Short Story Review - The Death at Knightshayes Court

I subscribe to the e-zine Mystery Weekly. I confess I haven't often taken advantage of reading the stories I receive once a week in my email. Blame it on lack of time, or the overwhelming distractions of a full in box. This one caught my attention.

Faith Allington opens her story with, "Cornelius Blackmore could not decide whether Emmeline Lee was very clever or very stupid. She was one of those elusive creatures that history would never agree on, like Helen of Troy or Mary, Queen of Scots."

The Death at Knightshayes Court is a locked room mystery taking place in 1924 England. Cornelius is a rare book dealer and a touch of a snob. He arrives at the estate to see a 12th century volume of poetry in Sir Reuben's library. He is subjected to the company of a woman who reads penny dreadfuls, and another who doesn't read at all. These humorous moments make the story fun reading, while you try to solve the puzzle. 

This is the third in my goal to review a short story a week during 2017. I'm already finding it instructional to consume multiple stories in different styles. Allington has skillfully created a tidy mystery salted with clues and brought to an interesting and dramatic conclusion.

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