Non-Regency Novels

Behold Here's Poison

30 "My precious, you really must have some regard for my clothes," he said with gentle reproach. "Much as I love you, I cannot permit you to maul this particular coat.": Randall Mathews
84 "You look so nice in that hat." "Do you think so?" said X unresponsively. "I've thought so for years," he said gently, and passed on to Y.: Randall Mathews talking to his aunt, Mrs Lupton (X) and then passing on to Stella Matthews (Y)
159 "I thought it would be dull and probably vulgar.": Randall Mathews is talking to Dr Fielding about why he didn't go to his uncle's inquest
235 "Do I have to make a reply to that utterly fatuous remark?": Randall Mathews speaking to Stella
296 "If there's one thing I hate above all others," declared X, "it is waste!": Harriet Mathews

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Blunt Instrument, A

97 "`She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house.'" That's you. I'm going to tell Glass." He slid off the edge of the table and departed in search of the policeman....X soon reappeared, saying, "He reproved me. Seemed to know the context." "What was that?" asked Y absently. "Not polite. Only two kinds of women in the O.T. This was the other kind.": Neville Fletcher (X) speaking to and about Sally Drew(Y)
328 Name as many novels as you can in which houses are broken into in the course of the action. The common law definition of breaking and entering involves entering at night with felonious intent, but I am willing to waive both those requirements. I do, however, require that the break-in involve someone entering a house stealthily, and in an unconventional manner. Forcing one's way in past the servants does not count. Nor does breaking into an office or a hotel. I mean someone's residence. Each novel counts only as one answer, even if there's more than one break-in.

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Death in The Stocks

86 "It's a repulsive habit." "I probably must have caught it from X," said Y musingly.: Kenneth is chastising his sister Antonia (Y) for starting her sentences with "Personally..." and Antonia is blaming it on his fiancèe, Violet (X)
119 How many of GH's female characters breed bull terriers and of course, who are they and in which book do they make their appearences?

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Detection Unlimited

89 "Well, if that's a proposal I'm glad I never received one!" said X.: Miss Patterdale (X) is unabashedly eavesdropping while Charles is proposing to Abby
110 "It has gone out of fashion of late years, but in my young days it was very popular. I remember my grandmother telling me, however, that when it first came in it was frowned on as being fast, and leading to flirtation.": Mr. Drybeck is speaking of the game of croquet
127 "There's a lot of nonsense talked about children nowadays; the truth is that they thrive on any muck.": Miss Patterdale speaking to her niece
204 X had then made a very rude grimace at him, an unendearing gesture which had the extraordinary effect upon him of confirming him in his resolve to marry her, even if he had to drag her to the altar to do it.: Abby has just made a grimace at Charles
255 "Don't forget me, and the Vicar's wife!" interrupted X.: Gavin Plenmeller (X) talking to Charles Haswell

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Duplicate Death

101 "I'd give something to know what he's saying to the old hag!": The "old hag" is Mrs. Haddington
260 1 frowned at 2, a little puzzled. "I don't think I get what you are driving at. Is there a reason--any kind of reason?" "No! But no one would believe that! No one could believe it!" "That sounds rather sinister! See if X will believe it!" "No, no he couldn't!" "Well, if that's so, you'd be well out of marriage with him wouldn't you?" said 2 calmly.: Beuluh Birtley and Jim Kane talking about Timothy Harte (X)

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Envious Casca

119 How many of GH's female characters breed bull terriers and of course, who are they and in which book do they make their appearences?: Matilda
See also Death in the Stocks (Antonia)
134 "She could sit on her hair! Fancy!": Maud referring to the Empress of Austria
219 "And enjoyment is the last thing I expect anyone to feel! If I've succeeded in making you _____, I shall be satisfied." "A noble ideal," commented X. "But you shouldn't say it as though you thought it unattainable. Not polite." This sally not unnaturally covered Y with confusion. S/He flushed deeply, and floundered in a morass of disclaimers and explanations. X lay back, and watched her/his struggles with the interest of a naturalist.: Stephen (X) is being rather cutting to Willoughby Roydon (Y) who has just read a passage from his play and hoped to make people think
284 "There'll be murder before we're through.": Mathilda

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Footsteps in the Dark

118 "Its robe was black, and so were its hands--at least the one that pointed at me was. I daresay I am stupid, but that seemed to make it more unnerving, for I have never liked coloured people, and a coloured ghost I find very upsetting.": Mrs Bosanquet, the aunt, said this about the ghost that is scaring the family
181 X, who was seated between Y and Z, said softly, "Do listen to my sister floundering hopelessly!": Margaret is commenting on her sister Cecelia's efforts to maintain a conversation with their entomologist neighbor who is miffed because Cecelia is confusing moths and butterflies
267 Y bowed with old-world courtesy, and as though his hobby suddenly called him, turned, and darted back amongst the trees.: Mr Titmarsh bows to Peter and Charles
328 Name as many novels as you can in which houses are broken into in the course of the action. The common law definition of breaking and entering involves entering at night with felonious intent, but I am willing to waive both those requirements. I do, however, require that the break-in involve someone entering a house stealthily, and in an unconventional manner. Forcing one's way in past the servants does not count. Nor does breaking into an office or a hotel. I mean someone's residence. Each novel counts only as one answer, even if there's more than one break-in.

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No Wind of Blame

73 Lady ____ had ample opportunity of observing her only son's expression as he gazed into the celestial blue eyes of the prettiest girl in the county: Lady Dering is noticing the celestial blue eyes of Vicky Fanshawe

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Penhallow

131 "Damned young puppy!" growled Ingram. "You want kicking more than anyone I ever met!"

