No wind of blame (urspr publ 1939; utgåvan 1952)

A character-based crime novel, set in the late 1930s in a large mansion in rural England. Some delightfully over-the-top people mix with more mundane ones, and there's some dry humour to contrast with the serious nature of the underlying story.

Plenty of red herrings, most of which I spotted, and a somewhat complex resolution of the puzzle after the brilliant Inspector Hemingway admitted that he was confused. A novel with some social history as well as good interactions between unlikely people; overall a good read.

I don't find Heyer's crime fiction as compelling as her historical romances, but I enjoyed it nonetheless and am pleased to have found this book which completes my Heyer crime fiction collection.

Recommended if you like personality-driven light crime fiction somewhat in the Agatha Christie style. Don't, however, read the blurb on the back of this edition, as it gives rather too many spoilers. ( )

This review is for the audiobook edition only (listened to CDs in 2017)

Ulli Birve did a fine job narrating this mystery overall. In particular, her voice for Ermentrude was excellent. However, for a few of the male characters (such as the butler Peake and Inspector Cook), her narration was at times wooden. ( )

Not Heyer's greatest mystery, but fun all the same.

Georgette Heyer's detective series is quite formulaic - a seemingly intractable case, a detective who is more brilliant than anybody else and an unlikely love story. This does not mean that the book is not a good read. It is still an easy read except for the technical details towards the end of the book when the case was being solved and Heyer's gratuitous use of adjectives. ( )

Wally Carter, his ward Mary, his wife Ermyntrude, and her daughter Vicky are an odd bunch. They are rich, thanks to Ermyntrude's first husband, but not very socially acceptable. That is, until Ermyntrude secures a Georgian Prince to stay for the weekend. During the visit, tempers flare and secrets come out--and at the end of it all, Wally Carter has been shot dead.
Whodunit?
Vicky, the flighty would-be actress who loves her mother?
Mary, Wally's sensible yet much put-upon ward?
Ermyntrude, Wally's wife, who has other suitors for her hand and has just discovered something ugly about Wally?
Hugh, Mary's friend who is sarcastic and clever enough to hide just about anything?
The Doctor, who Ermyntrude "did a good turn" in the past and has mysterious mood swings?
The Prince, who wants to marry Ermyntrude for her money?
Mr. Steel, who wants to marry Ermyntrude for herself?
Mr. White, who owes Wally a great deal of money?
Mr. Baker, who threatened Wally just the day before?

Or one of the many supporting characters? The novel shifts focus, from detailed description of the 1930s country house lifestyle, told from Mary's POV to a slightly wacky mystery, seen by Vicky, Hugh and a Scotland Yard Inspector. I think I was prejudiced against this by two factors: Dorothy Sayers did this ten times better, and I didn't like the romance that ends the book. That said, this is a nice little whodunit with some well-observed moments and one (Hugh) very likeable character.


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