Amanda Derrington is on an extended cruise with her uncle when she decides to make a short trip to the island of Cyprus. Even before the ship arrives in the port, there is a suspicious death. Once the passengers reach the island, it soon becomes clear that the death was in fact an act of murder. What Amanda had meant to be a pleasant excursion quickly takes a turn for the worse in this classic novel of suspense and romance by one of our most celebrated writers. [summary from FF] {Actually Amanda has just turned 21, which is why she can defy her guardian and go to Cyprus—she now has control of her inheritance.}
Kaye, M.M.: Death in Cyprus
In the ‘60’s and 70’s I read a lot of romantic suspense novels mainly by Mary Stewart and Victoria Holt (pseudonym of Jean Plaidy) but somehow I never came across MM Kaye, even though she published her first novel of this type a few years before Mary Stewart and almost a decade before Jean Plaidy created Victoria Holt as the name under which she would publish her novels in this genre. It’s been quite awhile since I’ve read a novel in the “damsel in distress in an exotic locale” style but Death in Cyprus appeared on an Amazon list of best mysteries of the 20th century so I decided to give it a try. It was much better than I had expected and actually better than I remember the Mary Stewart’s novels being. MM Kaye seemed to me to develop her characters more in depth and her descriptions of the locale were superb. The heroine, 21 year old Amanda Darrington, has just come into her inheritance so decides to leave the trip she is on with her guardian and take a side-trip to Cyprus. Even before she arrives there is a murder on board ship and danger seems to be stalking her everywhere in Cyprus. Although the villain was not difficult to spot there were enough interesting characters – especially some really “bitchy” women characters that were fun. I also loved the elderly and eccentric Mrs. Moon, with whom Amanda is staying, who chooses the color of her clothing according to what day it is and is highly observant in spite of seeming to be a bit scatter-brained. Persis, the American romance novel author also is quite an interesting character. I found it refreshing to read a G rated romantic novel—very difficult to find these in this day and age unless you stick to “Christian fiction.” This was a delightful two evenings read. ( )

Light and fluffy mystery/romance that passes an afternoon. ( )

I love M.M. Kaye's mysteries for their travelogue value as well as the mystery/romantic suspense that they are. This, one of my favourites, is set in Cyprus in the late 1940s, where Amanda Derington is visiting after staying with relatives in Egypt. On the boat she witnesses the death of Julia Blaine, and through this she meets again the very interesting Steve Howard, who seems to be more than just an artist.