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John Christmas
The Studio Crime
"He is dead. It is quite impossible that he should have killed himself. He has been murdered. About half an hour ago. By a long knife passed under the left shoulder-blade into the heart."
On a fog-bound London night, a soirée is taking place in the studio of artist Laurence Newtree. The guests include an eminent psychiatrist, a wealthy philanthropist and an observant young friend of Newtree's, John Christmas. Before the evening is over, Newtree's neighbour is found stabbed to death in what appears to be an impossible crime. But a mysterious man in a fez has been spotted in the fog asking for highly unlikely directions...
The resourceful John Christmas takes on the case, unofficially, leading to an ingenious solution no one could have expected, least of all Inspector Hembrow of Scotland Yard.
The Studio Crime is the first of Ianthe Jerrold's classic whodunit novels, originally published in 1929. Its impact led to her membership of the elite Detection Club, and its influence can be felt on later works by John Dickson Carr, Ngaio Marsh and Dorothy L. Sayers among others.This edition, the first in over eighty years, features a new introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.
On a fog-bound London night, a soirée is taking place in the studio of artist Laurence Newtree. The guests include an eminent psychiatrist, a wealthy philanthropist and an observant young friend of Newtree's, John Christmas. Before the evening is over, Newtree's neighbour is found stabbed to death in what appears to be an impossible crime. But a mysterious man in a fez has been spotted in the fog asking for highly unlikely directions...
The resourceful John Christmas takes on the case, unofficially, leading to an ingenious solution no one could have expected, least of all Inspector Hembrow of Scotland Yard.
The Studio Crime is the first of Ianthe Jerrold's classic whodunit novels, originally published in 1929. Its impact led to her membership of the elite Detection Club, and its influence can be felt on later works by John Dickson Carr, Ngaio Marsh and Dorothy L. Sayers among others.This edition, the first in over eighty years, features a new introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.
294 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1929
26 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
About the author
Ianthe Jerrold
11 books4 followers1898-1977.
Jerrold published her first book, a work of verse, at the age of fifteen. This was the start of a long and prolific writing career characterized by numerous stylistic shifts. In 1929 she published the first of two classic and influential whodunits. The Studio Crime gained her immediate acceptance into the recently-formed but highly prestigious Detection Club.
Ianthe Jerrold subsequently moved on from pure whodunnits to write novels ranging from romantic fiction to psychological thrillers. She continued writing and publishing her fiction into the 1970s.
Jerrold published her first book, a work of verse, at the age of fifteen. This was the start of a long and prolific writing career characterized by numerous stylistic shifts. In 1929 she published the first of two classic and influential whodunits. The Studio Crime gained her immediate acceptance into the recently-formed but highly prestigious Detection Club.
Ianthe Jerrold subsequently moved on from pure whodunnits to write novels ranging from romantic fiction to psychological thrillers. She continued writing and publishing her fiction into the 1970s.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
December 24, 2021
Oh God! Nothing interesting or exciting is happening in this book! I have to give up it on page 219.
July 10, 2015
First published in 1929, this is the first of two Golden Age mysteries penned by author Ianthe Jerrold. “The Studio Crime” was so well respected that it gained her immediate entrance into the famous, “Detection Club,” whose founding members included Dorothy L. Sayers, Agatha Christie and Anthony Berkely. Sadly, Jerrold only penned two mysteries; this and the sequel, “Dead Man’s Quarry.” Although she wrote many other novels until the 1970’s, it is wonderful to have her two classic mysteries back in print.
Jerrold’s sleuth is a typical amateur detective of the time; John Christmas is the leisured son of a wealthy man, who can spend his days investigating crime. Inspector Hembrow is the official police officer, but, as with Lord Peter Wimsey, his help is happily accepted. Lawrence Newtree, a friend of Christmas, acts as a link between the characters and it is his studio where the storyline starts. Newtree is hosting a Christmas party on a foggy day in London. His guests include Christmas, Miss Serafine Wimpole, her aunt Miss Imogen Wimpole, psychologist Simon Mordby, Sir Marian Steen, a wealthy philanthropist, and local practitioner, Dr Mereweather.
Newtree is a caricaturist for Fleet Street and he has an invitation to take his guests upstairs later, to his neighbour, Mr Gordon Frew’s, studio. Mr Frew is a collector and has a number of visitors during the evening, including a young model named Pandora Shirley and a wonderfully exotic gentleman in a fez. During the course of the evening, Mr Frew is found murdered and the hunt is on to solve the crime. There are a good cast of possible suspects and many motives, and false trails, to untangle before the end of the book.
This is very much an early example of the Golden Age era and, as such, relies more on the plot than characters – most of which are quite stereotypical. Saying that, I enjoyed Christmas as sleuth and also liked his sounding board, Newtree. It was a shame that Serafine Wimpole did not have more chance to shine – apparently her character was based on that of the author – as she seemed to have more depth to reveal. I will certainly read Jerrold’s second mystery and think it is a shame that she only wrote two. Sadly, the kindle edition of this book was marred by quite a few typo’s and a missing section – I read this as a group read and another member posted the missing pages. It is a shame, but did not mar my enjoyment of the novel overall. This is a good example of a crime novel written in this era and was great fun if you enjoy Golden Age mysteries.
