Murder Fantastical

Henry Tibbett meets the Manciple family for the first time in investigating the murder of Raymond Mason. Mason, a bookie, had made it big and wanted entry into country society. He was determined to buy the Manciple home, Cregwell Grange. But the owner, Major George Manciple, will not sell. So when Mason is shot leaving the Manciple home, the villagers don't have to look very far for the murderer. Not that they don't sympathize, since none of them like Mason either. But Tibbett still has to get to the bottom of it all. It's not easy, since the Manciples have their own ideas of conversation and he has a hard time even getting an account of the murder, with George seeming determined to be considered chief suspect, Violet chasing every thought that comes into her mind, Aunt Dora refusing to wear her hearing aid, and the Bishop treating everything as a crossword puzzle. This is the funniest of the Tibbett books. I love the Manciple family. They come back later in Twice in a Blue Moon and I must say, they age very well. I love this one.