Why Shoot a Butler?

Why Shoot a Butler? (1933) Georgette Heyer

Set in England in 1933

Mr Amberley left the breakfast table in the middle of Sir Humphrey’s dissertation on hooliganism in These Modern Times.

One of the young constables had retired to the ditch. The other stood his ground, but he did not look very happy. The sergeant switched off the torch. ‘Nasty sight,’ he said. ‘Come along now, Henson! Easy to see you wasn’t in Flanders.’

He advanced a nervous hand towards Bill, assuring him that he was a good dog. Bill was more interested in trying to ascertain whether he was a good man.

The Bentley went round the constable with a growl and shot off down the High Street. The constable, still holding up the horse and cart like a man in a trance, heard the infinitesimal check of the gears changing, then the hum of a high-powered car traveling at speed away into the distance.

‘People like you, Mr Amberley, didn’t ought to be allowed anything more powerful than a Ford!’
…
Hurtling along at over fifty miles an hour, and him a police officer!
…
‘Well, I’ll thank you to remember that this ain’t Daytona Beach, sir,’

Characters: Mr Frank Amberley, Miss Felicity Matthews, Lady Marion Matthews, Sir Humphrey Matthews, Sergeant Gubbins, Colonel Watson, Joan Fountain, Basil Fountain, Tony Corkran, Dawson, Albert Collins, Shirley Brown, Mark Brown, Wilkins, Jenkins, Harper, Constable Tucker, Constable Westrupp, Baker, Mr Peabody, Mr Geoffrey Fanshawe

Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark

Rating: 7.5/10

• Browse the archives:
  
• Dark Queen, Audio Book » »
• « « Lady Mechanika Vol 9: The Mechanical Menagerie