Mystery Review: The Only Good Secretary is a fine example of the mystery genre known as domestic suspense or domestic noir. In domestic noir the mystery is usually solved, whether largely or wholly, by the ordinary people involved rather than by some genius detective, hardboiled private eye, or a meticulous police procedural. Seeing the events through the eyes of those directly affected, family, friends, or as here, co-workers, is a refreshing change and more relatable. In many domestic suspense novels, as here, I feel the ghost of Shirley Jackson hovering above, the verisimilitude strong until it takes a turn and the whole world shifts on its axis. This is a well-plotted mystery with surprises as co-workers, roommates, exes, and others (not so much the police) try to figure out who killed the boss's secretary. Another excellent reprint (available as a twofer along with Potts' 1957 mystery The Man with the Cane) from Stark House Mystery Classics. A good lost novel found again, which always makes me happy. [4★]
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