If someone committed a murder in your presence, you’d know about it, wouldn’t you? Or would you? You might not, if that person were skilled enough at sleight of hand or had otherwise prepared. There’s also the element of timing; a person can commit a murder in front of a crowd if there’s a ‘psychological moment’ that captures people’s attention. There are plenty of examples of murders in plain view of others in crime fiction, and it’s surprising how often they’re successful, at least for a time. Here are just a few examples.
Agatha Christie wrote several stories in which a murderer strikes in full view of other people. For instance, in Death in the Clouds, a woman called Marie Morisot is murdered while on a flight from Paris to London. The only possible suspects are the people who were in the same cabin. Hercule Poirot is one of those fellow passengers, and he works with Chief Inspector Japp to find the killer. What’s interesting is that everyone assumes it would be extremely difficult to commit the murder without attracting attention. And yet, when Poirot looks into the matter, he finds that it’s not as hard as it seems – not if you plan and take advantage of people’s inattention.
In Josephine Tey’s The Man in the Queue, small-time bookmaker Albert Sorrell is waiting with a crowd of other people at the door of the Woofington Theatre. Everyone is eager for the doors to open, and when they finally do, people start moving in. Somewhere in that controlled chaos, someone stabs Sorrell. Inspector Alan Grant investigates, and he soon finds he has his work cut out for him. The people near the victim didn’t notice anything, as they weren’t paying attention. And there seems to be no connection between them and Sorrell. So, Grant has to start again and look into Sorrell’s background. Who might have a grudge? Of those people, who could have been in that crowd and committed the murder without anyone seeing what was happening?
Ellery Queen’s Calamity Town sees Queen visiting the small New England town of Wrightsville. He’s hoping to get some writing done and is staying in a guest house owned by John and Hermione ‘Hermy’ Wright, who are the undisputed social leaders of the town. Against his better judgement, Queen finds himself drawn into the Wright family’s drama, including the sad story of the youngest daughter, Nora Wright. It seems she was engaged to marry Jim Haight, but he left her at the altar and fled from the town. That was three years ago, and now Haight’s returned. Before long, he and Nora rekindle their romance against everyone’s advice. They even marry. But people still don’t trust Haight. That New Year’s Eve, the family is having a cocktail party when Haight’s sister Rosemary suddenly dies of what turns out to be a poisoned drink. Everyone assumes the cocktail was intended for Nora, and that Haight’s responsible. Queen and Nora’s sister Pat are the only two people who don’t think so, and they set about to clear Haight’s name. It’s not going to be easy, though, because the murder took place in a crowded room, where no-one actually saw exactly what happened.
In Rex Stout’s Champagne For One, Archie Goodwin agrees to stand in for a sick friend at a dinner dance hosted by Louise Robilotti. The event is in aid of Grantham House, a residence for unmarried mothers and their children. Several guests at the dinner are women who live at Grantham house, the idea being that they’ll meet eligible young men. During the party, one of the young mothers, Faith Usher, suddenly dies of what turns out to be cyanide. At first, it looks like suicide. But Archie isn’t so sure. He doesn’t have much to go on, though, because the room was crowded, he wasn’t watching Faith the whole time, and didn’t see anyone put anything into her champagne. The killer took advantage of everyone’s distraction and committed the crime in full view of a roomful of people.
Gail Bowen’s Deadly Appearances introduces her protagonist, political scientist/academician Joanne Kilbourn. In it, Joanne attends a community barbecue at which up-and-coming politician Androu ‘Andy’ Boychuk will give an important speech. Shortly after he begins, he suddenly collapses and dies of what turns out to be poison. Joanne saw the beginning of his speech and didn’t see anyone tampering with the water; nor did anyone else in attendance. So she doesn’t know who’s responsible. As a way to deal with her grief, Joanne decides to write a biography of Andy. As she does, she learns more than she ever knew about his life, and she uncovers the reason he was killed.
Louise Penny’s A Fatal Grace takes place just after Christmas in the small Québec town of Three Pines. It is a Three Pines tradition to have a curling match on Boxing Day, so everyone prepares for the big event. The match is underway when C.C. de Poitiers, who’s recently moved to town, is murdered. Chief Inspector Armand Gamache investigates, and that task will be very challenging. For one thing, the victim had alienated nearly everyone in town, so there is no lack of suspects. For another, although everyone was there watching the match, no-one is able to say who committed the crime. It was committed more or less in full view of the audience, but nobody can really say what exactly happened.
