A Morbid Passion by Robert HoltomMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Three and a half stars.
Selby Bigge and his friend Theodora Smythe are invited to dinner with Doctor Fortescue, his wife Helena, and their two sons Percy and Lancelot. Doctor Fortescue believes he can 'cure' men of unnatural perversions and his first case was none other than his eldest son Lancelot who is now happily engaged to Jacqueline. However, there seem to be some tensions at the table and with the servants centring on the annual Servants Ball which is taking place that evening at the Royal Albert Hall. The ball has become a mecca for members of the LGBTQIA+ community (not just servants) to be themselves, whilst others wear fancy dress or even clothes borrowed from their master/mistress.
Later that evening, while Selby and Theo attend said ball they see Lancelot dressed as a Harlequin and clearly just as homosexual as he ever was. At various times during the evening Selby catches glimpses of Lance, arguing with another man in a Plague Doctor costume, and talking to one of his servants, Grace.
But the next morning there is shocking news, Lance has been found dead and his faithful servant Reginald is missing, along with Lance's car. It seems Selby and Theo have another murder to solve.
This was another enjoyable mystery interspersed with historical facts about life as a homosexual in 1930. The abuse, the secrecy, the fear - all represented as part of the story, as well as the bizarre societies promoting the sterilisation of 'unworthy' individuals!
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
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