Ann Gay goes to visit her cousin, Jacqueline Heaton, at the estate she lives at with her husband, Bill. Fiddler's Fingers, on the shore of Lake Michigan, is distinguished by finger-like rocky outcroppings not far from the house. Something is bothering Jacqueline, but she resists Ann's entreaties until the latter learns that there have been a series of unpleasant, even dangerous pranks, played on members of the household -- including on Jacqui and Bill's honeymoon -- and Jacqueline is afraid everyone will think she is the only one who could possibly be responsible. Jacqueline is even afraid that she might be going mad, but Ann is determined to prove her wrong and find out who the trickster is. Then there is a murder, and then another ...
Mabel Seeley was apparently a popular American mystery writer back in the forties, although she is unknown today to most readers. However, she has recently been rediscovered. The Chuckling Fingers suffers from an over-abundance of characters, and the suspense only kicks in during the final 25 pages or so. Seeley's characterizations are pretty sharp, aside, alas, from her heroine, Ann, who narrates but who is colorless, and the equally colorless detective who comes to Fiddler's Fingers to investigate. I must say that the denouement is very satisfying, makes sense (in its far-fetched way), and Seeley does an admirable job of constructing this puzzle and explaining it. Unfortunately, in this book at least, Seeley fails to do what Agatha Christie could do effortlessly -- and that is entertain. The book is not necessarily dull, but despite its intriguing aspects, it never quite gets a solid grip on the reader. Nevertheless I might sample another Seeley tome in the future.
Verdict: A lot of hard work if nothing else. **1/2.
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