And that’s the thing about people’s attention. When there’s a crowd of people, it’s almost impossible to keep your eyes on everyone and watch what every person is doing. Some fictional murderers take advantage of that and commit their crimes in full view of everyone. These are only a few examples. Over to you.
*NOTE: The title of this post is a line from the Beatles’ A Day in the Life.
Crime Writer Margot Kinberg 
Hi Margot, I am so shocked at Denis’s death as I saw on Kittling Books.I thought hewas improving.Poor Cathy. So happy with him and she did everything shecould to make his life comfortable and fun. I wrote her a note but it hardly seems enough given their relationship’s depth. Kathy
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Hi, Kathy,
Yes it really is so very sad and shocking about Denis, isn’t it? I’d thought, too, that he was doing better, and they had some solid plans for the summer, etc. Like you, I left a note on her blog, but as you say, it hardly seems enough, does it?
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The only book that you discuss here that I have not read is Calamity Town by Ellery Queen. I think that is a message to me that I need to read that book. (And I do have a copy.)
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That one’s an interesting story, Tracy. It is a whodunit, intellectual mystery in that the reader is invited to work out how the murder happened. But at the same time, there’s an element of psychology in it, too. If you read it, I hope you’ll enjoy it.
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And now I want to read a Rex Stout…
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Some of those stories are excellent, Neeru. And I do like the dynamic between Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin…
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Oh, a lovely selection, Margot. I love it when one of these impossible murders is committed! Christie is brilliant at that – nothing like a bit of distraction and sleight of hand. As for that Rex Stout, I don’t think I’ve read it, and it’s a while since I picked up one of his titles… 😉
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Thanks very much, KBR. You’re so right about Christie; she was so very skilled at misdirection, wasn’t she? And she managed to make it all credible, too. And honestly, I think Stout’s work is always worth a (re)visit. They’re not all of equal quality, but most of them are fine stories. If you do read this one, I hope you’ll enjoy it.
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I enjoyed the murder in Sebastian Farr’s Death on the Down Beat. A conductor shot dead by one of his orchestra in the middle of a concert, in front of an audience of two thousand, and yet no one saw who did it…
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Oh, yes, FictionFan! I remember your fine review of Death on the Down Beat! I thought at the time that it was a daring way to commit murder, but if you think about it, the audience is distracted by the music itself, perhaps by other audience members, etc. So it can happen. But it would take cunning and planning. Thanks for the reminder – I still think I’d like to read that one! And folks, do read FictionFan’s review – you won’t regret it.
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Thanks as always for the link and kind words, Margot!
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A pleasure, FictionFan!
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As I was reading your interesting post I was thinking of Gail Bown and Louise Penny.
Gail’s striking opening of Deadly Appearances was inspired by a real life political picnic in Saskatchewan that Gail attended. As she was looking in real life at the trailer on which a carafe of water was sitting for the politician speaking she thought it was great we live in a country where we do not have to guard the water. Then she thought, but what if it were poisoned and an amazing career in writing crime fiction was born.
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Deadly Appearances is a great example, Bill, of how a fictional victim can be killed right in front of a group of people, with no-one seeing a thing. Thanks for sharing the real-life event that inspired the book – and her Joanne Kilbourn series. Sometimes those events or people really do inspire a story!
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A Fatal Grace was such a good book, I like a snowy cold setting in crime fiction.
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A Fatal Grace really is an excellent books, isn’t it, Cath? That whole series is top quality, and highly recommended. And yes, a cold, snowy setting can add a lot to a story.
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When I read your theme I immediately thought of Man in the Queue, and of course you had it there up at the top!
How about Christianna Brand’s Death of a Jezabel? I have read it several times, and I know it is a great favourite with some people, but I’m still not entirely sure I understand what was going on. but someone definitely dies during a very well-attended pageant…. I love Brand, but it is not my favourite!
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It is a different sort of book, isn’t it, Moira? But it is a great example of a murder that’s committed in front of an audience. Like you, I like Brand’s work, but yes, it’s the sort of book you need to keep mulling over, if that makes sense. And The Man in the Queue is a great story, isn’t it?
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Very interesting, Margot! You’ve reminded of Helen McCloy’s Cue for Murder in which someone is murdered on stage during a performance of a play, and one of the other three people on stage must have done it.
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Thank you, Christine! I’m glad you enjoyed the post. And you’ve reminded me that I must read some McCloy. I’m ashamed to say she’s one of those authors I’ve meant to read – for a while – but just…haven’t yet. Thanks for the nudge.
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