Death Takes a Flat (Collins Crime Club, 1940) by Miles Burton, one of the pen names of Cecil John Charles Street (1884-1964), is the 21st case of former military intelligence officer Desmond Merrion and Inspector Henry Arnold of Scotland Yard.
Major Pontefract’s plans when he retired from the Indian Army involved a country cottage and a flock of Buff Orpingtons. Mrs. Pontefract envisioned a flat in a stylish area of London near shopping. So of course the Pontefracts went searching for a flat and one of their stops included the huge block known as Mersea Grange. Despite the sizable rents, they decided to inspect a two-bedroom vacancy. Both the Pontefracts and the leasing manager were stunned to find a body with a knife plunged into its back face down in the hall when they opened the door. Major Pontefract was outraged. The leasing manager was shocked, and the front desk porter called the police.
The victim turned out to be Mr. Edgar Staplehurst, the managing director of the corporation that owned the building. He was at odds with his son over an engagement that the elder considered undesirable, a note from his former mistress requesting a meeting was found in his pocket, and he had a reputation for having high standards and little patience for anyone who didn’t meet them. All of these avenues looked promising and Inspector Arnold felt sure he would identify the killer in no time as he told his friend Desmond Merrion. Merrion wasn’t as confident.
I like the books I have read in this series thus far, despite the sometimes tedious focus on infinitesimal details. This story is no different. The reader is treated to an exhaustive examination of timelines, railway schedules, and alibis along with a study of handwriting samples and a thorough review of flaws in typewriter keys.
Buff Orpingtons are often mentioned as the chicken breed of choice in Golden Age mysteries. Why not white or black Orpingtons? What about Plymouth Rock chickens? Or Speckled Sussex? This is an area of which I know nothing and I would be grateful for enlightenment. But I digress.
I particularly like how well Burton conceals the killer in this story and how Desmond takes a back seat to Arnold, at least for awhile, until Arnold runs out of leads. This is a good title for anyone new to the series to sample to get a feel for the characters and how they interact.