I just started a Marian Babson book from over thirty years ago…. Murder Sails at Midnight, from 1975. I went to my trusty book shelf which now holds over 300 books for me to read at some point in the future (I really should count those books some time soon!) and decided that it was time for me to read this particular book. I have read several of Babson’s books before, but since they didn’t belong to a series, I just hopped around picking books as they suited my moods.
Murder Sails at Midnight is not disappointing me. I have finished about half of the book and cannot wait to find out … not whodunit, but who whodunit to! For those of you who haven’t yet read the book, we are "introduced" to the murderer at the very beginning of the book. Babson then introduces us to four people, one of whom will be the recipient of the murderer’s handiwork… This is a book with a neat twist… Babson lets us in on the "secret" of the murder, and fills us in on some of the facts we will need to know in order to (hopefully) solve the crime.
And, since the reader knows who the whodunit is, and that he will be ending one of the four people’s lives, we are able to go along with Babson and try to pick up the hints… sifting through the red herrings that she tosses out to us. I have to admit, I have no idea which of the four people is the most likely to get the undeserved ax. I am having to fight off the urge to take a peak at the end of the book… that’s how much I want to know!
Lisa says
Wow! This is a great site. I just checked out a new cozy mystery based on your recommendations and your list. I am a longtime Elizabeth Peters/Barbara Michaels fan. I am still working through all of her books and am trying to find other series I enjoy.
Vickie says
Those are my favorite kind of mystery, just want to know so bad that I am tempted to take a peek. Sounds like one I need to look for, thankin’ you!
-V-
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Hi Lisa,
One of my very good friends is an Elizabeth Peters/Barbara Michaels fan… You are not alone!
I sure hope the new author is someone who gives you many hours of reading fun.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Hi Vickie…
So far I have been good and haven’t peeked. (My husband doesn’t understand how I can "ruin" a good book by jumping ahead just to satisfy my curiosity. As far as I’m concerned… I don’t "ruin" the book!)
Al says
This is a great suggestion! I just got it from the library and cannot put it down. Do you have any other suggestions for authors or books similar? That is the reader can solve as they read?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Sorry, Al, I can’t think of any. But, I will give it some more thought and hopefully I will be able to think of a similar type of book.
Are there any readers of the site who might have some suggestions?