Keep It Quiet by Richard Hull
Review by Matt B. (BuffaloSavage)
Released in 1935, this ingenious, unusual, and well written mystery will please readers who like an amusing whodunit, in a unique setting, and a modicum of suspense.
Set entirely within the confines of a London club, the characters are exclusively men, which will bring to mind the all male world (academe) of Michael Innes’ early Appleby stories.
Another curious point is that the detective is not an inspector from the Yard, but a member of the club who is simply nosey. Plus, Hull spends time describing the feelings and motivation of the criminal, which was one of his hallmarks.
Hull worked as full-time Chartered Accountant. Writing was in his moonlighting job, so his prose a little stiff. This is balanced by his unique approach to plotting and narrative and his quiet sense of humor.
The other attractive point is the participant observation of the mores and ethos of a mediocre club of the time.
This was reprinted by Dover Publications in the late 1980s, which also indicates the high quality of this mystery.
