Georgette Heyer Fans discussion

Our final group read of the year!

I am extra excited about this one, as this is one of only two GH novels that I haven't read before!

I am reading this copy

So...how many times have the rest of you read this one?

What format are you using this time?

Remember no open spoilers in this thread! We don't want to spoil a first time read for anyone! (like me!) Please use spoiler tags or post in the spoiler thread.

Currently on sale on kindle for $1.99 on Amazon USA

(Will delete this as soon as sale is over)

I am excited, as this is my first time reading~ I have it on my kindle, and the cover shows up as

I think I finally got my copy on TradeMe (our ebay) It certainly took me a long time to track it down!

I first read this in 1970--


I think the cover is cute, even though it is so wrong in so many ways.

I've read it a number of times over the years, each time becoming aware of so many problems with the story (though the mystery remains clever and the romance is great,)

This is the edition I currently own


I'm unimpressed by this cover; but at least the clothing and hairstyle evoke the 1930s (Unlike my first cover!)

Barb in Maryland wrote: "I first read this in 1970--


I think the cover is cute, even though it is so wrong in so many ways.

I've read it a number of times over the years, each tim..."

That cover...🤣

I accidentally read this a month early but still have the hard cover I borrowed from the library. isn't that cover weird? the expression on Dinah's face makes her look like an idiot, IMO, so I don't care for it.

I took a lot of notes so I will be posting a lot - mostly on the spoiler thread.
this might be my very favorite Heyer mystery; I love it!

I have a Panther paperback that I picked up in the UK in 1977--from which you may surmise that I haven't read it in a very long time. Currently reading a longish book that is proving a bit slow, so I will be late starting.

Abigail wrote: "I have a Panther paperback that I picked up in the UK in 1977--from which you may surmise that I haven't read it in a very long time. Currently reading a longish book that is proving a bit slow, so..."

No worries! Im just up to Chapter 6. Has a touch of Somerset Maugham.

Barb in Maryland wrote: "I first read this in 1970--


I think the cover is cute, even though it is so wrong in so many ways.

I've read it a number of times over the years, each tim..."

Ok, that first cover - is that Nancy Drew?

I have this sourcebooks edition from my local used book store The Unfinished Clue . I was lucky enough several years ago to stumble on several Sourcebooks Heyer mysteries in pristine, but “used” condition- I swear, the spines didn’t appear cracked- great use of my built-up store credit! Yay!

I don’t know why, it always gives me a “Gigi” vibe, probably because of those wonderful scenes and costumes of evenings at theMoulin Rouge! I keep expecting Maurice Chevalier to stroll up, warbling about “Thank heaven for Little Girls” (always a creepy sentiment, but takes on special resonance in the #MeToo era...)

Anyway, since this is a country house murder, I think the cover is wildly inappropriate, anyway! Shouldn’t they be dressed like Helen Mirren in The Queen, a scarf on her head and boots for tromping the countryside? English folk, back me up here - what do you wear for a casual country house murder? I’m assuming not a backless gown and feathers in your hair.

Anyway, I’m also contemplating using an Audible credit for the audiobook- I find these golden age mysteries really make for fun listening, with the dialogue!

I think the inappropriate dress accurately reflects the perceived inappropriateness of the characters!

So far, I am enjoying meeting all of the characters and the sense of impending doom. (Never thought that I would say that sentence)

Critterbee❇ wrote: "I think the inappropriate dress accurately reflects the perceived inappropriateness of the characters!

So far, I am enjoying meeting all of the characters and the sense of impending doom. (Never t..."

Lol! Welcome to the addictive world of golden age mysteries!

I am getting serious vibes of competition, from almost everyone. This looks to be a nice tidy read.

My copy of The Unfinished Clue doesn't have a cover picture/dust jacket, although I assume it did once. It is a hard-cover (red, with The Unfinished Clue embossed at the top of the front cover, printed in 1934 - apparently a first edition, as there is no publishing history. I haven't read it in ages!

In the middle of chapter three, loving it! I thought I had read this before, but I’m not remembering it, just enjoying meeting all of the quirky members of this house party from hell (I think that’s fair).

aren't the characters great? even Finch, the butler, is a stand out.

Yes! Lola is killing me - I would believe she could kill Sir Arthur by causing his head to explode, if she stuck around long enough...

Susan in NC wrote: "Yes! Lola is killing me - I would believe she could kill Sir Arthur by causing his head to explode, if she stuck around long enough..."

Her scenes were hilarious!

Yes - I found myself holding my breath for poor Fay’s sake! Can’t wait to find out who Mrs. Twining is, and what her connection to Arthur is (if I ever knew, I don’t recall).

