Weekend at Thrackley

In this slight entry in the British Library Crime Classics series, first published in 1934, Melville (1910–1983) mixes Wodehousian humor (“Girls rarely, of course, look their best immediately after they have been knocked down by large Rolls-Royce cars”) with murderous mayhem. Failed would-be author Jim Henderson, who rarely manages to get out of bed for breakfast, gets an intriguing letter from Edwin Carson, a stranger who claims to have known Jim’s late father. Carson invites Jim for a weekend getaway at his Surrey home, Thrackley; motivated by the prospect of free food and free drink, Jim accepts the offer. He’s pleased to find an old school chum, Freddie Usher, is also on the guest list. Freddie, who informs Jim that Carson is the world’s leading authority on precious stones, explains that he was included so that Carson could assess the Usher family jewels. Other guests have brought their jewels—which become the target of a thief. Melville keeps the action moving, but the lightness of the plot and characters doesn’t bear the weight of an 11th-hour reveal. (Aug.)