Review of 'DEATH IN CYPRUS'

Here are some newspaper reviews of Death in Cyprus (1984) (originally publisheed as Death Walked In Cyprus in 1956).

On the inside of the dustjacket: "M. M. Kaye has now established herself firmly on the library lists of detective fiction connoisseurs. Her writing has just those qualities most apprciated in work of this genre. She has a rapid, vivid narrative style, an eye for accurate detail and an uncanny gift for creating suspense. Her scenes are brilliantly set. After Death Walked in Berlin comes the latest spine-chilling tale set in the island of Cyprus.

On board S.S. Orantares, sailing from Port Said to Limassol, Julia Blaine's sudden death in Cabin Number Thirteen is witnessed only by Amanda Derington who had exchanged cabins with her at the last moment. Sooner or later someone must inevitably realise that Amanda was bound to obtain possession of evidence that pointed to murder. After the police have questioned Amanda she is allowed to disembark with the other passengers at Limassol and her life is in constant danger."

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Though no information on previous publication is available, this mystery-comedy is like Death in Kenya and Death in Zanzibar - clearly a product of Kaye's 1950s writing-career; but this time the old-fashioned-ness is more airy and entertaining. Once again an exotic locale, undivided Cyprus,is more vivid than characters or plot. Once again there's a formula heroine: beautiful, orphaned Amanda Derington, whose austere guardian (head of the family's business) has asked Derington employee Glenn Barton to look after Amanda when she arrives in Cyprus. But even before Amanda's off the ship there's a murder-by-poison: fat, rich Julia Blaine is dead, and none of her friends (nor her husband) appears to be grief-stricken. So Amanda is soon turning for help to fellow passenger Steve Howard, handsome and enigmatic and unflappable. Once ashore, she stays in the beautiful, dusty house of eccentric Miss Moon while Glenn Barton deals with his own problems (a runaway wife, an adoring middle-aged secretary). And then comes murder #2 -that of Glenn's secretary Monica - after which wide-eyed Amanda must be saved in time's nick by the omnipresent Steve... who unmasks the predictable culprit. Another creaky museum-piece, then but, taken on its own terms, it's an agreeable Agatha Christie/Noel Coward hybrid: light-hearted, empty-headed fun for tolerant Anglophiles and romance/mystery/comedy fans. Kirkus Review, 10 May 1984

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"M.M. Kaye [is] one of the finest storytellers of our time."Mystery News

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"M.M. Kaye has a marvelous touch with atmosphere, place, and time."Houston Chronicle