A Morbid Passion by Robert Holtom ~ a Review

by MK French

Selby Bigge and his aristocratic friend Theodora Smythe dine with the upper-class Fortescue family and later that evening attend the Servants' Ball. Theodora becomes Theo there, and queer people are present. Some of the above-stairs members of society attend as well. Unfortunately, Selby and Theo soon have a murder to solve, and unearth secrets while dodging police. 

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June 2026; Titan Books; 978-1835413197
ebook, print (352 pages); mystery

Police in 1930s London considered being queer a crime, so Selby has to be very careful as he goes about the city. The Fortescue family is preoccupied with the morality of the English Empire, any sign of weakness (even glasses), and solving the "problem" of being queer. Our mystery-solving duo is, of course, of that persuasion, as is the eldest Fortescue son, Lancelot, whose psychiatrist father "cured" him of this weakness. This matters because they're all present at the Servants' Ball, and Lancelot is murdered that night. Police assume it was a queer person who did it, since they're already on the lookout to arrest them. Selby and Theo interview the Fortescue family members and the staff, tracking down the timeline and potential suspects. Just about everyone is a suspect, with varying motives and opportunities. 

Dr. Fortescue and his wife are interested in the application of eugenics theories, a more common outlook for the period than we'd like to think. Any deviation from a narrow view of white nobility and procreation is a morbid one in their view, which complicates Selby's search for the truth. He keeps at it, getting more clues and red herrings along the way. He gets his dramatic reveal at the end of the story, rivaling Agatha Christie's novels. It's a clever mystery, and it kept me up late to finish the book.

Buy A Morbid Passion at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

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