Dead Mrs. Stratton by Anthony Berkeley
If in doubt, grab the nearest Golden Age mystery – that’s a mantra that usually works for me, particularly when I’ve been flinging myself through as many books as I did during half term! The mystery in question has a bit of a history – back in the 1980s (as I’ve probably rambled on about before) the Hogarth Press had a bit of a reboot. Originally the name of the publishing venture of Leonard and Virginia Woolf, Chatto and Windus revived the name and brought out a number of intriguing books in distinctive purple covers. One strand was Hogarth Crime, and I had a number of these books as well as a very fetching dagger shaped bookmark listing other titles. One of those other titles was “Dead Mrs. Stratton” by Anthony Berkeley, an author I hadn’t read, and I never did get round to getting a copy at the time. However, in the interim I’ve discovered Berkeley and his detective, Roger Sheringham, properly and so when I spotted a copy of “Dead Mrs. Stratton” in a local charity shop I grabbed it – well, some of your interests don’t change over the years, do they?
“Dead Mrs. Stratton” was first published under the title “Jumping Jenny” in 1933, and as it opens Roger Sheringham is attending a rather macabre Murder Party being hosted by his friend Ronald Stratton (a detective novelist…) Hurrah, thinks the reader, a country house setting – and you wouldn’t be far wrong, although this isn’t a big Downton Abbey-style place, just a more modest and quirky one, with a large roof terrace upon which is set a gallows. At present, it has three dummies hanging from it, one female and two males (the Jumping Jenny and Jumping Jacks); however, it doesn’t need a Poirot to see that someone more substantial will end up hanging there.
The party is populated by an interesting collection of relatives and locals; there is Ronald’s ex-wife, her man friend, and Ronald’s new fiance; Ronald’s brother David and his hideous wife Ena; David and Ronald’s sister Celia; some local doctors plus their wives; and a forthright Scottish journalist. The complex relations between this group of people gradually develop as the party and the night goes on; and it seems that the vicious and unpleasant Ena is lining up to be the perfect victim. There is in fact a murder which happens very much on camera, and that’s when things start to get complicated…
I shan’t reveal too much more about the plot because this is such a joy to read that I don’t want to spoil it for anyone. Let’s just say that much of the so-called detecting in fact involves efforts to convince the local plod that the victim committed suicide and Sheringham is as inaccurate in his deductions as everyone else. In fact for a substantial part of the story, he’s under suspicion himself and so has to do plenty of sleuthing to try to clear himself. There are twists and turns up till the very end, and I didn’t see the final page’s revelations coming at all. Berkeley can plot and write remarkably well and he’s head and shoulders above some of the writers from the Golden Age whose works have also gone out of fashion.
I’ve headed this post “Amorality…” because when you stand back and look at it, the plot is in fact strikingly *wrong*! Someone is killed, and regardless of their faults, the usual modus operandi is for the Golden Age detective to solve the mystery and thus put the world to rights. The world is certainly put to rights here, but in fact it’s the murder that’s done so, not the solution of it. The victim is described as mad at several points, and the modern me feels just a little uneasy at the fact that it was considered better by Berkeley to kill off a (fictional) mad person rather than have them get some help.
But putting this slight discomfort aside, “Dead Mrs. Stratton” was a cracking read, if a little dark, and I really do like Sheringham as a detective; in fact, I don’t know why his books aren’t more in fashion nowadays because they’re eminently readable and great fun. Fortunately, the British Library Crime Classics imprint is bringing him back to the fore, with his short stories appearing in a couple of collections which I read – and I see that “The Poisoned Chocolates Case” is due out later this year. I’m glad I finally got to read this book after a few decades, and I’ll certainly be looking out for more of Roger Sheringham’s escapades.
Jun 20, 2016 @ 07:38:56
This sounds great, Karen. I often turn to vintage crime novels if I’m need of a comfort read, something reliable and entertaining for a change of pace. It’s hard to resist a mystery with a country-house setting, especially if there’s a party in the offing – it’s the perfect set-up for this type of story. 🙂
Jun 20, 2016 @ 10:49:51
It certainly had all the ingredients for a perfect Golden Age mystery but with plenty of twists to the genre!
Jun 20, 2016 @ 07:57:35
Sounds great. I’m finding myself pretty much unable to read anything apart from vintage crime at the moment -let’s hope somebody reprints this one soon.
Jun 20, 2016 @ 10:49:12
There are certainly times when only vintage crime hits the spot – this is a particularly good one!
Jun 20, 2016 @ 10:23:49
I love Anthony Berkely but I have yet to read a Sheringham book. I do like the sound of this, and I seem to remember a small press reissuing it – and a few more of his books – a few years ago. They were tempting, but rather expensive, so I’ve been looking out for used copies ever since.
Jun 20, 2016 @ 10:48:44
I think it’s a terrible shame that his books are not more widely available – the Sheringham stories I’ve read are just marvellous!
Jun 20, 2016 @ 11:19:20
Sounds good. I’ll check it out.
Jun 20, 2016 @ 11:49:36
It’s a great read – definitely worth it if you can track down a copy!
Jun 20, 2016 @ 11:20:13
A classic crime it seems I do.like occasional crime classic
Jun 20, 2016 @ 11:49:17
They’re definitely good when you want to take your mind off reality!!
Jun 20, 2016 @ 11:50:06
Yes I have two from.British library series waiting to be read
Jun 20, 2016 @ 11:53:13
They’re lovely – and very pretty books too! 🙂
Jun 20, 2016 @ 13:02:52
This sounds marvellous. I have read a couple of short stories by Anthony Berkely which I enjoyed. I really want to explore his novels.
Jun 20, 2016 @ 13:16:26
His books are a lovely read – I hope you manage to track some down; I’m hoping to come across more too!
Jun 20, 2016 @ 18:15:50
Ooo, good find! I’m intrigued by the moral ambiguity, so I shall keep my eye out for this!
Jun 20, 2016 @ 20:18:59
It’s intriguing – although I found myself wanting the murder to happen, I was concerned about feeling like that! Very tricksy!
Jun 21, 2016 @ 18:29:22
Great post. Berkeley sounds very interesting. Vintage reads are such a comfort, arent they? They really help me get out of slumps, especially the crime ones
Jun 21, 2016 @ 18:51:17
Yes, they always seem to be the cure when you don’t know quite what to read. Berkeley *is* interesting and a little bit different which is what I like about him.
Jun 24, 2016 @ 00:09:36
I don’t know Berkeley’s work at all and it is always good to find a new Golden AGe author. I love those Hogarth Press books: I’ve got some H. G. Wells but had no idea they published mysteries.
Jun 24, 2016 @ 09:06:14
They published quite a range – I have a Wells and possibly a Gissing (not sure without checking) plus some Edith Templeton – very eclectic publishers!
Jun 24, 2016 @ 10:02:32
I like Berkeley usually and remember having this book in my hands decades a go and never picking it up (always seemed to be remaindered in a shop off Cambridge Circus …) – POISONED CHOCOLATE CASE is the Sheringham that I enjoyed the most, way back when …
Jun 24, 2016 @ 10:04:32
You should have picked this one up, definitely… 🙂 And I’m looking forward to the Poisoned Chocolate Case a lot.
Jun 24, 2016 @ 10:07:44
I know, but I never had any money in the late 80s and early 90s being a poor student …
Jun 27, 2016 @ 07:29:49
Sounds like another ideal one!
Jun 27, 2016 @ 08:22:37
It is – really good comfort reading!