THE CHUCKLING FINGERS

THE CHUCKLING FINGERS. Mabel Seeley. Berkley Prime Crime; 1941. (Cover image from vintage Popular Library edition.)

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. 

MURDER IN MESOPOTAMIA Agatha Christie

MURDER IN MESOPOTAMIA Agatha Christie. (1936). William Morrow trade paperback edition. 

Agatha Christie accompanied her second husband, Max Mallowan, on his archeological expeditions, and on occasion used these digs as the location for one of her mysteries. In this suspenseful story, an attractive middle-aged woman, who brought out strong emotions in the people around her, the wife of the dig's leader, is found murdered, and famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot determines that it had to be an inside job. The victim had been receiving threatening letters, but it is not so certain that they were genuine. There are numerous suspects, various motives and strange psychological attributes that Poirot and the narrator, a young nurse, must sort through to arrive at the solution. The book is very well-written with excellent characterizations, as well as Christie's colorful view of the location, circa 1930's. While one aspect to the solution is quite clever, Christie is at her most audacious when she finally unveils the murderer. When I first read this novel decades ago,. I thought this was so far-fetched as to be laughable -- and it would have been a relatively simple matter for the author to clear up one or two points that would have made it more believable -- but now that I take the character flaws of the victim into stronger consideration, I wonder if the book is quite as improbable as I thought. In any case, whatever you think of the denouement, this is a fascinating mystery. This story was featured on an episode of the series Poirot with the wonderful David Suchet. 

Verdict: Christie doesn't kid around! ***