What Happened at
Hazelwood (1946)
Blurb:
My review:
A thoroughly enjoyable read, with much subdued humour, and with a typically improbable or bizarre plot. Neither of these possibly negative qualities detracts from the story—instead, they considerably strengthen it. However, had the book been less substantial (for it is as substantial as the classic examples of the country-house genre it so successfully spoofs), those elements would have over-balanced the book—the weight of the evidence, perhaps? Characterisation is strong—through the technical achievement of multiple voices (and multiple views of characters), Innes gleefully depicts a ghastly family it would be a pleasure to see all murdered. The solution is surprising—thoroughly bizarre, but, on the story’s own logic, quite convincing.