Jerrold’s sleuth is a typical amateur detective of the time; John Christmas is the leisured son of a wealthy man, who can spend his days investigating crime. Inspector Hembrow is the official police officer, but, as with Lord Peter Wimsey, his help is happily accepted. Lawrence Newtree, a friend of Christmas, acts as a link between the characters and it is his studio where the storyline starts. Newtree is hosting a Christmas party on a foggy day in London. His guests include Christmas, Miss Serafine Wimpole, her aunt Miss Imogen Wimpole, psychologist Simon Mordby, Sir Marian Steen, a wealthy philanthropist, and local practitioner, Dr Mereweather.
Newtree is a caricaturist for Fleet Street and he has an invitation to take his guests upstairs later, to his neighbour, Mr Gordon Frew’s, studio. Mr Frew is a collector and has a number of visitors during the evening, including a young model named Pandora Shirley and a wonderfully exotic gentleman in a fez. During the course of the evening, Mr Frew is found murdered and the hunt is on to solve the crime. There are a good cast of possible suspects and many motives, and false trails, to untangle before the end of the book.
This is very much an early example of the Golden Age era and, as such, relies more on the plot than characters – most of which are quite stereotypical. Saying that, I enjoyed Christmas as sleuth and also liked his sounding board, Newtree. It was a shame that Serafine Wimpole did not have more chance to shine – apparently her character was based on that of the author – as she seemed to have more depth to reveal. I will certainly read Jerrold’s second mystery and think it is a shame that she only wrote two. Sadly, the kindle edition of this book was marred by quite a few typo’s and a missing section – I read this as a group read and another member posted the missing pages. It is a shame, but did not mar my enjoyment of the novel overall. This is a good example of a crime novel written in this era and was great fun if you enjoy Golden Age mysteries.
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September 17, 2019A very accomplished mystery with terrific atmosphere and some really cracking funny lines. Also a heroine in her late 30s who has notably big feet (I have size 8s and I feel seen at last). And it's nice to get a bit of Hampstead Gothic in there. The writing is fluent and the mystery fun, if quite guessable. I'm sorry this author didn't write a lot more, definitely getting the others.
September 14, 2022
The Studio Crime has been described as an influential Golden Age classic, but I’m afraid I found it improbable, ponderous and dull. The characters are pretty stereotypical, the dialogue is rather forced, the pace is funereal, the plot is predictable and I spotted the killer early on, just from the way they were presented rather than from any clues. I ended up skimming several sections and didn’t feel I’d missed much.
Others have plainly enjoyed this far more than I did, but although I enjoy a lot of Golden Age detective fiction it really wasn’t for me.
Others have plainly enjoyed this far more than I did, but although I enjoy a lot of Golden Age detective fiction it really wasn’t for me.
July 11, 2015
As a fan of Dorothy L Sayers and Margery Allingham, I've often thought it would be fun to discover another detective with some of the qualities of their heroes, Lord Peter Wimsey and Albert Campion respectively.
So I was delighted when a member of a Goodreads group suggested this book by a now-forgotten author, which has a witty amateur detective hero, John Christmas. The book was actually published the same year that Campion made his first appearance. Jerrold writes beautifully, with sharp dialogue and delightfully witty descriptions which kept making me want to linger over the book - though I did feel that characters too often "murmured" instead of just saying!
The book is set in a fog-bound 1920s London and has interesting descriptions of several areas, from the then artists' quarter of St John's Wood to slums in West Kensington. The large cast of characters was a little confusing at the start and I would have liked the ability to flip back and remind myself who was who, which is difficult to do when reading on Kindle. However, they soon became distinct from one another.
Some of the characters are somewhat stereotyped and at times there is the element of snobbery also seen in other writers of this genre. The plot is a fiendishly complicated puzzle which I completely failed to unravel before the detective explains it all, though I did guess the killer correctly - as did others in the group I read it with.
Christmas himself isn't quite as intriguing a character as Wimsey or Campion because he seems to be more straightforwardly cheery. Sadly, he only features in one more book, as Jerrold moved on to other types of novel, but I'm wondering if he develops more in the second book. There are one or two hints of more below the surface, like a romantic interest in the writer Serafine Wimpole, who is one of the most interesting characters in the novel. According to Curtis Evans' introduction, Serafine might have been based on Jerrold herself.
The first chapter of the second Christmas mystery is included at the end of the Kindle edition, and I'm now hooked on that one too, so will be buying it shortly and reading on!
