Aubrey Hamilton Reviews: She Shall Have Murder by Delano James

She Shall Have Murder by Delano Ames introduces Jane Hamish and Dagobert Brown in a Golden Age gem first published in 1948 and reprinted by Rue Morgue Press in 2008. Ames released twelve amusing mysteries featuring the pair between 1948 and 1959. Tom and Enid Schantz point out in their excellent introduction to the 2008 reissue that Jane and Dagobert are one of the earliest detecting couples, preceded only by Tommy and Tuppence Beresford and possibly Nick and Nora Charles.

Jane is a law clerk in a small legal firm in London and Dagobert is perennially un- or underemployed, existing, one assumes, on an allowance from his family. He is subject to a great many whims and sudden interests. His current preoccupation is the mystery that he thinks Jane should write, since he is sure a law office provides a wealth of material. Jane is busy trying to earn a living and keep her employer happy, but she begins work on a story in odd moments of her day.

One of the difficult routine tasks for the entire staff in the office is coping with Mrs. Robjohn, a lonely widow who lives down the street. She visits often, looking for help with the men that she says are watching her apartment. The employees have not found signs that anyone has the slightest interest in their client but must continue to do their best to placate her. Mrs. Robjohn’s growing paranoia and importunate visits are such that, when she is found dead one morning, everyone is relieved. Dagobert, however, is convinced she was murdered and pulls Jane into an investigation that has surprising consequences.

While the mystery itself is sound, the real reason to read this story is the description of daily living in post-war London. Food was still limited and many products were rationed. Even so, people still went out to eat and drink often, and the local pub was everyone’s favorite meeting place. The practice of paying for residential heat via a meter that takes a shilling at a time has always amazed me. The need to keep specific coins on hand to stay warm is similar, I expect, to hoarding quarters for the laundromat.

An unexpected bit was the matter-of-fact way divorce is treated. I thought divorce was an embarrassment rarely mentioned, yet Dagobert’s wife, whom we never meet, has filed for divorce and he asks Jane if she minds being named co-respondent. I would have expected her to be shocked or upset but she doesn’t seem to be.

The law office reminded me of the advertising firm in Murder Must Advertise by Dorothy L. Sayers. The staff intrigues and gossips in about the same way.

Unfortunately many of the books in this series are out of print and unavailable. With the renewed interest in Golden Age mysteries, perhaps an enterprising publisher will see fit to produce the entire set once again.

·         Trade Paperback: 192 pages

·         Publisher: Rue Morgue (May 15, 2008)

·         Language: English

·         ISBN-10: 1601870175

·         ISBN-13: 978-1601870179

Aubrey Hamilton ©2018

Aubrey Hamilton is a former librarian who works on Federal IT projects by day and reads mysteries at night.