A Murder Unmentioned

November 5, 2018
Australian author Gentill’s enjoyable sixth Rowland Sinclair mystery (after 2018’s Gentlemen Formerly Dressed) explores the early life of her amateur sleuth. When Rowland was 15, his father, Henry, died under mysterious circumstances. Now, in 1933—13 years later—the gun that killed Henry has been discovered on the grounds of the Sinclair family home in New South Wales, and the investigation into the crime has been reopened. Rowland arrives back at the estate, where his straitlaced brother, Wilfred, has taken up residence, and the authorities are soon questioning each of them about his possible role in Henry’s death. Rowland’s “Leninist friends”—an arty pack that includes a landscape painter, a sculptress, and a chap with poetic leanings—show up to provide moral and investigative support. Each chapter begins with a brief excerpt from an Australian publication, such as the Camperdown Chronicle, that offers insights into the popular culture of the times. Fans of historical mysteries will find a lot to savor.