Unfortunately, the Kindle edition had a section missing, but the publisher is trying to make sure that in future Amazon sends out a complete text with the missing bit restored. If you do have a copy with the bit missing (after "Laurence gave a sigh of relief when the door had finally"), here's a link to the missing bit at Google Books:
http://tinyurl.com/oq2cu6t
So I was delighted when a member of a Goodreads group suggested this book by a now-forgotten author, which has a witty amateur detective hero, John Christmas. The book was actually published the same year that Campion made his first appearance. Jerrold writes beautifully, with sharp dialogue and delightfully witty descriptions which kept making me want to linger over the book - though I did feel that characters too often "murmured" instead of just saying!
The book is set in a fog-bound 1920s London and has interesting descriptions of several areas, from the then artists' quarter of St John's Wood to slums in West Kensington. The large cast of characters was a little confusing at the start and I would have liked the ability to flip back and remind myself who was who, which is difficult to do when reading on Kindle. However, they soon became distinct from one another.
Some of the characters are somewhat stereotyped and at times there is the element of snobbery also seen in other writers of this genre. The plot is a fiendishly complicated puzzle which I completely failed to unravel before the detective explains it all, though I did guess the killer correctly - as did others in the group I read it with.
Christmas himself isn't quite as intriguing a character as Wimsey or Campion because he seems to be more straightforwardly cheery. Sadly, he only features in one more book, as Jerrold moved on to other types of novel, but I'm wondering if he develops more in the second book. There are one or two hints of more below the surface, like a romantic interest in the writer Serafine Wimpole, who is one of the most interesting characters in the novel. According to Curtis Evans' introduction, Serafine might have been based on Jerrold herself.
The first chapter of the second Christmas mystery is included at the end of the Kindle edition, and I'm now hooked on that one too, so will be buying it shortly and reading on!
Unfortunately, the Kindle edition had a section missing, but the publisher is trying to make sure that in future Amazon sends out a complete text with the missing bit restored. If you do have a copy with the bit missing (after "Laurence gave a sigh of relief when the door had finally"), here's a link to the missing bit at Google Books:
http://tinyurl.com/oq2cu6t
July 10, 2015
Fun, formulaic and undemanding
I came to this book having loved Agatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers as a teenager. These days I don’t read much of this genre.
Ianthe Jerrold was a new name to me, however she was a prolific writer and her career was characterised by numerous stylistic shifts. In 1929 she published The Studio Crime, and a year later she published Dead Man’s Quarry. Ianthe Jerrold subsequently moved on from whodunnits to write novels ranging from romantic fiction to psychological thrillers into the 1970s. She died in 1977.
I discussed this book with other readers as part of a group read and I think it’s fair to say that most enjoyed it more than me. I thought it was a pleasant, undemanding, formulaic, somewhat convoluted, generic whodunnit. It’s not in the same league as Agatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers - but then what is?
It’s also worth noting the Kindle edition has quite a few typos and even misses a section that contains 2-3 pages of significant plot points, it is worth consulting Google books when you reach this point - it’s very obvious - to fill in the gap.
3/5
I came to this book having loved Agatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers as a teenager. These days I don’t read much of this genre.
Ianthe Jerrold was a new name to me, however she was a prolific writer and her career was characterised by numerous stylistic shifts. In 1929 she published The Studio Crime, and a year later she published Dead Man’s Quarry. Ianthe Jerrold subsequently moved on from whodunnits to write novels ranging from romantic fiction to psychological thrillers into the 1970s. She died in 1977.
I discussed this book with other readers as part of a group read and I think it’s fair to say that most enjoyed it more than me. I thought it was a pleasant, undemanding, formulaic, somewhat convoluted, generic whodunnit. It’s not in the same league as Agatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers - but then what is?
It’s also worth noting the Kindle edition has quite a few typos and even misses a section that contains 2-3 pages of significant plot points, it is worth consulting Google books when you reach this point - it’s very obvious - to fill in the gap.
3/5
September 15, 2022
A group of people hear a noise and eventually finds a neighbour stabbed. He turns out to have been a thoroughly unpleasant, but rich character. John Christmas is not sure the police have the correct suspect in mind and starts his own investigation. A pleasant early example of the Gold Age mysteries.
July 11, 2015
Back to the early British detective stories. I was not at all familiar with this author. But she was immediately accepted into the then-fledgling Detection Club. This was the day of murder occurring offstage and relatively non-violent. A number of the characters profess anti-capital punishment theories. Relatively common for the time. Post-WWI Britain had already had too much of blood due to the war.
This was an enjoyable fairly light read. Not sure I actually figured out who the killer was but was made suspicious by certain statements that were made.
I am going to want to read her second and last mystery featuring John Christmas, the protagonist here, Dead Man's Quarry.
It should be noted that the Kindle version is missing several pages but a friend learned that the book was on Google Books so the group I was reading with were able to check out the entire book. Hopefully Amazon will catch the error and update the download.
This was an enjoyable fairly light read. Not sure I actually figured out who the killer was but was made suspicious by certain statements that were made.
I am going to want to read her second and last mystery featuring John Christmas, the protagonist here, Dead Man's Quarry.
It should be noted that the Kindle version is missing several pages but a friend learned that the book was on Google Books so the group I was reading with were able to check out the entire book. Hopefully Amazon will catch the error and update the download.
