I Read Books: Duplicate Death
A late mystery novel from Georgette Heyer. The duplicate in the title refers to both duplicate bridge, during a game of which a murder is committed, and the fact that there is a second murder with the same method as the first.
This novel from (and set in) the 50s, the hideous people who have crimes occurring amongst them that they, perhaps, do not quite deserve, have slightly more explicit sins. Drug addiction is one that is only slightly sensationally described; Heyer also has some homosexual characters though exactly what is going on is never clear (the homophobic police commentary suggests that perhaps they do know).
Things get a touch complicated, though fortunately the broadly drawn characters help to keep the plot(s) straight. It is enjoyable without having any particular standout scenes; our hero and heroine have a slightly complicated relationship due to her mysterious and sordid past. The detective is a little bland, mostly bantering with his Gaelic speaking subordinate.
Read This: For a fun, convoluted, old fashioned detective novel
Don’t Read This: If you want subtle characters in a well-rounded setting
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