As a fan of Agatha Christie's mysteries, I wanted to explore some other writers from the Golden Age of mystery. I was disappointed at a couple of early Ngaio Marsh novels, but I really enjoyed this one by Christianna Brand.

The writing is excellent, and Brand is really good at depicting vivid characters. The emphasis is not so much on Inspector Cockrill and his investigation, but on the psychology of the people involved and on how they perceive the situation.

The last part of the novel is like a roller coaster, where several characters in quick succession seem to be the murderer. The true solution is a bit convoluted and unlikely, but that's something that often happens in these "cosy" mysteries.

Very enjoyable. ( )

Atmospheric and beautifully drawn, by an author I highly respect. But this one's ending left me cold. Solution is a cop-out, and I was waiting for a final twist.. ( )

Despite the handful of suspects, I really had no idea who did it.

Content warning: Lots of anti-Semitic remarks / Jewish stereotypes. ( )

Set during World War II, Heads You Lose is a rather silly country house murder mystery that has the victims, all women, being beheaded. It becomes quite obvious that one of the party that is currently residing at Pigeonford Estate must be behind the murders and it is up to Inspector Cockrill to discover the truth.

After a jealous Grace Moreland declares that she wouldn’t be caught dead in a ditch wearing her rival’s new hat, she is found in exactly that position, dead in a ditch, wearing Fran’s new hat, although her head is no longer attached to her body. Then a day or two later another woman, the estranged wife of one of the guests, is also found on the grounds and also without her head attached.

This is the first outing for Inspector Cockrill and also my first read of a Christianna Brand mystery. I sincerely hope the author improved her plotting and timing as she went on as I thought overall this was rather a weak effort. I did enjoy some of the humor but it was fairly easy to figure out who the murderer was and I did feel that the end of the book was rushed and rather a let down. As in many books written at this time, the author’s comments, particularly in reference to a Jewish character, are rather offensive. I do have this author’s better known mystery, Green for Danger, on my Kindle and I have my fingers crossed that the author was able to produce a more convincing mystery as she went on. ( )

I enjoyed this first Inspector Cockrill mystery, which was a quick read. It wasn't as good as the only other one I have read, Green For Danger; I think Cockrill being friends with the suspects hampered things a bit. ( )