October 13, 2022
I'm not sure why me and this book did not connect. It had all of the hallmarks of a traditional Golden Age mystery--the amateur sleuth working alongside the police, a cast of eccentric characters/suspects, an odious victim that will not really be missed by anyone. And I actually enjoyed the amateur detective, John Christmas, who seemed disarmingly pleasant, albeit without any standout characteristics. But through the latter half of the book, I was really just going through the motions, forcing myself to finish so that I could move on to the next book. A middling affair.
August 26, 2022
I thought this started very well, with the murder of the victim almost at once, on a foggy night in London. Guests of a gathering, finding a locked room where a scream was heard earlier in the evening, but passed off as being another noise rather than a scream. After gaining admittance to the room through force, an extremely wealthy man is found stabbed by one of his own daggers. The investigation of the murder showed a number of people had visited the victim that evening before the scream had been heard. The investigating officer being Inspector Hembrow, who had previously apparently allowed John Christmas, one of the guests, to help with another case, allowed Christmas to follow any evidence he came across. From this point I found the story dragged a bit. Christmas was visiting places with and without Hembrow, but we didn't get much information on what he found. We were occasionally led in different directions, but the answer to all, when it finally came was quite a shock, and if it hadn't had come from a confession, I don't think I would have been the wiser.
September 12, 2022
Classic mystery featuring an amateur detective called John Christmas, who is at a party at the studio of his cartoonist friend Lawrence Newtree when a murder is committed in the upstairs flat. The victim is Gordon Frew, a writer and collector of books and antiques, who has had a number of visitors on the night in question. Christmas helps Inspector Hembrow to investigate the crime.
This is an early Golden Age mystery with a lot of charm, although it is a bit muddled at times. Christmas is a likeable sleuth, but he keeps all his discoveries to himself to give a final explanation at the end, where a gradual reveal of events would have been more engaging. I enjoyed reading this mystery but I fear it will soon have slipped from my memory, as both the characters and plot were quite straightforward and simple.
This is an early Golden Age mystery with a lot of charm, although it is a bit muddled at times. Christmas is a likeable sleuth, but he keeps all his discoveries to himself to give a final explanation at the end, where a gradual reveal of events would have been more engaging. I enjoyed reading this mystery but I fear it will soon have slipped from my memory, as both the characters and plot were quite straightforward and simple.
September 26, 2016
This ebook is a study in manners, murder, and modern marketing.
Although I'm a long-time, enthusiastic reader of Brit-lit, I never heard of this author until I stumbled on this reprint of her first mystery. Apparently she was a popular and well-respected writer in her day. She published this and a follow-up mystery in 1929 and 1930 and then stuck to other genres until releasing another two mysteries during WWII.
This reprint is part of a "Golden Age of British Mysteries" series. I think the name most of us associate with that category is Agatha Christie and Jerrold's book has almost nothing in common with Dame Agatha's manor-house-and-cozy-village plots. It's strikingly like Georgette Heyer's witty 1930s thrillers. Like Heyer, Jerrold wrote about the "bright young things" in London - children of the English upper classes who've broken with their parents' Edwardian life. The young ladies are now postponing marriage in favor of careers. Instead of managing the family estate or going off to defend the Empire, the young men are becoming artists, writers, and scientists. None are married and all live apart from their families. The older generation is represented (if at all) by dotty old ladies (like Sarafine's comical aunt) or irascible old men.
And on a foggy night in London, a murder is committed. It quickly becomes apparent that the deceased is no loss to society (another similarity to Heyer's plots) and the most likely murderer is a likable young doctor. Do we really WANT to solve this one?
It's a pretty good mystery, but the real interest is in the insider's look at English society at a time of transition. Although the youngsters make flippant fun of Sherlock Holmes and Watson, amateur detective John Christmas isn't above coming out with a pompous promise to reveal "the last link in the chain of evidence."
Furthermore, although the very modern young folks pride themselves on having thrown off the shackles of their parents' out-dated ideas, they're still firmly entrenched in the traditional English class system. Inspector Hembrow is a decent enough guy (although his plodding investigation can't compare to the brilliance of Christmas) but he's still a policeman and NOT a real gentleman. They've worked together in a friendly fashion, but the Inspector addresses John as "Mr. Christmas" while the wealthy amateur detective address him as "Hembrow." The class system still rules.
It's telling that I think of them as youngsters, but both Sarafine Wimpole and Laurence Newtree are approaching 40 and beginning to wonder if their lives are as fulfilling as they like to think. There's a sense that both of them have been living in a state of suspended animation - so occupied with being trendy and modern that they haven't ever taken the time to grow up. Newtree is smitten with the strong-minded Sarafine, but she's got a crush on the reserved doctor who's marked as the murderer. How will it end?
