Golden Age of Detective Fiction

Hello readers! I’m happy to have another book review for #ReadingtheMeow2024. Today, we’ll be joining amateur sleuths Mr. and Mrs. North on their quest to buy a new Siamese cat after their other much-loved Siamese cat, Martini, dies. How does that get them embroiled in a murder investigation? You’ll have to keep reading to find out.

Plot Summary

The Judge is Reversed begins with a cat hunt. More specifically, Pamela and Jerry North are ready to find a new feline friend after the death of their beloved Siamese, Martini. Having read in the newspaper that a cat show was happening, Pam North makes her way down to the show to look at some cats. She marvels at the variety of cats and mulls over the pros and cons of getting a long-haired feline (she’s decidedly against brushing) before watching an argument between one of the show cat owners and one of the judges: John Blanchard. Cat breeder Madeline Somers fills her in that John Blanchard is a man who calls things as he sees them- and isn’t afraid to ruffle some fur, but that his passion for cat judging is born out of his deep love for cats. Somers invites Pam to visit her shop to see if any of the Siamese cats she has in stock are to her liking. Pam accepts the invitation and makes an appointment for next week.

The next day, Jerry and Pam make their way to the finals of an amateur tennis championship. The winner of the sets played over the next few days has a real chance of going pro, and the odds-on favorite is a man named Mear. However, Mear has a terrible set of games and keeps getting penalized for foot-faulting my line judge John Blanchard. John Blanchard, a semi-famous amateur tennis champion, is just as meticulous about the rules of tennis as he is about cats. Mears loses badly and gives up any chance of going pro this year. Mears confronts John Blanchard about his calls after the matches and becomes enraged when Blanchard is seen in the company of the young lady Mears hopes to marry. This young lady, the daughter of a friend of Blanchard’s, is one excellent customer and is playing the men against each other, hoping to get the best deal. Pam and Jerry watch an explosive interaction between Mears and Blanchard, and Pam remarks that Blanchard has a habit of making enemies,

Keeping true to form, John Blanchard penned a letter admonishing an anti-vivesection group in the Times the next day, and his caustic editorial riled the local committee into a frenzy.

Not long after Blanchard’s inflammatory letter has hit the news, he is found dead in his apartment, head bashed in by either a cat scratch pole or a wooden tennis racket. Suspects abound after his will is read by John Blanchard’s old law partner (because, yes, somehow, John Blanchard also had time to practice law!) His lady friend is set to inherit a cool half million. Her father, John Blachard’s old school chum, can’t wait to catch hold of his daughter’s windfall, not to mention hot-headed Mears, the fanatical committee head of the anti-vivisection group. As Pam and Jerry North dig deeper into John Blanchard’s varied and entire life, they find his past littered with enemies.

Review

The Judge is Reversed is a breezy, entertaining read that oozes coziness. One of the defining elements of this book is the bantering, informal style of dialogue that Frances and Richard Lockridge use. Pamela and Jerry talk in staccato-like bursts, running rough-shod over each other, with abbreviations galore. Having watched the Mr. & Mrs. North TV series, I recognized the dialogue patterned after TV. I got swept away by the rhythm of it being spoken, which aided my enjoyment of the story. I have found that this style is pretty popular in American cozy mysteries of this period- probably so their books could be sold more easily to television studios- and if you’re a fan of it, the Pat and Jean Abbott books by Frances Crane use this same conversational style. However, the light chattiness will only be for some, and I can only take it in small doses. After only a few pages, you’ll know if the Norths are your cup of tea. I was in the mood for a light book, and the Norths delivered.

Pam and Jerry North are somewhat reluctant amateur sleuths, with Jerry taking a lesser role in solving crime due to being the head of his publishing firm, which leaves the rather scatty Pam as the guide through the book. However, in The Judge is Reversed, John Blanchard’s exciting and somewhat tumultuous life and past take up the lion’s share of the story. John Blanchard, a titan in tennis, law, bridge, and cat welfare, is a man who has many interests, many friends, and many enemies. I think the norm of these books is that Pam, accidentally bumbles her way into meeting the acquaintances of the dead, and there is some of that- but in this story, about half of the narration or more is taken up by Captain Weigland, the officer investigating the case.

Captain Weigland, the fast friend of the Norths, provides an anchor to what could have been a scattershot story. He steadily trawls through John Blanchard’s life. His thorough interviewing orders the story and makes it easier to bring together the many facets of John Blanchard’s life. Weigland notes that John Blanchard, an avowed cat lover who has written books about cats, judges cat shows and owns three well-taken-care of felines, also profoundly cares about tennis, his friends, and bridge and is interested in possibly getting married again to a beautiful, if fickle red-head. He’s a vigorous and virile man who doesn’t do anything by half, and his many talents have led him to meet many people.

John Blanchard’s life of many pursuits means that Frances and Richard Lockridge could go hog wild with their characters. The fanatical, colorless, anti-vivesectionist, with his high-pitched voice, smooth as silk, cat breeder, Madeline Somers, the enigmatic girlfriend whose sphynx-like manner has netted her a hefty inheritance, and the temperamental and boyish Mr. Mears. All of them leap off the page, and it’s easy to imagine any of them killing Blanchard.

I loved all the different avenues that Weigland and the reader get to explore before the true motive finally reveals itself. There’s so much to unpack before the final scene where Pam North, in her snoopy, blundering way, almost gets done like John Blanchard before being rescued by Weigland. The final scene is harrowing and hilarious in equal measure- entirely in keeping with the rest of the book. The ending did feel a little abrupt, but I think that’s due to Pam North never really figuring out the puzzle and just falling into the solution, unlike Weigland, who, through careful police work, does know the who, what, why, and how of it all. Maybe this is a little commentary by the Lockridge’s about the nature of an amateur sleuth versus a professional policeman. On the other hand, perhaps it’s just funny.

For cat lovers who are reading this review during #ReadtheMeow2024. This cat book has more cats than a cattery. Manx, Siamese, and Burmese are the stars, a cat show, a veterinarian specializing in cats, a potential cat hospital, and a murderer who favors cat scratch poles as weapons. Let’s just say cats have their paws all over this book.

I enjoyed The Judge is Reversed and can’t wait to read The Norths Meet Murder later in the summer as a part of my #20booksofsummer24 reading challenge.

Frances and Richard Lockridge Biography

The Lockridges’ collaboration started somewhat accidentally. Frances had written a short story that was well received, and Richard suggested they expand it into a novel. This led to their first book, “The Norths Meet Murder” (1940), which introduced their most famous characters, Mr. and Mrs. North.

This series, featuring the married couple Jerry and Pam North, who are amateur detectives, became immensely popular. The series combined elements of cozy mystery and humor, setting it apart from the grittier detective fiction of the time.

Beyond the Mr. and Mrs. North series, the Lockridges created several other series and standalone novels. These include the Captain Heimrich series, the Lieutenant Nathan Shapiro series, and the Inspector Merton Heimrich series.

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