Read by Cornelius Garrett.
#1. The Affair of the Bloodstained Egg Cosy [1975]
The 1930's country house party packed with crooks, cops, and the usual
suspects frame the perfect scene of the crime. This one assembles all
the right ingredients -- the theft of the fabled diamond necklace,
the purloined antique pistols, the secret passage, the ravishing
baroness with a past, the body in the lake... What a pretty puzzle!
"Don't expect me to solve anything," Inspector Wilkens announces.
But of course, he does: theft, espionage, impersonations (triple, at
the very least), blackmail, murder. The suspects include a noble host
and hostess, a jewel thief and foreign agents in disguise, bright
young things, mysterious mature men, a Texas millionaire, and,
of course, the butler. Crime connoisseurs will recognize the
ingredients for a zany pastiche, a delightful romp paying tribute to
the past while titillating the present. And what does the blood-stained
egg cosy have to do with anything? If you like the sound of that, you'll
love this novel written by James Anderson. Anderson takes a fun, ever-so-
slightly tongue-in-cheek look at Golden Age mysteries when Dame Agatha
Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers reigned supreme. Anderson manages to
capture most of the conventions of the 30's English crime novel.
The cast of characters could have come from any number of Dame Agatha's
novels.
#2. The Affair of the Mutilated Mink Coat [1981]
The Earl of Burford hosts another slightly batty, thoroughly baffling
house party. George Henry Alwyn Saunders, 12th in his line, has taken
a fancy to films. He's nearly killed with delight when a movie mogul
wants Alderly, the Burfords' 17th century country estate, for the set
of a new Rex Ransom epic. The bronzed, handsome star has long thrilled
the loopy lord with dazzling deeds on the silver screen. Less than
thrilled is the Countess, who's suddenly playing hostess to a Hollywood
crowd and a growing guest list that includes a long-lost cousin and
a shady second spouse, two suitors for the Burford's willful daughter
Lady Geraldine, an eccentric screenwriter protesting the pirating of
his work, a sultry, sparky femme fatale, a professional blackmailer.
Oh yes, roles from James L. Anderson's first zany whodunit, The Affair
of the Bloodstained Egg Cosy, are reprised by Merryweather, their
imperturbable family butler, and the perspicacious Ins. Wilkins of
the Westshire constabulary. And what does a mutilated mink coat have
to do with anything? Nothing can top the merrily murderous 1930s house
party for a puzzler!
#3. The Affair of the 39 Cufflinks [2003]
"But Lavinia, I don't want people staying here," said the Earl.
"After the last two house parties, we agreed no more." "This wouldn't
be a house party, George, it's nine guests for one night." "But the
last two times we've had people here it's been disastrous." "This is
quite different. These people are family, not spies and jewel thieves
and blackmailers and film stars. And when one occupies an historic
house such as Alderley, one cannot shut its doors, because of a few
unfortunate incidents." Lord Burford's misgivings were understandable.
After all, the "unfortunate incidents" had been murders. But these
people were travelling a long way for the funeral of an elderly
relative. There was nowhere else for them to stay in the village, so
the Earl really had to offer them accommodations at Alderley,
the Burfords' Carolean mansion. Things started to go wrong when one
of guests claimed she had knowledge that would ruin the others'
reputations. But nobody took that seriously. Until, that is, she was
found murdered! Lord Burford had never been so relieved as when Chief
Inspector Wilkins arrived. Again! Who ever tires of the zany British
country house murder?
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