Alan Melville (1910-1983) was a man of many parts, not least of which was an author. Weekend at Thrackley (Skeffington, 1934; reprinted by the British Library, 2018) was his debut mystery. In the introduction to the British Library’s release of this book, Martin Edwards describes the progression of apprentice joiner William Melville Caverhill, Melville’s original name, to Alan Melville, BBC television star.
Melville’s first attempt at a mystery offers a little something for everyone: murder, kidnapping, jewelry theft, hidden rooms, forgery, romance, and blackmail, all relayed very much in the style of P.G. Wodehouse. The hero of the story is Jim Henderson, former military and currently unemployed. He is at a loss to explain the invitation he receives from reclusive Edwin Carson to join him and a few others at Carson’s country home, but he goes anyway. It’s an oddly assorted group: a brother and sister who paint and write, respectively; a stage actress; a friend of Henderson’s from private school; and a titled society lady known for her jewelry. Despite none of them claiming the barest acquaintance with the reclusive host, they all show up for the weekend.
Carson has a deep interest in the jewelry everyone but Henderson owns and an even deeper interest in the stage actress. Catherine Lady Stone disappeared early, called back to London according to Carson. Henderson and his school friend discover the way to Carson’s hidden jewel collection one night, much to Carson’s dismay. He and his henchman cum butler discover them wandering through the concealed basement rooms that hold case after case of his collection of fabulous jewels. At that point all pretense of a social weekend vanishes, and Henderson leads the effort to break out of a country house turned fortress.
I have never understood the willingness of folks to accept invitations to remote locations with unfamiliar hosts. However, the premise that people will throw caution to the winds in exchange for a weekend of free shelter and food is essential to the plot of a good many books so I suppose I should not question this inclination too closely. A lively and entertaining period piece with an unbelievable plot, lots of action, and a couple of surprises at the end.