The Red House Mystery

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.

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!

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.

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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?

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.

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!

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.

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

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!

How have I never read this classic before, A.A. Milne’s only mystery? The Red House Mystery, now in the public domain, has been available for free in the Kindle format since at least 2012. I probably own it; however, I never read it.

Antony Gillingham stumbles onto a murder mystery when he arrives at the Red House just as a pistol goes off. The owner of the house, Mark Ablett, in the midst of a house party, disappears, just after a long-lost black sheep brother has returned from his exile in Australia. Did Mark kill his brother? Antony enlists a houseguest, Bill Beverley, as his Watson and tries to make the many bits of this puzzle fit together into a coherent whole.

Thanks to Pushkin Vertigo, Milne’s clever cozy has been re-released. I’m enjoyed it, but I’m sad that The Red House Mystery is Milne’s one and only mystery novel; I should have loved to see Antony Gillingham in yet another book.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Pushkin Vertigo in exchange for an honest review.

What a unique and quaint story! The author of Winnie the Pooh tries his hand at Agatha Christie!

Mark Ablett is planning a party in his English Country home when his brother arrives unannounced. Robert is angry and rough around the edges and easily insults or scares everyone in the home. When he turns up murdered and Mark is missing no one is sure what to do. Anthony Gillingham and his sidekick Bill take their turn at solving a crime. It's a Golden Age Crime Thriller and Milne's only story for adults.

It's lighthearted and well crafted. A gem for all detective story lovers!
#aamilne #winniethepooh #redhousemystery

I’ve never read anything else from A A Milne beside Winnie The Pooh. A lovely quick read, a very English locked room mystery perfect for all the crime aficionados .

I couldn’t resist reading this novel by classic mystery novel by author A.A. Milne’s best known for his much loved Winnie-the-Pooh series. “The Red House Mystery” is a well written locked-room mystery that is set in an English country house and bears the similarities of an Agatha Christie novel.

Mark Ablett is hosting a house party that turns sour when his estranged brother Robert arrives unexpectedly. Robert has returned from Australia but but shortly after his arrival is found shot dead through the head and his brother Mark mysteriously disappears.

Tony Gillingham enjoys playing an amateur detective and along with his friend Bill they decide to try and unravel the mystery surrounding Robert’s death and Mark’s disappearance. AA. Milne manages to write a cosy thriller with an excellent mix of humour and suspense that made it a very enjoyable read.

Together Tony and Bill bring this book to life with their friendship while investigating much in way Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson did. with both humour and clever deductions. With the backdrop of the English countryside and it’s idyllic settings this cosy mystery was a very enjoyable read.

As expected The Red House Mystery was well written but the clever plotting, well developed characters and twists and turns made this read very entertaining.

Perfect read for readers who enjoy classic whodunits and cosy mysteries and this novel is proof that good writing can stand the test of time.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Pushkin Press for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I read this book because of the legacy it holds and came away with the same feeling as everyone else - genuinely sad that this was AA Milne's only murder mystery because that man knew how to write a good detective story.

I had been spoiled for this book but had kind of forgotten the specifics of it and I really appreciated how well-done the mystery was. I appreciated that there aren't that many red herrings or misdirects in this book. Tony actually has the right idea with a lot of his theories and investigating but is simply missing a vital clue to put things into context. I liked that the reader was taken along on the journey of figuring things out - rather than the author trying too hard to misdirect the audience.

The banter was FLOWING in this book both between Tony and Bill and also in AA Milne's winks to the audience. I'm always pleasantly surprised when humour from almost 100 years ago still translates when reading it in the modern day (but I guess that is the mark of a good book/joke).

I will say I didn't love the plot device of 'exposition by way of the murderer writing a letter to the detective explaining everything' - it's something we see in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd as well - but I can appreciate the exposition dump of an explanation at the end of the book is always a tough one to pull off.

es, it is that Milne! What many may not know is that the author of the Winnie-the-Pooh stories also tried his hand at detective fiction. It is a shame that he only wrote one story since, as it turns out, he was pretty good at it!

This is a classic, country house mystery. There are a murder, many suspects, a prodigal brother’s return, an amateur detective (and his friend) and more than enough to keep the pages turning. There is even some humor.

