Birthday Party

The story begins in 1922 with the suicide of Claude Carlice, leaving a young son and daughter, his second wife, and his sister, Isabel. Of course, the reader immediately suspects that the suicide will eventually be found to be murder. However, there is no hint of suspicion and most of the book is a leisurely account of the family in alternating chapters by four people: sister Isobel, Ronnie the son, second wife Dora, and her brother, a wildcard. Claude's daughter died in a car accident resulting in Ronnie, who stands to inherit on his imminent 21st birthday, being the only person standing in the way of Isabel inheriting.

The book reads more like a family saga where, as in all sagas, not a lot happens, but is an interesting portrayal of show more upper crust life and society at the beginning of the 20th century, and includes some interesting conversation on socialism, a prominent topic of the time. There was a nice twist at the end that I should have been aware of earlier, instead I had a couple of "Why did he...?" moments and let it pass. Kitchin writes well and this is an enjoyable story, with just a whiff of murder. show less