Beginning with a Bash

Beginning with a Bash is a 1937 mystery novel by Phoebe Atwood Taylor, writing under the pen name Alice Tilton. The story follows Leonidas Witherall, a former teacher turned janitor who bears a striking resemblance to Shakespeare, as he becomes entangled in a murder investigation at a Boston bookstore. The plot centers on Martin Jones, who seeks refuge in Peters's secondhand bookstore while fleeing from police over accusations of theft. When a murder occurs in the store's religion section, Witherall assembles an unlikely team including a Boston socialite, a maid, and her gangster boyfriend to solve the crime and clear Jones's name. The novel launches the Leonidas Witherall mystery series, which spans eight books. The story moves at a rapid pace through the streets of Boston during a cold winter night, mixing elements of classic mystery with touches of comedy and adventure. This fast-paced mystery establishes Taylor's signature style of combining suspense with humor, while exploring themes of loyalty and unlikely partnerships in the face of adversity.

Limited reader reviews exist online for this 1937 Asey Mayo mystery novel. Reviewers note the book follows Taylor's established Cape Cod detective series formula, featuring amateur sleuth Mayo solving a murder at a dinner party. Readers praised: - Fast-paced plot with humorous moments - Tight mystery writing without excess description - Distinctive New England coastal setting and local characters - Mayo's sharp observations and deductions Common criticisms: - Character development feels rushed - Some plot points strain credibility - Dialogue can be confusing with multiple speakers Available Ratings: Goodreads: 3.82/5 (17 ratings) No reviews found on Amazon or other major book sites One Goodreads reviewer called it "a solid entry in the series though not Taylor's best work." Another noted it "captures the essence of 1930s Cape Cod but moves too quickly through important scenes."

The Chinese Orange Mystery by Ellery Queen A locked-room murder mystery set in a New York antiquarian book dealer's office combines bibliophile elements with complex puzzle-solving in ways that mirror the bookstore setting of Beginning with a Bash.

Death in the Old Books by Bernard J. Farmer The murder of a rare book collector in a London bookshop launches a quest through literary circles and dusty tomes that captures the bookish atmosphere of Taylor's work.

The Moving Toyshop by Edmund Crispin Professor Gervase Fen investigates a murder in an Oxford toy shop that vanishes overnight, featuring the same blend of academic detective work and eccentric characters found in Taylor's novel.

Death By The Book by Julianna Deering Set in 1930s England, this murder mystery involves a gentleman sleuth investigating deaths connected to a bookshop, incorporating the period setting and literary backdrop that Taylor employs.

The Midnight Book Shop by Patricia Moyes Inspector Henry Tibbett solves a murder in a London antiquarian bookstore, weaving together the book trade setting and ensemble cast dynamics that characterize Taylor's mystery.

🔍 The character Leonidas Witherall was nicknamed "Bill Shakespeare" by his students due to his remarkable resemblance to the Bard, making him one of mystery fiction's most uniquely identifiable detectives. 📚 Author Phoebe Atwood Taylor wrote an impressive 33 mystery novels between 1931 and 1951, publishing under three different names: her own, Alice Tilton, and Freeman Dana. 🏛️ The book's Boston setting reflects the author's deep New England roots - she was born in Boston and spent most of her life in Massachusetts, incorporating authentic local color into her works. 🎭 The novel pioneered a distinctive sub-genre of mystery writing that blended serious detective work with screwball comedy elements, influencing numerous later authors in the field. ⏰ The entire story takes place within a single evening - a narrative technique known as "unity of time" that creates heightened tension and urgency throughout the novel.