Jumping Jenny

Written by Anthony Berkeley

Narrated by Sean Barrett

At a costume party with the dubious theme of 'famous murderers and their victims', the know-it-all amateur criminologist Roger Sheringham is settled in for an evening of beer, small talk and analysing his companions. One guest in particular has caught his attention for her theatrics, and his theory that she might have several enemies among the partygoers proves true when she is found hanging from the 'decorative' gallows on the roof terrace. Noticing a key detail which could implicate a friend in the crime, Sheringham decides to meddle with the scene and unwittingly casts himself into jeopardy as the uncommonly thorough police investigation circles closer and closer to the truth. Tightly paced and cleverly defying the conventions of the classic detective story, this 1933 novel remains a milestone of the inverted mystery subgenre.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Soundings
• Release date: Apr 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9781407998978

Anthony Berkeley

Anthony Berkeley was an English crime writer. He also wrote under the pen names Francis Iles and A. Monmouth Platts.

Reviews for Jumping Jenny

[Tim Gluckman · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Anthony Berkeley is arguably the most underrated of all the writers who emerged post-WW1 horrors -- BTW he saw plenty of "action" and was wounded. Despite his obvious talents, he is hardly mentioned these days, and has not yet been revived by the first-rate TV productions featuring excellent actors who have exalted the works of Ms Sayers, Ms Marsh and Ms Christie. 'Jumping Jenny' has a macabre setting worthy of John Dickson Carr i.e. a fancy dress party where everyone plays a murderer, and on the roof three hung dummies, the 'Jumping Jennies' (R L Stevenson's phrase). Berkeley manages to produce a twist on the usual formula of (A) a crime (b) gifted amateur talks w/ everyone C) reveals the miscreant. He has a greater range of dialogic feeling than e.g. Christie, and variety of tone is something Sean Barrett (the reader) conveys excellently. The plot kept my attention and the cut & thrust of the plot + dialogue is extremely clever.

[corinne nemo · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Oh wow what a deliciously vicious and witty book! Really good fun with a surprisingly modern feel. You think you know what’s going on but you don’t and that’s always enjoyable in a mystery.

[Jane Money · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Really enjoyable until the murder. Then tedious, and, toe, annoying.

[Lisa Headen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great English mystery! Huge old house, a costume party with guests dressed as famous murderers and a real murder that you won’t find out who did it until the very end.
I did change the speed to x1.2 because the narrator sounded like it had been deliberately slowed down. After that the narration was excellent.
Great book, really enjoyed it. Thank you Scribd!