I’m looking forward to reading Catherine Aird’s Inspector C.D. Sloan books, but once I read A Most Contagious Game, I regret that she only wrote this one standalone. It’s such an exceptional “classic British mystery”. I couldn’t put this one down. Unfortunately, it won’t be easy to find. In fact, Tom and Enid Schantz, who wrote the introduction, said A Most Contagious Game isn’t even listed on the author’s webpage.
After Thomas Harding had a heart attack at only fifty-two, he retired early and he and his wife, Dora, moved to Easterbrook Manor. But, he’s bored, and doesn’t like the house, and isn’t yet accepted in the village. But, when he and a local workman find a hidden room, a priest hole, they also find a skeleton that dates from 150 to 200 years earlier. Although Harding calls in the local police, they’re not interested in an old death. Instead, they’re looking for a local man suspected of killing his wife, “the Calleford Blonde”. But, the locals don’t think Alan Feeney killed his wife. And, no one has found the missing husband.
Thomas is more interested in digging up the story of the skeleton in the priest hole. Now that he has time on his hands, he spends time doing research into the history of the house and the Barbary baronets who bought the manor from a Catholic family who lost it during Queen Elizabeth’s reign.
According to the introduction, one of Catherine Aird’s favorite authors was Josephine Tey. They said her Daughter of Time featured a police officer who had to resort to research to solve a historical mystery. I always loved Daughter of Time, but I love Aird’s departure with a retiree searching for the history behind a mystery in his own house. If you can find a copy of the book, originally published in 1967, and rereleased in 2007, I urge you to pick up a copy of this fascinating mystery.
A Most Contagious Game by Catherine Aird. Rue Morgue Press, 2007. ISBN 9781601870025 (paperback), 160p.
FTC Full Disclosure – I bought my copy of the book.
This does sound good. I was able to find it on audio through Hoople; still on the lookout for it in print form. Thanks for the review Lesa.
You’re welcome, Susan. I hope you enjoy it!
Oops…make that Hoopla.
This sounds good. I might have to use my Amazon credits and get a used copy.
That’s how I got it, Sandy – a used copy.
Sounds excellent, Lesa! I’m now determined to find a copy.
Kim, I wonder if it will be easier to find in Europe.
For anyone just wanting to read this, the book is out of copyright and was digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011. Available online on Open Library.
MM, Thank you for mentioning this. I never think to go looking for that.
I needed a “next book” recommendation, Lesa. Many on my “to read” are not offered on our Library’s Libby and Hoopla app. But, I found A Most Contagious Game on Hoopla in audio! You made my day! 🙂
Well, that’s fabulous, Mary! I’m glad. you found it.
Lesa, I was able to find it through my county’s interlibrary loan program!
Thanks for the recommendation!
Cheers, Helen
Oh, good, Helen. I hope you enjoy it. I loved it.