Rest You Merry
by
Charlotte MacLeod
mystery, amateur sleuth in a Kindle edition that was published by Mysterious Press on June 1, 2014 and has 222 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include The Luck Runs Out, Wrack and Rune
First in the Peter Shandy amateur sleuth mystery series and revolving around an agrology professor at Balaclava Agricultural College in Massachusetts. It was originally published in 1978.
My Take
It’s all Meg Langslow’s fault. She mentioned settling in with Charlotte MacLeod’s Rest You Merry as one of her favorite Christmas traditions. Well, I love reading about Meg, so I figured I’d give the story a whirl.
To start with, I got confused about the time period for the story. I caught that “1931” but didn’t process the rest of the sentence, and then MacLeod was talking about jeans, which really became popular in the 1950s. Yet, the primary context seemed to be the 1960s but when propriety was still important. Then again, MacLeod said it had been 18 years since the first lighting spectacle on Balaclava Crescent, which would make this 1949.
I must say that the maneuvering Pete and Timothy do to ensure they’re viewed in a positive light could be in any time period. Politics. Gossip. There’s one bit of gossip Peter sets in motion and does it ever backfire on him! The poor man is overwhelmed with the unexpecteds, lol.
MacLeod is using a third person protagonist point-of-view from Peter’s perspective with a tricky bit of murder, all hinging on one person’s testimony.
And, this is weird. You know how old books smell? That old paper smell? That’s how this story feels. Old-fashioned, to my mind.
MacLeod definitely has a different writing style with MacLeod poking fun at cultural expectations. Nor is it the only humor — Grampus orca is, um, not a real species. As for MacLeod’s depiction of the Dysarts, oh mama! They do not come off well, even as hard as they’re trying.
Peter does have a pleasant life. Mrs Lomax to clean and the faculty dining room to feed him. That’s part of what causes him to regret his prank, all those thoughts of how miserable his life could become.
I do like how the college works what with the business-like approach with the Grand Illumination and how the money is distributed. The college also makes good use of the cafeteria as a useful educational tool providing real-world experience.
That snitch of a Jemima Ames is a busybody who can handle everyone else’s job but not her own, and has been nagging Peter forever. I did enjoy his revenge, lol. I especially appreciated Timothy Ames’ reaction to the prank. Ames’ reaction to his wife not being around was even funnier. Okay, okay, in a sad way. I did have to laugh at Ames’ summing up of her. Oh boy. Living with her did cause Timothy to consider his deafness a plus, lol.
”It’s good to have one friend I can say rotten things to without feeling like a skunk.”
Peter’s summing up of the truth of Timothy versus the view people had of him was fascinating.
If Ottermole took away Peter’s license, how is that Ross will rent him a car?
The love at first sight bit was a bit much, but it was so sweet how bumbly-fumbly Peter got when he met Helen, who comes off as reserved and polite. I must say, she does sum up everyone she meets very well.
Yep, he’ll get the book thrown at him.
The Story
After years of haranguing, Professor Shandy has plotted his revenge. He’ll torture his neighbors with nonstop lighting and carols while he’s off on vacation.
What he comes home to, well, it’s not a pretty sight . . . and all those loose marbles!
Now, Peter’s just doing the spadework.
The Characters
Professor Peter Shandy, an agrologist who counts everything, lives on Balaclava Crescent. Mrs Lomax is his cleaning lady. Cousin Henry and his religious wife, Elizabeth, live three hours away. Alice is a niece of Elizabeth’s.
Balaclava Agricultural College, Balaclava Junction, Massachusetts
Thorkjeld Svenson is the president of the college. Sieglinde is his formidable wife. Ingeborg is one of their daughters. The Buggins Collection was bestowed on the college in the 1920s by Balaclava Buggins and has been ignored since then. Phil Porble, the librarian, won’t allow the books to be circulated. Lizanne is Porble’s daughter.
Jemima Ames, an assistant librarian, is the wife of the deaf Professor Timothy Ames, a soil specialist and Peter’s obsessed best friend. She’s also the chairman of the Grand Illumination, which got its start in 1931. The pregnant Jemmy and Roy, he’s with the Oceanographic Institute, are their kids. Dave is Jemmy’s husband. An old maid aunt of Dave’s, Helen Marsh, was fired from her job as a librarian. She’s come to housesit while Timothy is with his daughter.
The monied Adele and Bob Dysart, an assistant professor in electrical engineering, throw lots of parties, take exotic trips, and drink. A lot. A distinguished scholar, Dr John and Mary Enderble do love the birds. Their cat, Imogene, has had kittens which include Eugene. Algernon is a hare. Rex is their deaf watchdog.
Hannah, Jemima’s best friend, is married to the hypochondriacal Dr Ben Cadwall, the cheapskate comptroller at the college. Myrnette Woodruff is Ben’s secretary. Their children are Benita and Frank. Charlene is another secretary. The motherly Mirelle and Professor Jim Feldster with his boardinghouse reach are Peter’s next-door neighbors. Professor Stott is the pig expert.
Dr Melchett is the college’s physician-on-call. I think Dr Sidman is a psychiatrist. Roger and Sheila Jackman are Peter’s other next-door neighbors, and they have Dickie, JoJo, and Wendy. Tommy Hoggins is JoJo’s best friend. Pam Waggoner is an assistant in Animal Husbandry. Shirley Wrenne specializes in native crafts. Miss Tibbett is in Registrations. Charles is the mail boy. Professor Muencher wrote on book on plant poisons.
Eddie Grimble is in charge of college security. Sam is his head assistant. Jamie Froude is in Maintenance. The Cookie Works is the nickname for the college’s power plant? Then again, the power plant nickname also appears to be the Skunk Works. Charlie Forster has an old pickup. Students include Hanson, Till Eulenspiegel, and Heidi Hayhoe, who is no better than she should be.
Balaclava PD
Fred Ottermole is the police chief. Budge Dorkin is a police officer. Harry “Harry the Ghoul” Goulson is the undertaker.
Olivetti is with the state police.
The Singapore Susie is the ship Peter took. The Balaclava Buster was a rutabaga improvement that has brought wealth to the college, Peter, and Timothy. It was the Jumping Jemima versus the Sprightly Sieglinde. Charlie Ross rents cars. Helen went to school with an Ethel Gasse. Mrs Guptill’s Dodge is totaled.
The Cover and Title
The cover has a warm brown background with two overlapping red circles in the center, each with a black snowflake inside them. At the top is an info blurb and the author’s name in white. Below the circles is the title in the same red. Below that is the series info in white.
I’m not sure about the title. It is Christmas and Peter is quite busy investigating this murder, so perhaps it’s the hope that Peter will Rest You Merry.
