Picture this: a comfortable home in a small town, a fire crackling, and four friends gathered for their regular bridge game. The stakes are low, the conversation is light. But on this particular night, the game ends not with a tally of points, but with the shocking discovery that Judy Ainsworth, the group's most sharp-tongued and disliked member, has been stabbed to death in the card room. The door was locked from the inside, and only the four players had the key. It's the ultimate 'locked room' mystery, and the local police are completely out of their depth.

The Story

The investigation falls to Bonnie Dundee, a sharp and observant young woman who lives in the house. She wasn't playing, but she knows all the players intimately. There's the charming doctor, the nervous wife, the brash businessman, and the quiet newcomer—each with a hidden connection to the victim and a reason to want her gone. As Bonnie pieces together Judy's secretive past, she uncovers a web of blackmail, stolen love letters, and a fortune that seems to have vanished. The solution hinges on the details of the bridge game itself: the bids, the plays, and what each person could see from their seat at the table.

Why You Should Read It

This isn't a gritty, dark thriller. It's a smart, character-driven puzzle from 1929 that still feels fresh. Anne Austin has a great eye for the small tensions that simmer in any social group. You feel like you're right there in the room, trying to read the faces of the suspects over a hand of cards. Bonnie is a fantastic guide—she's not a professional, just someone using common sense and paying attention, which makes her discoveries all the more satisfying. The real joy is in the fair-play clueing; Austin gives you everything you need to solve it alongside Bonnie.

Final Verdict

Perfect for anyone who misses the classic mysteries of Agatha Christie or Dorothy L. Sayers. If you love stories where the setting is as important as the crime, and the 'howdunit' is just as fun as the 'whodunit,' this is your next read. It's a charming, clever snapshot of its time that proves a well-constructed puzzle never goes out of style. Just be warned: you might look at your next casual game night a little differently.