It's a well-plotted, well-written mystery, but I'll take Heyer's books. Why? The intelligent, plodding Scotland Yard detective being shown up by the brilliant amateur doesn't resonate with me. Heyer (after a few early misses) settled on two eccentric professionals (Hanasyde and Hemingway.) While they're happy to use an insider to help them investigate a case, they always remain in control of the situation. Jerrold does a wonderful job of reproducing the witty, irreverent conversation of her 1920's upper class young folks, but they can't hold a candle to Heyer's shrewd old professional coppers.
I was happy to fork over 99 cents for this book and certainly got my money's worth. But now the publishers want me to pay $6+ for the follow-up book. My reluctance to do so probably stems from my age and ingrained thriftiness and I admire the bold marketing ploy, while wondering if it will succeed. Christie's first two books are no longer covered by copyright law and Kindle versions are available for $1. Will people pay six times as much for an unknown author? I guess we'll see.
Although I'm a long-time, enthusiastic reader of Brit-lit, I never heard of this author until I stumbled on this reprint of her first mystery. Apparently she was a popular and well-respected writer in her day. She published this and a follow-up mystery in 1929 and 1930 and then stuck to other genres until releasing another two mysteries during WWII.
This reprint is part of a "Golden Age of British Mysteries" series. I think the name most of us associate with that category is Agatha Christie and Jerrold's book has almost nothing in common with Dame Agatha's manor-house-and-cozy-village plots. It's strikingly like Georgette Heyer's witty 1930s thrillers. Like Heyer, Jerrold wrote about the "bright young things" in London - children of the English upper classes who've broken with their parents' Edwardian life. The young ladies are now postponing marriage in favor of careers. Instead of managing the family estate or going off to defend the Empire, the young men are becoming artists, writers, and scientists. None are married and all live apart from their families. The older generation is represented (if at all) by dotty old ladies (like Sarafine's comical aunt) or irascible old men.
And on a foggy night in London, a murder is committed. It quickly becomes apparent that the deceased is no loss to society (another similarity to Heyer's plots) and the most likely murderer is a likable young doctor. Do we really WANT to solve this one?
It's a pretty good mystery, but the real interest is in the insider's look at English society at a time of transition. Although the youngsters make flippant fun of Sherlock Holmes and Watson, amateur detective John Christmas isn't above coming out with a pompous promise to reveal "the last link in the chain of evidence."
Furthermore, although the very modern young folks pride themselves on having thrown off the shackles of their parents' out-dated ideas, they're still firmly entrenched in the traditional English class system. Inspector Hembrow is a decent enough guy (although his plodding investigation can't compare to the brilliance of Christmas) but he's still a policeman and NOT a real gentleman. They've worked together in a friendly fashion, but the Inspector addresses John as "Mr. Christmas" while the wealthy amateur detective address him as "Hembrow." The class system still rules.
It's telling that I think of them as youngsters, but both Sarafine Wimpole and Laurence Newtree are approaching 40 and beginning to wonder if their lives are as fulfilling as they like to think. There's a sense that both of them have been living in a state of suspended animation - so occupied with being trendy and modern that they haven't ever taken the time to grow up. Newtree is smitten with the strong-minded Sarafine, but she's got a crush on the reserved doctor who's marked as the murderer. How will it end?
It's a well-plotted, well-written mystery, but I'll take Heyer's books. Why? The intelligent, plodding Scotland Yard detective being shown up by the brilliant amateur doesn't resonate with me. Heyer (after a few early misses) settled on two eccentric professionals (Hanasyde and Hemingway.) While they're happy to use an insider to help them investigate a case, they always remain in control of the situation. Jerrold does a wonderful job of reproducing the witty, irreverent conversation of her 1920's upper class young folks, but they can't hold a candle to Heyer's shrewd old professional coppers.
I was happy to fork over 99 cents for this book and certainly got my money's worth. But now the publishers want me to pay $6+ for the follow-up book. My reluctance to do so probably stems from my age and ingrained thriftiness and I admire the bold marketing ploy, while wondering if it will succeed. Christie's first two books are no longer covered by copyright law and Kindle versions are available for $1. Will people pay six times as much for an unknown author? I guess we'll see.
February 18, 2016
I don't know that this would've made me immediately usher Ianthe Jerrold into the Detection Club (no, it doesn't really rival Christie or Sayers), but it's a decent enough classic mystery with only a smidge of the regrettable old school xenophobia. Will read others by the author and not only because I've already bought them. I mean, her name is Ianthe Jerrold and her amateur detectives name is John Christmas. Come on, now.
December 26, 2015
This is an admirably accomplished author, long overdue for being rediscovered. I am going to try Dead Man's Quarry next, by the same author.
August 16, 2022
Started off with a wonderful atmosphere, an interesting group of characters at a party in an artist’s studio on a foggy London night. A strange cry is heard from the studio above, and a man is found dead.
