I did enjoy this title overall, but I found the characters to be rather annoying, particularly the girl that they were trying to exonerate! I think I may have tolerated it better, were it set in the country or on an estate instead of Richmond. A nice twist at the end, but not really for me.

It is always a pleasure to read the latest 'find' as Agora Books republish some of the forgotten classics from the golden age of crime fiction. This is a particular gem, written around 1956, but unpublished until now.
Sally and Johnny Heldar are surely one of the most likeable crime-solving couples ever written with their domestic life of intellectual integrity and background in antiquarian bookselling.
The plot here is clever, with a setting on the banks of the River Thames, and links to the French Resistance.
I applaud Agora Books and Henrietta Hamilton's nephews for allowing a new generation to enjoy this beautifully written mystery.

Having read a couple of Henrietta Hamilton's stories it was very interesting to read the forward to this book by Nick Shepherd, the author's nephew; it cast a new light on 'Henrietta Hamilton' and her books. Although I found the first couple of chapters difficult to wade through with the many different characters and numerous theories I, nevertheless, really enjoyed the book and look forward to the publication of more Sally and Johnny Heldar novels - the first chapter of one was tantilisingly inserted at the end of this book!

The Man Who Wasn’t There by Henrietta Hamilton.
Absolutely loved it. So much in fact that I’ve already bought a copy of another book in the series. This duo reminds me somewhat of the Norths in the series written by Frances and Richard Lockridge in the 1930’s and 40’s. That series is set in New York, with a lot more cocktails and no baby, just a cat named Pete.
I’m looking forward to more in this mid-century cozyish series.
Thanks to Netgalley.

Henrietta Hamilton's "The Man Who Wasn't There" features another installment of Johnny and Sally Heldar, the mystery-solving, husband-and-wife antiquarian booksellers. Johnny's cousin's girlfriend, Prue, works for Mr. Frodsham who is writing a book on diabolism. Prue has second thoughts about working for him and when she tries to resign, Mr. Frodsham threatens her unless she stays. In addition to herself, Prue fears he is blackmailing another woman, and Prue returns to The Poplars one night to attempt to help her. When Prue arrives for work the next morning, someone has shot and killed Mr. Frodsham and now she is a suspect. Johnny and Sally agree to investigate the murder on Prue and Mr. Frodsham's mother's behalf. Readers of classic British mysteries will find this book enjoyable. There are plenty of red herrings. It gets a bit bogged down when Sally and Johnny brainstorm their theories, but overall it's an entertaining book.

Light and fun…

In my last review of a Henrietta Hamilton book, I expressed hope that Agora Books would continue re-issuing her books. And not only have they done so, they’ve even managed to acquire the rights to some of her previously unpublished books, including this one, The Man Who Wasn’t There, which is part of her Sally and Johnny Heldar series. As Hamilton’s nephew, Nick Shepherd, mentions in his short introduction, the order of the books in the series is a bit uncertain, but the best guess seems to be that this is the third in the series. Regardless of series order, though, I was pleased to be offered an advance review copy, and to have a chance to retreat for a while into an easy-to-read mystery with lots of period details about England and France during and shortly after World War II.

As the story opens, Sally and Johnny get pulled into the goings-on by Johnny’s young cousin, Tim. Tim, who is really more like a younger brother to Johnny, is worried about his girlfriend, Prudence Thorpe. Prue is nineteen, but until recently she has been coddled by her wealthy parents, and doesn’t have much experience of the world. After completing a secretarial course at Mrs. Wisbech’s, however, she has obtained a part-time position as secretary to an author and diabolist, Adolphe Frodsham. It quickly becomes clear that Frodsham is not a nice character, but although Tim tries to get her to leave her post (and agree to marry him), Prue doesn’t want to give up her newly won independence. Then Frodsham is found dead, and matters accelerate from there, with missing guns, doubtful alibis, red herrings, and a nice twist or two leading to the final solution. Hamilton played fair with her clues, so I kind of thought I knew whodunnit, but I doubted myself right up to the end.

