Asey ayo has just returned from taking a wealthy rajah for an exciting ride in the latest Porter car when he become involved in a game called Hoople af n the deah of a weaklthy collector killed with his own Indian cla weapon.s. ( )

Bart Paget lies on the floor of his remote house on Cape Cod, his body marked with what appears to be claws. A young widow from the next house is also missing and so are her two bob-tail lynxes. Farther up the road, the neighbours are playing a strange game they can't explain to the police. Everyone appeals to local homespun sleuth Asey Mayo to find Susan Remington and exonerate her and her wildcats, and solve the mystery of who clawed Bart Paget to death.

This is my favourite of the Asey Mayo mysteries, and one of the funniest. A sample of the dialogue after Scott Allenby meets up with Asey at midnight on Webby Betts's private golf course:

"I'm sorry for it", Scott said. "If that helps any now, I'm sorry I was behind Bart's garage. I'm sorry -- well, the only thing I really don't regret at this moment is not marrying that little blonde in Coronado. I'm not sorry about her. I'm sorry about everything else. I'm particularly sorry about Hanson-- I'm sorriest about Hanson because when he comes to--"

"When what?" Asey demanded.

"When he comes to," Scott said, "he's going to come steaming up here, and then I'm going to be sorry about that assault and battery charge. Here, you take his gun, Asey. Is it felony or villainy when you take a cop's gun?"

Asey looked at the revolver Scott held out to him.

"It's tragedy," he said.

First published in 1939, Spring Harrowing is still such a good mystery. Recommended for all fans of Golden Age detective stories. ( )