What a fantastic golden age surprise! “The Red House Mystery” is a short 1922 novel from A.A. Milne, yes the same A.A. Mine who wrote the Winnie-the-Pooh stories. Here we have all of the elements of a classic British country house mystery set among the upper class with a locked room puzzle thrown in as well.

Mark Ablett is a rich bachelor living in the Red House in the English countryside, along with his servants and his cousin Cayley, who manages all of Mark’s affairs for him. As we always see in these novels, Mark has a house full of guests who have come to visit and engage in leisurely activities, from lawn bowling to golf to croquet, even one of the crowd dressing up as a ghost as a practical joke. During breakfast one morning Mark announces that his wayward brother Robert is suddenly returning later that afternoon, a brother that had been quite wild and had shipped off to Australia 15 years earlier.

As soon as Robert arrives he and Mark are behind closed doors arguing in the office, when a shot rings out across the house. Cayley runs to the door, but it is locked from the inside. Quickly (and unexpectedly) joined by Anthony Gillingham, a stranger who happened visit the house to see his friend Bill Beverley, the two run outside to force the French windows after they see a body on the floor. The body belongs to the brother Robert, shot in the head, with no revolver and no Mark to be found.

Anthony Gillingham, who has been idly spending his time trying out different things that interest him, decides that he would like to try his hand at being an amateur detective, and enlists his friend Bill Beverley to act as his Watson. Together they engage in pursuing the answers to several questions, such as what happened to Mark, why is he missing? Was Robert killed in self-defense? What was the threat that led to the argument?

And off our wannabe Sherlock and Holmes go, with plenty of witty banter and interesting theories. Mr. Milne treats us to secret passages, missing keys and mysterious locked cupboards, following suspects in the middle of the night, searching a lake for a hidden clue, and a potential romance off on the side. Will our amateurs solve the case before the inspector and catch the murderer?

In the introduction Mr. Milne gives us his opinion on what a murder mystery story should contain and he delivers on all of his requirements. The only small quibble is that the guests are quickly shuttled off out of the picture, leaving only our protagonists and the household. And the solution isn’t really that difficult to figure out. But we still have the witty dialogue, the hidden passages, the shadowy secrets. A fun ride, too bad Mr. Milne didn’t provide some further adventures for Tony and Bill.

I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from Pushkin Press Pushkin Vertigo via NetGalley. Thank you!

What a great mystery book. I liked it very much. I believe all mystery readers will enjoy this book. I’d recommend it.

Mark Ablett, wealthy bachelor is having yet another house party when he receives unwanted news that his black sheep of a brother is arriving this afternoon. Usually wanting money, Mark is not looking forward to the visit. The house guests are out golfing when the visit is scheduled. Quite coincidentally Antony Gillingham arrives at the house with the intention of visiting one of the house party, Bill Beverly. Antony arrives to find the household in panic, a gunshot has been heard and the study, housing Mark and his brother is locked. Once the door is finally opened the brother is discovered dead and Mark is missing. The story moves slowly with great dialogue and characters and you are sure you know the villain, but then the end has a devious twist.

A clever story that I enjoyed very much. I am a big fan of the golden age of mysteries and appreciate the authentic flavor of the genuine article. The dialogue and descriptions lend so much to the story. A “closed room” mystery is usually not a favorite of mine, but I was so curious I had to give it a try. Thank you to NetGalley and Pushkin Vertigo for the advance copy. Recommend.

So, this is a real classic mystery which was written by the author of "Winnie-the-Pooh", A.A. Milne. I've wanted to read it for a long time, so I appreciate this edition. It's a bit dated, which is to be expected, but a very solid story that kept me engaged. Makes you think about the author who found his fame with children's books! My thanks to Net Galley & the publisher for this "read now" DRC - appreciate being able to read & review it!

This was a fairly solid read, but what else did I expect from the author that brought us Winnie the Pooh? Plus, it did help that the genre was right up my alley as well.

I never thought I’d enjoy an older story as much as I did this one. It’s classic – a country house in England where well-to-do folk are having a smashing time with their host, Mark Ablett. Then the host’s estranged brother Robert from Australia shows up. Australia, at this time, is still known as the home of exiles and miscreants. He is almost immediately killed, and the host disappears. Two of the guests (one who wasn’t even supposed to be there) give it a go at solving the case. And that’s really all there is to it. The way Mr. Anthony Gillingham goes about figuring it out is brilliant. He humorously pokes fun at the cliched Sherlock Holmes way of sleuthing and then goes about doing the same thing. And I must say, Anthony and Bill make a much better duo than Holmes and Watson!

