#unexpected night

[mudwerks]

Superior reprint M639 - 1945 4th Print

Unexpected Night by Elizabeth Daly. unknown Artist

[conniie]

long saturday nights. 🖤

22/07/17

[my-52-weeks-with-christie]

[my-52-weeks-with-christie]

Golden Age Gals: Elizabeth Daly - Unexpected Night

First Published: New York, Farrar & Rinehart 1940                        My Edition: Felony & Mayhem 2013

Detective: Henry Gamadge

Summary: Twenty minutes to twelve on June 25, 1939 finds Henry Gamadge playing bridge with the Barclay household while vacationing in Maine. The exact time is very important to some relatives of the Barclay’s who have just arrived for a brief visit before heading off to their hotel (the same one Gamadge is staying at). Among the new arrival’s number is Amberley Cowden, a very sick young man who in twenty minutes time will gain control over a very large inheritance. Amberley makes it past midnight without any problems. The next morning finds a much different situation when Amberley is discovered dead at the bottom of a cliff....Was it foul play or a tragic accident due to his heart condition? This is what Gamadge needs to figure out!

Review: You know you’ve read to many golden age, locked room detective novels in a row when you start applying their slightly sinister logic to people in real life! Which is exactly what happened to me in the shop a few weeks back...

While working I witnessed one family member trying to persuade another not to purchase anymore books because “she’d spent enough money on books already” (like there is such a thing!). The absolute first thought which popped into my head at this statement was, “What? Is she trying to protect her inheritance?” (as the book buyer was just a touch older). My thought was absolute nonsense and I felt completely silly assigning such a motive to a real life event - but on the upside it did make me stop and laugh at myself!

The important take away here is the fact that this idea flitted through my head at all! Which (I think) is a tribute to how convincing Daly’s writing is (as I’d just finished one, well maybe three of her books in a row) - she makes you see and really understand the motivations of her characters. Why the “poor relations” in Unexpected Night were so keen to make sure Amberley made it to his landmark birthday and the very real tussle over the monetary legacy left when he died (I am not spoiling anything for you here, I promise). You understand why each of the suspects had a reason why Amberley dying at just the right moment could make or break them. She makes her motives feel ordinary, everyday to the point - my conclusion felt like a natural one to make. Which was demonstrated by my poor befuddled mind leaping to such an outrageous deduction while watching the book drama unfolding in the shop. Speculation on inheritance seemed to be logical conclusion on why someone shouldn’t be making a larger book purchase....right?

Plus Daly’s ability to create such a well thought out means and method to her mystery set a very enjoyable pace in Unexpected Night. I was never sure when a pertinent fact was going to crop up, so I felt compelled to read well into the night to make sure I wasn’t going to stop right before a crucial event! I can honestly say I haven’t enjoyed another pure mystery series this much since I finished my last Marple on March 18, 2014!

Cheating: Here is the thing if you are a serial cheater like me (i.e. reading the end of the book before you naturally get there), Daly’s style makes these books physically difficult to cheat on. Why? The last chapter or two may or may not actually pertain or contain the answer you are looking for! Her structure makes it difficult to easily suss out the singular name of who did it. Because while I like to know my sleuth makes it to the end and know if I guessed correctly on the culprit I don’t want every detail of the ending laid out for me! So I guess what I am saying is Daly keeps me honest, which is very difficult to do!

[my-52-weeks-with-christie]

Mr. Ormville sat back in his chair and contemplated Gamadge with the air of one who has stroked the house cat, and had his thumb bitten.

Elizabeth Daly - Unexpected Night

Another great description of Henry Gamadge!

[dreamersneverlearn-blog]

To my fox

Me están reclamando en muchas partes y no llego a ninguna. Y esta noche me he dado cuenta de cuánto me necesitan aquí. Más de lo que me gustaría, a decir verdad. Me siento demasiado responsable. Aquí nunca sé qué va a pasar. Puedes estar tranquilamente preparándote la clase del día siguiente antes de irte a dormir, y de pronto tu amigo te llama al borde del coma etílico y de alguna cosa más. Lo que en principio iban a ser 8 horas de sueño se convierten en 3, y las conversaciones y tareas que tenías pendientes se acumulan y pasan a un segundo plano. Si alguna vez piensas que no escribo porque me olvido de ti, debes saber que aquí todos te conocen. Eres una parte de mí que me alegro de llevar a todas lados, a pesar de que a veces podamos tener malentendidos (que no ocurrirían hablando en persona). No me estoy expresando muy bien, pero entenderás la idea. Me voy a dormir, que me hace falta. Much love, A sleepy katt.

[youngff]

Chain smoked cigarettes sitting in a dirty lawn chair. Surrounded by strangers who craved knowledge and laughs My fingers are numb. The full moon fueled the vibes

Now my lungs burn.

[taythepteradctyl]

Molly

Is a wonderful drug. 💜💜👌