It is very easy to recommend this reissue to fans of the Golden Age of Detective fiction.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Pushkin Press-Pushkin Vertigo for this title. All opinions are my own.

I loved it and read it in one sitting, I just couldn’t put it down! It was such a good book, I just wish there were more.

I would highly recommend reading this book if you like a cozy mystery as you won’t be able to put it down.

I would like to thank Grapevine India and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

The phrase "a classic" tends to be bandied around with great regularity when referring to murder mysteries of the 1920s and while many works are indeed classics, no work is more worthy of the title than The Red House Mystery by A.A. Milne.

A few years ago, I was listening to the wonderful e-audiobook of Peter Swanson 's "Rules for Perfect Murders " (aka "Eight Perfect Murders, depending on your region), I first heard of The Red House Mystery. Now, not only did the storyline sounds fascinating, I was intrigued to learn that the author was the same A.A. Milne as the creator of my beloved Winnie the Pooh. And so I eagerly ordered a copy. I've read the novel several times now and it still continues to delight.

In this classic of the 'locked room' murder mystery genre, our story begins at the eponymous Red House, where owner Mark Ablett is entertaining friends when he receives a message that his brother (long banished to Australia) Robert has unexpectedly returned home.
Mark quickly proceeds to warn his friends against his brother and the story moves along rapidly. And then .... murder! While the members of the household are busy playing golf or preparing for the visit (staff), they are all gossiping about the new arrival when a gunshot is heard. They race to the office, only to discover a locked door and eventually, the body of Robert. Mark is nowhere to be found. And so our mystery begins.
Interpersed with wry social commentary, and tropes of the murder mystery genre - a locked room, unreliable alibis, multiple motives, this is an ingenious mystery and I only wish that Milne had written several more.
Read it and love it.

As Anthony Gillingham approaches the country house where his friend, Bill Beverley is staying he walks straight into a mystery. A man who turns out to be Matthew Cayley and who is obviously distressed needs help getting into a locked room in the house. Cayley has heard a gunshot and is very worried about his uncle and employer, Mark Ablett. After they force their way into the room, Cayley and Gillingham discover a body. It is not Mark Ablett who is dead though but, much to Cayley’s relief, Ablett’s ne’er-do-well brother Robert. Of Mark, who was seen entering the office to meet with his brother there is no sign. While the local police are on the case, Anthony Gillingham and Bill Beverley decide to conduct an investigation of their own with Bill Beverley playing Watson to Gillingham’s Sherlock Holmes.

This is the most British of stories. In fact, if it had been written one or two decades later, I would have called it a spoof version of a Golden Age of Mystery story. This is by no means a criticism. In fact, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the picture it painted of Edwardian Britain. I figured out part of the solution to this locked-room-mystery early on but that didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the rest of the story. It was a joy to follow Anthony and Bill as they followed the clues and Gillingham’s intuition until they found the answers.

This was A.A. Milne’s only mystery despite the fact that the last paragraph of the book seems to imply there might be more to come. I for one would have happily read more stories featuring Anthony Gillingham and Bill Beverley.

This was such a fun surprise! Who knew that the author of Winnie-the-Pooh wrote murder mysteries. This is a re-release of a story originally published January 1st, 1922. Anthony Gillingham, a newly fashioned amateur detective (who appears to have very convenient photographic memory) is visiting his friend, Bill Beverley, while he is visiting the English countryside home of Mr. Mark Ablett. They take it upon themselves to investigate Ablett's disappearance and a mysterious locked-room murder.

The story and the writing felt very similar to Agatha Christie, his contemporary, with a good-hearted, yet heavy handed, homage to Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. The reveal was fun, if not a little drawn out, but I will happily admit that I did not see it coming, which I enjoy as a murder mystery reader. I would rather a surprise, albeit slightly convoluted, reveal over an ending I can see coming within the first few chapters. The beginning dragged a bit, but I flew through the last half of the novel within a single sitting. I'll have to look more into Milne's adult works because I would enjoy reading another story with these characters.

Thank you NetGalley and Pushkin Vertigo for a free copy of this eARC in return for an honest review.

#TheRedHouseMystery #NetGalley

I didn't know A. A. Milne wrote such different genre from Winnie the Pooh! It's very unexpected!

