The Goblin Market by Helen McCloy, 1943

 

dustjackets.com

Series: This is Dr. Basil Willing #6

About the author: Helen McCloy (1904-1994) was an American mystery writer, whose series character Dr. Basil Willing debuted in Dance of Death (1938). Willing believes, that "every criminal leaves psychic fingerprints, and he can't wear gloves to hide them." He appeared in 13 of McCloy's novels and in several of her short stories. McCloy often used the theme of doppelganger, but in the end of the story she showed a psychological or realistic explanation for the seemingly supernatural events. (wikipedia)

Major characters:

• Pete Halloran, correspondent for Occidental News Service
• Philip Stark, correspondent for Occidental News Service
• Vincente Almazam, office boy for Occidental News Service
• Patricia Mitchell ("Mitch"), correspondent for Coordinated Press
• Miguel Urizar, captain of municipal police
• --- Eustis, US Consul
• Peranda de Castellar ("Martin"), director of CAE
• Clarence Emmett, Pan Am Processing Co.
• Dr. Basil Willing, New York psychologist

Locale: Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

Synopsis: Out-of-work news correspondent Philip Stark is in Costa Rica and at the end of his resources. He is about to approach Pete Halloran of Occidental News Service for work, but Halloran is found dead of a broken neck on the stairs outside his office. Stark contacts Occidental and is hired on as Halloran's replacement.; working with office boy Vincente Almazam.  

Stark meets glamourous Patricia "Mitch" Mitchell, correspondent for competing Coordinated Press. She tells him Halloran had been working on a big story, and discovering one of his telegrams is missing, suspects his death was murder. Police captain Miguel Urizar insists it was an accident, and does not want to pursue it. 

Review:

Dec 20 2025: reading now, please check back again. 

The Estate of the Beckoning Lady by Margery Allingham, 1955

 

This is Albert Campion #15

Cover image only - no review

Police at the Funeral by Margery Allingham, 1931

 

Series: Albert Campion #4

Cover image only - no review

Murder with Southern Hospitality by Leslie Ford, 1941

 

dustjackets.com

About the author: Leslie Ford is a pseudonym of Zenith Jones Brown, 1898-1984. She also wrote as David Frome and Brenda Conrad. Also see this Book Scribbles blog: Leslie Ford's Fall From Grace. 

Locale: Natchez, Mississippi

Major characters:

• Louise Gould, Garden Club member, our narrator
• Cornelia Cartwright, Garden Club president
• Lusby, Cornelia's chauffeur
• Alec Cartwright, Cornelia's stepson
• Miss Laetitia "Letty" Drayton, Garden Club secretary
• Judge Ed Drayton, Letty's brother
• Kate Drayton, Letty's sister
• Anne Drayton
• Lawrence Drayton, Ed's son (Anne's cousin)
• Steven Heywood
• Millicent Storm, Garden Club member

Synopsis: Garden Club president, wealthy (and pushy) Cornelia Cartwright is determined to go to Natchez on a Garden Club pilgrimage. She brings along Louise Gould, and to save on expenses includes mousy club secretary Miss Letty Drayton, as she has family in Natchez; and Cornelia plans to impose on their hospitality instead of (gasp!) spending money on a hotel. Letty is reluctant to go at all, apparently embarassed by her family's poor situation. The three depart, driven by Cornelia's chauffeur Lusby.

Along the way they encounter a young Philadelphian, Steven Heywood, also bound for Natchez to look up a certain young woman. He is the heir to a will which leaves him several plantations if he marries her.

The three ladies arrive in Natchez and are astounded to find Letty's family not in a hovel, but in a palatial mansion, "Antigua". Letty is received coldly by her brother Judge Ed Drayton, sister Kate Drayton, and nephew Lawrence Drayton (Ed's son). Her niece Anne Drayton is the only one to welcome her warmly.  

 

Steven Heywood arrives at the neighboring mansion, "Tangiers", owned by his family. He is looking for his young woman, who turns out to be Anne. However, Anne is already engaged (at her uncle Ed's direction) - to her cousin (!) Lawrence. Anne is also pursued by Cornelia's stepson, Alec.

Letty has a secret concealed in a locket, which everyone tries to obtain. This leads to two deaths; a sour end to a Garden Club event.

Review: Billed as a "romantic suspense", this is a spellbinding page turner in the style of Mignon G. Eberhart. I found it quite enchanting with multiple levels of intrigue - for instance, Steven Heywood's continual flirting with Mrs. (!) Gould, a pushy uncle demanding two cousins marry, the contrast of palatial Antigua (home of the Draytons) and neighboring down-at-the-heel Tangiers (home of the Heywoods). 

There are remnants of southern culture: the north/south feuds, White/Black segregation with Blacks all cast in servant roles, corrupt officials, and several instances of the N-word.

Mysteries include:

Why is Letty's family so hostile to her?

Who exactly is Anne?

Who will Anne wind up with? Lawrence? Alec? Steven?

What is in Letty's locket? Who is doing away with people to get it?

All are resolved in a suprising turn of events.

 

The Midnight Hour by Elly Griffiths, 2021

 

Series: This is Brighton Mysteries #6. 

About the author: Elly Griffiths is a pseudonym of Domenica de Rosa.

Locale: London and environs

No review - image only.

O is for Outlaw by Sue Grafton, 1999

 

Image only - no review

The Case of the Restless Redhead by Erle Stanley Gardner (1954)

 

Evening Star Books

Series: Perry Mason #45

 

Locale: Los Angeles

Synopsis: Perry Mason drops into a trial and observes young attorney Frank Neely having trouble cross-examining a theft witness, Harry Boles. Mason meets with Neely outside and gives him some advice. Neely returns to court, and gets his client, redhead Evelyn Bagby, acquitted.