The Red House Mystery by A.A. Milne - Book Review

Publication Date: 03rd Sep 2024 (first published in 1922) 

Genre: Classic Cozy Mystery 

3.2 Stars 

One Liner: Fun but with limitations 

Mark Ablett had a spacious estate in the quaint English countryside. He had been hosting some guests when the news of his estranged brother, Robert, arrived. Robert was shipped to Australia and was arriving for a visit after fifteen years. However, things turn bad when Robert is found dead in a locked room and Mark is nowhere to be seen. 

Enter Anthony Gillingham, a friend of Bill Beverly (one of the guests) at the crime scene. Anthony does this and that, and decides that he could very well start a new profession and become a detective. Bill is too happy to help him. 

Now, it’s up to Anthony and Bill to solve the mystery. Can they do it?  

The story comes from an omnipresent third-person narrator (with frequent breaking of the fourth wall). 

My Thoughts: 

The book starts with a quirky author’s note (added in 1926) and sets the stage for the story. We know what kind of mystery to expect (after all, the author is very particular about it). 

Given what Milne is known for, it is no surprise that the narrative is sprinkled with a liberal dose of humor, irony, and chuckle-worthy observations. The narrative style may not work for everyone but once I realized how it would be, I could go with the flow and enjoy it. 

I knew what the case was at around 20% or less. For a contemporary cozy mystery lover, it is familiar and tackled by hundreds of books. However, remember that the book was first published in 1922. This will also help in understanding that some of the content (comments) will be outdated. That’s bound to happen, so no big deal. 

The book will work well if you don’t think (at all) and read it for the sake of some light chuckles. Start thinking, and you will dislike many elements. Another way to enjoy the book is to consider it a satirical take on mysteries. It is like a farce, be it the characters, the dialogue, or the actions. The repeated references to Sherlocky and Watsony can go either way and will sound funny only when this book is read as a farce. 

I can see why this is the only mystery by the author. A smart decision! It was fun while it lasted, though. 

I was still willing to rate it high but the method of reveal ruined it for me. Why, oh, why did it have to be that way? I would rather read the amateur detective spell it out in a monologue than this. Sigh! 

To summarize, The Red House Mystery is indeed a fun read if you go with the right expectations (as a farcical take on mysteries) and do not look too closely at the details. Read it on a cozy noon with some hot chocolate. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Pushkin Vertigo, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #TheRedHouseMystery