A Blunt Instrument by Georgette Heyer

Mr. Ernest Fletcher was seated at his desk, and he was quite dead. His head had been bashed in with a blunt instrument. What this blunt instrument is will not be revealed until the end of the book. I will tell the reader that this instrument is present and visible in several episodes of the book, and if the reader can identify the blunt instrument, he or she will also know the identity of the murderer.

Superintendent Hannasyde and Sergeant Hemingway were called in to investigate the murder of Mr. Fletcher. The body had been discovered by police constable Glass who was investigating because he saw a stranger leaving the house. P. C. Glass was a very God fearing man and had a Bible quote ready at all times and for all events.  This ability really got on the nerves of Hannasyde and  Hemmingway as they persisted in trying to find the killer.

Mr. Ernest Fletcher had one nephew, Neville, who was to inherit all of Ernest's rather prosperous estate. Neville appeared to be too vacuous, and too detached to commit a murder. Living nearby were two sisters, one of whom did have reason to kill Ernest. Helen North was fond of gambling, and Ernest held some of the IOU's for her gambling losses. Helen definitely did not want her husband to find out about these losses. Helen's sister, Sally, was an author of mystery novels and wore a monocle. She did not seem to have a motive for killing Ernest. Ernest also had a stockbroker who was cheating him, and there was another man who was very peeved with Ernest about a dalliance which Ernest had had with a young lady. So there were certainly enough people who would want Ernest dead and a very complicated time table for the time of the murder was developed. Alas, they could not find the murder weapon.

This book was published in 1938 by Georgette Heyer who wrote 12 mystery novels. I wish she had written more instead of spending time writing all of those romance novels. Her books are witty, clever, and very entertaining. This book has an introduction by Anthony Boucher who does mention that it will be worthwhile to read this book twice, and I certainly do agree with him.