Anita Blackmon (1893-1943) had a varied literary career, publishing more than a thousand short stories and a range of longer fiction. She wrote two mystery novels, both set in her home state of Arkansas and featuring an acerbic older lady named Adelaide Adams. Blackmon clearly favored the Had I But Known style of writing for her mysteries. For more detail about her life and her writing, see the following sites:
- The CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas: https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/anita-blackmon-8125/
- The Passing Tramp: http://thepassingtramp.blogspot.com.au/2012/01/had-i-but-known-authors-1-anita.html
- GA Detection Wiki: http://gadetection.pbworks.com/w/page/50432034/Blackmon%2C%20Anita
Her first mystery Murder a la Richelieu (Doubleday Crime Club, 1937) was published in England as The Hotel Richelieu Murders, in France as On assassine au Richelieu and in Germany as Adelaide lasst nicht locker. The English language version has been reprinted in the last few years by Black Heath Classics, Coachwhip Publications, Wildside Press, and Pepik Books.
The story opens with Adelaide Adams knitting peacefully in the lobby of the Hotel Richelieu, the residential hotel where she had lived for many years. The number of long-time tenants was far greater than the number of transient visitors but the hotel did host a few of them. The reader is treated to Miss Adams’ assessment of many of the residents and to her views (scathing) of the staff and manager of the hotel. Miss Adams has many opinions and they are amusing to read. She is brought up short, however, when she finds the murdered body of one of the transient hotel guests hanging in her suite.
The distress of the residents when the police move in and take over was bad enough initially but it skyrocketed as the body count increased at an alarming rate. Miss Adams is a focal point of the investigation because she can’t explain why the dead man was found in her suite and the police are sure there is a reason for it.
The charm of the frequent “had I but known” references wore off quickly, and the extensive cast of characters was hard to keep straight. A list in front of the book would be helpful. However, the ingenious plot and solution are excellent. Misdirection abounds but the killer is in plain sight all the time, although I didn’t recognize it. Very well done.
I realized when I finished reading just why this Golden Age gem has been reprinted so often. Recommended.