The Death of Corinne

I just read The Death of Corinne by R.T. Raichev. This is the second in the series by him (after the Hunt for Sonya Dufrette.) This felt very much like a book from the Golden Age of mysteries, a book in the Agatha Christie or Dorothy L. Sayers tradition. I was jarred a few times by the realization that it was really set today. Raichev pays tribute to the Golden Age -- the chapter titles are classic Agatha Christie books and some classic mystery movies

A British stately home murder. Antonia Darcy has married Major Payne since the first book. She's also quit her librarian job and become a full time mystery writer. They're on the last leg of their honeymoon and stop at the home of his aunt, Lady Grylls. Lady Grylls is a character and very likable. She gets the word that her goddaughter, Corinne Coreille, a famous French chanteuse is going to come visit. She's had several letters threatening murder and she thinks that she'll be safer ther.

The emphasis is on the plot and not on the sleuths. It's an intriguing plot though fairly easy to guess major parts early. The book is much shorter than most modern mysteries; again, reminiscent of the Golden Age books.

Very enjoyable. I will definitely look for the third in the series.