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When General Sir Arthur Billington-Smith is murdered in his own study, his house is full of family members and weekend guests who have ample cause to applaud his demise. Was it his son, an impetuous youth the General had been about to disinherit because of his engagement to an unsuitable woman? Was it that woman, who insisted that she could not marry the son unless he continued to be rich? Was it one of the guests, who was disgusted by the General’s continued attentions to his pretty but vain wife? Was it, indeed, the General’s own wife, both because of his flirtations with other women and because he constantly disparaged her in public? Those are only a few of the suspects and motives that Detective Inspector Harding of Scotland Yard must sort through to arrive at the truth…. “The Unfinished Clue” is one of a loose collection of Georgette Heyer novels dubbed the “Country House Mystery” series, so-called because they are each set in a stately home, not because they have any specific characters in common. It was published in the 1930s and carries a few stereotypes not unusual for the time, including the bad-tempered victim himself (“lord of the manor” in the grossest terms), the Mexican “spitfire” girlfriend, the Jewish publicity agent, as well as very clear demarcations as to which characters matter (the upper classes) and which do not (the servants). That said, the story is a lively one and the plot is well crafted, and I never came close to guessing the solution, which is a good thing in a mystery! Don’t take it too seriously and enjoy it for what it is; recommended. ( )

First published in 1934, it is the second Heyer novel that I have read. I gave it very high scores because there just is not anything wrong with it - even if the story is not everyone's favorite/typical genre/plot. The mystery is well plotted with excellent work with motives. The characterizations are top notch. There is a good measure of wit. There are characters to love and hate and some that are outlandish - and all of these make the cast seem very realistic. There is a bit of a minor romance, I suppose, which might be ever-so-slightly off-putting, but its with a likeable character whom one wants to see have a happy ending. Although not a story every reader enjoys, it is a book that is very well written. ( )

Heyer has a knack at creating singularly odious people to murder in her novels, and Col. Billington-Smith is no exception. A bully who alienates and abuses his whole family, and community, no one is exactly suprised when he winds up dead. Still, the case proves thorny, for several reasons, not the least of which is that the CID man from Scotland Yard sent to investigate finds himself having less than professional feelings for the sister-in-law of the victime. ( )

Not associated with Heyer's series characters. ( )