Palmer, Stuart - Miss Withers Regrets

B

Another thoroughly enjoyable, good-humoured and rather light detective story, in which that comic spinster Miss Withers investigates—this time, a murder in a swimming pool (see Van Dine’s The Dragon Murder Case and Carr’s Graveyard to Let).  Palmer writes and clues very well, but his murderers aren’t difficult to spot.  In none of his books was I particularly surprised at the end.  Here, I half-suspected the murderer, but changed my mind until very nearly the end.  A good misdirection technique—Palmer makes us sympathise with the criminal.  Motive for second murder becomes main plot of The Green Ace.

·        Cameo by Craig Rice’s Malone

Nick Fuller.