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The Red House Mystery

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The Red House Mystery

By: A. A. Milne
Narrated by: William Sutherland
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“Like all really nice people, you have a weakness for detective stories…The least that I can do is write you one.” So wrote A. A. Milne to his father, to whom he dedicated this delectable mystery.

Mark Ablett’s stately mansion, the Red House, is filled with very proper guests when his most improper brother returns from Australia. The prodigal brother enters Mark’s study, the parlor maid hears arguing, and the brother dies—rather suddenly, with a bullet between his eyes. The study is locked from the inside, and Mark is missing!

Investigating the crime is wealthy Antony Gillingham, who rivals Sherlock Holmes in his remarkable powers of observation. He is aided by his friend, Bill Beverley, a cheerful young man in white flannels. Echoes of Christopher Robin and his friends chime nostalgically throughout this charming classic of detection!

(P)1999 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Crime Fiction Mystery Suspense Thriller & Suspense Traditional Detectives Fiction Crime Detective
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Critic reviews

“It is an agreeable book…written with a deceptive smoothness that is not as easy as it looks.”

(Raymond Chandler)

“A detective comedy of pronounced élan and ingenuity.”

(Times Literary Supplement (London))

“Though Milne is immediately associated with Winnie-the-Pooh and pals, he nonetheless wrote a number of adult titles, including this 1922 novel in which guests at a country estate become amateur sleuths when a shooting occurs and all evidence points toward their host.”

(Library Journal)

“This droll whodunit from the creator of Winnie the Pooh sparkles with witty dialogue, deft plotting, and an amusing cast. In between taking tea and playing billiards, an amateur detective and his chum investigate their genial host’s disappearance. A series of lighthearted capers ensues, replete with secret passageways, underwater evidence, and other atmospheric devices.”

(Goodreads.com)
All stars
Most relevant
Story ok but narration would have been better if different voices had been used for characters.

Ok

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Good story. Shame narrator used the same voice for all the characters which caused confusion over which one was talking.

poor narrator

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William Sutherland's rendition is awfully good; with minute modulations of his voice he brings out subtleties in the text that a less intelligent reading would miss completely. His bluff Received Pronunciation is perfectly suited to the upper-class milieu.

I've heard other audiobooks of A A Milne's classic but this is the first one that really held my attention due to the fine perceptions Sutherland has noted. I didn't find it boring at all. If you like Golden Age texts, try this one.
I have to admit that ther transference created by writer and reader left me wishing that Milne had written at least one more book with the 'Holmes' (Tony) and 'Watson' relationship. Unlike most of e.g. Sayers, Marsh or Allingham this book swings.

V subtle reading of clever Golden Age whodunnit

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I am from the olden days so this was a real taste of nostalgia for me. I have read most of the Agatha Christie books and Dorothy L Sayers Lord Peter books and the new Lord Peter books and it was bliss to find something of that ilk but completely new.
I wish AA Milne had written a few more of these but at least he wrote this one. I even liked the narrator who had a slightly Pooh-ish quality to his voice and made the experience very much a cosy crime Investigation experience.
Very much of it’s time and relying on Poirot/Sherlockian techniques as it was written long before forensic science was a thing and even the telephone was a new fangled gadget.

Thoroughly enjoyed this.

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I loved the narration of this enjoyable murder mystery. I’m not sure if I guessed the plot or if I might have read it as a kid but it didn’t spoil my enjoyment

Great narration

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