However, I do take umbrage with it being labeled a locked door mystery, as that felt like a bit of a cheat, there. I can't say more if you haven't read it, but I take those words quite seriously regarding mysteries.

I only wish that this hadn’t been the author’s only foray into detective stories. I could easily envision a series of tales, where they go about the countryside to different manors, engaging with the guests, and solving mysteries. Although, there is something to say for a one-and-done. When you come up with the perfect crime and the perfect solution, why try to duplicate its perfection?

The Red House Mystery by A. A. Milne is a cracking Golden Age whodunit first published in 1922. Not only is the ingenious locked-room mystery baffling (yes, the reader is given the clues), Milne's clever wit made me chuckle several times. You can't throw a brick without hitting red herrings and the British vernacular of the era is utterly perfect, just what a rabid Golden Age fan hopes for.

Set in the ubiquitous English country house, Mark Ablett hosts a party. The jovial atmosphere quickly becomes a grim occasion when Mark's estranged brother Robert from Australia shows up and is quickly murdered. Mark vanishes without a trace. Some view it as sure guilt. Meanwhile, attendee Anthony Gillingham contemplates jumping feet first into yet another occupation as his attention span is short, always has been. Who better than him to fill the amateur sleuth role along with his friend, Bill? The two inveigle and encounter mayhem, in spades. Revealing suspects' secrets is like pulling teeth. The journey to the truth is as delicious as the cunning solution itself. Characters are quirky and their closets are full of skeletons. And the story comes complete with a ghost.

Hunker down with this classic mystery and allow yourself to be enveloped in bliss. If you are new to the genre, this is a great introduction. Such a shame it is the only mystery novel written by this spectacular author.

My sincere thank you to Pushkin Press and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this enchanting novel. Thank you, too, for not underestimating the power and allure of Golden Age Classics and thereby republishing them.

As a life-long Winnie-The-Pooh fan, when I realised that there was a mystery written AA Milne in the style of an amateur detective (following the style of Holmes and Watson) I was intrigued.

Having read Roz Watkins The Red House earlier this year, I initially had to shake that novel from my head. However, due to when this was written the contrasting style soon did that for me.

The personification used to bring the house to life works well. The murder provides a good number of questions and the sleuth (Gillingham) who decides to investigate does so in his own way, with his sidekick (Beverly) who he refers to as his Watson. Liking Sherlock Holmes stories potentially helped me enjoy this more. The imagery (such as the use of a pipe) and way that language is used is so appropriate for when it is set and written, making it a good juxtaposition to modern novels. If you didn’t know it was published in 1922, you’d soon realise it’s period when reading.

The reveal was successful in my opinion, as were all the twists and turns. The story builds well to its reveal and is a short, and worthwhile read if you fancy a contrast to the modern-day thrillers and murder mysteries. I give four-stars as it was perhaps a little obvious in terms of the whodunnit…it still kept me reading though!

Agatha Christie meets Sherlock Holmes in this fantastic mystery ‘whodunnit’ by A.A Milne who has branched away from his well know children’s literature for this one and only mystery novel for adults.

The story focuses on Mr. Gillingham who by nature is a bit of a drifter, and by chance is staying at The George Inn in the next village over from an old friend Bill Beverley who is staying at the Red House. We learn that Mr. Gillingham has tried his hand at many jobs and vocations, and due to his timely arrival at the Red House just as a murder occurs, this time round he is trying his hand at detective work.

A fantastic murder mystery full of the old quintessential English country life, lots of “By Jove” and “I say old chap!” And features scenes almost from a game of Cluedo - with secret passages and hidden rooms. The mystery itself unfolds in a brilliant manner, keeping the reader guessing right up until the last page. With the detective work only Sherlock could be envious of, there was a twist worthy of Agatha Christie at the end. Indeed Gillingham himself refers to himself as Sherlock Holmes, and Bill as ‘his Watson’, there are lots of funny moments in the book where Gillingham / Milne jovially mocks detective fiction, for example this break in the story by Milne to describe the key character in an act of humorous intertextuality:

“He is an important person to this story, so that it is as well we should know something about him before letting him loose in it. Let us stop him at the top of the hill on some excuse, and have a good look at him.”

And this funny quote from Gillingham when he is hypothesizing his ideas to Bill, his very own Watson:

“Properly speaking, I oughtn’t to explain till the last chapter, but I always think that that’s so unfair.”

Overall, a fantastic entertaining and cleverly written whodunnit, which in some places made me sit bolt upright with suspense, and in others made me chuckle to myself in humor. I couldn’t guess the ending and I wanted more after I’d finished it. What a shame that Milne only wrote the one mystery novel - I think he would have been as if not more successful as a mystery writer than as a children’s author.

