Mason's story is overstuffed with motives, characters, coincidences and cutesy names, but there's a lot of writing talent here, too - a hefty dose of simplification would help next time out. Then, though conniving Kate seems the natural murder victim, it's Nurse Jane who's found dead, and it's a clever, vacationing Detective-Superintendent Quentin Lees who figures out motive and culprit. Half-sisters Cecily and Marion Hacket and young Henry Pimpernell bring their own complications, as does Gilbert's flamboyant mistress, movie-star Perigenia. Pickbone was involved years before in a nasty medical scandal recognizing family black-sheep Gilbert Peck as her still adored, deserting lover of years ago being told that she's the illegitimate daughter of family-solicitor William Visor. Nurse Jane Nightwork does her best to keep Kate happy but isn't helped by a series of distractions - realizing her patient's Dr. Kate, beneath a twinkling exterior, is a rather sadistic tyrant. Her stories often revolve around children confronting fears and feature recurring themes of doubles, doppelgangers and dreams. A slightly arch, ornately plotted debut wherein all the possible heirs of 90-year-old Kate Keepdown are invited to her mouldering country house, ostensibly to celebrate her birthday, actually to be teased and tormented about the disposition of her fortune. Catherine Storr is probably best known for her novel Marianne Dreams and the Clever Polly series.
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