The Norths Meet Murder by Frances Lockridge is the first book of a popular 1940s mystery series set in New York and featuring the sophisticated couple, Jerry and Pam North. The book opens with the couple discovering a nude man’s body in the bathtub of the empty Greenwich apartment above theirs. The New York detectives who are sent to investigate are Lieutenant Bill Weigand and his assistant, Detective Sergeant Mullins.

As the police painstakingly sift through the meagre clues, they often end up back at the North’s. These four characters, the slightly screwy yet classy Pam and Jerry, the sharp Lieutenant and his faithful, often slightly confused sidekick Mullins work well together with the detectives doing the legwork and the Norths helping with insights into the people that were involved. There is a definite late 1930s vibe with plenty of cocktails, smoking, and playful conversations, and a suspect party that reveals the murderer in the closing pages of the book.

I found the author to be a little long-winded and at times felt that the story was being dragged out but overall I enjoyed this first entry and will certainly be looking for more of the Mr. And Mrs. North mysteries. ( )

Published in 1940 and set in 1930s New York this is a look at what life was like for an upper class couple between the wars. I assume finding a nude body in an empty apartment wasn't commonplace but the North's managed that experience with the tool their social set seemed to relay on then, cocktails and more cocktails! Lieutenant Weigand of New York's Homicide Bureau was also helpful. In fact, although it was possible they might have committed the murder the Norths and the Lieutenant became very friendly and on occasion discussed the case...over cocktails, even when the Lieutenant was on duty! Lieutenant Weigand was competent, thoughtful and considerate when Mrs. North, a rather ditzy woman, gave him a couple of ideas which worked to his benefit. Well, all of their benefit, once the murderer was arrested they celebrated...with cocktails!

This was the first in the Mr. and Mrs. North series. Wildly popular, the series was written between the mid-thirties and 1963. In addition, the Norths inspired a play, movie, and a radio and TV series. I bought this and a couple of others at a library book sale and I think it will be fun to see how the Norths changed over time. Oh, and the police as well. Weigand's partner is continually wanting to work one of the suspects over. And then there's that business about drinking while working. ( )

What a slice of the late 30s! in New York City. It's chief characteristic: cocktails. Lots of talk about cocktails. "It was always odd and interesting to be a little changed by alcohol, but only enough to appreciate the change and relish it." ( )

This book is a sort of odd combination of police procedural and amateur sleuths. There's also a lot of drinking, by everyone involved. Mr. and Mrs. North don't seem to do much aside from sticking close to home making drinks. Mrs. North finds an unidentified dead body on the fourth floor of their apartment building. The Norths end up befriending the investigating officer, Lieut. Weigand (despite the fact the Norths are sort-of murder suspects). Along the way of the investigation there are some intriguing clues, including lobsters, a little bit of letterhead, and an open window. Weigand tries to consume as many drinks as he can, and finds out that even in the middle of New York City everyone seems to be connected to everyone else. Mr. and Mrs. North do very little in this book. I assume that as this series is about them, they must be more developed in later books. In general this was an entertaining period mystery, and I found Weigand rather charming. I'd read more in this series. ( )