A Nice Class of Corpse

Mysteries aren't necessarily my genre, but I did enjoy this one. It's set in a residence hotel populated by uppercrusty older folks, run by a woman who is very concerned with keeping everything classy and decorous and constrained by neat little rules. The latest resident, though -- a Mrs. Pargeter -- is a bit more unconventional and unconstrained than expected. And when not one, but two residents suddenly die in supposed accidents, she takes it on herself to investigate, with a little help from skills and contacts cultivated in her surprisingly colorful past.

The plot isn't, I suppose, anything particularly amazing, but it's written in a way that plays around entertainingly with the reader's expectations by making you suspect pretty much show more everybody, one by one. It's also got a very dry, very English sense of humor, which I enjoyed. And Milena Pergeter is a fun character, too. show less

Brett, Simon. A Nice Class of Corpse. Mrs. Pargeter No. 1. Scribner, 1986.
The recently widowed Melita Pargeter moves into a hotel catering to “active” senior citizens. The owner of the place is genteel in the extreme. By active, she means able to control one’s bowels and bladder. Her guests are members of the middle class or lower nobility. Mrs. Pargeter does not quite fit in. She has money, but she has the effrontery not to be awed by her new experience. Her husband was a man who loved her dearly and left her well off, but his sources of income might not have been approved by the police. All her husband’s old friends and “business” associates promised him they would look after her. When she sets out to solve series of show more murders at the hotel, she has lots of help. If, for example, she needs the combination to the hotel safe, she knows just who to call. The satire aimed at English gentility is more biting than in some of Brett’s other series. Fun stuff. 4 stars. show less

The intrigue of the mystery began with a diary entry before even "meeting" the characters by name. A diary entry plotting murder. Who is the diarist?

Mrs. Melita Pargeter is the newest arrival to become a resident at the Devereux Hotel in Littlehampton, England. Miss Naismith is quite particular in accepting new residents not merely due to the small quantity of 8 guest rooms for long-term residents with an extensive waiting list but she wishes to ensure every resident is a "a nice class of person." Hotel staff includes Mrs. Ayling and Mrs. Denyer, Newth and Loxton. Newth and Loxton have a wide range of roles to ensure the residents are provided quality service within the confines of Miss Naismith’s preferences and the "hotel’s show more unwritten rules."

Mrs. Pargeter is delightful! She’s generous, kind, and not given to formality. She quickly becomes a sleuth and it’s a fun twist that she always credits the late Mr. Pargeter for her investigative techniques. With diary entries continuing and events escalating there was also no shortage of red herrings.

I look forward to more of Mrs. Pargeter’s investigations. With her attention to detail, lively spirit, and inquisitive nature I think her sleuthing is just getting started.

"A glossary of English usage for US readers" is provided at the end of the cozy and is discoverable if needed from the "Table of Contents." show less

An amusing light read. Mrs. Pargeter, a lady with a curious past, moves into a residential hotel. Murder and jewel theft soon occur. Mrs. P., who is naturally interested in these events, threads her way through some plot surprises.
This book is just okay, but is a pleasant way to spend a few hours. No on-stage gore.

I wanted a cozy mystery and this was recommended in Kindle Unlimited for me. It has some fun quirks, so I continued reading the series while I could only read here and there and didn’t want to get caught up in a story I would need to put down repeatedly. I read five books in the series, but I don’t see myself returning to it. They served their purpose but didn’t interest me enough to continue after having the time to spend on books I wanted to read.

Really this was a 2.5 Stars I didn't Not Like It I was more like OK.

Mrs. Pargeter has moved into a Resident Hotel for people of "Class" who happen to conform to the owner's sense of propriety...Of course Mrs. Pargeter doesn't fit in, nor does she try to. In fact she does her best to make herself comfortable in her own manner. Two residents are murdered, one of whom has her jewels replaced with fakes. The murder keeps a diary.....

This book was a disappointment tome because it lacked the usual cast of characters that I have come to like so well...really they are what makes the series successful, not Mrs. Pargeter. To me she'd be just another Nosey Parker without the others.

A cozy read from the series of Mrs Melita Pargeter, a widow who has mystery-solving talents.
Mrs. Pargeter takes up resident at the Devereux Hotel on the coast in England where seniors, who are in good health, live. Murders are shortly after she arrives
This was my first read of the Mrs. Pargeter series and I liked the character, who is near the age of 70.
Mrs. Pargeter reminded me of Miss Marple by Agatha Christie.
I will read some of the other books by this author, Simon Brett.
https://www.simonbrett.com/