If I have a complaint to make about The Man Who Wasn’t There, it’s that I felt a little bit guilty after reading it - as if I had secretly eaten a really big candy bar, and ended up on a sugar high. Although Hamilton does write about how difficult things were during the war, and the victim, as mentioned above, is an unpleasant type, even perhaps a criminal, Sally and Johnny seem to live a pretty charmed life in post-war England. They have a “daily”, Mrs. Williams, who not only manages to keep their household running smoothly, but is almost always ready to babysit Peter in the off-hours, so Sally and Johnny can go off detecting. (And how does Mrs. Williams manage to conveniently live next door, even in a basement flat, on a daily’s wages? I’m not implying anything illegal – just that it seems part and parcel of Sally and Johnny’s somewhat-too-easy life…)

All-in-all, though, I don’t require that all of my reading-for-pleasure books have to have deeper meanings, and I quite enjoyed The Man Who Wasn’t There for what it was – a fun bit of escapism. I’ll definitely be looking forward to reading others in the series. Finally, please keep in mind that I don’t give many 5-star ratings, which I keep for truly exceptional books. So for me, a 4-star rating is a “read-this-book” recommendation. And my thanks again to Agora Books and NetGalley for the advance review copy!

It’s a treat when previously unpublished books by an author I have read and enjoyed are discovered and published, as is the case here. While this one isn’t the best of Henrietta Hamilton I have read, it was enjoyable to spend time again in the company of Sally and Johnie Heldar. I appreciate the sleuthing with integrity- talking risks, but scrupulously reporting necessary details to police and being singularity clear to clients that they will do so.

While the plot was well developed and clues suitably laid, it needed, I think, tightening. There is, in places, far more detail than needed to further the plot. It held my interest, but I found myself skimming on some of the detailed conversations. It fell between three and four stars.

1956 Amateur sleuths Sally and Johnny Heldar become involved in a murder case when their cousin Tim asks for their help when his fiancée, Prue's, employer has been discovered shot, and she has become a suspect. The case is complicated by the lies they are told, blackmail, and wartime treachery in France.
An entertaining and well-written crime story with its likeable two main characters.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

‘What are you going to do this afternoon?’

England, 1950s. Sally and Johnny Heldar envisaged a quiet weekend with their infant son Peter, when a telephone call from Johnny’s cousin Tim interrupts. His fiancée, Prudence Thorpe, has broken off their engagement after becoming a suspect in the murder of her employer. Tim is sure that Prue is innocent, and seeks the help of the Heldars, accomplished amateur sleuths, to find out the truth.

Prue’s employer, Frodsham, was murdered in the home he shared with his elderly mother and his manservant. It quickly becomes apparent that a few people had both a motive to murder Frodsham as well as the opportunity. Could it have been Prue? After all, she wrote a letter on Frodsham’s behalf which could have been construed as blackmail. What about the woman with whom Frodsham was having an affair? Or that tall thin man seen in the vicinity? And what information is Frodsham’s mother withholding?

'People who get mixed up in murder cases must expect to be bothered.'

Inspector Innes from Scotland Yard is leading the official investigation, and he and Johnny Heldar quickly discover that nothing about this murder seems straightforward. Blackmail, an affair, a mystery around Frodsham’s half-brother, and certain events during the war each need to be considered. A carefully constructed and well-written Golden Age mystery from beginning to end.

This is the second of Ms Hamilton’s Sally and Johnny Heldar Mysteries I have read, and I was delighted to read that several previously unpublished manuscripts have been discovered. ‘The Man Who Wasn’t There’ is the first of these to be published, and I will eagerly await the rest.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Agora Books for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

#TheManWhoWasntThere #NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley for introducing me to this engaging mystery. The Heldar's are delightful characters. I look forward to reading more of them. In this first mystery, I especially liked the foreword by the author's nephew.

This is a newly published story written by Hamilton probably written in the 1950's.

