoner encounters, and is enchanted by a young lady - Norah Phyliss Bayliss - whom he meets as she steps off a bus. He watches as she enters The White Cottage. The Cottage is also home to Roger and Eva Christiansen, and their five-year old daughter Joan Alice. 

Almost immediately a shot is heard from the cottage, and a cry of murder. Jerry rushes in to find the house in turmoil and a body (D below) in the dining room. It is Eric Crowther, their neighbor, who lives next door at 'The Dene', an imposing institutional-like grey building. Jerry identifies himself as the son of Scotland Yard Chief Inspector W. T. Challoner. 

Crowther has been killed by a shotgun blast, the gun found resting on the dining room table (E). The Challoners soon find that Crowther was disliked by all, and took pleasure in tormenting others. There was a past affair between him and Eva, and he had taunted Roger (confined to a wheelchair) about it, daring him to shoot him - even conveniently providing the shotgun which he had left propped up in a corner (C) of the dining room. 

The Dene was also home to Latte Cellini, a mysterious Italian who suddenly disappears. Taking this as a sign of guilt, Challoners follow him first to Paris, then to Menton on the French Riviera. The Challoners are surprised to find Eva and Norah there as well.

Here is a possible layout of The White Cottage, reverse-engineered from the text showing the rooms of significance - omitting stairs, bath, etc. The Dene is off to the right. You may find this helpful as much conversation is about how the killer got in and out, and movements of the family during that time.

A - the narrow door

B - French windows

C - where Crowther propped the gun

D - body of Crowther

E - dining room table

F - coat rack

G - front door

Review: This is my first Allingham read, and it was quite enjoyable. Originally published as a serial, its heritage is apparent. Similar-length tight chapters are quite focused and well organized. It was edited prior to publishing as a book to remove the traditional lead-in synopses. The murder occurs immediately in chapter one, and all the characters introduced neatly in chapter two.

The story is stretched a bit by several coincidences, as the Challoners just happen to meet up with Eva and Norah in Paris, and then again in Menton. 

One story line which I expected but did not occur was some explanation of The Dene - being described several times as a grey, institutional building - I expected some creepy hanky-panky going on there but no.

Also see this review by Bev Hankins on My Reader's Block.