The Withdrawing Room

Charlotte MacLeod

After her husband's death, Sarah Kelling has to find a way to earn her living. Because of her unconventional upbringing and because her family is part of Boston Society, she is limited. She does have a grand house, though. She decides to turn it into a boarding house for respectable people with good (Society) references. Soon she has five boarders to who she also provides breakfast and supper. One is a professor at MIT, one is a working man, one is a widow not active in Society, one is a young girl in college in Boston, and one is an older gentleman whose goal in life is to tell everyone what is wrong with their business. It certainly is an odd group. Later she is able to rent the final basement room to her friend Max Bittersohn, a private investigator.

It isn't long after she opens for business that the older, dislikeable gentleman is killed by a subway train. Was his death an accident or murder? Although she wonders about that, Sarah is busy keeping the man's acquisitive relatives away from his things until the will is probated and also from claiming some of her things "by accident". She also worries about getting another boarder. Fortunately, she knows of another gentleman who was interested in the suite created from the old withdrawing room area. She is able to re-let the rooms the following week with no loss of income.

But not everyone living in her house is exactly as claimed. After a second person dies, Sarah realizes she probably should check her references more closely...

Charlotte MacLeod's mysteries are well crafted cozies. In this one, the mystery twists well and keeps the reader guessing. Part of the book is devoted to Sarah, her new situation and her recent past, and her unusual, eccentric family. That makes The Withdrawing Room richer in atmosphere.

It is difficult to remember that the setting of the novel is the late 1970's or so. Boarding houses were out of fashion then, so were quiet businesses. Also, Sarah's surroundings are genteel, and in many ways could have stepped back 50 years. But modern reminders are around - like MIT and the modern subway.

Sit back with a warm cup of hot chocolate in a favorite reading chair and enjoy The Withdrawing Room