The Saltmarsh Murders
By Gladys Mitchell ISIS Large Print, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-7531-8539-1
Genre: Mystery, Crime Fiction
Reviewed by Auggie Moore - May 16, 2011
Gladys Mitchell (1901-1983) was a classic crime novelist whose work has been, unfortunately, overshadowed by the mystery novels of Agatha Christie. This is a real shame. I'm a major Christie fan. However, I'll be the first to admit that Mitchell has her beat in that her novels have a more mature and educated flavor than Christies, and social issues are more prevalent in her work than in Christies. In addition, several of Mitchell's books are subtle parodies of Agatha Christie's novels. On of these parodies is the totally enjoyable novel, The Saltmarsh Murders which wittily spoofs Christie's Murder at the Vicarage.
Filled with unique twists and turns, and narrated by the curate, Noel Wells, The Saltmarsh Murders is a murder mystery that features Mitchell's beloved detective, Mrs. Bradley. Mitchell's first novel Speedy Death was published in 1929. The Saltmarsh Murders was her fourth book, published in 1932, and is readily considered to be one of her best novels. Mitchell was a prolific writer who, staring in 1929 wrote and had published, at least one novel a year, until her death in 1983. Sixty-six of her novels featured Mrs. Bradley.
The Saltmarsh Murders is narrated by Noel Wells, and he provides a bird-eyes view to all the activities going in within the supposedly sleepy village of Saltmarsh. However, things are not as sleepy in this village as one might suppose. For you see, an illegitimate child has been born to Meg Tosstick, who worked in the household of the village's vicar, and a rumor soon begins to make its rounds proclaiming that the Reverend Coutts is the father. This rumor further infuriates the vicar's wife, who was already upset over the girl turning up pregnant in the first place. Into the mix is thrown the odd beating, a bit of smuggling, a stolen corpse, a missing baby, a few people being held against their will, and, oh, yes, a murder or two. Into this maelstrom enters the indomitable Mrs. Bradley who uses Freudian psychology to solve her cases, which isn't at all strange since she is a psychologist. In this case, she just happens to be visiting the villiage when the first murder occurs. She quickly steps in to see if she can help solve the mystry. In doing so, she is not beyond doing a bit of outright psychoanalysis to untangle the mess that the village finds itself in, and in the process to discover who the murder, or murders, are.
Readers will delight in the numerous red herrings that Mitchell has scattered throughout this book, and will be surprised by the many unique plot twists that she uses. Without a doubt, The Saltmarsh Murders is a great, all-around amateur detective story with a solid mystery, unique characters, and a satisfying ending. In addition, this story also has an undercurrent of humor running throughout that helps to enliven the entire story.
During her early career, Mitchell was often compared, quite favorably to both Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers. I don't understand why her books have been more or less overlooked since her death, as her writing, and her detective, Mrs. Bradley is the equal, if not superior to Miss Marple or Lord Peter Wimsey. Hopefully, now that her books are at last being reprinted once again, more readers will discover, or rediscover, this wonderful writer of detective fiction and as her fan base regrows, more and more of her books will be republished in both standard and large print!
The Saltmarsh Murders can be purchased directly from Ulverscroft, the parent company of ISIS Large Print.
Related Reviews:
The Murder At the Vicarage, by Agatha Christie.
Miss Marple is led on her first case to a crime scene at the local vicarage. Colonel Protheroe, the magistrate whom everyone in town hates, has been shot through the head. No one heard the shot. There are no leads. Yet, everyone surrounding the vicarage seems to have a reason to want the Colonel dead...
A Presumption of Death, by Jill Paton Walsh.
A new Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane Mystery that is based upon the works of Dorothy L. Sayers.
