Akin to Murder by Kathleen Moore Knight (1953)

Don't be confused - there is another book of the same title out there by another Knight (Alanna Knight). Different book. Different author!

AbeBooks

About the author: Kathleen Moore Knight (1890-1984) is one of my absolute favorite authors. She wrote 34 mystery novels, all published by the Crime Club; with a few under the pseudonym of Alan Amos. See my post All I Know about Kathleen Moore Knight, as well as this Wikipedia article and her booklist  on Fantastic Fiction.   

Major characters:

• Sylvia Winsted, a widow, our narrator
• Rick Winsted, her son
• Jason Gibbs, her great-uncle, a lawyer; his wife Estelle
• Ambrose Gibbs, her cousin
• Philo (a policeman) and Jennie West, her cousin
• Orin (a druggist), her cousin; his wife Hazel Gibbs; and their son Henry
• Sophronia "Sophie" (her cousin), married to Wylie Brock
• Nikita Roza, a young, attractive artist

Locale: Penberthy Island, off Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Synopsis: Sylvia Gibbs Winsted, our narrator, lived on the mainland with her husband Dick and son Rick. Dick was killed in the Korean conflict. Sylvia owns a three-story home on Penberthy Island, and receives a small rental income from artist Nikita Rosa (top floor), a dentist and his wife (2nd floor), and until recently, Myra Hooper (first floor).  Then Myra Hooper died, leaving the first floor vacant. Sylvia decides to move back to Penberthy Island and occupy the first floor herself.

Sylvia has quite a few relations on the island: Great-uncle Jason Gibbs, her Uncle John and Aunt Mary, and their children Ambrose, Orin, Jennie West, and Sophie Brock. Uncle John had passed away, leaving his wealth to Sophie alone, but with the wish - but not a requirement - she distribute it among the others.

Sophie had always been ungainly and unattractive, but recently discovered love and quick marriage in the form of shifty Wylie Brock. Sophie announces she is transferring all her wealth - except for a token $1000 to each sibling - to Wylie. The siblings are unanimous is refusing the checks, and protesting against the transfer. 

Sylvia's property has a small, secluded summerhouse - and she observes clandestine meetings there between Wylie and Nikita Roza; in which they discuss getting Sophie's wealth away from her.

Review: Surprise #1 was when the obvious victim ... Sophie, who broadcasts her intention to change her will and cut out all the family* ... is not the victim. Surprise #2 was at the end when the denouément produced a (oh, better not reveal it, suffice to say there are some theatricals!)

This Elisha Macomber story is completely confined to the dysfunctional Gibbs family - except for our narrator Sylvia of course. I did miss the usual boating/fishing/beaches/foggy night settings so prominent in the other Macombers. This one could be set completely on the mainland with little change.

Ambrose is a puzzle of a character, he always says exactly what he is thinking, which is not a good thing. I was never quite sure whether he was a scoundrel or a hero.

Rick Winsted was a pleasant character. Only 12 years old, but mature beyond his years.

*Always a bad idea. If you are going to cut someone out of your will, do it before you tell them. If you tell them at all (even better).