The Mystery of the Cape Cod Tavern

3 1/2 stars rounded up

Victoria "Vic" Ballard is recovering from illness and needs a vacation, especially from her domineering son George. George is one of those people who is convinced that the entire world would be better run if only he were in charge of it - and he does not hesitate to say so! Fortunately, Vic is able to escape to the small town of Weesit, home of the famous Asey Mayo. She is accompanied by Judith "Judy" Dunham, daughter of an old schoolfriend who has fallen on hard times, and Rose, her maid.

Immediately, Vic finds things are not as quiet and peaceful as she had expected. First, a traveling show of entertainers arrives, expecting to play for "the Guilds": Richard "Punch" Edson (head of the Punch & Judy show); Dan Allen, a baritone; his wife, Edie Allen, a dancer; Dan's sister Harriet "Hat," a dancer and actress; and John "Red" Gilpin, a former car salesman turned magician with a real eye for the ladies. Vic has no idea who the "Guilds" are, and it appears that someone has played a nasty practical joke on the poor players. Feeling sorry for the group of young people, Vic lets them stay over, a decision she soon regrets.

When Vic gets up the next morning, she has the shock of her life:

"I don't think I ever understood the phrase 'rooted to the spot' before that minute. For there at my feet, lying in the tall sea grass, was Red Gilpin. Curiously sprawled. Rigid.

His red hair was wet with dew - but his face! I turned away from the sight.

Suddenly it came to me as I looked over the white flecked rolling waves that those sounds of the night before had not all been car exhausts. They had been gun shots. Someone had shot and done away with Red Gilpin.

Ironically the old tag line of the poem pounded in my ears along with the crashing of the surf:

'Away went Gilpin-dum-de-dum-and sore against his will.'"

Taylor does an excellent job with the setting. This is mostly definitely during the depression. Dan Allen and his little company of players have a gypsy existence and live hand to mouth. When Vic invites them to stay over, Edie luxuriates in the first real bed she has slept in for some time. Judy Dunham came to Vic's attention after fainting from hunger in the street. Unlike some writers of the era ([a:Erle Stanley Gardner|10214|Erle Stanley Gardner|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1211517281p2/10214.jpg], [a:Agatha Christie|123715|Agatha Christie|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1321738793p2/123715.jpg], [a:Rex Stout|41112|Rex Stout|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1201136975p2/41112.jpg]), Taylor does not flinch from showing how the depression affects everyone's life to some extent. However, things are not hopeless. People don't just survive - they find reasons to enjoy life as well.

Taylor's female characters, especially the older women, are always well done, though they're not always likable. Her trademark humor is present, too, but this particular book is somewhat darker than most others I've read. The ending is rather grim, in fact. It shocked me. Also, I have issues with two plot developments:

Punch and Judy? Really? No indication of a romance there at all until the end.

The killer is really from left field. I'm not sure I consider that playing fair. Granted, you're supposed to suspect everyone, but still!

I couldn't bring myself to rate this higher (3 1/2 stars rounded up). It just wasn't as cheerful and fun like many other Mayo novels I've read, and the ending really bothered me. I don't think I'll be rereading it all too soon.