Death in Fancy Dress

By: Anthony Gilbert

Narrated by: James Byng

The British Secret Service, working to uncover a large-scale blackmail ring and catch its mysterious mastermind 'The Spider', find themselves at the country residence Feltham Abbey where a fancy-dress ball is in full swing.

In the tumult of revelry, Sir Ralph Feltham is found dead. Not the atmosphere bewildered guest Tony was expecting, he sets out make sense of the night's activities and the motives of the other guests.

Among them is Hilary, an independently minded socialite still in her costume of vivid silk pyjamas and accompanying teddy bear....

This classic country house mystery, first published in 1933, contrasts the splendours and frivolities of the English upper classes with the sombre overhang of the First World War.

©1933 Lucy Malleso (P)2020 Soundings

Entertaining classic mystery

Interesting characters, unexpected solution, great period atmosphere. Neither the romance nor the mystery came out the way I expected at the beginning, but they are both satisfying.

Entertaining

This is my first Antony Gilbert story, and I enjoyed it. There’s a country house gathering (which I always like), a murder, and lots of suspects. Gilbert’s characterization was more detailed than some GAD books, which made the story more interesting. As usual, I had no idea whodunnit until the end.

too complex and difficult

The convoluted tale was to difficult to follow. The narration did not help, too many characters to keep straight. By the end, had given up trying to understand.