This is a fun light-hearted locked room mystery/detective story and definitely worth a read!

I'd been wanting to read the much-loved mystery novel by Milne and am so glad I saw this on NetGalley (eye-catching cover!). Yay for reissues! I very much enjoyed this and have to admit that the mystery pulled me in and kept me turning pages. I had suspicion but couldn't work out the whole thing and I loved that. I would definitely recommend it as a wonderful option if you're wanting to read a Golden Age mystery.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the Advance Reader's Copy.

A country house locked room mystery, first published in 1922. Robert, the estranged brother of Mark, a wealthy man, is found dead with a bullet through his head. Mark subsequently disappears, leading Bill and his friend Anthony to decide to play Sherlock and Watson to solve the mystery.
This book paid homage to the Sherlock novels with a proportion of the book spent with Anthony and Bill playing Sherlock and Watson trying to solve this case. It had the classic style of the golden age of detective fiction, with the sleuths being both English gentlemen and a rather twee way of life presented.

The tension in the book really got going for me in the later half of the novel when Bill and Anthony started to take a more active role in the investigation. I thought that in the first half there was a lot of theorising going on as to whodunnit and why. However, there were some very intriguing points of interest, especially with regard to a secret passageway. Although the novel is a bit archaic in the style that it is written, it does take many turns and gives the reader the opportunity to guess at various points alongside the sleuths. At times, it was written like a play with the narrator leading the reader into the narrative. Overall, it is a clever mystery with a unique style of murder. It is very sad that A.A Milne did not write many detective novels, although he did go on to write the very famous Winnie The Pooh stories. 3.5 stars.

Well by Jove, what an amusing read this was !

I was directly charmed by the introduction, where Milne describes his ground rules for a good mystery. I couldn't have agreed more. No focus on romance, a preference for an amateur detective over a professional police investigator and giving the detective no more knowledge than the average reader. I loved the man immediately.

Then the proper book starts and it is very clever and witty, with little hints towards the self-declared rules. If I would have to define one fault, it would be that the second half stalled a bit, but then towards the ends the pace picks up again and it delivers a very satisfying resolution.
I would absolutely recommend it to readers who like a good locked room mystery, set in a grand house in the 1920's.

Thank you NetGalley and Pushkin Press for the opportunity to read this little gem.

This is such an enjoyable country house murder mystery with a satisfying resolution. A.A. Milne - what a revelation.

A highlight of the story for me, is the characterisation. The detective character, Anthony, is appealing and likeable. trying to be an amateur detective is just his latest fixation, having tried many careers already. The house owner and his annoying ways are also interesting, as is the owner's estate manager. Anthony's sidekick is more simplistic but serves his purpose as foil and helper. There were laugh out loud moments.

The police amusingly give up early on, leaving a clear field for Anthony. Anthony's reasoning process at many points is very engaging. It's such a pity we don't have a full series of Anthony's cases instead of just this one. I'd ecertainly read them. AA Milne missed a calling. I wonder why his publisher (as related in the Foreword) put him off writing another mystery saying that the genre was overloaded, Even if it was, quality writing of this sort would have surely won out?

This was a real treat. I've read a lot of 'homages' to Golden Age fiction but suspected you could always tell the real thing from the tribute and this book proved it. Country houses and hidden passages can be replicated but the tone of the real deal is a lot harder to copy. Highly recommended, what a skillful writer he was

This was a jolly good time! Who knew the mind behind Winnie the Pooh could write such a fun country house mystery? Mark Ablett: rich, patron of the arts, known as an impeccable host, has done a runner. His ne'er-do-well brother returned suddenly, and unexpectedly, from the colonies - most likely to hit Mark up for money he isn't entitled to. Now the wastrel is lying dead by gunshot in Mark's locked study and Mark is nowhere to be found. Awkward for the house guests, it must be said. Luckily, Antony Gillingham is fortuitously on the scene and along with his pal, Bill Beverly, gets stuck in solving the mystery.

This is everything you would expect if Agatha Christie, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and PG Wodehouse had a book baby. The fun characters are what make The Red House Mystery shine!

