Bellamy Trial

Courtroom mysteries were rare in 1925 when Agatha Christie wrote "e;Witness for the Prosecution."e; But it was "e;The Bellamy Trial,"e; published two years later, that was ultimately listed in the prestigious "e;Haycraft-Queen Cornerstones of Detective Fiction."e;Sue Ives and Stephen Bellamy are charged with the murder of Stephen's wife Mimi, found stabbed in an uninhabited cottage on a Long Island estate. The eight-day trial introduces a trove of witnesses (some reliable, some not); an avuncular defense attorney who may be incompetent; a wily and relentless prosecutor; and the voracious members of the press and public captivated by a crime that lays bare the intrigues and jealousies of the country club set. Two of the reporters, a veteran, and a rookie attending her first murder trial, act as a Greek chorus commenting on unfolding events. Keeping an eye on the often theatrical proceedings is a wise and stern judge.Also present are the stereotypes of the 1920s: a boisterous Irish landlady; an effusively comic Italian caretaker; and a seductive French maid. Since women at that time were not allowed the privilege or responsibility of serving, there was an all-male jury.Like the peeling of an onion, each witness provides a revealing layer of the story.And like any good mystery, there is, of course, a surprise twist.