The Ivory Dagger

The country house murder was for decades the mainstay of British crime fiction and amongst it's best practitioners was Patricia Wentworth. The Ivory Dagger, published and set in the early nineteen fifties is a good example of the final years of this popular genre. The story begins with the efforts of Lady Sybil Dryden to force her step daughter Lila into a marriage with the wealthy Sir Herbert Whitall who is well known for his large collection of valuable ivories and his even larger collection of enemies. Lila, who is far from being the sharpest knife in the box, is incapable of standing up to Lady Dryden despite the encouragement of her cousin Ray Fortescue. The return from America of Bill Waring, who was under the impression that he was engaged to Lila, prompts Lady Dryden to move her to Sir Herberts country house and bring the wedding forward. However, following a small dinner party Sir Herbert is found stabbed to death with the ivory dagger of the title. Enter Miss Silver who takes a far more prominent part in this story than in any of the other Wentworths I have read. Also called in is Inspector Frank Abbott of Scotland Yard, a regular partner for Miss Silver. This is just the book to put ones feet up with a glass of something and forget about the economy for a few hours.