Looking Back: A Dip in the Pool

Hildegarde Withers was featured in a large number of Stuart Palmer's books. But, for my money, one of her best outings remains her first one: "The Penguin Pool Murder." Published in 1931, it's the story of a murder in the New York City Aquarium - and Hildy, having brought her class to the aquarium to see the penguins, finds a body floating in the penguin pool - and finds that she needs to help Inspector Piper solve the case.

It's funny and refreshing. It was turned into a movie starring Edna May Oliver as Hildy, with James Gleason as Inspector Piper. According to publishers Tom and Enid Schantz of the Rue Morgue press, Palmer was inspired to create Hildegarde Withers after seeing Edna May Oliver on stage in the first run of "Showboat." The movie version of "The Penguin Pool Murder" was a hit for RKO - but it seems to no longer be available for home viewing, which is a pity.

"The Penguin Pool Murder" was reviewed on the Classic Mysteries podcast a couple of years back. You can listen to the review here.



Comments

[Yvette]

I would love to read these mysteries, if ever I track them down, Les. But with so much else to read, it's hard to make the effort to 'sleuth' out mysteries that, for whatever reason, continue to stay hidden. I vaguely, VAGUELY remember seeing the 'penguin' movie when I was a kid, on early tv. I always loved James Gleason so he is the one I remember most. No one could do a 'slow burn' like Gleason. :)

[Les Blatt]

Yvette, I figure my role is to do some of that initial sleuthing for you and then entice you into following up to find a reading copy... ;-)