The Christmas Egg

By: Mary Kelly

Narrated by: David Thorpe

In a gloomy flat off Islington High Street, Chief Inspector Brett Nightingale and Sergeant Beddoes find an old woman dead. The Princess Olga Karukhin, who fled from Russia at the time of the Revolution, has lived in terror of being discovered ever since. Olga's grandson, Ivan, appears to have run from the scene but is later seen returning to the flat as though oblivious to the terrible crime. Taking place between 22nd and 24th December, Nightingale's enquiry takes him across London, culminating in the wrapping up of the mystery on Christmas Eve.

©1958 Mary Kelly (P)2019 Soundings

Love the action and setting, hate the creeping on the teen

I love a classic crime book and this is a great one. I didn’t love the weird gender politics that go along with a classic crime book, particularly when they involve married men lusting after teens.

Good story

The narrator David Thorpe saves this story! It is slow to develop but his engaging performance keeps you involved.

Disappointed

Having the Inspector announce his solution to the murder and theft in a lengthy soliquoi. This is a case of too much information all at once. I read review

convoluted plot and crime

I'm still not sure i know who all the characters are, the roll they play, and why I should care. Nightengale's fascination with a young woman was unsettling, especially given his seeming disconnect from his wife.