Phoebe Atwood Taylor (1909–1976)
Author of The Cape Cod Mystery
About the Author
Phoebe Atwood Taylor (1909-1976) was an American mystery author who wrote mystery novels under her own name, and as Freeman Dana and Alice Tilton. Her first novel, The Cape Cod Mystery, introduced the "Codfish Sherlock", Asey Mayo, who became a series character appearing in 24 novels. (Bowker show more Author Biography) show less
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Series
Works by Phoebe Atwood Taylor
Octagon House 1 copy
Associated Works
American Murders: 11 Rediscovered Short Novels from the American Magazine, 1934-1954 (1986) — Contributor — 3 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Other names
- Dana, Freeman
Tilton, Alice - Birthdate
- 1909-05-18
- Date of death
- 1976-01-09
- Gender
- female
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Place of death
- Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Places of residence
- Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Wellfleet, Massachusetts, USA - Education
- Barnard College
- Occupations
- mystery writer
detective novelist - Short biography
- Phoebe Atwood Taylor was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Her parents were natives of Cape Cod and descended from Pilgrims. She graduated from Barnard College in New York City in 1930, and returned to Boston. She married a surgeon also named Taylor and lived in the Boston suburbs of Newton Highlands and Weston. The couple also had a summer home in Wellfleet on Cape Cod. Boston and Cape Cod served as the locales for many of her mystery novels. She published under her own name as well as under the pen names Freeman Dana and Alice Tilton. Her first novel, The Cape Cod Mystery (1931), introduced Asey Mayo, the "Codfish Sherlock," a handyman and amateur sleuth who appeared in 24 novels. These novels were full of humor and the local culture of Cape Cod in the 1930s and 1940s. Another series featured Leonidas Witherall, a teacher, and author of detective novels.
Members
Reviews
Asey Mayo expects a warm welcome home after being gone serving in WWII. Instead he arrives home to the destruction of a hurricane that hit Cape Cod and his housekeeper-cousin setting up for some sort of shindig in his house. Not quite what he was expecting. Seems the insurance wasn’t renewed on the Women’s Club clubhouse, so…and outdoor fête to raise money to rebuild is being held.
It’s not the type of thing Asey enjoys so he takes off to survey the damage, and look for any of his stuff that may have been carried off by the hurricane.
During his stroll he finds the dead body of a young girl in the nearby woods. She is well dressed, but her pocketbook, found nearby, contains no form of ID. She did look vaguely familiar, but then Asey has been away.
There also seems to be looters in the area taking advantage of the antiques and jewellery to be found in the homes. Items keep mysteriously disappearing.
When Asey is suspected as the possible murderer, due to the murder weapon being one of his lobster pot buoys, and a serious disagreement from the past, between Asey and the dead girl’s father is remembered, things cause Asey to have to sneak around to do his investigation.
Greed, secrets, envy, family and personal relationships about among the characters.… (more)
It’s not the type of thing Asey enjoys so he takes off to survey the damage, and look for any of his stuff that may have been carried off by the hurricane.
During his stroll he finds the dead body of a young girl in the nearby woods. She is well dressed, but her pocketbook, found nearby, contains no form of ID. She did look vaguely familiar, but then Asey has been away.
There also seems to be looters in the area taking advantage of the antiques and jewellery to be found in the homes. Items keep mysteriously disappearing.
When Asey is suspected as the possible murderer, due to the murder weapon being one of his lobster pot buoys, and a serious disagreement from the past, between Asey and the dead girl’s father is remembered, things cause Asey to have to sneak around to do his investigation.
Greed, secrets, envy, family and personal relationships about among the characters.… (more)
The Quantomet Historical Pageant is getting ready for its yearly presentation. Costumes, historical recreations, publicity, people and their personalities, it all adds up to confusion as the background to this murder where a killer is lurking with their eye on one of the participants.
The body of a woman in Indian costume, is found dead in a storm drenched cemetery and someone, possibly the killer, is found leaning over her. Asey stumbled on the scene, but felt it looked too good to be true. As it turns out, it is one of his most baffling cases.
There is discord among the participants, but to the extent of murder? There are acts of sabotage that could cause deaths. Asey is knocked out with a hit to the head, waking to find more clues to sort than he expects. An investigation that is a wild adventure for Asey as he is out to solve the case in his typical Cape Cod style.
Another case in the Asey Mayo series by Phoebe Atwood Taylor, with characters that are part of the series make it like visiting old friends.… (more)
The body of a woman in Indian costume, is found dead in a storm drenched cemetery and someone, possibly the killer, is found leaning over her. Asey stumbled on the scene, but felt it looked too good to be true. As it turns out, it is one of his most baffling cases.
There is discord among the participants, but to the extent of murder? There are acts of sabotage that could cause deaths. Asey is knocked out with a hit to the head, waking to find more clues to sort than he expects. An investigation that is a wild adventure for Asey as he is out to solve the case in his typical Cape Cod style.
Another case in the Asey Mayo series by Phoebe Atwood Taylor, with characters that are part of the series make it like visiting old friends.… (more)
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Awards
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Statistics
- Works
- 36
- Also by
- 4
- Members
- 2,573
- Popularity
- #9,985
- Rating
- 4.0
- Reviews
- 63
- ISBNs
- 126
- Languages
- 1
- Favorited
- 8
The frosting on this strange cake is the mural that is on the walls of the interior. Titled “The History and Customs of Cape Cod,” it portrays various historical figures in a variety of activities. The cherry was the faces were of citizens of Quanomet — and they weren’t complimentary images.
When the artist’s wife turns up murdered, things take a serious turn. The woman is the daughter of the Octagon House owner, and doesn’t have the nicest reputation. There is also the matter of a large piece of ambergris, worth fifty thousand dollars, that has gone missing.
After a two month absence, Asey Mayo finds this mystery to be his welcome home. Is one of the people who has an unflattering portrait in the mural the murderer? Is the victim somehow involved in the missing ambergris? Who and why and are these two events related?
Looks like the “Cape Cod Sherlock” has another mystery to solve.… (more)