Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
London: Michael Joseph, 1985
Description
A VINTAGE MURDER MYSTERY Rediscover Gladys Mitchell - one of the 'Big Three' female crime fiction writers alongside Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers. One of Sir Bohun Chantrey's great passions in life is the stories of Sherlock Holmes. To celebrate the great man's anniversary, he throws a party at which the guests are instructed to come as characters from the detective stories. But several of the guests are more interested in Sir Bohun's money, and when he announces that he is to marry a poor governess, things take a turn for the worse, not least when the Hound of the Baskervilles turns up... Fortunately the incomparable detective Mrs Bradley and her secretary Laura are amongst the guests and ready to investigate the deepening mystery. Opinionated, unconventional, unafraid... If you like Poirot and Miss Marple, you'll love Mrs Bradley.… (more)
Media reviews
The Toronto Star
Here’s a welcome reissue of a 1955 novel by a prolific contemporary of Agatha Christie. Like Christie, Mitchell is antique, clever and charming. Where she beats Agatha by a mile is in the humour department. Parts of Watson’s Choice are hysterically funny.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Bjace
Somewhat scattered plot involving a Sherlock Holmes party, a somewhat unpleasant rich man, his natural (read bastard) son, his gold-digger of a fiancee and a cast of assorted characters. Dame Beatrice LeStrange Bradley, psychiatrist-sleuth, and her puzzling secretary Laura figure this one out by
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divination, I suppose; I couldn't follow the reasoning trail. However, the characters are pleasant and it's mildly entertaining. Show Less
LibraryThing member JulesJones
28th Mrs Bradley mystery. Mrs Bradley is invited to a weekend country house party thrown to celebrate the Sherlock Holmes anniversary. Naturally, someone provides a real life mystery, complete with a real live Hound of the Baskervilles. The plot wanders a bit, but it's still a lot of fun if you're
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a Holmes fan. I suspect that it will be less fun if you're not, as the book is stuffed with Holmes references and jokes. Show Less
LibraryThing member EricaObey
You know that feeling when you've read this book before -- like who's going to forget the Hound of the Baskervilles being chained in an abandoned railway station. Typical Mitchell. Compelling. Wonderfully written. But awfully shaggy for golden age purists.
LibraryThing member ChazziFrazz
Sir Bohun Chantrey, a huge admirer of Sherlock Holmes, is throwing a huge weekend party in honour of the Great Anniversary. All guests are to dress as characters from Holmes’ cases. Sir Bohun has assigned a number of the characters to certain guests.
Bohun already has six members of his household
Not all invitees were fans of Holmes; some were more interested in his wealth. His announcement of his engagement to Miss Campbell really spiked their interest!
At first it looks to be a great evening with a formal dinner, dancing to a live band and a mystery solving game. But then… the fog got a bit too thick, and band got lost and was late, the guests decided to swap characters, and when the game was started the guests went their own ways instead of following Bohun’s instructions.
The guests were given pencil and paper and set out to explore the house to find elements from Holme’s adventures. The item and the story it was in were to be noted. An item appeared that was not from the ten chosen stories and no one knew why or who it was from.
The event that really got things going was when one of the attendees was found murdered the following morning. The hunt was on. Mrs. Bradley’s and Laura’s sleuthing uncovered some interesting skeletons in the peoples’ closets. There are red herrings galore to add to the puzzle. It is not the typical country house murder.
This is a new author to me and I plan to read more of her work. A very enjoyable read!
Bohun already has six members of his household
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attending, so he can only invite nine others. His selection is a couple who are divorcing, a matador, a cousin and the niece, a psychic investigator and her secretary, and actor to play Holmes and a Detective Inspector.Not all invitees were fans of Holmes; some were more interested in his wealth. His announcement of his engagement to Miss Campbell really spiked their interest!
At first it looks to be a great evening with a formal dinner, dancing to a live band and a mystery solving game. But then… the fog got a bit too thick, and band got lost and was late, the guests decided to swap characters, and when the game was started the guests went their own ways instead of following Bohun’s instructions.
The guests were given pencil and paper and set out to explore the house to find elements from Holme’s adventures. The item and the story it was in were to be noted. An item appeared that was not from the ten chosen stories and no one knew why or who it was from.
The event that really got things going was when one of the attendees was found murdered the following morning. The hunt was on. Mrs. Bradley’s and Laura’s sleuthing uncovered some interesting skeletons in the peoples’ closets. There are red herrings galore to add to the puzzle. It is not the typical country house murder.
This is a new author to me and I plan to read more of her work. A very enjoyable read!
Show Less
LibraryThing member ritaer
Rather convoluted mystery starting with a Holmes' theme costume party. I'll try a few more, but I can't say I am fond of Mrs. Bradley. I can see why she is not as popular as Wimsey, Poirot or Miss Marple.
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
239 p.; 21 cm
ISBN
0718125525 / 9780718125523
Other editions
Watson's Choice by Gladys Mitchell (Paperback)