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But He Was Already Dead When I Got There
Styled on the old fashioned, complicated mysteries beloved by Perry Mason fans. The sort of classic tales where everyone's story keeps chaning and no one would dream of calling the cops.Old Vincent Farwell announces at a house party that he will not extend his $1.5 million loan to Ellandy Jewels. The six young people assembled, all with varied interests in the company, leave to consider their options. Then one by one or in pairs, they return to Vincent's house, find he's been murdered, draw assorted conclusions about which of the others did it, and proceed to alter the scene according to their intentions.
- GenresMystery
Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
1 person is currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Paul
97Ìýbooks19ÌýfollowersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ database.
Barbara Paul is an American writer of detective stories and science fiction. She was born in Maysville, Kentucky, in 1931 and was educated, inter alia, at Bowling Green State University and the University of Pittsburgh.
A number of her novels feature in-jokes: for example Full Frontal Murder borrows various names from the British TV series Blake's 7.
Barbara Paul is an American writer of detective stories and science fiction. She was born in Maysville, Kentucky, in 1931 and was educated, inter alia, at Bowling Green State University and the University of Pittsburgh.
A number of her novels feature in-jokes: for example Full Frontal Murder borrows various names from the British TV series Blake's 7.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 30, 2020
Another "meh, it was ok" cheap thriftstore find.
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September 25, 2008Had searched for this author last century, then never read the one book I got. Was distracted during the first part of it. The constant rearranging of the crime scene was fun and very cinematic or TV-crime-show like. The suspects only became people once the cops met them. The references to classic b/w actors was nice. Otherwise, I'm not sure. Paul based it on the line that is said in every Perry Mason show she ever saw, and dedicates it to the good oldfashioned thrillers with real stories instead of explosions, but it's not like P.G.Wodehouse, as the cover claims. The characters are purposely drawn to not be cared about, but above mentioned moments don't make it have enough style to pull that off, IMO. Then again I never got round to reading Mitford or Pym.
January 2, 2013
read in April 1994
another witty mystery involving less than sympathetic characters who deal with things in somewhat unethical ways
another witty mystery involving less than sympathetic characters who deal with things in somewhat unethical ways
October 29, 2018
A pretty amusing twist on the classic murder mystery that does not take itself at all seriously. A horrible old man in a wheelchair bullies the six people connected to a jewelry business and calls in a loan they can't pay. He ends up dead in the library and we watch while all six plus the butler and housekeeper mess with the crime scene before the exasperated police detective is called in. Everyone's been lying to everyone about where they've been and who they've had affairs with. And Godfrey Daniel, the cat, winds his way about the people and the furniture alternately purring and using his claws.
My favorite bit of dialog:
"Godfrey Daniel!" [the Lieutenant] exploded.
"Meow?" said Godfrey.
(p. 242)
My favorite bit of dialog:
"Godfrey Daniel!" [the Lieutenant] exploded.
"Meow?" said Godfrey.
(p. 242)
May 23, 2016
The six people visiting wheelchair-bound Vincent Farwell are all interested in the success of EllanDy Jewelry company. But Uncle Vincent (to the wife of one of the partners) is going to call in his one and a half million dollar loan, and he won't listen to reason. As the night progresses, one after another of the group sneaks back into the room, only to find--well, read the title. Then the two resident servants take a hand, too. It's a lot for Lt. Toomey and Sgt. Rizzuto to disentangle, but soon there's only one person who could have, would have, committed murder.
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January 16, 2019Synopsis: Farwell announces to the group he will not extend a loan to Ellandy Jewels. One by one, the six in attendance return and find him dead.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
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