Deathblow Hill

Deathblow Hill centers on two feuding branches of the Howes family, divided by both a barbed wire fence and the mysterious disappearance of their ancestor's fortune. The story takes place in Cape Cod, where strange events begin occurring at both family properties. Detective Asey Mayo, known as the "Codfish Sherlock," investigates after a series of disturbing incidents including ransacked homes, prowlers with yellow handkerchiefs, and attempted strangulations. The murder of Benjamin Carson escalates the situation and forces Mayo to untangle both minor and major mysteries surrounding the Howes family. The novel is the sixth installment in Phoebe Atwood Taylor's Cape Cod Mystery series, published in 1935. The plot interweaves family drama, missing fortunes, and peculiar collectibles like ships-in-bottles into its central mystery. The book explores themes of family division, greed, and the corrosive effects of long-held secrets in small communities. Its coastal New England setting provides both atmospheric tension and cultural context for the unfolding family drama.

Readers describe Deathblow Hill as an entertaining Asey Mayo mystery set in Cape Cod, with many commenting on its light and humorous tone. Readers appreciated: - Fast-paced plot with multiple twists - The Cape Cod setting and local character details - Asey Mayo's witty remarks and personality - Clear writing style that makes it easy to follow Common criticisms: - Large cast of characters can be hard to track - Some find the plot too convoluted - Dated language and cultural references from the 1930s Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (41 ratings) Amazon: No ratings available "A fun romp through Cape Cod with enough red herrings to stock a fish market," noted one Goodreads reviewer. Another commented: "The local color and period details outshine the actual mystery." Few online reviews exist for this lesser-known entry in the Asey Mayo series, though the ratings are consistent with other books in the series.

The Moving Finger by Agatha Christie A small English village becomes the center of anonymous letters and murder, mirroring the close-knit community dynamics and family secrets found in Deathblow Hill.

Death and a Cup of Tea by Charlotte MacLeod Set in coastal Maine, this mystery features feuding relatives, missing inheritances, and a local detective who knows the ins and outs of New England society.

Death of a Cape Cod Cavalier by G.A. McKevett The investigation of a murder at a historic Cape Cod mansion unravels generations of family rivalries and hidden fortunes.

The Family Vault by Charlotte MacLeod A Boston Brahmin family's long-buried secrets emerge during the opening of their ancestral tomb, combining New England history with complex family dynamics.

Murder at Plimoth Plantation by Leslie Wheeler The murder investigation at a historical New England site reveals deep-rooted conflicts between old family lines and their competing claims to local heritage.

🕵️ Cape Cod's Asey Mayo series inspired a wave of regional detective fiction in the 1930s, helping establish New England as a popular setting for mystery novels. 🏰 The concept of a property divided by barbed wire was inspired by real Cape Cod land disputes during the Great Depression, when family conflicts over inheritance became increasingly common. 📚 Phoebe Atwood Taylor wrote under three different pen names (Freeman Dana, Alice Tilton, and her own name), producing over 30 mystery novels between 1931 and 1951. 🌊 The character of Asey Mayo was partly based on real Cape Cod locals who worked as "fish peddlers" - traveling salesmen who sold fresh fish throughout the region while collecting local gossip. 🗺️ Deathblow Hill (1936) was written during a period when Cape Cod was transitioning from a working-class fishing community to a popular tourist destination, a change that's reflected in the novel's social tensions.