Customer Reviews

Why Shoot a Butler?

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A lot of fun, written tongue-in-cheak. Not the way most mysterys are done, but this one works. Cocky young barrister on his way to visit family finds a young woman standing next to car with a dead butler in it. The plot involves him solving the murder but only after he is begged by the local police. Good fun.

When they re-issued the dozen or so Georgette Heyer mysteries recently, I was taken in by their appealing vintage cover artwork. What I discovered - to my surprise and delight - were wonderful English manor mysteries, similar in the Agatha Christie style.

These books blend a nice, cozy, old-fashioned mystery with Ms. Heyer's wonderfully snarky and dry wit, which adds up to genuine reading pleasure. I've plowed through nearly all her mysteries and will be sorry when I read the last. I wish she wrote as many myseries as she did Regency romances!

This suspenseful mystery is most enjoyable for its dialogue and character development, much like a Dorothy Sayers novel. The hero is a very realistic, dynamic young lawyer. He finds himself in love with an enigmatic young woman who is a central figure in very mysterious circumstances, including a murdered butler. The plot and pace of the book are excellent, as is the ending.

This is only the second Heyer mystery I have read and thought I enjoyed it, I'm not sure I liked it as much as Detection Unlimited. With Why Shoot a Butler? Heyer takes a different approach by having law enforcement officials that border on incompetent and an amateur who is much more talented in the sleuthing department. That particular device provides for many humorous exchanges between the officials and Amberley. Of course, I also liked the idea that instead of "the butler did it," the butler was the victim, or one of them, anyway.

Once again, Heyer's talent for witty banter and dry humor does much to make this an enjoyable read. There is also quite a bit of action, with no less than three murders and one more attempted before the ultimate culprit is found out. My biggest issue with this story was that it was not very obvious to the reader what was actually going on, and what the real mystery truly is, beyond the initial murder of the butler. I did have an inkling as to who the "bad guy" was, but no clue as to the motive. Of course, when the case is explained at the end, Heyer does manage to tie it all up neatly. As is typical with Heyer there is a romance, but unfortunately it is thrown in so suddenly towards the end that she was not able to exercise her true talents in this area. I suppose I could see it coming but it really wasn't worked into the plot as well as it could have been.

Overall, this was a quick, enjoyable read and one I think that most cozy mystery-lovers would enjoy. While I had some issues with the plot, that did not hamper my enjoyment of the story and Heyer's writing and humorous dialogues. I do wish, however, that some of the typos had been taken care of by Sourcebooks--there were two or three that were glaring and should never have made it through.

To find out, you'll just have to read the book! A typical Heyer, with a delicious hero, resourceful heroine, and an happily resolved ending, with a few murderous twists on the way. A must-read for any Heyer addicts.

"Why Shoot a Butler?" is a tale of lost heirs and blackmail. A most unimportant victim leads Frank Amberley to assist the police to solve a crime while visiting with relatives. The young woman he finds beside a car, on a dark road, is compelling and elusive until she turns up at a fancy dress ball.
Three persons die before the killer is brought to justice in a deadly ending. The tale has complex motives, which are explored at length for the unwilling bystanders who build the plot and aid the participants.
A good read is the second mystery written by Georgette Heyer with her standard sharp dialogue and humor.
Nash Black, author of "Qualifying Laps" and "Sins of the Fathers."

The dead butler was not the only one who did it.

Central to the plot is the femme fatale Shirley Brown. Unlike her uncharacteristic name, Miss Brown has caused quite a stir at two manor houses in an otherwise quite English countryside. Because of her, three people have been murdered, and she herself was a near victim. Needless the say, she has induced the Upstairs and Downstairs subjects, two dogs, and the local constables in a highly excited and distracted state of mind. All except Frank Amberley,of course.

This delightful Heyer mystery has the youthful barrister, Frank Amberley, sleuthing for clues as to the personage of Shirley Brown and the reasons behind the homicides.

Justice was meted out to the just and unjust. Shirely Brown has received hers all because of Frank Amberley's devotion to duty. And the latter couldn't have done it without the assistance of his butler, Peterson.

The story opens with our hero, the barrister Frank Amberley, lost in the countryside, attempting to find his uncle's house where he is visiting for the weekend. He happens upon a car, pulled over at the side of the deserted road, and a pretty young woman standing by the car. Gentleman that he is, he stops to see if he can be of assistance..and finds a recently shot and deceased man in the car and a young woman with a very feeble explanation of what she is doing there. Turns out the dead man is the butler of one of his uncle's neighbors and really, why would anyone shoot the butler. Well, you will have to read the book to find out now, won't you! As Frank says, the murder is the least of the mysteries.

Amberley refers to himself as the rudest man in London, and with some cause, and I find him totally wonderful because of it. His banter with the cast of characters, especially the police who take him on as an unofficial detective on the case, is one of the strengths of the book. Honestly, the mystery was a little weak...it must have been because I figured it out and some of the characters are a little undeveloped, but it is still a very enjoyable read. I love a nice mystery, set in the 30's in a country manor house, with servants lurking about, listening behind the doors and chases across the countryside.
If you are up for a clever, witty romp, with even a touch of a romance thrown in you should give Heyer a try.

This is a mystery novel set around 1933 in Britain. It's also a romance since Frank Amberly, our hero, falls in love with a certain young lady. I will mention, though, that the author likes to make matches that are not exactly destined for peaceful, blissful marriages.

I'd actually label this book a suspense novel rather than a straight mystery. After just a few clues at the beginning, I was able to correctly guess why the murders were happening and who was doing them. The hero quickly figures it out, too, though he doesn't tell anyone. However, his main problem is getting firm evidence to back up his ideas while keeping the next targets alive.

The pacing is excellent, the mystery was interesting, and the tension was kept up throughout the book. However, it's the characters that really shine. They're varied, interesting, and entertaining. Though Frank Amberly can be a bit rude and doesn't always stick to the rules, he is charming, persistent, and clever. I enjoyed every minute I spent reading the book.

I think there are a few swear words in the book. There is no sex or gore. Overall, I'd rate this as "very good, clean fun."

Genre Reviews
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A young lawyer on the way to visiting friends makes the mistake of trying a short cut. He gets lost, and as he tries to find his way comes across a dead body (a butler) in a car. A woman is standing beside it - did she kill him? Characters aren't really likeable in this one.