Mrs. Plant Talks, or...

...a rumination on 1920s mystery chapter headings.

I was just cleaning up an old copy of a 1920s Crime Club hardcover, and flipping through the pages I found that the titles of each chapter section were more than enough to entertain me on their own.

So, in hopes you too will get a grin out of these, please enjoy a selection of chapter titles from Anthony Berkeley's 1929 The Layton Court Mystery.

Mr. Sheringham Is Puzzled

Major Jefferson Is Reluctant

Four People Behave Remarkably

The Vase That Wasn't

Mr. Sheringham Becomes Startling

Mr. Sheringham Sees Visions

Mrs. Plant is Apprehensive

Lady Standworth Exchanges Glances

Hidden Chambers and What-Nots

Mr. Sheringham Amuses an Ancient Rustic

Mr. Grierson Becomes Heated

What the Settee Had to Tell

Mrs. Plant Proves Disappointing

Mr. Sheringham Is Dramatic

Mr. Sheringham Solves the Mystery (this one seems a bit premature)

Mrs. Plant Talks

Mr. Sheringham Is Disconcerted

The Mystery Finally Refuses to Accept Mr. Sheringham's Solution (see?)

Mr. Grierson Tries His Hand

What Really Did Happen

Not to leave you entirely in the dark, please allow me to produce a sampling of some quotes from within these pages:

pg 31 But Roger had other things to do that dancing attendance attendance upon fainting and hysterical ladies.

pg 80 In spite of himself he shivered slightly. "Ugh, you ghoulish brute!" he exclaimed.

pg 169 "Oh, no!" Alec groaned. "Tea!"

pg 167 "My God!" Alec shouted suddenly. "That isn't a cow; it's a bull! Run like hell!"

Luckily for us, the book has not gone out of print. In fact, there is a reprint still going strong right now. Goody!!!