John Christmas, wealthy young man about town and amateur sleuth, is at the party, sees the body, and ends up investigating with his old friend, Inspector Hembrow of Scotland Yard. Christmas definitely felt like a Peter Wimsey, as he is wealthy (father owns a chain of stores), and free to follow his inclination to be an amateur detective. He appears, however, to have none of Lord Peter’s baggage - no PTSD, no aristocratic expectations, indeed, the author describes him as a happy-natured, friendly young man. He doesn’t actually investigate much with Hembrow, instead following his own ideas, often dragging his friend Laurence, the host of the party, along as his Watson.
The foggy night of the murder, a mysterious foreign-looking man in a fez was seen asking directions of several people, including a couple guests at the party. This was a red flag for me, my first inkling of where the case was headed. Turns out I was right, but no spoilers!
Considering this was written in 1929, I thought it was pretty well done, even with clues that might seem dated, like a villainous, squinting foreigner in a fez! There was another flaming red flag in the behavior of one of the party guests, which raised the official alarm of the police and caused him to be arrested, before Christmas explained a mysterious and “shocking” plot twist (but to GA mystery buffs paying attention to John Christmas’ investigation, it became fairly obvious who he suspected). One of my pet peeves is telling, not showing, and the last two chapters are all telling, first Christmas explaining to his Watson buddy and Hembrow how he figured it all out, who was who and who did what. Then, the last chapter is the wrongly arrested man explaining his role - most of the mystery is about the past history of several characters, and the desire of the murdered man to blackmail or inflict emotional revenge on others - a thoroughly nasty individual.
An interesting, well done GA mystery, I’d say Jerrold earned her spot in the Detection Club! I don’t know that I’d be in a big hurry to read more, Jerrold does a little too much “telling, not showing” for my taste, but she uses several interesting and entertaining characters in her books, according to the introduction.
John Christmas, wealthy young man about town and amateur sleuth, is at the party, sees the body, and ends up investigating with his old friend, Inspector Hembrow of Scotland Yard. Christmas definitely felt like a Peter Wimsey, as he is wealthy (father owns a chain of stores), and free to follow his inclination to be an amateur detective. He appears, however, to have none of Lord Peter’s baggage - no PTSD, no aristocratic expectations, indeed, the author describes him as a happy-natured, friendly young man. He doesn’t actually investigate much with Hembrow, instead following his own ideas, often dragging his friend Laurence, the host of the party, along as his Watson.
The foggy night of the murder, a mysterious foreign-looking man in a fez was seen asking directions of several people, including a couple guests at the party. This was a red flag for me, my first inkling of where the case was headed. Turns out I was right, but no spoilers!
Considering this was written in 1929, I thought it was pretty well done, even with clues that might seem dated, like a villainous, squinting foreigner in a fez! There was another flaming red flag in the behavior of one of the party guests, which raised the official alarm of the police and caused him to be arrested, before Christmas explained a mysterious and “shocking” plot twist (but to GA mystery buffs paying attention to John Christmas’ investigation, it became fairly obvious who he suspected). One of my pet peeves is telling, not showing, and the last two chapters are all telling, first Christmas explaining to his Watson buddy and Hembrow how he figured it all out, who was who and who did what. Then, the last chapter is the wrongly arrested man explaining his role - most of the mystery is about the past history of several characters, and the desire of the murdered man to blackmail or inflict emotional revenge on others - a thoroughly nasty individual.
An interesting, well done GA mystery, I’d say Jerrold earned her spot in the Detection Club! I don’t know that I’d be in a big hurry to read more, Jerrold does a little too much “telling, not showing” for my taste, but she uses several interesting and entertaining characters in her books, according to the introduction.
August 23, 2022
First published in 1929, this is the first of two Golden Age mysteries penned by author Ianthe Jerrold. “The Studio Crime” was so well respected that it gained her immediate entrance into the famous, “Detection Club,” whose founding members included Dorothy L. Sayers, Agatha Christie and Anthony Berkely. Sadly, Jerrold only penned two mysteries; this and the sequel, “Dead Man’s Quarry.” Although she wrote many other novels until the 1970’s, it is wonderful to have her two classic mysteries back in print.
Jerrold’s sleuth is a typical amateur detective of the time; John Christmas is the leisured son of a wealthy man, who can spend his days investigating crime. Inspector Hembrow is the official police officer, but, as with Lord Peter Wimsey, his help is happily accepted. Lawrence Newtree, a friend of Christmas, acts as a link between the characters and it is his studio where the storyline starts. Newtree is hosting a Christmas party on a foggy day in London. His guests include Christmas, Miss Serafine Wimpole, her aunt Miss Imogen Wimpole, psychologist Simon Mordby, Sir Marian Steen, a wealthy philanthropist, and local practitioner, Dr Mereweather.
Newtree is a caricaturist for Fleet Street and he has an invitation to take his guests upstairs later, to his neighbour, Mr Gordon Frew’s, studio. Mr Frew is a collector and has a number of visitors during the evening, including a young model named Pandora Shirley and a wonderfully exotic gentleman in a fez. During the course of the evening, Mr Frew is found murdered and the hunt is on to solve the crime. There are a good cast of possible suspects and many motives, and false trails, to untangle before the end of the book.
