A Mysterious Affair of Style

Set in late 1940s London, A Mysterious Affair of Style follows mystery novelist Evadne Mount as she investigates a murder at Elstree Studios. Aging film star Cora Rutherford is poisoned during the filming of her comeback movie, with both Mount and retired Chief-Inspector Trubshawe present at the time of death. The investigation centers on a group of suspects connected to the film production, each with the means and opportunity to commit the crime but apparently no motive. Mount must uncover hidden connections and past events to make sense of this seemingly motiveless murder. The novel is Gilbert Adair's sequel to The Act of Roger Murgatroyd and continues his homage to Golden Age detective fiction, particularly the works of Agatha Christie. The story incorporates elements of classic filmmaking and post-war British cinema alongside its central mystery. The book examines the conventions of detective fiction while simultaneously embodying them, playing with readers' expectations about genre tropes and narrative structure.

Readers describe this as an homage to Agatha Christie that doesn't quite reach the heights of the original mysteries. The writing style and 1940s Hollywood setting appeal to fans of classic detective fiction. Liked: - Detailed atmosphere of old Hollywood - Film industry insider references - Clever meta-commentary on mystery writing - Humor and wit in the dialogue Disliked: - Plot moves slower than first book in series - Some find the writing style overly mannered - Solution feels less satisfying than setup - Character development lacking compared to predecessor Ratings: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (242 ratings) Amazon: 3.7/5 (16 ratings) "Too much style, not enough substance," notes one Amazon reviewer. A Goodreads user writes: "The film industry details save an otherwise predictable mystery." Several readers mention the book works better as a commentary on detective fiction than as an actual whodunit.

Death in the Spotlight by Robin Stevens A murder mystery set during a theater production parallels the entertainment industry backdrop while delivering a Golden Age detective story feel.

Murder Through the English Post by Jessica Ellicott The post-WWII English setting and classic detective story structure mirror the period atmosphere of Adair's work.

The Motion Picture Teller by John Gaspard A death during film production provides the same blend of Hollywood glamour and murder investigation found in Adair's novel.

Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz The meta-textual approach to Golden Age detective fiction creates similar layers of mystery and genre examination.

The Moving Target by Ross Macdonald A case involving the film industry in post-war California captures the same intersection of entertainment and crime investigation.

🎬 The novel is set at Elstree Studios, which was a major British film production center that produced classics like "The Dam Busters" and early Alfred Hitchcock films. 📚 This book is part of a trilogy featuring Evadne Mount, with the other titles being "The Act of Roger Murgatroyd" and "And Then There Was No One." 🎯 Author Gilbert Adair was known for his skill at literary pastiche, having also written "The Death of the Author" and a translation of Georges Perec's lipogram novel "A Void." 🎭 The character of Evadne Mount is partially inspired by Agatha Christie's famous detective Miss Marple, as well as Christie herself. 🎪 The post-war British film industry setting reflects a real period of transition, when British cinema was struggling to compete with Hollywood while dealing with post-war austerity.