Behold, Here’s Poison

Behold, Here’s Poison (1936) Georgette Heyer

The second Inspector Hannasyde mystery.

Gregory Matthews is found dead in his bed one morning, with a terrible look up on his face. Everyone assumes it’s a natural death, except for his sister who insists upon an autopsy.

The list of possible culprits is quite large, especially since two characters, Miss Harriet Matthews and Mrs. Zoe Matthews (niece-in-law to Gregory) are unable to act like normal humans.

‘one comfort is that Aunt Harriet can’t live for ever.’

‘That kind of person nearly always does,’ said Mrs Matthews, forgetting for the moment to be Christian. ‘She’ll go on and on, getting more eccentric every day.’

We have a tray brought into the drawing-room at ten o’clock. I myself think it’s entirely unnecessary, and simply encourages young people to sit up late, drinking and smoking, and wasting the electricity.’

There is, as the book was written in the 1930s a fair amount of sexism, even in a book written by a woman.

‘I’m not surprised her husband looked so uncomfortable. More shame to him, letting her run riot the way she does!’

But as those were the times, it’s not unexpected. Just a reminder of how things used to be.

And some amusing bits.

‘Bit of womanly intuition, if you ask me. Funny things, women.’

‘You don’t believe in that, do you?’ asked the Inspector scornfully.

The Sergeant looked at him with a penetrating eye. ‘You a married man, Inspector?’

‘I’m not.’

‘That was what you call a rhetorical question,’ said the Sergeant.

It’s interesting, and I find the time period fascinating, as the world was still changing rapidly. The mystery actually was a surprise, since there were plenty of people who had grounds for being unhappy with the victim.

Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Rating: 7/10

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