The Norths Meet Murder

Last June my husband and I were visiting a small tourist town in the Thousand Islands, NY. We stopped at an antique shop and browsed around and I found the back room which was nothing but old books. They were dusty, moldy smelling, and were in no order. Some laid on the floor, on chairs, on the shelves flat instead of standing up, ect. Needless to say, I was timbid about entering so I grabbed the first book I could get my hands on without getting them dirty. It was redish, maybe more vibrant in it's day, and unlike todays books~ it had no description on the backcover or the inside. It was cheap so I thought, why not it would be a mystery. And a mystery it indeed turned out to be. The book was The Norths Meet Murder and the side of the book simply said Lockridge. I bought the book, took it home, and admit that it was a few weeks before I remembered I bought it. I started reading and laughed at how the mannerism was so different back then. Mr. North told Mrs. North to go to the kitchen and make him a cocktail. I remember telling my husband that I would ignore him if he ever talked to me in such a way. Then I was hooked, after Mrs. North prepared the drinks she took Mr. North to the apartment above them. It was vacant and she wanted to host a dinner party, and she thought since that apartment was empty it would allow for more room. As she's showing him around the apartment, they find a murdered body in the bathroom. A dectective is involved, and a circle of the Norths' friends as they soon discover that they once met the victim. Throughout the book, nosey Mrs. North tries to help solve the murder which leaves her looking very suspicious. In the end the killer is caught, but not before he tries to kill Mrs. North for being 'on to him.' Throughout the book, I couldn't help but think of Archie Bunker and his wife Edith. Especially Edith, through the eyes of Mrs. North. I found this novel to be completely interesting and even though it is 66 years old, and probably out of print, I would suggest it to anyone who likes to get caught up in mysteries.