MURDER BEFORE MATINS

by John Reeves ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 25, 1984

In Murder by Microphone (1978), CBC producer Reeves offered a tongue-in-cheek murder mystery featuring Toronto cops Coggin and Sump: a silly but modestly appealing sendup. Here, however, Reeves seems to be playing things somewhat straight, unfortunately--as Coggin and Sump investigate a dullishly complicated murder at Tathwell Abbey outside Toronto, home of the Gilbertine order (both monks and nuns). The victim: Benet Holland, Prior of the Abbey's monk-half, and a top candidate for Abbot. The murder method: a booby-trap in the bell-tower. The suspects: everyone in the Abbey--though most of them were supposedly locked up for the night at the midnight murder-hour. And the thin motive possibilities include rivalry and confessional-secrets. The cops interview a parade of monks and nuns (a few offbeat types among them); they muse on religion; but mostly they pore over ground-plans, timetables, and other old-fashioned mystery clues, coming up with a feebly contrived solution. Intended as half-parody, perhaps, but too much like the real, tedious thing to provide amusement.

Pub Date: May 25, 1984

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 1984

Categories: FICTION