Death in the Stocks

Death in the Stocks (1935) Georgette Heyer

This is, as best I can tell, set around the time it was published, the mid 1930s.

What I found fascinating was that I was totally unable to pin down the time. I was pretty sure it was post WWI, but wasn’t quite certain.

I think the police procedures of the time are pretty fascinating.

‘Know how the body was sitting when you found it?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘All right. Put it back as near as you can. Ready with that flashlight, Thompson?’

Constable Dickenson did not care much for the task allotted him, but he went up at once to the body and raised it to the original position, and carefully laid one arm across the stiffening legs. The Inspector watched him in silence, and, when he stepped back at last, made a sign to the photographer.

So, the siblings are incredibly obnoxious, and no one seems to have any compunctions about lying to the police, and to a modern reader the murderer was pretty obvious.

That said, it was still fun.

Kenneth’s story was a much better one, all the same, because you can’t disprove it, and it doesn’t place him anywhere near Ashleigh Green. I really don’t think much of yours, Rudolph. Can’t you think of something better? We’ll all help, won’t we?’

‘Speaking for myself, no,’ replied Giles.

There was also, of course, romance underneath, because this is Georgette Heyer. But mostly it was a fascinating period piece.

Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Rating: 7/10

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