The Sirens Sang of Murder

The Sirens Sang of Murder is a British mystery novel that follows professor Hilary Tamar and a group of young barristers as they investigate suspicious events surrounding an offshore tax scheme in the Channel Islands. The book won the 1990 Anthony Award for Best Novel. When one of their legal colleagues travels to the Channel Islands to assist with tax planning for a wealthy family, a series of mysterious incidents begins to occur. Professor Tamar and the London barristers must untangle a complex web of financial arrangements, family dynamics, and potential criminal activity. The narrative combines traditional British mystery elements with sharp legal insights and a complex plot centered on international tax law and inheritance disputes. Sarah Caudwell's academic wit and dry humor remain present throughout the investigation. The novel explores themes of greed, deception, and the intricate relationship between law and justice, all while maintaining the traditions of classic British detective fiction.

Readers describe this third Hilary Tamar mystery as witty and intellectually engaging, with complex tax law schemes woven into a murder plot. The book maintains Caudwell's signature style of telling the story through letters and documents. Readers appreciate: - The dry British humor and academic wit - Clever wordplay and literary references - The unique epistolary format - Complex characters, especially Julia and Selena Common criticisms: - Tax law details can be dense and confusing - Plot moves slowly in the middle sections - Some find the letter-writing format distances them from the action - Characters can be hard to distinguish Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (50+ ratings) One reader noted: "Like Dorothy Sayers meets P.G. Wodehouse in a tax court." Another mentioned: "The Channel Islands tax haven plot lost me at times, but the characters kept me reading." The mystery element received mixed feedback, with some calling it "too convoluted" while others praised its "satisfying resolution."

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🔍 The Channel Islands, where the novel is set, are known for their unique tax laws and have historically been a haven for offshore financial services, making them a perfect backdrop for this tax law mystery. 📚 Sarah Caudwell was actually the pen name of Sarah Cockburn, who worked as a barrister specializing in tax law before becoming an author, lending authentic expertise to her legal mysteries. 🏆 The novel was not only awarded the 1990 Anthony Award for Best Novel but was also one of only four books Caudwell published in her lifetime, all featuring Professor Hilary Tamar. ⚖️ The gender of Professor Hilary Tamar is never revealed throughout the entire series, creating an intriguing ambiguity that has sparked much discussion among readers and critics. 🎭 The book's title is inspired by James Joyce's "Ulysses," specifically the passage about sirens luring sailors to their doom, cleverly paralleling the novel's themes of seductive but dangerous financial schemes.