White Cottage Mystery by Margery Allingham review

The White Cottage Mystery by Margery Allingham was first published in 1927, serialized in the Daily Express in the United Kingdom.  It was the first detective fiction published by Allingham, and was published in book form in the 1970's, after being edited by her sister after Allingham's death.  It is also the first Margery Allingham book I've read, although I am sure it is only the first of many.

Eric Crowther is the victim, shot dead at the White Cottage.  He is not a very nice person--he is a blackmailer.  There are many suspects that have motives for ending his life, but unfortunately, the suspects all have alibis or good explanations as to why they can't be the guilty party.

The investigator in charge of the case is Chief Inspector W. T. Challenor, with assistance from his son, Jerry.  Jerry became involved in the crime when he gave a young woman a ride to the White Cottage, and then, just minutes later--while putting up his convertibles top nearby, he hears the shot and rushes back to the scene along with a constable that was near.  He is attracted to the young woman, and is worried that she is also a suspect, among several others, of killing Crowther.

Throughout the book you first suspect this one, and then that one, until the solution is finally revealed.  The story is interesting, the many motives and alibis make it difficult to determine the correct solution, which is a surprise at the end.  I recommend this book if you enjoy the Agatha Christie books.



This book fulfills requirement  #1  Colorful Crime category of  the Vintage Mystery Challenge 2013

This book also fulfills a requirement in the  2013 A to Z challenge.  Title--W and Author--A
read January 13-16, 2013