This is very much an early example of the Golden Age era and, as such, relies more on the plot than characters – most of which are quite stereotypical. Saying that, I enjoyed Christmas as sleuth and also liked his sounding board, Newtree. It was a shame that Serafine Wimpole did not have more chance to shine – apparently her character was based on that of the author – as she seemed to have more depth to reveal. I will certainly read Jerrold’s second mystery and think it is a shame that she only wrote two featuring John Christmas.
Jerrold’s sleuth is a typical amateur detective of the time; John Christmas is the leisured son of a wealthy man, who can spend his days investigating crime. Inspector Hembrow is the official police officer, but, as with Lord Peter Wimsey, his help is happily accepted. Lawrence Newtree, a friend of Christmas, acts as a link between the characters and it is his studio where the storyline starts. Newtree is hosting a Christmas party on a foggy day in London. His guests include Christmas, Miss Serafine Wimpole, her aunt Miss Imogen Wimpole, psychologist Simon Mordby, Sir Marian Steen, a wealthy philanthropist, and local practitioner, Dr Mereweather.
Newtree is a caricaturist for Fleet Street and he has an invitation to take his guests upstairs later, to his neighbour, Mr Gordon Frew’s, studio. Mr Frew is a collector and has a number of visitors during the evening, including a young model named Pandora Shirley and a wonderfully exotic gentleman in a fez. During the course of the evening, Mr Frew is found murdered and the hunt is on to solve the crime. There are a good cast of possible suspects and many motives, and false trails, to untangle before the end of the book.
This is very much an early example of the Golden Age era and, as such, relies more on the plot than characters – most of which are quite stereotypical. Saying that, I enjoyed Christmas as sleuth and also liked his sounding board, Newtree. It was a shame that Serafine Wimpole did not have more chance to shine – apparently her character was based on that of the author – as she seemed to have more depth to reveal. I will certainly read Jerrold’s second mystery and think it is a shame that she only wrote two featuring John Christmas.
May 10, 2020
This book neatly fits into the Golden Age mysteries and is a satisfying read for the readers. The amateur detective such a favourite of the genre, John Christmas along with his Watsons so to speak Laurence Newtree and Inspector Hembrow make for good pairing and you progressively warm up to them as the story progresses.
The story has all the classic elements of a discerning murder mystery- mysterious characters roaming in fog, locked rooms, reference to the past for the current problem and others. There are a few red herrings that the author spreads within the story and a few actual pointers to the mystery which are nicely hidden.
Again one of the main strengths of the book is that the characters are quite well-developed to keep you interested enough in the twists and turns. Even the caricature of the Inspector Hembrow is not just as a bystander but following his own train of thoughts even it may not meet with the theory that our detective John Christmas is trying to propound.
The finale dénouement unravels the thread of the mystery well and explains the reasoning quite decently.
A good addition to the mystery shelves and definitely worth your time to step into the world created by the author Ianthe Jerrold.
The story has all the classic elements of a discerning murder mystery- mysterious characters roaming in fog, locked rooms, reference to the past for the current problem and others. There are a few red herrings that the author spreads within the story and a few actual pointers to the mystery which are nicely hidden.
Again one of the main strengths of the book is that the characters are quite well-developed to keep you interested enough in the twists and turns. Even the caricature of the Inspector Hembrow is not just as a bystander but following his own train of thoughts even it may not meet with the theory that our detective John Christmas is trying to propound.
The finale dénouement unravels the thread of the mystery well and explains the reasoning quite decently.
A good addition to the mystery shelves and definitely worth your time to step into the world created by the author Ianthe Jerrold.
June 19, 2020
4 .1 stars... A mysterious figure in a Turkish Fez roams the foggy streets of London and a generally detested author dies of a dagger between the shoulder blades . The room was locked but window was open .John Christmas's and his artist Watson tries to unravel the mystery sprinkled with clues and red herrings .
It was a classic GAD story with all its standard tropes. A small set of suspects , a mysterious oriental, men with intriguing past in faraway lands and lots of clues and misdirection's . I managed to guess the murderer mostly by the time honored principle of suspecting the least suspect but not the motive .But the revealed motive is probably the weakest link in this otherwise tightly plotted engagingly written whodunnit.
I would love to read the other Jerrold as well once the price gets a bit reduced.
It was a classic GAD story with all its standard tropes. A small set of suspects , a mysterious oriental, men with intriguing past in faraway lands and lots of clues and misdirection's . I managed to guess the murderer mostly by the time honored principle of suspecting the least suspect but not the motive .But the revealed motive is probably the weakest link in this otherwise tightly plotted engagingly written whodunnit.
I would love to read the other Jerrold as well once the price gets a bit reduced.
May 8, 2021
Author Ianthe Jerrold published three novels before The Studio Crime in 1929 (her first whodunit). She followed it a year later with her second, and last whodunit, Dead Man's Quarry. They earned her acceptance into the Detection Club which included Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, R. Austin Freeman and Margery Allingham among other high-powered Golden Age mystery writers. She moved on to write thirteen more novels spanning the gamut from romantic fiction to psychological thrillers.