Johnny's cousin Tim calls; Tim wants to marry Prue, but she has some kind of trouble. She has been secretary to Frodsham, who has been murdered, and the police think she might be involved. Johnny and Sally agree to help. It seems that Frodsham was sleeping with a married female neighbor, and blackmailing another. Frodsham and his mother have moved to England from France after the war, and Frodsham was involved with the Resistance during the war, and may have made some enemies.

The husband of the woman who was involved with Frodsham disappears early in the case. When someone seems to be trying to kill Prue, they realize she must know something she isn't aware of.
Johnny and Sally need to find the murderer before he commits another murder. The book keeps the reader guessing, and is a great classic crime.

"The Man Who Wasn't There" is a mystery that was written in 1956 and set in England. It's the third in a series, but it works as a stand-alone. This was a clue-based puzzle mystery. Johnny (who is helped by his wife) used logic to puzzle out the solution. They made sure that anyone who came to them with information also gave it to the police. Much of the story was interviews, so the main characters were barely developed. They're likable people, but little was told about them outside of the crime. There were several suspects that could have murdered the victim. I was able to guess whodunit near the end and even the twist before it was revealed, but I was uncertain before then. There was no sex. There were only a few uses of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting puzzle mystery.

I am a fan of 'old-fashioned' mysteries, and this one hit all the right notes. It's definitely not groundbreaking, but it is extremely entertaining, and the twist was only obvious at the end. I enjoyed it very much, and think it would make a terrific beach/vacation read.

A previously unpublished Henrietta Hamilton book from her Sally and Johnny Heldar mystery series. It comes with an introduction from the authors nephew Nick Shepherd. Henrietta had 4 novels published but there are typed manuscripts of 13 other books which were found after her death, of which 4 are Heldar mysteries. Of the books that were previously published they were between 1956-59. but the author seems to have kept writing until 64/65. Changing tastes are given as the reason why her books were no longer accepted for publishing but luckily for us her manuscripts survived and Agora Books are now publishing the collection for a new audience that likes golden age books.
Johnny's cousin Tim finds himself in a pickle: his fiance Prue has reneged on their engagement after becoming a suspect in the murder of her employer. Tim pleads with the Heldars to clear Prue's name but it is a perplexing case, There are several suspects but motives seem thin on the ground. There is Mrs Addleston who was reported to be having an affair with the dead man. Then there is her husband Mr Addleston. Mrs Nantwich was being blackmailed by the dead man, Frodsham. Her husband may have killed Frodsham to extricate his wife. The victims mother asks the Heldars after the inquest to help solve the murder and gives them lots of information but always seems to be holding something back. His servant Jules was out at the cinema the night of the murder and came over from France with Frodsham and his mother and worked in the Resistance with Frodsham during the war.
There is talk of a half brother wanted for murder but now the main beneficiary in Frodsham's will. A girl in the Resistance was captured and killed during the war and it is suspected it was due to information being passed by someone in the Resistance so revenge may be a motive. There are plenty of suspects and a few attempts made on Prue's life but the Heldars are still a bit suspicious of Prue so she is not fully off the suspect list either.
It was an enjoyable story, well written and the explanation of how the murder was committed was well done. The only thing that really ages the book for me is the notion of an 18/19 year old getting engaged after a few months of knowing someone. But if you can suspend belief over that then then the rest of the story flows quite well and is enjoyable. I look forward to reading the rest of the unpublished manuscripts in time.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle by Agora and #NetGalley for my honest opinion.

Lovely vintage mystery featuring quaint sleuths in Sally and Johnny. The Man Who Wasn’t There will have you wanting more from this series.