Originally written in 1922, I'm glad it is being republished by Pushkin Press in 2024 or I never would have known it existed! I received this for free on Netgalley.

OK, it's A.A. Milne, the man who has defined millions of childhood memories and inspired a love of reading in all of us. So a locked-room mystery from the Golden Age? Yes please.

It's fun and breezy, light years away from gritty (and depressing) crime that people seem to devour these days, so that alone makes it worth revisiting. It took me a while to get into it, and I'll be honest of I said that the exact ins and outs of who, how and why have slipped my mind some time after finishing it, it's a witty and enjoyable read, and stands on its own two feet despite the 'novelty' value. 4 stars.

(With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this title.)

The Red House Mystery is a charming and entertaining read, which was A A Miln’s only foray into the crime genre. It may have been meant to kick off a series. The story's clever plot and classic elements would make for an excellent film adaptation. Fans of locked-room mysteries and the Golden Age of detective fiction are sure to enjoy this novel, as I certainly did!

The surprise author of this murder mystery (Winnie the Pooh author AA Milne), intrigued me. Turns out he can write mysteries too. This English countryside murder mystery reminds me of Agatha Christie. The writing is crisp, the pace and plot are engaging. It is a tale which some might class with Cozy Mysteries. But do not be fooled! It is a refreshing read, not lazy, not quite old fashioned, but without the gore, excess violence, or sex that may plague more modern murder mystery books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pushkin Press for the ARC

It's sad that A.A. Milne is mostly known for Winnie the Poo, because this crime book is a work of art. It's a golden age mystery with my favorite trope; locked-room. I don't think I should say anything else in fear of spoiling it, but I highly recommend it! Suspenseful and mysterious all the way

A Joy..
A classic of the Golden Age, reissued. A locked room mystery, a whodunnit in the more cozy vein. A country house, a house party taking place when an unexpected guest is found murdered and the host disappeared. Can this confounding case be solved in order that the festivities may continue? Firmly tongue in cheek, laced with satire and wonderfully eccentric and eclectic characters, this really is a joy. A well deserved reissue with some beautiful cover art too.

The Red House Mystery is an absolute delight! Hailed as a masterpiece of the ‘locked-room’ murder mystery this classic novel is fiendishly clever with plenty of witty send-ups of murder mystery cliches. In the introduction the author even explains what makes a good murder mystery and what many authors get wrong. It’s terrific fun, the “detective” and his sidekick even style themselves as Holmes and Watson. This was AA Milne (beloved author of Winnie the Poo) first and only murder mystery and it is written with a similar warmth and humour. If you are a fan of classics like Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes you will absolutely love this,

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC of the reissue in exchange for an honest review.

A classic! Need i even write my gushing remarks in a review as you’ll have already seen many reviews raving about it! Nothing does it better than the books that help to create the genres, and this is a prime example
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Thank you to the publisher for the arc!

4.5

Well that was a bit of a revelation. I've been hearing about this book for a while - considered highly in the locked room mystery genre. Now I see why.

I liked everything about this book except the explanation if whodunnit right at the end - not the who but rather the way in which it was done.

The story revolves around the possible murder of an errant brother, Roger Ablett, by his brother, Mark who has disappeared. We are led through the action by the utterly delightful Antony Gillingham and his Watsonian sidekick, Bill Beverley. Bill was a guest at The Red House and Gillingham had called to see him when he happens upon the murder scene quite by chance.

Gillingham is a jack of all trades and appears to be master too as he takes to his self-appointed role of detective like a duck to water. His nonchalant style manages to get more information than the Police do while he and Beverley slink about the house and grounds to find out what really happened in the locked room where Roger Ablett's body was found.

To use some era appropriate lingo I'd say the whole thing is "dashed clever".

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Both Gillingham and Beverley are very likeable. The prose is great and Milne's style is very engaging. Did he write more? I'd certainly love to read more.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Pushkin Press for the advance review copy.

The Red House Mystery was first published in 1922 and considered as The Golden Age of Detective Fiction whodunits.

