The Scoop & Behind the screen Book

(My edition only had The Scoop so I'll be reviewing that.)

So I didn't read the blurb when I borrowed the book, seeing Agatha Christie's name on the front cover was enough to sell it. And seeing the names of the other Golden Age Crime Writers, I thought that it was a book of mystery stories.

It's actually one long story made up of twelve chapters, each writer developing two of the chapters (Dorothy L. Sayers writing the first and last chapters). Put together it's supposed to be one cohesive mystery story. It works surprisingly well. The plot and character development is excellent, and I couldn't tell the difference in writing styles. My favourite chapters was Chapter 5, wehre Beryl comes into her own.

One problem that I had with it came at the very end. Oliver describes to Inspector Smart the way the murder was committed. Geraldine is supposed to have "chucked herself down on the floor in hysterics and said she never wanted to see him or his pin again. Then Hemingway saw red and stuck the pin in her back and killed her". I cannot even begin to explain how ridiculous that is. Firstly, no adult woman would ever chuck herself on the floor while arguing with her lover. Secondly, there is no secondly. It's such a dumb explanation, and what makes it worse is that Dorothy L. Sayers wrote it. I can't help but think she must have been tired and wanted to throw a tantrum at that point. What a let down.