Mitchell, Gladys - Nest of Vipers (1979)

Review by Nick Fuller

4/5

Late, but excellent, Mitchell, in which Dame Beatrice (under the alias of Mrs. Farintosh — c.f. Watson's Choice) goes to stay at a country-house converted into a block of flats, inhabited by a group of picturesque and sinister eccentrics, in order to clear the landlord of a murder committed on the premises. She tackles a poison-pen, a sinister dwarf, pseudo-bigamy, a bizarre antique shop and its mysterious owner, and a sinister witchcraft cult devoted to the ritual sacrifice of virgins. These imaginative elements, the interesting characters with their equally interesting names (e.g., Mandrake Shard, Latimer Targe), and the careful plotting, all go to show that Mitchell has not lost her grip after fifty years.

Note similarities to Merlin's Furlong.

Clevely, Hugh as Tod Claymore - Nest of Vipers (1948)

Tod Claymore, the detective and narrator, is invited with his young daughter Sarah to Poppy Laleham's farm in Cornwall. Poppy and Tod have had a common interest in competitive tennis, but she has retired to the country. Tod has barely arrived when George Marlow, a friend of the family, is bashed (non-fatally) on the head in the barn; and later the rakish Sir Henry Manningtree is found done to death in a similar way. Both George and Sir Henry have shown interest in the actress Rose Lawson, currently staying with Poppy, and the vicar's daughter Sabrina Trevennick. Was it one of them, or a rival for their affections? As Tod becomes involved with Sabrina he finds himself increasingly at risk from both the police and the murderer.

A classic-style county-house murder story, although the villain is so obvious that experienced readers will be looking for a trick. Poppy is an engaging character, though her habit of putting methylated spirits in the punch would not endear her to the local medical profession. Personally if I were anywhere near a murderer with my nine-year-old daughter I wouldn't stay there any longer than I could help, but Sarah's contribution is lightly done and it gives the story a touch of novelty. Unmemorable but entertaining.

Jon.