Murder at Melrose Court by Karen Baugh Menuhin

January 6, 2021

Murder at Melrose Court by Karen Baugh Menuhin

After serving in the RAF in World War II, Major Heathcliff Lennox just wants to live a quiet life at his country home (he goes by Lennox - to his chagrin, his romantic mother named him Heathcliff after the character in Wuthering Heights - all the women that he meets insist on calling him Heathcliff). With him are Greggs, his former batman during the war, and Mr. Fogg, a golden cocker spaniel, plus Cook and Tommy the boot boy, who is also Cook's nephew and is being educated despite his protests. Shortly before they are to leave to spend Christmas with Lennox's uncle at Melrose Court, a dead body appears on Lennox's doorstep. 

After contacting the local police (who have no idea what to do), Lennox and company motor down to Melrose Court to share some holiday cheer. Another dead body shows up soon after their arrival, and Inspector Swift from Scotland Yard is intent on hanging Lennox for the crime.

This is the first book in the Heathcliff Lennox series.  I love mysteries set in English counrtry houses and I love this series - it's like Agatha Christie meets Downtown Abbey, or Wodehouse's Bertie Wooster and Jeeves with a dog plus all the zany friends and relatives. One problem with this series is that the characters spend a lot of time eating and drinking delightful things, so I found myself wanting to snack along with them. I can't wait to read the other titles in the series.