A Gentleman’s Murder by Christopher Huang is an old school
mystery set in 1924. Think wafts of
Christie, Chandler, Ellery Queen. Classy
setting in the Britannia Club, but poor Benson’s found dead after a bet. Everyone
in the club could be guilty – all are connected fresh from WWI battles and
Flanders Field. Many healed at the Sotheby Estate/ war hospital. Some frequented
the dens of Limehouse (morphine addiction – not uncommon).
Lieutenant Eric Peterkin (of the Peterkin nobility) has his
work cut out for him – his esteemed father and forebears set standards for the
club. However, his father did marry a Chinese woman and Eric’s Asian features
cannot be disguised. He’s a club member due to history, but his brash youth
could be his downfall. He’s an editor of mystery books for a publishing house
and can name every plot twist possible. But…there are a lot of unexplained
twists and turns to this tale. How is Benson connected to Emily Ang? What of
Mrs. Benson – Asian descent? Former nurse at the hospital? Who was last seen
with Emily and was it her body found in Bruten Woods? Who took a shot at Eric
while he walked home from the club with Mortimer Wolfe? What’s the scoop on the
policeman – Patchett?
Huang slowly spools out clues and the nice thing about 1924 –
no cell phones, no instant photos. Eric has to do old fashioned foot work, get
papers from the library, and actually call on the genteel members at proper
visiting hours. There is a certain decorum to these things, after all. A
Gentleman’s Murder is a delight to read curled up in a cozy chair with a
spot of tea. Hopefully, the fog swirls outside your window, and then finally
lifts to reveal the finale. Cheers!
