Books › Murder out of turn
Murder out of turn
First published 1941 · 294 pages
A breezy lakeside getaway darkens into a tangled web of inheritance and ruthless ambition in the shadow of impending war.
What it feels like
Stepping into this vintage mystery feels like arriving at a sun-dappled lakeside retreat just as a chill wind begins to blow. The atmosphere is steeped in the bittersweet, convivial tension of the summer before a great war, where an eat, drink, and be merry attitude masks underlying anxieties. As the leisurely weekend shatters into a complex puzzle of inheritance and ruthless ambition, the narrative settles into a steady, methodical rhythm. The dynamic between the married sleuths and their police guest provides a witty, grounded anchor amidst the escalating danger. It is a perfect read for those who delight in classic detective fiction where sharp social observation and hidden motives lurk beneath the veneer of a peaceful country holiday.
- Mood
- faintly ominous
- nostalgic
- suspenseful
- lakeside-breezy
- Tone
- wry
- observant
- convivial
- tense
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- disrupted leisure · hidden motives · marital partnership · impending conflict
- The writing
- Classic vintage mystery prose that balances witty, conversational banter with methodical observation.
- The arc
- From relaxed, pre-war conviviality to a tense, puzzle-solving urgency as danger intrudes on a peaceful retreat.
- Who it's for
- Fans of vintage mysteries who enjoy husband-and-wife sleuthing teams and atmospheric, closed-circle lakeside settings.
Content notes
- murder
- death
About the book
NYC cop Bill Weigand accepts an invitation to spend a weekend with the Norths at their lakeside cabin. It is the summer before the war, and the atmosphere has a faint air of "eat, drink and be merry..." until two young women are killed. There seem to be plenty of reasons for either murder, for Victim 1 is about to inherit a great deal of money, and Victim 2 is a ruthless harpy in love and business -- but what's the connection?
Description from Open Library.
Books like Murder out of turn
See why they match
The Norths meet murderFrances Louise Davis Lockridge and Richard LockridgeA charming vintage mystery where domestic life collides with a baffling crime, solved through clever deductions and quirky hunches.
The Golden BoxFrances CraneA charming, sharply observed Golden Age mystery where small-town secrets collide with the looming shadow of global war.
The Unfinished ClueGeorgette HeyerA delightfully sharp country-house mystery where the victim is so thoroughly detestable that the real puzzle is why he wasn't murdered sooner.
The Lady in the LakeRaymond ChandlerA sun-drenched descent into the moral rot of mid-century California, guided by a cynical but secretly honorable detective.
The Case of the Curious BrideErle Stanley GardnerA sharp, fast-talking legal puzzle where the law is a weapon and everyone has something to hide.
The Thin ManDashiell HammettA sparkling, gin-soaked romp through 1930s New York where the banter is as deadly as the bullets.