I love Lola, Camilla, Dinah, Fay, and Mrs. Twining! Not too thrilled about Mrs. Chudleigh (I have not heard that surname before - has anyone else?)

and love this quote about Mrs Twining:

"She was so perfectly dressed that naturally people felt that she might not be quite the type of person one wanted to know."

What? Those strict, judgmental country society ladies!

Susan in NC wrote: "Yes! Lola is killing me - I would believe she could kill Sir Arthur by causing his head to explode, if she stuck around long enough..."

oh, so true!

the Lola character is hysterical - every bit as full of herself as The General is, but much funnier.

Critterbee❇ wrote: "I love Lola, Camilla, Dinah, Fay, and Mrs. Twining! Not too thrilled about Mrs. Chudleigh (I have not heard that surname before - has anyone else?)"

no, but then I have never hard the name Twining, either.

I have - Twining's Tea!

oh, duh! LOL

Never read a GH mystery....diving in now!

I feel that one could play a game of 'spot the type' to identify the various characters from various of the Regency novels: Dinah's occasional gruff speech mannerisms ( "No. Delicately nurtured female. Wouldn't have married him") reminded me instantly of the governess Miss Battery(?), while Lola sounds exactly like Sancia from " The Grand Sophy".
Fay seems rather more sympathetically treated than the usual fluffy helpless type, presumably because we're seeing her through Dinah's partisan eyes. Stephen Guest is being written as the sterotypical magazine-story American, even though for some reason he isn't supposed actually to be one (I'm not quite sure why - perhaps to make him a more eligible suitor for Fay?)
Camilla interests me because Heyer has gone to the trouble of slipping in a couple of scenes at the beginning to show that she is not the shallow man-trap she appears to be; she genuinely cares for her husband and is putting on an act in an attempt to get them out of their money troubles. And she is far from stupid.
(I was confused as to how a woman's hair could be both waved and shingled - I thought 'shingled' was close-contoured to the back of the head?)

Critterbee❇ wrote: "I love Lola, Camilla, Dinah, Fay, and Mrs. Twining! Not too thrilled about Mrs. Chudleigh (I have not heard that surname before - has anyone else?)"

Isn’t she awful, with her, “I’ve heard this vicious rumor, I denied it of course, but it’s not true, is it?” Subtle, nosy and vicious- nice in a vicar’s wife!

Jackie wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Yes! Lola is killing me - I would believe she could kill Sir Arthur by causing his head to explode, if she stuck around long enough..."

oh, so true!

the Lola character is hys..."

Oh my gosh, very true! Hadn’t thought of that - pot, meet kettle, indeed - a clash of two monumental egos, fascinating!

Critterbee❇ wrote: "I have - Twining's Tea!"

That’s what I thought of - no wonder she’s so self-confident, she’s a tea heiress! That would’ve been a great plot twist! Actually, I’m getting a glimmer of a memory as I read (started chapter 10 last night), and I’m wondering if (view spoiler)[Mrs. T. is the much-maligned hussy of a first wife? Is that crazy? The “no photograph of her “ is what made me wonder, then her interest in the awful Geoffrey... (hide spoiler)]

Igenlode wrote: "I feel that one could play a game of 'spot the type' to identify the various characters from various of the Regency novels: Dinah's occasional gruff speech mannerisms ( "No. Delicately nurtured fem..."

Lol! Fun game, we could have an extra thread for our future Heyer reads, you can Spot The Type!

Susan in NC wrote: "Critterbee❇ wrote: "I have - Twining's Tea!"

That’s what I thought of - no wonder she’s so self-confident, she’s a tea heiress! That would’ve been a great plot twist! ..."

Ha! That is what she is hiding - her immense wealth and prominence!

My library copy is heading my way....but not there yet. Meanwhile here (center and right) are pictures of waved, shingled hairstyles c. 1920.

I take it that the figures on the left illustrate the horribly heavy 'before' hairstyles--going from demure and oppressed to sexy and liberated!

Hana wrote: "My library copy is heading my way....but not there yet. Meanwhile here (center and right) are pictures of waved, shingled hairstyles c. 1920.

I take it that the figures on the left illustrate the..."

Love this picture! The right hand blond & the model to the right of her are how my hair looked when I had these shaped styles. Well, for about four hours after leaving the hairdresser anyway!

Ha! For years (ahem. decades) I kept my hair on the short side thinking it was convenient. Recently I've grown it out to shoulder length and I can't believe how much easier it is to manage. Also it keeps me warm in the winter!