The plots revolve around the “locked room” mystery from amateur sleuthhounds Antony Gillingham and Bill Beverley. Both had become acquainted a few years earlier and happened to meet at the Red House. Red House was owned by Mark Ablett, a philanthropist. The house party was shocked by a gunshot, and it turned out that Robert Ablett was killed in a locked room. Robert was Mark's long-lost brother who just arrived from Australia. The deceased and his brother had never been on good terms. As a result, a court of law has decided Mark guilty by some 'last seen theory'. But it was not an ordinary crime because Mark was never found at the scene. Hah! That's the case.

The author does not provide enough clues for the reader to work out in this soft-boiled mystery, but in the end, it's really all about the final twist and a devilishly family skeleton.

Thanks to @NetGalley and Pushkin Vertigo for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

The Red House Mystery by A.A. Milne (the author of Winnie the Pooh) was Milne's only mystery novel. It was written as a gift for his father, who loved detective fiction. The foreword from Milne was very sweet and perhaps my favorite part of the book, though there was quite a lot to like throughout.

The Red House Mystery is a classic locked room mystery that is enjoyable and accessible. The writing style makes it an easy and comfortable read, and the quaint country house setting adds to the story's charm.

The amateur sleuth (Tony Gillingham) and his equally amateur sidekick (Bill) were quite likable and fun to root for. Tony is a clever observant everyman who is good-natured and less arrogant than some of the detectives in classic mysteries of this sort. Bill is a jolly, helpful pal who is eager to assist with every step of the mystery. Tony and Bill fondly refer to each other as Holmes and Watson throughout.

A few other characters are peppered in to provide suspects and help tell the story. Most of them are staying or working at The Red House, a country estate owned by Mark. Everyone is all aflutter at the story's beginning because Mark's ne'er-do-well brother, Robert, is visiting the estate after a 15-year absence.

Everyone is quite surprised when Robert is found shot in the face, and Mark is suddenly missing. Fortunately, Tony has stopped by to visit his buddy, Bill, who also stays at The Red House. The authorities assess the situation and identify the killer, but Tony is not convinced they have things right, so he does a little investigating of his own with Bill's help.

The mystery is not just a puzzle to be solved, but a well-crafted plot that keeps you intrigued and engaged. The solution, explained in detail at the end, leaves no loose ends, satisfying the reader's curiosity.

Overall, I consider this a must-read classic mystery and recommend it to anyone who enjoys Golden Age detective fiction, early Agatha Christie, locked-room mysteries, or A.A. Milne's writing.

Thank you to Net Galley and Pushkin Vertigo for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A great Golden-Age read. Loved the characters of Tony and Bill.

This is a classic amateur detective, locked-room mystery. An idiosyncratic man of leisure arrives at a country house immediately after a murder has been committed, and takes it upon himself to do some sleuthing on the dl. Antony's friend Bill is Watson to his Holmes, and the banter between the two is one of the highlights of the story. While the mystery itself is never in a great deal of doubt, there's the usual cozy fun at seeing exactly how it was pulled off. Golden age mysteries are popular at my library, and this would be a nice addition.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

Yes, the author of Winnie the Pooh wrote a mystery novel!! And I loved this latest edition of it!!! 🕵️‍♂️

Definitely gave off Sherlock Holmes vibes - albeit an amateur Sherlock and Watson - mixed with Agatha Christie! ❤️ I don’t know why I didn’t see the twist coming - I feel like I should have, but I didn’t!! 🙌

Highly recommend for lovers of locked room and classic mysteries!! 👏

Thank you to NetGalley and Pushkin Press for the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️

A classic Golden Age mystery – with all that entails…

I had never realized that AA Milne, of Winnie-the-Pooh fame, had written a murder mystery. And, to be fair, he only wrote one, way back in 1922. But it’s pretty good one: a classic Golden Age mystery, complete with a death in a locked room during a house party, an obvious solution that seems just a bit too obvious, lots of people behaving oddly, some extremely doubtful timelines, a renegade back from “exile” in Australia, and a pair of rather unlikely Holmes-and-Watson style amateur detectives. Oh yeah, and we shouldn’t forget the (not-so) secret passage either!

