Mystery Review: The Bellamy Trial had so many tricks and turns at the end I wondered if it was the Gone Girl (2012) of its day. Not a detective novel but a 1927 legal whodunnit, with each chapter being a day of the trial replete with witnesses, evidence, posturing attorneys, and a packed courtroom. Thus, the reader is enjoyably placed in the position of being a juror, making snap judgments of credibility and veracity day after day. The story is intricately put together and paced allowing the mystery to work well in this unusual setting. The various relationships between the wealthy wives and husbands and their admirers is almost Byzantine. The status differences between country club and laboring class provide a revelatory subtext. Along with the many characters presented from the stand there's a bit of silly romance between a seasoned reporter and a red-headed first-timer sitting in the gallery that gives a break between the days of trial (each a chapter) and subtly provides insights into various aspects of trial procedure and town history. Very much of its time, which only made it all the more interesting. The story is based on an actual 1922 scandal, which may have also inspired The Great Gatsby (1925). One warning: much like the aforementioned Gone Girl the ending results in an ethical dilemma that will leave some readers dissatisfied. [3½★]
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