Thanks to the miracle of Google, I discovered this brief article from TIME magazine called “Books: Mysteries of the Month: May 30, 1938”:
“Of seven average and better than average mystery stories published last month, three stood out as best bets. In order of merit:
HASTY WEDDING—Mignon G. Eberhart —Doubleday, Doran ($2). The marriage of a Chicago heiress, coming after the murder of her ex-suitor, arouses the suspicions of Detective Jacob Wait. Good characterizations, a sustained atmosphere of horror; one of the best mysteries to come out of Author Eberhart’s typewriter.
MURDER ON SAFARI—Elspeth Huxley— Harper ($2). A jewel theft and two murders on a big-game hunting party in Africa. Addicts may spot the killer, but will probably not be able to guess his method.
THE CAIRO GARTER MURDERS—Van Wyck Mason—Crime Club ($2). Gunrunning and big-scale murders in Cairo (with the murderer putting a lady’s garter on each victim’s arm) make this most recent story of Captain North’s adventures an intelligent, fast-paced thriller.”
https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,759836,00.html
Of course I want to know what the other four were, but I found TIME’s recommendation compelling and I located a copy of Hasty Wedding to see for myself.
Dorcas Whipple, heiress to her late father’s fortune, took advantage of her mother and her aunt visiting Miami for several weeks and began going around with Ronald Drew, a less than desirable young man. The announcement of their engagement was expected momentarily until her mother was alerted to the situation. Cary Whipple returned to the North Shore mansion in Chicago immediately and pushed her daughter into a fast marriage with socially acceptable Jevan Locke, an up-and-coming stockbroker whom Dorcas had known all her life.
Dorcas is deeply attached to her mother and her mother knows how to manipulate her. The book opens the day before the ceremony. Dorcas is somewhat dazed by the speed of events, she isn’t enthusiastic about the arrangement but she can’t tell her mother no. Her thoughts increasingly go to Ronald, who calls her and insists that she meet him for one last good-bye. He takes her to his apartment where he attempts to convince her to elope that night. She takes advantage of the distraction of a ringing telephone to escape. She finds a taxi and returns home, assuming that no one is the wiser about her ill-considered visit.
The next morning, the day of her wedding, the newspapers are full of Ronald’s death. First reported as a suicide, the death was determined to be a homicide. Dorcas finds herself a prime suspect.
Inspector Jacob Wait is the lead investigator, determined to get to the bottom of the lies he’s sure he’s being told by just about everyone. His persistence and patience are impressive, as Dorcas, Jevan, and other members of the household withhold information and skim over important data and in general make his life difficult.
What stands out to me is Eberhart’s ability to create and sustain slow-burn suspense. Odd noises in the night, side doors that are supposed to be locked found standing open, and lots of dark rooms.
Dorcas is naïve and a natural target for fortune-hunters, as she takes possession of her fortune upon marriage. I am a little surprised she wasn’t guarded more carefully. Her confused feelings about the rapid change in her circumstances are conveyed clearly and sympathetically.
There aren’t enough suspects to hide the killer well but Eberhart excels so much on other fronts the book is worth reading. For fans of psychological suspense.