There’s a country house party in the 1920s…what do you think will happen?

A. A. Milne is a million times more famous for Winnie-The-Pooh than he is for this neat, compact and fluent little novel of amateur detectives and a body in a locked room. Which is a shame, as The Red House Mystery (1922), while not brilliant or innovative, is of value because it masters the conventions with precision and humour, creating an entertaining mystery, and likeable characters with enjoyably explicit nods to Sherlock and Watson in their dynamic.

Mark Ablett is a patron of the arts, an amateur actor, and fond of house parties at his country estate, but only if he can curate them down to the minutest detail–schedules, once planned, must be stuck to, and any reference to his rather nouveau riche background ensures no second invitation. His well-run weekend is disrupted first by the threatened arrival of his long-lost brother, the black sheep of the family, and then by a body in the library (of course) which is locked. The body is discovered by Ablett’s cousin and right-hand man, and Tony Gillingham, a stranger who happens to roll up to the gates of the manor at the right time. Tony and Bill, one of Ablett’s guests, take it upon themselves to solve the mystery, and encounter dark secrets, hidden passion, and the curious character of Mark Ablett himself…

Tony and Bill have great chemistry, and Tony is a quick-witted (in all senses) Sherlock to Bill’s more ordinary Watson. The subtle nuances of class, and the trappings of the country estate–secret passages, ponds, gardens, etc.–are used effectively and often with gentle parody. It’s a fun read, even if there’s some implausibility in the solving and in the passive presence of the police.