The Unfinished Clue
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Product Description
Book Description
Georgette Heyer's brilliant and highly acclaimed series of detective novels, now in a handsome new package
Product Description
The stabbing of irascible General Sir Arthur Billington-Smith fails to stir up grief in anyone - least of all his family, which is no wonder considering the way he had treated them all during the fateful weekend. He had disinherited his son, humiliated his wife, refused to help his financially stricken nephew and made no secret of his loathing for his son's fiancée, a cabaret dancer. Inspector Harding picks his way through a mass of familial discontent to find the culprit - and find much more besides. (20040922)
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The gruesome death of the tyrannical Sir Arthur sends shockwaves through the motley crew of guests assembled for a weekend house party. As near cabin-fever sets in, Scotland Yard arrive to ferret out the truth. Heyer writes with her usual deft touch, with a comic gallery of secondary characters, notably the volatile Geoffrey's unsuitable Latin fiancee Lola. The plot thickens and reveals itself with a flourish and the central romance is a nicely managed "matter-of-fact" affair.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
While I am a great fan of GH's Regency novels, I am not so keen on her detective stories. The Unfinished Clue is the fifth I have read (the previous four being Envious Casca, A Blunt Instrument, Detection Unlimited and Why Shoot a Butler?) and it is by far my favourite. I love its house-party setting and found the characters interesting.
The story starts with two sisters: common-sense singleton Dinah who is a guest of her unhappily married and put-upon sister Fay. (Echoes of a less-touchy Serena and Fanny from Bath Tangle I thought.) Fay's husband, Arthur, is a tyrant and not particularly popular with his guests who include: his impecunious nephew, Fay's admirer, a couple they met on holiday and Arthur's son and his cabaret-dancing fiancee, Lola. Other characters appear in the form of dinner guests and servants. In due course someone is murdered and Inspector Harding (who is slightly reminiscent of GH's Regency heroes) investigates.
It is these characters and relationships which make the story so enjoyable, along with the intrigue of working out who did it. Not for me gritty reality or tense atmospheres. I like my detective novels to be escapist, with as little violence as possible. This is written with a light touch, and I almost cried with laughter at some of Lola's comments. I didn't get as engrossed as I had with GH's Regency novels, such as Cotillion or Venetia, nor did it race along like The Grand Sophy, but it was an enjoyable clean read, with some fun and intrigue.
The story starts with two sisters: common-sense singleton Dinah who is a guest of her unhappily married and put-upon sister Fay. (Echoes of a less-touchy Serena and Fanny from Bath Tangle I thought.) Fay's husband, Arthur, is a tyrant and not particularly popular with his guests who include: his impecunious nephew, Fay's admirer, a couple they met on holiday and Arthur's son and his cabaret-dancing fiancee, Lola. Other characters appear in the form of dinner guests and servants. In due course someone is murdered and Inspector Harding (who is slightly reminiscent of GH's Regency heroes) investigates.
It is these characters and relationships which make the story so enjoyable, along with the intrigue of working out who did it. Not for me gritty reality or tense atmospheres. I like my detective novels to be escapist, with as little violence as possible. This is written with a light touch, and I almost cried with laughter at some of Lola's comments. I didn't get as engrossed as I had with GH's Regency novels, such as Cotillion or Venetia, nor did it race along like The Grand Sophy, but it was an enjoyable clean read, with some fun and intrigue.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As in many murder mysteries, an ill-assorted bunch of people are gathered at a country house. However, Georgette Heyer's talent for writing charming and often eccentric minor characters raises her work above the rest. One of the best is Lola, a triumphantly egotistical Latin lovely who dances for a living, and has rather improbably become engaged to Sir Arthur Billington-Smith's wimpy son. Sir Arthur is an awful pompous old bully, whose word is law. His pretty young sister-in-law is unimpressed however - she positively enjoys prodding him with a stick (metaphorically), and watching the explosive results. I didn't guess whodunnit until just before the end. An entertaining read, recommended.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Unfinished Clue
A weekend party ends in murder when someone takes a knife to one of the hosts.
There's nothing about this that's especially memorable or outstanding. Read more
There's nothing about this that's especially memorable or outstanding. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Rich
In the study with the dagger
Sir Arthur Billington-Smith is murdered in the study with a Chinese dagger he used as a paper knife. Read more
Published on 29 Jan 2010 by Damaskcat
The Unfinished Clue
The "unfinished clue" is the word "There," written by General Billington-Smith, part of the name of the person who stabbed him to death in his study with "a curious Chinese... Read more
Published on 13 July 2003 by hacklehorn
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