I see murder in this unhappy hand...
When Mrs. Robinson, palmist to the Prince of Wales, reads Oscar Wilde's hand, she cannot know what she has predicted. Nor can Oscar know what he has set in motion when, that same evening, he proposes a game of "murder" in which each of his Sunday Supper Club guests must write down those whom they would like to kill. The fourteen "victims" begin to die mysteriously, one by one, and in the order in which their names were drawn from the bag. With growing horror Wilde and his confidants, Robert Sherard and Arthur Conan Doyle, realize that one of their guests that evening must be the murderer. In a race against time, Wilde will need all his powers of deduction and knowledge of human behavior before he himself—the thirteenth name on the list—becomes the killer's next victim.
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"This is a very structured mystery, complete with seating plans at two parallel dinners (beginning and end) and a grid. Nonetheless, it is not mechanical, and the motivations for the various murders and possible murders are driven by character, and though implausible, not impossible. The Wilde / Conan Doyle friendship - implausible in itself, given their wildly different characters - is very well drawn. The Marquis of Queensberry and his boxing rules have a large part to play in this one, and the Marquis himself does not come off at all well, though his sons do rather better - Drumlanrig, in particular, seeming like a rather nice if somewhat beleaguered young chap; Bosie is (doubtless accurately) described as being beautiful but indolent and selfish. I enjoyed, as always, Brandreth's deliberate wide range of eccentrics in late nineteenth-century London. Looking forward to the next in the series." — Surreysmum (4 out of 5 stars)
"This is a very structured mystery, complete with seating plans at two parallel dinners (beginning and end) and a grid. Nonetheless, it is not mechanical, and the motivations for the various murders and possible murders are driven by character, and though implausible, not impossible. The Wilde / Conan Doyle friendship - implausible in itself, given their wildly different characters - is very well drawn. The Marquis of Queensberry and his boxing rules have a large part to play in this one, and the Marquis himself does not come off at all well, though his sons do rather better - Drumlanrig, in particular, seeming like a rather nice if somewhat beleaguered young chap; Bosie is (doubtless accurately) described as being beautiful but indolent and selfish. I enjoyed, as always, Brandreth's deliberate wide range of eccentrics in late nineteenth-century London. Looking forward to the next in the series."
“One of the most enjoyable crime series around.”
“[An] intricate whodunit.”
“Intelligent…Delightful…Bill Wallis’s narration [is] spirited and authentic to the time and place.”
“A delicious bagatelle, frothier and more imaginative than its predecessor.”
" I did not like the ending of this one. I wanted something more sensational! "
" Super fun, especially for Wildeans. "
" Clever, easy read. Perfect for those morning bus rides. "
" The mystery is very weak, but the depiction of Wilde is fun. Still there is much to much foreshadowing of what will happen to him to be a cedible portrait. "
" Very clever and fun to read! I love books who use real life people as characters. "
" A good read, entertaining, light in style and keeps you interested. "
" I liked this book much better than the first one in the series, Oscar Wilde and a Death of No Importance. The case is more interesting and I like the way the author is gradually revealing Wilde to us. "
" I enjoyed this book, it was a fun read, and I really thought the ending was great. I have to admit though I liked his first book better. I found it more cohesive and witty. Still this was a worthwhile and enjoyable read. "
" This book was a pleasant read. I was hoping for a story more like the Alienist by Caleb Carr! but this was a much lighter story. With that being said it was fun and I have to say I enjoyed it . "
" Didn't like it ... primarliy coz it started too dry for me!!! "
" The second in an Oscar Wilde mystery series. Enjoyable. "
" Leggerino e facilmente leggibile. Divertente Oscar Wilde nel ruolo di detective ante litteram. "
" actually liked this slightly better than the first one "
" Gyles Brandreth does it again! The second book starring Oscar Wilde as a sleuth is as enjoyable as the first (Oscar Wilde and a Death of No Importance A Mystery. We are introduced to more of Oscar Wilde's friends and are quickly drawn in to a complex and dark mystery. An altogether satisfying read. "
" Second of the series; not so witty, not so intelligent, somehow too long and messy. Enough with Oscar Wilde posing as a detective... "
" Interesting and entertaining. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. "
" 'I see murder in this unhappy hand...' "
" If possible I loved this chilling story even more than the first. A classic. (Alternatively titled 'A game called murder'.) "
Gyles Brandreth is a prominent BBC broadcaster, theater producer, novelist, and biographer. He has written bestselling biographies of Britain’s royal family and an acclaimed diary of his years as a Member of Parliament. He lives in London with his family.
Bill Wallis has performed in over two hundred radio series and plays, while among his numerous productions for the Royal Shakespeare Company are The Alchemist, The Master Builder, and Twelfth Night. He is also a prolific film and television actor, having made numerous appearances in such productions as Keep the Aspidistra Flying, Midsomer Murders, Bad Girls, Doctors, Poirot, and as Dr. Nick MacKenzie in Dangerfield.
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