Murder of a Lady

A violent murder at Duchlan Castle in the Scottish Highlands brings Inspector Dundas and his colleague Dr. Eustace Hailey to investigate. The victim, Mary Gregor, is found in a locked room with mysterious fish scales scattered near her body. The investigation reveals deep tensions within the Gregor family and the surrounding Highland community. Dr. Hailey must navigate local superstitions, family secrets, and complex relationships as more deaths occur under similar impossible circumstances. The book combines elements of both a "locked room" mystery and a traditional Scottish murder investigation. The stark Highland setting and the castle's imposing architecture create a backdrop for Dr. Hailey's rational methods as he works to solve an apparently supernatural crime. The novel explores themes of tradition versus modernity and the clash between scientific reasoning and folk beliefs in 1920s Scotland. Through its mystery framework, it examines how isolated communities maintain their customs and beliefs even as the outside world encroaches.

Readers describe this as a solid locked-room mystery with a Scottish castle setting and supernatural elements. The reviews emphasize the atmospheric Highland location and complex puzzle-box nature of the murders. Liked: - Multiple impossible murders keep adding complexity - Dr. Hailey's methodical investigation style - Integration of Scottish folklore and local customs - Period details of 1930s Highland life Disliked: - Slow pacing in middle sections - Some find Dr. Hailey's personality cold and detached - Resolution requires accepting improbable circumstances - Too much focus on technical details of the crimes Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (89 ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (31 ratings) Notable reviews mention the "cleverly constructed plot" (Crime Fiction Lover) and "atmospheric but sometimes plodding narrative" (Pretty Sinister Books). Several readers note similarities to John Dickson Carr's locked-room mysteries but with a distinctly Scottish flavor.

The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins A detective investigates the disappearance of a cursed diamond from a country house in England, featuring multiple narratives and a locked room mystery element.

Green for Danger by Christianna Brand A murder investigation unfolds in a wartime hospital when a postman dies during surgery, combining medical elements with detective work in an enclosed setting.

The Crooked Hinge by John Dickson Carr Two men claim to be the heir to an estate, leading to murder and impossible circumstances that require detection in an isolated location.

Death of a Peer by Ngaio Marsh Inspector Alleyn solves a murder in a noble household where family secrets and Scottish traditions intersect with crime.

The Chinese Orange Mystery by Ellery Queen A locked room puzzle presents a corpse found in a private office with all objects in the room reversed, creating an intricate mystery in a confined space.

🔍 The book was originally published in 1931 as part of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction, a period when intricate puzzle-mysteries were at their peak. 🏰 The story is set in the Scottish Highlands and features the distinctive architecture of a loch-side castle, incorporating authentic details of Scottish noble residences. 👨‍⚕️ The detective, Dr. Eustace Hailey, appears in 28 of Anthony Wynne's novels and is known for solving seemingly impossible crimes through medical and scientific knowledge. ✒️ Anthony Wynne was the pseudonym of Robert McNair Wilson, who was actually a practicing physician and heart specialist in addition to being a mystery writer. 🗝️ The book is considered a "locked room mystery," a subgenre where a crime appears to have been committed under impossible circumstances, often in a sealed space.