Thu 8 Dec 2016
A Christmas Review by William F. Deeck: EDITH HOWIE – Murder for Christmas.
Posted by Steve under Reviews[4] Comments
William F. Deeck
EDITH HOWIE – Murder for Christmas. Farrar & Rinehart, hardcover, 1941. No paperback edition.
An alleged short cut during a blizzard in New York leads Marcia and Peter Holgate, the latter a private detective, to the house of Carter Dravis on Christmas Eve. Dravis is a collector — of wives — and has naturally gathered around him for the holiday family members and acquaintances who bode him no good. At least he’s sensible enough to be scared, but he isn’t scared long because someone inserts a knife in his back.
Although Howie writes well, she unfortunately not only employs “Had I But Known” but “Had I But Given It Any Thought.” Marcia Holgate, the novel’s narrator, is a blurter, only bothering to think after she has said something dangerous either for herself or for someone else. Concealed evidence, for reasons that perplex me, and a blind eye by Peter Holgate allow the murderer a chance at Marcia, who carries an automatic she calls a revolver and who has never been shown what to do with the safety.
Editorial Comment: My review of Edith Howie’s first book, Murder for Tea, can be found here. Following the review is a complete list of all of the author’s mystery fiction, seven titles in all. For more about the author and another review of Murder for Christmas, her second book, check out what Curt Evans has to say over on his blog.
December 8th, 2016 at 2:35 pm
Mysteries from this era can carry amateur to extremes at times. The genre was booming and a lot of second rate work was being published and reviewed with more than passing kindness.
December 8th, 2016 at 3:25 pm
Several of the Howie books were published in British paperbacks, generally as originals. I used to pick them up in England fairly easily and had no trouble selling most of them.
December 8th, 2016 at 3:35 pm
There are four copies of this one for sale online, ranging in price from $150 to $250. The cheapest may be a bargain, as it’s described as being in VG condition with a jacket.
December 8th, 2016 at 5:39 pm
David, you suggested that reviewers back in the 40s when this book came out may have been ultra kind to even the ones that didn’t measure up.
I found this summation in the SATURDAY REVIEW:
“Exciting variation on family hatred theme, spooky from the start, fantastically characterized and satisfactorily deduced.”
I haven’t read this one myself, but I don’t think Bill Deeck and this reviewer were exactly on the same wave length.