"Oh, no, really not!" Aubrey assured him earnestly. "I've got a perfectly charming nature. It's just my manner that you object to. I do so sympathize with you! I find all of you more than a little trying, so I know exactly how you feel!"

Aubrey speaking to his brother Ingram

158 X laid a hand on her breast. "I feel it here! A woman's instinct is never wrong!"

Ermyntrude is sure about her instinct with respect to Harold White

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They Found Him Dead

155 "________'ll get eaten by cannibals one of these days.": Emily Kane is speaking about Norma Harte
245 "I'm afraid it's too late to try and change my whole nature," replied X with a faint smile. (Hint: X = "for remembrance" ): Rosemary Kane

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Unfinished Clue, The

80 "I am quite pleased that they have gone," said X composedly. "They are not at all sympathetic, and besides I am nearly sure that her hair has been dyed.": Lola de Silva is talking and the dyed hair in question belonged to Camilla Halliday
328 Name as many novels as you can in which houses are broken into in the course of the action. The common law definition of breaking and entering involves entering at night with felonious intent, but I am willing to waive both those requirements. I do, however, require that the break-in involve someone entering a house stealthily, and in an unconventional manner. Forcing one's way in past the servants does not count. Nor does breaking into an office or a hotel. I mean someone's residence. Each novel counts only as one answer, even if there's more than one break-in.

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Why Shoot a Butler?

160 "...and he--he's rather an--uncompromising person, isn't he?" "But so good to animals, my dear.": The two speakers are Shirley Brown and Lady Matthews, they are talking about Frank Amberley
328 Name as many novels as you can in which houses are broken into in the course of the action. The common law definition of breaking and entering involves entering at night with felonious intent, but I am willing to waive both those requirements. I do, however, require that the break-in involve someone entering a house stealthily, and in an unconventional manner. Forcing one's way in past the servants does not count. Nor does breaking into an office or a hotel. I mean someone's residence. Each novel counts only as one answer, even if there's more than one break-in.

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The Conqueror

319 Which romantic devil flogs his fiancee with a whip for insulting him? What was the insult?: William, the Conqueror whips Lady Matilda for refusing to marry him on the grounds that he's a bastard

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The Royal Escape

139 "You need not fear me, I do assure you, for though you may have heard some sad stories of me, indeed, I was bred a gentleman!": Charles II talking to Lady Wyndham
162 "I will be with you presently. There is something I must do first." Extra hint: Only _______ caught his words, drowned as they were in the noise of the fighting farther down the street. He shouted, "Haste, haste, sir, for God's love!": Charles II
193 "God pity all tall, dark men! My friend, you are sadly out. If you must know, this gentleman is Mr. X, who, as I told you, has lately been concerned in an unchancy duel.": Colonel Gounter is trying to convince Francis Mansel that the tall dark man who wishes to leave England and go to France is a Mr Jackson and not the disguised Charles II (X)
197 "Harry, oh Harry!" gasped _______. "Alack the day, you've grown stout, my dear!": Charles II talking to Lord Wilmot
244 "But I have never been so well-entertained in my life!" (Hint: Chuck ): Charles II

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Simon the Coldheart

19 "I have not, but still I hold": Simon of Beauvallet
213 Which woman disguised herself as the opposite sex to escape/hide but did not cut her hair?: Margot of Belremy
271 Can you name six characters, and the books they appear in, that end up dressing up as a member of the opposite sex. Adults only please - no toddlers in skirts!

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Instead of the Thorn

99 "...Men can't keep up their best behaviour for long. It seems kind of exhausting. The best thing you can do is remember that he's a baby in most things, and start feeling motherly as soon as may be."

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Runaway Match

96 "I warned you, did I not, that I could not allow myself to be thrust into the role of mere onlooker?": Philip Devereux
142 "I must say I do think you need not get into a miff merely because of being bumped a trifle.": Bab Paradise talking to her betrothed, Rupert Morley, during their elopement en route to Gretna Green.

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GENERAL CHALLENGES

288 List the slang terms used to describe the less-than-respectable ladies whom gentlemen sometimes take under their protection. (For example, opera-dancer).: Abbess, barque of frailty, belle mere, bird of paradise, bit of game, bit of muslin OR muslin company OR member of the muslin company, chere amie, convenients, Covent Garden ware, Cyprian, dasher, demi-mondaine OR member of the demi-monde, demi-rep, doxy, fancy piece, flirt, (his) familiar, game pullet, Haymarket ware, high flier OR high flyer, hoyden, hussey OR hussy, incognita, jade, Jezebel, laced mutton, ladybird, lady of the evening, light frigate, light-o-love, lightskirt, loose women, lovebird, mistress, moll, "no better than she should be", Paphians, paramour, peculiar, petticoat, play actress, plump, black-eyed slut, prime article OR prime article of virtue, prostitute, salope, salopette, scarlet woman, straw damsel, strumpet, woman of easy virtue
332 If you encountered a Gentleman in Heyer's Regency London wearing a blue and yellow striped waistcoat and a black spotted neckerchief, what would you conclude about him?: That he's a member of the Four-Horse or Four-in-Hand Club, entitled to drive a coach and four in a group that assembles in George Street, Hanover Square, and drives to Salt Hill "in style" to partake of dinner. The original members were: Lord Worcester, Lord Sefton, Lord Barrymore, Sir John Lade, and Colonel Berkeley. (Regency Londonby Stella Margetson]

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