Like a lot of people I'd only heard of AA Milne in the context of the Winnie the Pooh books. So I decided to give this cosy crime novel a go out of curiosity. It's not unusual to find closed room mysteries set in the 1920s - it's a popular genre - but this one has the advantage of being written by someone around in that time which for me adds to the authenticity.

'The Red House Mystery' centres on the house of the title. The lord and master of the house, Mark, is due a visit from his undesirable brother Robert. The long lost relative arrives, and within a short time has been shot dead and Mark vanished. Into this dramatic scene walks Antony Gillingham, a stranger who has timed his visit rather badly - or well, depending on your perspective. After finding the body, Antony decides to stick around and solve the mystery with the help of his friend and fellow houseguest, Bill.

It's well written, immediately drawing you in. There is plenty of humour and it's well paced. I liked the characters of Antony and Bill, who made a really likeable crime fighting duo. There's enough in the plot to keep you guessing, it's not as fiendishly complex as some, but it works well and I was entertained throughout. I was a bit disappointed that there aren't any sequels in fact.

If you enjoy 'cosy crime' and/or Golden Age detective stories, this should definitely be on your reading list.

I had no idea A.A Milne wrote a mystery. I really enjoyed the experience. I think it was well written and he did a great job keeping the reader guessing

The Red House Mystery is a Golden Age locked room mystery by A.A.Milne, better known for his Winnie the Pooh stories.
Another mystery is why Milne didn't turn this into a series, not least as it was hailed as a masterpiece by no less than Raymond Chandler and much as I love Winnie the Pooh I'd far rather read the further adventures of amateur sleuth Antony Gillingham.

The story revolves around the apparent murder of Robert Ablett,newly arrived from Australia to visit his estranged brother Mark ,owner of the English country house known as the Red House.
Antony Gillingham arrives at the house to visit friend Bill Beverley who is a guest there to find the Ablett's cousin Matthew Cayley banging on the office door after hearing gunshots. The pair investigate , find Robert's body and no sign of Mark.

This is great fun, Gillingham and Beverley are a more comedic Holmes and Watson ,the location is the obligatory locked room in a country house and while there are definite hints that Milne wrote this with tongue firmly in cheek it's a joy to read.
A very entertaining read.

Mark Ablett is sitting down to breakfast with a small group of friends at his home, The Red House, when he learns of the impending arrival of his brother Robert. It soon becomes apparent to the guests that Robert Ablett, a wastrel who has been in Australia for the past 15 years, will not be welcomed with open arms, and an already planned round of golf gives them a welcome escape. So, when Robert arrives, the house is empty, save for Mark, his cousin Matthew Cayley, and several servants. He is shown into the office, and within minutes a shot is heard.

Enter Antony Gillingham, who has come to visit one of the guests, his friend Bill Beverley. Anthony arrives as Cayley is attempting to get into the locked office. When they enter they find Robert dead, and Mark has disappeared. Puzzled by many of the events, Gillingham sets himself up as amateur sleuth, with Beverley as his Watson.

The Red House Mystery is one of the first Golden Age mysteries I remember reading, and it has always remained a favorite of mine. Milne jammed it full of everything that a mystery could need. There is a murder at a country house, it occurs in a locked room, and there’s a smart amateur detective with his very intelligent Watson by his side—what more do you need!

Antony Gillingham is a gentleman of independent means who has decided to “see the world” by observing people “from as many angles as possible.” To do so, he took on everyday jobs such as newspaper reporter, waiter, valet, or shop assistant. Currently in between positions, and on the spot at the time of the murder, he believes he is in a unique position, that of unbiased outsider, and can treat the case with open-minded interest. And so, he comes to take on a new job of amateur sleuth. Bill Beverley is a charmingly eager young gentleman, but not fatuous in any way. While he is quite often impressed by Gillinngham’s sleuthing abilities, he is not one to fawn over his friend. And in working out several of the key issues on his own, he makes an extremely intelligent sleuth in his own right.

Milne writes with humor, filling the story with witty dialogue and satire. And with lines such as when Beverley calls Gillingham a “Silly old ass”, there are even faint whispers of Pooh and his friends that brought a smile to my face. And while Beverley often looks on the investigation as a lark, the older and wiser Gillingham acknowledging the seriousness of the situation, and the probable outcome of their investigation. Through him, Milne also does very well in conveying the darkness of human nature and the crime that has been committed

The only real fault in is the incredibly small group of suspects, which results in an ending which comes as no surprise. But still, this is an immensely satisfying read. What a pity that Milne didn’t write more mysteries. Highly recommend!

A great “classic” locked room mystery with Agatha Christie vibes. Wish he would have written more books like this!I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.