Of course, The Red House Mystery also comes with the downsides of a Golden Age mystery. In the hundred-or-so years since 1922, we’ve seen lots of variations on the death-at-a-country-manor theme. So although this was probably fresh and original at the time, it is a little less so now. And the rather classist attitude of the times (servants serve, guests play golf, impecunious cousins help out, mothers scheme on behalf of their daughters, the rich do whatever they want) grated a bit against today’s mores, while also helping me guess what happened, rather early on. But even after I was 90% certain I knew whodunnit, there were still a couple of red herrings that made me doubt, so I had to keep reading.

In the end, although I did have to keep the book’s age in mind from time to time, I enjoyed reading The Red House Mystery. And I think anyone who likes classic mysteries would too - it’s just such a perfect exemplar of its type. And finally, my thanks to Pushkin Vertigo and NetGalley for the review copy.

It has always been shocking to me that the same author that gave us our beloved Winnie the Pooh could turn around and take on a topic as cold and very grown up as crime. But yes! It's true! And sadly, this is Milne's sole attempt. A twisty, playful mystery, very much in the Golden Age style. Milne spins a tale of two houseguests who turn to amateur detecting when their host's brother, recently returned from years abroad, is found dead and their host is nowhere to be found. The warmth and intimacy between Tony and Bill, and their playful unraveling of the mystery, is positively delightful. And while I would agree with Raymond Chandler that it lacks in the kind of grit that authors like Chandler gravitated towards, it is no less intellectually piquant. A pleasant puzzle that makes one grieve for all that could have been had Milne not stopped after just one such tale.

This novel was originally published in 1922, likely having been written some time the year before (given the vagaries of publishing); as such, the blinding whiteness of the cast of characters, and the relentless straight male lens through which they are viewed, should not be unexpected.

This edition includes an introduction the author wrote for the 1926 edition, in which he explains how his preferences in detective stories shaped the story he himself told. Having now read it in one long, greedy gulp, I am not surprised that even Raymond Chandler, who generally looked down on detective stories that didn't involve wanton violence (don't @ me), had to agree that this novel is a "masterpiece of the art of fooling the reader without cheating him".

The story is told from several points of view, but mainly from the perspective on one Antony Gillingham, a young man of a good breeding who lives a unconventional life: rather than choosing a respectable career and laboring at it year after year, Antony takes up any profession or position that appeal to him, for as long as he finds it interesting or challenging. Once bored, he bows out, and moves on to the next.

Having made the acquaintance of a certain Bill Beverley, a younger-still man about town, during one of his stints at a menial position, Antony decides to look him up at the lovely countryside property where the former has been staying, with a group of other guests, for the past few days.

As luck will have it, Antony walks up to the open house door minutes after a shot has been fired inside, leading to him and the owner's younger cousin, and his general factotum, finding a body in the office.

What follows is an intricately plotted, dialogue-heavy murder mystery where the main characters poke gentle fun at both the best-known genre conventions, and at that quintessentially British private detective, Sherlock Holmes.

While Chandler complained about the lack of gritty realism in the story, I rejoiced in Antony's delight in finding occasion to pit his wits against those of the best fictional consulting detective of his time, metaphorically speaking; even if he too, occasionally, indulged in willfully confusing his loyal sidekick, the earnest Bill, Antony is by far less needlessly cruel to him than Holmes is to Watson.

What I found a lot less delightful was how flat most of the characters are; even our protagonists are mostly a collection of stereotypes, with only the rare moment of real introspection to show who they are beyond the requirements of the plot.

The cast of characters is firmly divided into those who matter--the missing host, his cousin, the house guests, Antony--and those who exist solely 'behind the scenes', as it were, and who come forward only to provide evidence, both at the inevitable inquest and to the reader--the house staff, the gardener, the estate lodgers, even the police inspector. And, insofar as all of them are concerned, the world revolves entirely around England; it is not just that everyone is white, but how insular their worldview is.

As for the few women in the story, they only exist as the most reductive clichés: the gossipy, somewhat hysterical housekeeper; the shifty and lazy housemaid; the slightly-mercenary professional actress; the wide-eyed innocent; the grasping mama; the beautiful love interest. In fact, the last one doesn't even have spoken lines at all!

All the clues to solve the mystery are present in the text, and the author takes pains to show Antony and Bill discussing not only what facts they know, but how they all may tie together to form a coherent explanation that answers the most pressing question: where is Mark Ablett?

