Looking Back: "Punch with Care"

I've mentioned in my review this week that I generally prefer the later Asey Mayo books in Phoebe Atwood Taylor's series. One of those, which I reviewed here a couple of years ago, was "Punch with Care ," originally published in 1946 and one of the last books in the series. I also did an audio review of the book for the Classic Mysteries podcast, and you can listen to the full review by clicking here.

"Punch with Care" manages to be both quite funny and a pretty good mystery at the same time. First, Asey Mayo finds a body lying in a private railroad car belonging to a local rail enthusiast. She's holding a green ticket, neatly punched. Asey begins to investigate...and the body disappears. And we're off and running on a track that leads to kidnapping, another murder - and some odd clues.

There are plenty of laughs, so if murder isn't your idea of a joke, you may want to skip it. But it really shows off Asey Mayo at his best - and Phoebe Atwood Taylor at hers.

Comments

[Curt Evans]

I bought the very attractive paperback edition of this. I'm a sucker for railroad lore too, so this sounds like a winner.

[Les Blatt]

It is fun, Curt - and the title is from Mark Twain's classic short about a song that worms its way into your head and stays there...punch, brothers, punch with care...etc...

[Joan Kyler]

You're right about the Twain phrase! I read that story in junior high school (more than forty years ago) and occasionally find myself chanting it. I liked the Asey Mayo book, too.

[Les Blatt]

Joan, as I recall, Twain says the only way to get it out of your head is to pass it on to someone else. Which, of course, he did. As did Asey... ;-)