The Penguin Pool Murder

Hildegarde Withers, Book 1

By: Stuart Palmer

Narrated by: Julie McKay

Although the Stock Market had crashed recently, it was too early for most people to predict that the Great Depression was about to get underway. For 39-year-old spinster schoolteacher Hildegarde Withers, it’s business as usual. And part of her usual business is taking her class for an outing to the aquarium to see the penguins. Instead, she spots the floating corpse of Wall Street broker Gerald Lester and quickly realizes that Inspector Oscar Piper of NYPD Homicide isn’t up to solving this tricky case, especially when he appears ready to accept he confession of an obviously innocent young man. Red herrings, not penguins, abound.

Miss Withers has a number of questions that need answers before she’s willing to reel in the real murderer: Who did Lester’s wife meet behind the stairs? What did the pickpocket see? Who was the man in the fedora? And just how did Miss Withers’ hatpin turn into a lethal weapon?

First published in 1931, The Penguin Pool Murder was as big a hit with book lovers as it was with moviegoers when it was filmed the following year starring Edna May Oliver as Miss Withers and James Gleason as Inspector Piper.

©1931 Brentano's, Inc. Copyright renewed. (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Enjoyed in spite of the narration

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

The story is an enjoyable blast from the past. There's no great mystery to the mystery, but that didn't stunt my enjoyment at all. The narrator however, seemed not only to struggle with the vernacular of the day, but the characterizations tended to be on the annoying side. Also, weird spacing and emphasis.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Not at all suspenseful. But still a fun, vintage tale.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Yes.

Fun story with great narration!

Ms. McKay did a fantastic job as narrator for this book! Her characters were full of personality and very easily identifiable individuals. I enjoyed the ending most - it's very Agatha Christie meets Miss Phryne Fisher!

Good story, good characters

Any additional comments?

Good story, good development. The ending was somewhat predictable but good nevertheless. It took me a bit to get used to the narrator. Originally found her to be a little annoying but soon got used to her and was okay. She doesn't do gender voices particulary well but well enough. Kept me guessing until the end, I thought I had it figured out earlier, and in fact I had, but then was led away again thinking it was someone else.

Ms. Withers is no Ms. Marple

The story was at best mildly engaging. The murder was fairly obvious from the start, and the only mystery was the backstory they had to construct to give him motive. The attempt to make the book a period piece was clumsy, and the use of slang from the thirties was awkward and no context.

Aside from a barely plausible yarn, the performance was poor. I stopped listening midway through because it didn't hold my attention. I actually listened to a wonderful Walter Mosely mystery, then went back to finish this book because I still had some miles to drive.

Absolutely delightful!

Nothing makes me happier than discovering a vintage mystery series I didn't know about, unless it is also discovering that it turns out to be a great read! I gather that this book, starring Miss Withers and Inspector Piper was made into a movie at the time, and I hope to find it.

Miss Withers, a teacher who has brought her young class to the aquarium, is there when a murder occurs at the penguin pool. She demonstrates very quickly that she has a good, grounded sort of common sense, and is able to point out things to the inspector to keep him on track during the inspection. She tends to be immediately accepted by the inspector, who realizes that as she offers good ideas and takes conversations down in shorthand, she is indispensable to solving the crime. Even though she is not officially part of the case, one quickly realizes that the author intends her to be the brains behind the process of solving it.

This book is written with a bit of comedic touch, but I doubt the author could have possibly anticipated how much more enjoyable it would become 80 years later to a completely different audience. In these days, we have authors who create female sleuths, trying to insert them into this same time period (just around the timeout of the stock market crash), and they are are fun to read. But this is the "Real McCoy," a woman who was developed into a clever and observant detective (of sorts), even though she is not really acknowledged that way around 1930 or so.

I love this book, and cannot wait for the next ones. The narrator does a very good job, getting the accents just right! This has been a total treat! Thanks, Audible, for bringing this one on board!