Death and Mary Dazill - by Mary Fitt (Paperback)

About the Book

In flashbacks, we learn how everything goes wrong in the lives of two sisters when their father brings the enigmatic Mary Dazill home and proposes to marry her. Soon, murder ensues. A fatalistic mystery with the emotional echoes of a Greek tragedy.

Book Synopsis

'Is it wise to evoke these memories-to raise these ghosts-after all these years?'

After attending a burial in an old country churchyard, Superintendent Mallett and his friends are struck by the sight of two elderly ladies, regally dressed in black and accompanied by their uniformed chauffeur, placing an elaborate wreath on the graveyard's most imposing monument. The vicar confirms that the Misses de Boulter of Chetwode Lodge have placed fresh flowers on the tomb of their father and brother every week for the last fifty years. In the opposite corner of the churchyard lies the small, neglected grave of one Mary Dazill. In flashbacks, we learn how everything goes wrong in the lives of the two sisters when their father brings the enigmatic Mary home and proposes to marry her. Soon, murder ensues, and a fatalistic mystery with the emotional echoes of a Greek tragedy.

Mary Fitt was the pseudonym of Kathleen Freeman (1897-1959), a classical scholar who taught Greek at the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire in Cardiff. Beginning in 1937, Freeman wrote twenty-nine mysteries and a number of short stories as Mary Fitt, and was elected to the Detection Club in 1950. Aside from her detective novels, Freeman published many books on classical Greece, scholarly articles and children's stories. She lived in St Mellons in Wales with her partner Dr Liliane Marie Catherine Clopet, a family physician and author.

Review Quotes

It is an unforgettable book, and its clear crisp and beautiful prose, as well as the unusal theme, raise it very high above the average thriller.

A nice variation on a mystery novel (no detection), dealing with a crime fifty years old, whose solution comes to light with the death of one of those involved. It is the story of the DeBoulter family, of the beautiful Mary Dazill who came as companion to the daughters, and whose fascination proved fatal to father and son. Gently sustained, as told by the vicar's wife, all in keeping with the period.

About the Author

Mary Fitt was the pseudonym of Kathleen Freeman (1897-1959) a classical scholar who taught Greek at the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire in Cardiff. Starting in 1937, she wrote 27 mysteries and a number of short stories as Mary Fitt and was elected to the Detection Club in 1950. Aside from her detective novels, Freeman published many books on classical Greece, scholarly articles and children's stories. She lived in St Mellons in Wales with her friend Dr Liliane Marie Catherine Clopet, a family physician, who wrote short stories and fairy tales.