Book Review: The Perfect Murder by Stacy Aumonier

The Perfect Murder by Stacy Aumonier is a short murder mystery. Two brothers Paul and Henry are seated at a café discussing the topic murder. On the table, before them, lie newspapers with news of a murder happened previous day. Paul has good physique and unmarried, while Henry is married with three children to look after. Paul says that it is easy to murder a person with whom you lived. Henri makes a note of this statement. Though both brothers have love and help each other in the case of need. Well, overall both are not so better off, they rather struggle for money all the time.

They have an uncle called Robert Taillander, he is well off with no children. Both brothers visit him occasionally. Robert is so miser that in his life he never gave a single franc to any of the brothers. When Robert dies, both brothers feel a tinge of hope that there would be something left for them. Well, when the will was read, they got nothing. Everything now belongs to their aunt Mme Taillander, and she was eighty-two years old. Both brothers expect the lady may die soon, in a matter of some months. She was kindhearted when Robert was alive, that time she would lose some money for both brothers. Well, now she is alone, both Paul and Henry try to squeeze her off money, but she gives them very negligible money, contrary to their hope and needs.

With time, she grows eccentric and ill-tempered. None of her companions is able to stay with her for long time. Only the lady cook Ernestine remains in the service, since she herself is very self-disciplined and profession. Both brothers go to her, turn-by-turn, but she refuses to give them any penny. It has been over a year and there is no sign of her being on a deathbed. She is strict and fine. If she dies, both brothers will get at least eight to nine thousand Frances per month, from various income-generating sources. Her death is going to give them good days of luxury. It is in their mind to plan her death, but neither of them is too cruel to do that nor bold enough. One day Paul faints before her – after that she allows Paul to stay with her in her mansion. Except money Paul gets everything there. Henri eats out his heart in jealousy that Paul has made his place in the house, and now he must be getting monetary benefits. Henri asks for money from him, but every time Paul gives the same answer. Time passes by, brothers begin to age but that lady isn’t dying. One day both brothers frustrated from their financial situation meet up at the same café where they once talked about murder. So, there in the darkest spot of the café they plan her murder. Since Paul lives with her, he knows how she can be murdered without the need of any violence and trace.

Mme Taillander is accustomed to eat fish and soufflé alternatively. Paul knows which the fish day is and when is the soufflé day. Since soufflé is required to have two beaten eggs, it is easy to mix up grinded glass powder in it. On the day of soufflé, Paul mixes the glass powder in the beaten eggs.

It is shown that Henri grows concern about her death and the sin they are to perform. For two days, including the fateful day, he remains ill-headed and drunk, unable to go to office. He waits for Paul, he wants to meet him, but not able to find him in any of the cafés. Finally, he goes out and sits in the café, in the news he read that a man called Paul complaint of pain in stomach and died. Investigation about his death starts off. He knows that he hasn’t done anything suspicious. How did he get killed? Well, the puzzle is simple that day was not for soufflé – the old lady haggled and insisted that she should be given fish, not soufflé. To avoid the wastage, an omelet with its dreadful elements was given to drunkard Paul. Well, as a matter of fact, Henri has set the lady cook for this murder of Paul. Now Henri will receive the full money every year after the death of old lady.