Killing the Goose

Two young women turn up dead within a few days and a few blocks of each other. Two young men are obvious suspects in their murders. Inspector O'Malley, as usual, thinks it's simple and wants it all tied up nice and soon. Pam North, as usual, sees things differently, and both her husband and their friend Lieutenant Bill Weigand know that, as quirky as her thought processes are, one ignores her theories and her inclination to follow up on them, at some peril. Usual Pam's peril. This one has a too-smooth radio commentator who pushes all the right (or wrong) buttons during wartime, and has both influence and a "following"...a dangerous combination in the Commmissioner's eyes. Another screwy one, as Sergeant Mullins sees it. The cats make show more only a brief appearance, but there's plenty of gin. show less

No one plays more fair than authors Frances and Richard Lockridge. A socialite is murdered in her home after a party, and Jerry and Pam North are drawn into her death. I thoroughly enjoyed trying to figure out the murderer, but I never — despite plenty of clues — I never figured out this fun whodunit.

One of earlier (and usually better) North books. A simple typist is killed in a café, a socialite in her own home, then there are more murders, until Mrs. North sets up a [personal meeting with the murderer.