Between this and our Retro Read Death in Cyprus we are all obsessing a bit on the subject of hair :D

Thanks for the pictures! I think I prefer the demure oppressed black one with the mass of hair at her nape, personally :-D

Critterbee❇ wrote: "and love this quote about Mrs Twining:

"She was so perfectly dressed that naturally people felt that she might not be quite the type of person one wanted to know."

What? Those strict, judgmental ..."

And this one: "She was found to be perfectly well-bred, though rather clever". I have a feeling that Heyer was a master at darts, probably playing in championships where her prowess was undeniable.

I have read this several times, and I find that I'm remembering all of the characters (even their names!) and their back-stories and their hidden motives. However, I haven't a clue whodunnit. Which makes me laugh, as I'm finding it quite handy in reading a mystery.

I frequently don't remember who the murderer is when I read a mystery and consider it's because the author is very skilled in leading me down the wrong path. (I'd hate to think it's just poor memory on my part!)

@Karlyne do you mean verbal darts??

I love the quotes about Mrs. Twining!

Jackie wrote: "@Karlyne do you mean verbal darts??

I love the quotes about Mrs. Twining!"

I did mean verbal ones, but I'm guessing she was a master at all sorts!

I haven't started yet but hope to get to it shortly. Having a few health issues at the moment and I'm a bit all over the place. I'll be reading on Kindle. I thought I had the paperback but alas not.
This is the cover it's showing:

Teresa wrote: "I haven't started yet but hope to get to it shortly. Having a few health issues at the moment and I'm a bit all over the place. I'll be reading on Kindle. I thought I had the paperback but alas not..."

Just get to it when you can Teresa & feel better soon!

Teresa wrote: "I haven't started yet but hope to get to it shortly. Having a few health issues at the moment and I'm a bit all over the place. I'll be reading on Kindle. I thought I had the paperback but alas not..."

I just finished this morning, so feel better soon and we can still discuss!

I checked out the Sourcebooks reprint from the library
. This is my first time reading this book. That's Lola on the cover dancing the tango in a dress described in great detail in the text. Good job cover artist!

I made it to the end of Chapter 5 when Sir Arthur is found. The only character I like so far is Dinah. I am betting the clock being a minute fast is a clue.

I have my list of suspects. No spoiler tags because I honestly don't know. These are just guesses.

Dinah: She's had a lot of time to kill her brother-in-law and I don't think she'd do that to her sister. She's protective of Fay but Dinah is the type to just hash it out and yell and call out a bully. No need for messy murder. Plus, too easy.

Fay: The nervous type. She wouldn't want to cause a scandal. Too obvious. Heyer is a better writer than that,

Geoffrey: A possibility but I'm not sure he's strong enough to commit the crime. He does seem to have underlying passion.

Lola: Now she's a passionate person and I wouldn't be surprised if she COULD kill and HAS killed but she doesn't care which rich man she marries. Now her maid Concetta on the other hand, I can see her committing murder on Lola's behalf and then feeling guilty about it.

Francis: His uncle is worth more alive than dead, at least until he changes his will.

Stephen: He's a strong candidate. Motive, probably means and opportunity but again, super obvious.

Camilla: She needs money and she isn't going to get it with Sir Arthur dead. Her husband, on the other hand, seems the quiet, angsty type who observes and bottles up his true feelings.

Mrs. Twining: I think she's secretly Geoffrey's mother. Again, just a theory and not a spoiler. She seems strong and capable but what would be her motive if she's the only one who has some influence over Sir Arthur? If she is Geoffrey's mother, she does have a powerful motive.

Mrs. nosybritches Chudleigh (note: Chudleigh must be a place. Ron Weasley's favorite Qudditch team is the Chudley Cannons. A ha... there's a muggle town of Chudleigh in Devonshire, England

I honestly don't think the vicar's wife would kill but spread the news all over the village? Certainly. "OMG did you HEAR?!" and then proceed to moralize etc. etc. Mary Bennet anyone?

The servants! Mrs. Moxon is clearly on #TeamFay. She sounds strong and no-nonsense. Joan: No she's silly and loves drama but not a murderer. Finch? He seems put-upon a lot. The gardener, Lester? He was gone a long time when they needed him, he clearly has access to sharp objects and I'm sure has been bullied. The driver who was late bringing the car around?

I so envy you your first time reading!
very good summary of the suspects.

QNPoohBear wrote: "I checked out the Sourcebooks reprint from the library
. This is my first time reading this book. That's Lola on the cover dancing the tango in a dress descri..."

Good thinkings!

NO idea who the killer is up to Chap. 9! I think there may be multiple would-be killers. Don't try to tell me most of them haven't thought about it. Sir Arthur was awful.

I'm on chapter 12 and I'm the same as you. Not a clue!!! I love it like that.