The Puzzle of the Silver Persian

The beautiful silver persian cat named Tobermory came aboard the passenger freighter, American Diplomat, with his human, the Honorable Emily Pendavid. She was sailing from New York to London with her son Leslie Reverson. Also sailing on the ship was Hildegarde Withers, school teacher and amateur detective who was on a well deserved vacation. They were joined by others such as young Rosemary Frasier and her traveling companion, Candida Noring, Andy Todd who was going to England on a Rhodes scholarship, and Mr. and Mrs.Peter Hammond and their son Gerald who was a chronic pest and troublemaker.

As the trip progressed, the various passengers met each other and also met the

steward Peter Noel who was quite friendly with the ladies.  All of the men took

an interest Rosemary Fraser. She apparently met one of the men in a secluded place on the deck. When this was discovered, there was quite a bit joking about this with Rosemary and she did not take it at all well. Then one evening, Rosemary was seen on the deck, and then she disappeared. The ship was searched and she was not found. The captain refused to turn around, because in the time it would take to return to the spot of her supposed disappearance, she would have drowned in the cold Atlantic waters. Still, it was questionable whether she committed suicide, had been murdered, or had found the perfect hiding place on the ship.

When the ship reached London, Scotland Yard was called in to investigate in the person of inspector Cannon. His investigations led him to suspect Peter Noel of a connection to the disappearance. When Noel was questioned, he committed suicide by swallowing cyanide. Another death would follow, and the reader learns more about Candida Noring and the Hammonds. Hildegard Withers would accept the invitation of Lady Emily to come to her castle in Cornwall. The investigation reached its conclusion in Cornwall. Hildegarde Withers, with the assistance of the cat,  discovered the identity of the murderer who was taken back to London by Scotland Yard.

This book was published in 1934. Palmer wrote 14 Hildegard Withers mysteries. I have always found the sleuthing of this prim and proper school teacher to be quite interesting.