Richard Lockridge (1898–1982)

Just so much fun to spend time with Mr. and Mrs. North. This is a relatively late entry in the series (1960), and Pam is in the market for a kitten, having fairly recently lost her sweet Siamese, Martini. A judge of both cat shows and tennis matches makes enemies, and ends up dead in his own apartment, possibly bashed with a scratching post, or a racquet in its press. Lots of irate suspects, all guilty of something, but murder? Weigand knows better than to dismiss Pam's intuition, but Mullins finds it all screwy, as usual.… (altro)

This is an omnibus of three mysteries:
"The Norths Meet Murder," 1940, the first North's mystery. Very little mention of the war, a couple of mentions of Hitler, antagonism towards a Japanese character, but no direct talk of the war. Also a bit of dancing around an effeminate male character, he liked to arrange flowers and cook, for shame! A good introduction to most of the characters in the series, of whom, Weigand, the policeman is my favorite. I very much like that he is the main person to solve the mysteries and the Norths, who are not detectives are mostly along for the ride.
"Murder Out of Turn," 1941. There is an impressive amount of drinking in these books. Cocktails with lunch, before dinner, after dinner, not to mention the wine with dinner. I don't know how they managed. This takes place at the North's summer cabin, and is the book which introduces us to Weigand's future wife.
"A Pinch of Poison." 1941 Satisfactory, clues in order and not too hard to solve, fun to read with enjoyable characters.… (altro)

I enjoy the North mysteries. I especially like that the police captain, Weigand, is not just a dummy assistant to two amateurs. He sometimes is inspired by the Norths, and sometimes they get the same conclusion independently, but he is often ahead of them. Also the cats are fun. However, it is difficult not to sip a martini while reading, and I can't sip THAT many martinis and still read. There is pleasant wit and banter, respectful relationships and generally nice people who are not unhappy, except some of the possible perpetrators. Sometimes I can tell whodunnit, and sometimes not, and I never pay attention to whether or not the author is fair with clues.… (altro)

1942 novel featuring amateur sleuths Pam and Jerry North, and their friend, Manhattan homicide detective Bill Weigand. On the brink of running off to marry his lady love, Dorian Hunt, Weigand gets called to the scene of a peculiar murder. The backer of an off-Broadway play has been stabbed with an ice pick while watching a rehearsal, a week before the show is to open. The cast and crew has been coming and going...any one of 15 or more people may have had opportunity. Sgt. Mullins is bewildered as ever, Pam keeps Jerry and Bill running their hands through their hair at her non-sequiturs and quirky pronouncements, and the elusive murderer isn't stopping at just one. Fun as usual, but no cat shenanigans.… (altro)