Death in Fancy Dress

by Anthony Gilbert

[annieb123]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Death in Fancy Dress is a country house golden age murder mystery by Anthony Gilbert. Originally released in 1933 this reformat and re-release, out 14th April 2020 is part of the British Library Crime Classics series by Poisoned Pen Press. The new edition is 272 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats. (Other editions available in other formats).

This is a short novel with a classic country house setting. The house party is varied, eccentric, and interesting. The murder victim was undeniably a cad, a blackmailer, a ne'er-do-well. The list of suspects is large, everyone wanted him to just go away, but one of them made it permanent. The denouement is satisfying and twisty, the plotting is well done and the whole is pleasantly diverting. It's a standalone novel. The collection includes two shorter works by the same author, both originally published in 1939.

For me, one of the draws of the books in the crime classics series are the erudite and always interesting introductions by editor Martin Edwards. Mr. Edwards has a prodigious knowledge of the genre and writes engagingly and well.

Well written, this entry and the series as a whole are well worth seeking out. This would make a superlative selection for readers of the genre as well as an introduction to classic crime fiction from the golden age by a lesser known author from the period. It's so nice to see these being released for a new generation of fans.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.