Having read and enjoyed Henrietta Hamilton’s three available mysteries on Agora Books’ Uncrowned Queens Of Crime list featuring the very appealing young couple Sally and Johnny Heldar, I was pleased to find that Hamilton’s family had come across some previously unpublished works and Agora are planning to publish six over the coming year.
The Man Who Wasn’t There is the first of the six newly discovered manuscripts to be released and what a treat it is.
Johnny’s cousin Tim is engaged to the lovely Prue who finds herself chief suspect in a murder case involving the shooting of her boss, Frenchman Adolphe Frodsham at home in his study. Frodsham’s own mother is so alarmed by this that she calls in Johnny and Sally to help.
This mystery has a good range of suspects and motives to pick from including a long lost criminal brother and various mistresses of Adolphe and their husbands as well as a shady past with the French Resistance during the war. The police don’t feature too much and are amiable about Sally and Johnny’s investigations when they are mentioned. A twist at the end had me totally wrong footed about the identity of the murderer which I always enjoy.
All in all this is a welcome addition to my collection of classic crime and I eagerly await the other five.
Thanks to Agora Books and Netgalley for the ARC.

Sally and Johnny Heldar have helped solved mysteries before, so when the woman that Johnny’s cousin Tim wants to marry finds herself caught up in a murder case, it’s only natural that Tim turns to them for help. Prue’s employer has been murdered and as a result she’s called off their engagement. Tim is desperate for Sally and Johnny to clear Prue’s name and win her back for him; but the more they investigate, the more complicated the mystery gets, with infidelity and blackmail and wartime treachery to contend with.

I read a previous Heldar mystery, Answer in the Negative, last year and really enjoyed it. I like Sally and Johnny as characters in both books - they have a nice relationship where they both get to do investigating. This is a previously unpublished entry in the series that the author’s nephew discovered in a stash of manuscripts. It’s not known when exactly this was written, but I would guess around the time that it was set - which is the early 1950s. The introduction says it went unpublished because tastes changed, which makes me sad because it’s too good to have only come to light now.

I’ve read a lot of mysteries with roots in the First World War and a lot set in the Wars but not a lot in set in the fifties with links to the Second World War. So this is a nice change. It’s also interestingly twisty, but follows the rules that the clues are there if you know where to look. On the basis of this, I’m hoping that more of the unpublished Heldar books find their way into the light soon.

After Hester Denne Shepherd aka Henrietta Hamilton died in 1995, her nephews found the unpublished manuscripts of 13 books including four which feature her detective duo, the Heldars. This is the first of those to be published, and is designated the third in the series.

I have read the three already reissued by Agora Books and found them entertaining and easy-to-read. This was a little different.

While the characterisation was fresh and vivid, I thought that the plot was rather slight to sustain even a fairly short novel. There were red herring aplenty, the murdered man being a blackmailer, a philanderer and a former member of the French Resistance, as well as extremely wealthy, made sure of that. However, much of the book is taken up with slightly wearing discussions and speculations about, and rehashing of, what the obvious suspects did on the night of the murder.

For intrepid GAD readers, the murderer and motive were not too hard to spot, although the cracking of an alibi depended on a detail not revealed until late on.

Despite my reservations, I can recommend this to lovers of the traditional, well-written detective novel. I just found it slightly harder going than the others.

3.25 stars.

Thank you to Crime Classics Advance Readers Club for the digital review copy.

Delightful Duo….
Getting mixed up in a murder investigation is par of the course for the sometime amateur sleuths, Sally and Johnny Heldar. Here is no exception when they intervene on behalf of their, possibly hapless, cousin Tim.
The Heldars are both likeable and amenable and make an enjoyable, delightful sleuthing duo. Hugely enjoyable classic crime, fully entertaining with well drawn characters and an engaging plot. A very worthy publication from Agora Books (and part of their ‘Uncrowned Queens of Crime’ series). Highly recommended as is the whole of this series. Top class.

I've read the three Henrietta Hamilton mysteries with Johnnie and Sally Heldar, and I am absotuely thrilled to find there are six more unpublished manuscripts to come. If they are all going to be like this one I am very satisfied. The same excellent writing as the first, with great detail from the 1950s. Lovely characterisation, very evocative of London in the years immediately after the Second World War. A great read. I'm so pleased Agora Books are publishing these.