Tis the Season to Be Dying

Sleuth Matilda Worthing, whom Drummond introduced in Thy Sting, O Death, makes her second appearance here. General Henry Anderson, head of his wealthy family, is close to death. His weak liver cannot process the lethal dose of alcohol slipped into his orange juice during Christmas dinner. The General and his wife Sibyl do not want the police involved, so Lady Eulalia Fairgrief, a dinner guest, calls her niece Matilda to the Anderson home. Matilda discovers that all of the Anderson clan, as well as their inlaws, the Taylors, stand to gain by the General's death. Son Benjamin, an actor, has lost considerable money in investments; another son, Cyrus, is a promising pianist who cannot afford to continue his studies; vulgar son-in-law Bob has suffered major business losses. Other suspects include a sister-in-law who needs money to attend law school, a daughter whose adopted child has been cut out of the General's will, and even the soon-to-be-widowed Sibyl. Though set in California, the mystery is very much in the Engish country house tradition, with Miss Worthing bringing all the suspects together for her denouement. Readers who like their crimes solved by quiet logic will enjoy this one. (June)