Where I Turn Into Agatha Christie

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Welcome to my 2nd instalment of the 30 Day Writing Challenge 🙂

Day 2 – Open a book – pick a sentence and use that as the first line in a piece.

Ok, so I picked a book from my shelf, copied out a sentence in my notebook and put the book back. Do you think I can blooming remember which book it was? LMAO!

“The gateman didn’t ask him about the drowsy man with the dark sunglasses who was half asleep on the passenger seat.”

So he drove straight through and into the large enclosed courtyard.

“Good evening Sir.” Yates approached the car and opened the drivers door.

“Good evening Yates. I’m afraid Mr Ramsey is slightly worse for wear.”

Yates peered across at the slouched figure of Ramsey. “Oh dear Sir, did Mr Ramsey consume too much champagne in London?”

Edward Mandrell pulled at the sports cars hand brake, turned off the ignition and released his seat belt. He climbed out of his seat as Yates held the door.

“Ah, you know him well Yates!” Edward slapped the butler on the back as he made his way up the stone steps to the front door, taking two at a time. At the open door he paused and turned. “Is my wife at home Yates?”

“Yes sir, she’s in the library.”

Without even a thank you Edward entered the imposing Victoria mansion.

Edward was born in India to a family who considered themselves Aristocracy. Truth be told, it was only his great grandfather who had made the family’s fortune, prior to that the Mandrells had been farmers in Somerset. But thanks to an unfortunate sinking of a cargo ship and great grandfather George’s opportunistic nature the family estate in Bath now included thousands of acres and a stately home that rivalled Buckingham Palace. Edward was sure he had only ever been in a 3rd of the rooms the house contained. As a small boy he’d become lost in the East Wing, which put an end to his exploring.

He made his way purposefully to the library. It had been several days since he’d seen his wife Daphne and there was much to discuss. He threw open the double oak doors.

“Darling!” He expected to see Daphne sitting in her favourite chair, book in hand, her glasses perched on the tip of her nose, but her chair was empty.

His eyes searched the room for some clue to her location. A lit cigarette in the ashtray or a hot cup of tea on the table beside her chair would indicate she’d just left the room, but neither of these things were present.

But as he entered, the doors creaked as they swayed closed behind him, revealing one of his wife’s navy shoes, sticking out from behind the overstuffed chaise lounge. And then, he noticed the blood…..

I wrote this one morning in the main lounge at Swanwick, inspired by the photos adorning the walls of what the house looked like in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.

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Ok, this will probably end up languishing in my notebook, and before you ask, no, I don’t know who Ramsey is, what they were doing in London, or what’s happened to poor Daphne *sniggers*

Be interested to hear your ideas and thoughts 🙂

20 thoughts on “Where I Turn Into Agatha Christie”

  1. Too bad you don’t remember the book, great sentence
    But as he entered, the doors creaked as they swayed closed behind him – nice phrase – start of a good short story

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    • Thanks Sue 🙂

      Ha ha ha, I thought that phrase was quite clunky. Rewrote it a couple of times as, in my mind I could see him entering and initially, the door obscuring the view of his wife’s foot.

      Not sure, I don’t tend to write the start of short stories, I write the start of novels lol

      Xx

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  5. Want to read more Vikki… when it comes to life of course. When is it set? House suggested around WWII but the seat-belt later.
    But feel easier to get at least one novel written at a time… well the first draft so it can mature in bottom drawer. My problem is the bottom drawer is getting very full.
    When I get an idea, I just assemble notes on it for later use as a possible novel.

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    • Thanks Roland 🙂

      Ahhhhh, yeah, I did fleetingly think about whether they had seatbelts then…I was thinking the 1930’s. Originally the car was a Mercedes, but then I realised that I don’t even know what makes of car were around then 😦

      No, I’m not starting ANOTHER novel, well, not yet anyway 😉

      Xx

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  9. This was fabulous! You drew me in right away and you did an excellent job creating the tone and Victorian setting. When I was writing examples for my FB page to go with these challenges I didn’t even get as creative as you are. I just wanted to share a small paragraph or so to help others get their creative juices flowing. Is it weird that I want to do my own challenge again, as if I didn’t make it up? lol 😛

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