Mary McMullen (1920-1986) was a pseudonym of Mary Reilly Wilson, mystery and suspense writer of some 20 books. She was the daughter of mystery writer Helen Reilly, known for books about Inspector Christopher McKee of the Manhattan Homicide Squad, and sister of mystery writer Ursula Curtiss. Anthony Boucher called her “the brightest talent yet in the family” in his Reports on Criminals at Large column of the New York Times, 26 August 1951. The late and much lamented Ed Gorman talked about McMullen’s work here: https://newimprovedgorman.blogspot.com/2008/06/mary-mcmullen.html?m=0
She studied art and worked in fashion design and advertising before becoming an author, using her experience in the latter for her first book, Stranglehold (Harper & Brothers, 1951), which won the 1952 Edgar Award for Best First Novel.
In Death by Bequest (Doubleday Crime Club, 1977) Celia Gore St. Clair inherited the estate of her great-aunt Laura Gore, whom she had conscientiously visited in Philadelphia twice annually for years. Aunt Laura was a challenging personality but Celia persisted, knowing the old lady had few social contacts beyond a distant cousin. The estate consisted of some money, the Philadelphia townhouse in an old but good neighborhood, and its contents, with which Celia was unfamiliar. She’d never seen more than the front hall and parlor, and the furniture there was all covered to protect it from dust.
Celia didn’t need the money. Her New York apartment was paid for, a gift from her father before he retired to Mexico. Her salary at the design house where she worked plus her husband Waldo’s income from the gallery where he was junior partner was more than enough. Waldo on the other hand was always interested in money. He perpetually strayed outside the marriage and his current affair was interesting enough to make him want to leave Celia permanently if it were not for her money.
Celia wanted him to visit the Philadelphia townhouse to assess its value while he was there on other business, since he knew more about furniture values than she did. When he began removing the dust covers from the furniture, he discovered the entire house was full of priceless antiques. On the train back to New York, Waldo decided that the money from the house was exactly what he needed and that Celia had to die.
He arranged for a vacation to Ireland over Christmas and New Year’s, ostensibly to celebrate his 40th birthday and their fifth wedding anniversary but really because he thought he could kill her more easily where they were unknown tourists. His careful plans were upset when the distant cousin Bernard Caldwell appeared, demanding his share of the estate. Bernard is large, menacing, and persistent. Both Waldo and Celia were afraid of him.
For a large portion of the book, it was hard to see who the greater threat to Celia was, Waldo or Bernard. Two amoral self-centered men, they both were convinced they were due the proceeds of Celia’s inheritance. Their contest of wills escalated into violence more than once, and I had no idea which of them would prevail.
McMullen threw in a marvelous plot twist to take the story in a surprising direction, which I loved. An unexpected but satisfying ending. A sound piece of domestic suspense and a good book to add to anyone’s Christmas mystery list.