The Bellamy Trial

By Frances Noyes Hart and Hank Phillippi Ryan

“Devotees of classic courtroom thrillers like Witness for the Prosecution will be enthralled by this reissue . . . Perry Mason fans will rejoice.” —Publishers Weekly
 
The trial of Stephen Bellamy and Susan Ives, accused of murdering Bellamy’s wife, lasts eight days. That’s eight days of witnesses (some reliable, some not), eight days of examination and cross-examination, and eight days of sensational courtroom theatrics lively enough to rouse the judge into frenzied calls for order. Ex-fiancés, houseworkers, and assorted family members are brought to the stand—a cross-section of this wealthy Long Island town—and each one only adds to the mystery of the case in all its sordid detail. A trial that seems straightforward at its outset grows increasingly confounding as it proceeds, and surprises abound; by the time the closing arguments are made, however, the reader, like the jury, is provided with all the evidence needed to pass judgment on the two defendants. Still, only the most astute among them will not be shocked by the verdict announced at the end.
 
Inspired by the most sensational murder trial of its day, The Bellamy Trial is a pioneering courtroom mystery, and one of the first of such books to popularize the form. It is included in the famed Haycraft-Queen Cornerstone list of the most definitive novels of the mystery genre.
 
“An ingenious and spirited job, which has clever characterization, strong suspense and real comic relief. The mystery is capitally created and sustained.” —New York Evening Post
 
“An enthralling story.” —The New York Times
 
“A must-read for nostalgia buffs, this seminal tale of legal intrigue holds up remarkably well even for casual fans.” —Kirkus Reviews

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Nov 5, 2019
• ISBN: 9781613161494

Reviews for The Bellamy Trial

[brianewilliams · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a whodunnit murder mystery written in 1927 and set in Long Island New York. The reader follows the back story as an audience member at the trial of two people accused of murder. There is frequent "colour commentary" on the trial proceedings from a "red-haired" rookie reporter and an older veteran crime reporter. (I saw this as more a distraction from the story-telling than anything else). It's an interesting structure for the mystery story. Readers need to suffer through the bluster of the prosecutor and a less than skilled defence attorney. Technical accuracy of the trial process does not figure into the story-telling. Despite that the concept is good, it is probably best for a stage or screen presentation, than a book. Shorter chapters would be welcome.Highlights for me were the "reveal" after the verdict is rendered and the resulting conclusion of the story. It leaves the unanswered question for the reader to ponder: was Justice done? The Introduction by crime fiction author Hank Phillippi Ryan is informative and entertaining. It well worth reading, even if you decide not to read the book.All in all, it's worth reading this book. The style of the writing is marred by the wordiness of the lawyers' speeches and the sometimes melodramatic prose. As Ms. Ryan wrote in the Introduction, it's "dated". The picture of the "county club" life of some of the characters contrasts with the hard scrabble existence of others, reflecting the 1927 setting.