Home Sweet Homicide

By Craig Rice

When your mom's a mystery writer, a talent for detection is only natural. So when the three children of prolific whodunit author Marion Carstairs become material witnesses in a neighborhood murder, they launch their own investigation. And why not? They know everything about baffling mysteries from reading their mother's books, the publicity could do wonders for her sales, and then she and a handsome detective could fall in love. It's too perfect for words.   Marion's too busy wrapping up the loose ends of her latest book for the inconvenience of a real crime. But what's surfacing in the shadows of the house next door is not quite as predictable as fiction: accusations of racketeering, kidnapping and blackmail; a slain stripper; a grieving but slippery husband; a wily French artist; a panicky movie star; and a cop who's working Marion's last nerve. If the kids are game, Marion decides she is too—in between chapters, at least. Besides, this whole dangerous bloody mess could turn out to be a source of inspiration!   This stand-alone mystery was the basis for the classic 1946 comedy starring Randolph Scott and Peggy Ann Garner and "makes clear why Craig Rice remains one of the best writers of mystery fiction" (Jeffery Marks, author of Who Was That Lady?).  

• Language: English
• Publisher: mysteriouspress.com
• Release date: Nov 9, 2018
• ISBN: 9781789540024

Craig Rice

Craig Rice (1908–1957), born Georgiana Ann Randolph Craig, was an American author of mystery novels and short stories described as “the Dorothy Parker of detective fiction.” In 1946, she became the first mystery writer to appear on the cover of Time magazine. Best known for her character John J. Malone, a rumpled Chicago lawyer, Rice’s writing style was both gritty and humorous. She also collaborated with mystery writer Stuart Palmer on screenplays and short stories, as well as with Ed McBain on the novel The April Robin Murders.  

Reviews for Home Sweet Homicide

[leslie398 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Probably only deserves 3.5* but despite some extremely improbable situations, I enjoyed this a lot.

[nmhale_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A sweet murder story (!) about three children trying to better their mom's life as they solve crime. Their mother, , is a mystery writer and widowed. She spends most of her time stuck behind the typewriter - because this was written way back in the day - to support her family. Her kids, which are definitely fiction as they are super supportive of their mom's work and tend to do the cooking, cleaning, and supervising for her, without ever a begrudging thought, just wish that their mom can catch a break and not have to work so hard. Accordingly, one morning Amy wishes that her mom could help the police solve a crime and gain publicity for her books, and her brother, , wishes that she could find a husband to help take care of her. Right after they make these wishes aloud, they hear two shots from next door.

[ashleytylerjohn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked it better as it went along (but still think it could have been shorter) but there's no good complaining about that now, the author's unlikely to change her style anytime soon ;-)

Enjoyed the resourceful child detectives (but the law-abiding citizen in me is appalled they kept frustrating the police's genuine efforts), was as keen on the domestic drama (romance!) as the central mystery, and am awfully glad I could tell all the characters apart. It amazes me how often writers will parade a series of people-with-names, not characters, and think there job done. It was clear who everyone in a rather large cast actually was--job well done!

(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). I feel a lot of readers automatically render any book they enjoy 5, but I grade on a curve!

[klpm_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Of the four American Mystery Classics I've read so far (six were released last year and six more will be out in a couple of weeks), this was my favorite. It's got the cheekiest set of kids who decide to solve a mystery and give the credit to their single mom in order to get her publicity since she's a mystery author. It was ridiculously unbelievable as a story but the fun overrode all of that.

[devenish_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Scrambled rather than hardboiled is how the writers of the Introduction so aptly describe this book. It is in the domestic life of Marian Carstairs and her three kids,rather than in the crime aspect of this story that it shines.Marian is a writer of crime-fiction who is fully occupied with her work. Most of the day to day running of the house is done willingly by her doting two daughters and younger son.It is around these children that the story revolves as they become involved in attempting to solve a murder and credit their busy mother with its solution. They are also trying to marry her off to the detective leading the official investigation.The three kids are Dinah,the eldest at 14,April is 12 and Archie the youngest is 10. All are well written and rounded characters.This is a one-off story by Rice,which is rather a shame,as a lot more could have been written about this kookie but very appealing family.