DEATH IN CYPRUS

by M. M. Kaye ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 10, 1984

Though no information on previous publication is available, this mystery-comedy is--like Death in Kenya and Death in Zanzibar--clearly a product of Kaye's 1950s writing-career; but this time the old-fashioned-ness is more airy and entertaining. Once again an exotic locale--undivided Cyprus--is more vivid than characters or plot. Once again there's a formula heroine: beautiful, orphaned Amanda Derington, whose austere guardian (head of the family's business) has asked Derington employee Glenn Barton to look after Amanda when she arrives in Cyprus. But even before Amanda's off the ship there's a murder-by-poison: fat, rich Julia Blaine is dead--and none of her friends (nor her husband) appears to be grief-stricken. So Amanda is soon turning for help to fellow passenger Steve Howard, handsome and enigmatic and unflappable. Once ashore, she stays in the beautiful, dusty house of eccentric Miss Moon--while Glenn Barton deals with his own problems (a runaway wife, an adoring middle-aged secretary). And then comes murder #2--that of Glenn's secretary Monica--after which wide-eyed Amanda must be saved in time's nick by the omnipresent Steve. . . who unmasks the predictable culprit. Another creaky museum-piece, then--but, taken on its own terms, it's an agreeable Agatha Christie/Noel Coward hybrid: light-hearted, empty-headed fun for tolerant Anglophiles and romance/mystery/comedy fans.

Pub Date: May 10, 1984

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: St. Martin's

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 1984

Categories: FICTION