The book? Excellent plot, well-defined and interesting characters and an unexpected ending. Moving on to a reading of Dead Man's Quarry.
The book? Excellent plot, well-defined and interesting characters and an unexpected ending. Moving on to a reading of Dead Man's Quarry.
August 30, 2022
Fun but a bit pedestrian with nowhere near the plotting skills of Christie or the wit of GA at its best. John Christmas is an amiable amateur investigator who, of course, outdoes the official police! I just felt that the characters had more potential than ever appears: Christmas, his cartoon-illustrator friend, and the interestingly-aged girl-about-town who is unmarried at 38 could all have had more depth than they have here. The sudden dip into The Woman in White and the hastily tied up final chapters where all the good stuff happens off-stage feel like Jerrold just got bored by the end. I did, too: 2.5 stars rounded up.
July 31, 2019
Enjoyable and well-crafted mystery, first published in 1929. Wittier and better written than contemporary Christies, although not as puzzling in many respects.
It was not too difficult to work out the murderer and motive, despite some interesting diversions. It is a pity that Jerrold did not write more about amateur detective, John Christmas, and his sidekicks, Newtree and Rampson, who make an interesting trio.
It was not too difficult to work out the murderer and motive, despite some interesting diversions. It is a pity that Jerrold did not write more about amateur detective, John Christmas, and his sidekicks, Newtree and Rampson, who make an interesting trio.
June 16, 2019
Good old fashioned who-dun-it. Amateur sleuth and policeman friend solve the murder of a mysterious acquaintance. Interesting characters and a story to keep you guessing. Nice to read a book in which the characters did not find it necessary to use bad language.
September 1, 2022
A good golden age mystery with an appealing detective, a very likeable "Watson" but a less likable female friend. (I wonder what he sees in her.) I didn't particularly like the resolution, but the journey was enjoyable. Unfortunately, there is only one more book with this detective.
May 23, 2024
dull and repetitive
I didn’t bother finishing this book as I found both the plot and the characters totally uninteresting. The details were repeated over and over and the main characters ter was smug and unbelievable.
I didn’t bother finishing this book as I found both the plot and the characters totally uninteresting. The details were repeated over and over and the main characters ter was smug and unbelievable.
March 6, 2024
I think I liked it better the first time. I didn't remember the murderer. But I still like John Christmas.
March 21, 2017
Good
Excellent story well presented would recommend this book. Look forward to reading the next story in the very near future.
Excellent story well presented would recommend this book. Look forward to reading the next story in the very near future.
Read
July 5, 2021I came across this book when I was casting around for a new (to me) mystery. I'm not into grim and gritty, but cosy mysteries often strike me as irritatingly silly. The Studio Crime fit my needs quite well.
The prose was easy to read, although I noticed a few errors.The plot was somewhat convoluted and contrived, but then I wasn't reading for realism, so that was fine.
The characters were distinct, although two- rather than three-dimensional. I didn't particularly take to Christmas: it felt like he and the author were conspiring to dole out the clues one measly mysterious morsel at a time, with Christmas only boasting that his suspicions had been correct retrospectively. I did feel sorry for policeman Hembrow, whose main role seemed to be to provide access to police functions and be suitably admiring of what a clever chap Christmas had been.
It was interesting to see the historical perspectives and behaviours. My eyebrows rose at just how many characters smoked, and how casually. And for some reason I had thought of Serafine as middle-aged (ie 50-60) and was taken aback 3/4 of the way through when it was mentioned that she was thirty-seven.
All in all, a decent mystery to while away a few hours.
The prose was easy to read, although I noticed a few errors.The plot was somewhat convoluted and contrived, but then I wasn't reading for realism, so that was fine.
The characters were distinct, although two- rather than three-dimensional. I didn't particularly take to Christmas: it felt like he and the author were conspiring to dole out the clues one measly mysterious morsel at a time, with Christmas only boasting that his suspicions had been correct retrospectively. I did feel sorry for policeman Hembrow, whose main role seemed to be to provide access to police functions and be suitably admiring of what a clever chap Christmas had been.
It was interesting to see the historical perspectives and behaviours. My eyebrows rose at just how many characters smoked, and how casually. And for some reason I had thought of Serafine as middle-aged (ie 50-60) and was taken aback 3/4 of the way through when it was mentioned that she was thirty-seven.
All in all, a decent mystery to while away a few hours.
April 3, 2016
Three and a half stars.
Not a bad, if lightweight, murder mystery. The author played fair with the reader providing plenty of clues. In fact, I think there were too many clues as it was very easy to figure out whodunit. I found it a bit strange that the police confided so much in an amateur which would never have happened in real life.
Nicely written.
Not a bad, if lightweight, murder mystery. The author played fair with the reader providing plenty of clues. In fact, I think there were too many clues as it was very easy to figure out whodunit. I found it a bit strange that the police confided so much in an amateur which would never have happened in real life.
Nicely written.
June 15, 2017
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