Two Truths and a Murder

Cambridge’s fifth whodunit featuring Agatha Christie’s housekeeper, Phyllida Bright (after Murder Takes the Stage), is another clever homage to the golden age of mystery fiction. Vera Rollingbroke asks for Phyllida’s help determining whether her husband, Sir Paulson, is being unfaithful. The basis for Vera’s suspicion is scant, rooted mostly in Paulson’s strange behavior when Vera mentioned that sisters Generva and Ethel Blastwick would be attending one of their dinner parties. Phyllida agrees to attend the party herself so she can observe the dynamic between the sisters and Paulson. At the dinner, Generva insists the guests play Two Truths and a Lie, and, during her turn, claims she once witnessed a murder without knowing it. The next day, Ethel dies in a hit and run, and Phyllida speculates that someone may have been trying to kill Generva to keep her quiet about the murder. With the stakes of her inquiry raised, Phyllida starts casing the previous night’s party guests, now searching for a murderer instead of an adulterer. Phyllida’s deductive skills are on par with Marple and Poirot, and Cambridge is careful to play fair without going too easy on the reader. This is a treat. Agent: Maura Kye-Casella, Don Congdon Assoc. (Oct.)