I confess that, having guessed part of the solution early on, I was fooled into doubting my instincts by subsequent developments. My main complaint over the mystery itself is that at least one of the underlying factors behind the murder felt too farfetched to fit in with the story as a whole.

And still, I fell into the narrative's world head first, and didn't surface again until I was done reading.

The Red House Mystery gets a 9.00 out of 10.

I filled in a gap in my crime-fiction history knowledge by reading this, the only mystery novel by the author of (among many other things) Winnie the Pooh. It's a locked room-type mystery and it's hard to tell at this distance - and having read so many similar plots - how revolutionary this might have seen at the time. That said, it's a really good example of the genre, with the long lost brother of the host of a house party found shot through the head shortly after arriving from Australia. I figured out part of the solution, but not the hows and whys of it - and enjoyed reading how it had all been done. Worth reading if you're a fan of classic mysteries.

Review:
✨First published in 1922, this edition by Pushkin Press was released this year, more than 100 years after its first release.
✨This book has been in my TBR for some years, and I am glad this book’s ARC is available on NetGalley.
✨Overall, it is an interesting read except for the beginning. But that’s normal.
✨I like crime, investigation, and motives in this story. But the best part of this book is Gillingham and Beverly themselves.
✨I like these two characters, they are serious in their investigation but still have some humour like openly acting like Watson and Holmes.
✨In my opinion, the writing is also quite interesting because the author directly said that it takes the reader into certain scenes. It is like tv shows when the narrator tells viewers about what happened in the scene.
✨Plus, the writing and the plot is quite easy to understand, but still makes you think about what has actually happened. Half-truths are dangerous.
✨Now, I know why this is a classic whodunit mystery.
✨Thank you to Pushkin Press and NetGalley for this ARC! This review was voluntarily written by me.

Classic crime at its very best! To be read and reread.

If you are a fan of Golden Age English crime novels, or interested in the development of the crime novel as a literary form, or you just enjoy a good ol' cosy mystery à la Agatha Christie, you will undoubtedly enjoy The Red House Mystery.

It has it all; the country house, the witty dialogue, the tight plotting, superb writing, ... Oh it's a proper treat!

I'm extremely grateful to NetGalley for bringing to my attention and giving me access to A.A. Milne's one and only crime novel, which I had never come across before.

"I say, what fun! I love secret passages. Good Lord, and this afternoon I was playing golf just like an ordinary merchant! What a life! Secret passages!"

I remember reading the comic strips of Winnie-the-Pooh that were published in our local newspaper as a child but beyond that I had very little knowledge about the writer who created the characters.

According to the blurb of the reissue copy of The Red House Mystery by Pushkin Press, The Red House Mystery marked A.A. Milne’s first and final venture into the detective genre, despite the book’s immediate success on its publication in 1922.

After reading the book I really wish A.A. Milne had written more detective books because you can feel while reading that he enjoyed writing this one. The Red House Mystery was fun and the characters of Antony Gillingham and William (Bill) Beverley were a lot more fun! Bill Beverley was the perfect 'Watson' to Tony Gillingham's 'Sherlock Holmes' and I would have loved to read more of this interesting amateur detective duo adventures. At the end of the book, even Antony tells Bill, who is going away to spend time with the Barringtons:
"Yes. Well, if any of 'em should happen to be murdered, you might send for me. I'm just getting into the swing of it."

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Pushkin Press/Pushkin Vertigo for the e-Arc of the book. This edition of the book published on September 3, 2024.

A fantastic golden age mystery!
A classic who dunnit it takes place in a wealthy bachelor’s country side residence . Gunshots are heard and a death follows and the wealthy bachelor is missing all the ingredients for an enjoyable read!
An amateur sleuthing duo Gillingham and Beverley begin to look into what has happened , their sleuthing is comical at times .
A great golden age read !
The only criticism I have is why didn’t Milne write a series of Gillingham and Beverley’s sleuthing ?
Thanks to NetGalley and Pushkin Press.

The Red House by AA Milne was a delight to read.

This was his only published foray into murder mystery writing and centres on a locked room murder mystery.

It was great fun reading it and also disappointing in that he wrote just this book.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Pushkin Press, for making this e-ARC available to me in exchange for a fair and an honest review.