Review of the "Captain Heimrich" series by Richard and Frances Lockridge

 Yes, the same authors as Mr. and Mrs. North. They ultimately wrote four mystery series, along with a number of standalone fiction and non-fiction works. There are 24 novels in this series, published between 1947 and 1977, but my library only has 13 of them. I was able to pick up a few more from B&N for 99 cents.  Unlike with the Mr. and Mrs. North series, Richard continued writing books in the series after Frances' death in 1963. 

Lieutenant -- later Captain and then Inspector -- M. L. (Merton) Heimrich is introduced in the 1940 Mr. and Mrs. North mystery, Murder Out of Turn, set at a vacation resort in the Hudson Valley (eventually, this is revealed to be in Putnam County). Lt. Heimrich, a homicide detective with the New York State Police, is assigned to investigate the murder of one of the guests. He later appears in Death of a Tall Man (1946) and Think of Death (1947) before getting his own series in 1948 with I Want to go Home. He lives in the fictional village of Van Brunt, which is near Brewster in Putnam County. As with the Mr. and Mrs. North series, a few of the books are set in Florida. Characters in these books do work and shop in Manhattan and the murder investigation sometimes takes Heimrich to the City. He works with officers Furniss and Crowley, who appear in all of the books. Furniss is as experienced as Heimrich and always has a contact wherever necessary. He and Heimrich are more like partners than superior and subordinate. Crowley is a new officer who develops throughout the series.

Set among New York's wealthy country club set, these works are sharper and more socially observant than Mr. and Mrs. North. They incorporate issues of class prejudice, racial bias, and political extremism, and are an excellent view of the changing social norms between 1947 and 1977. Putnam County is a little like Cabot Cove, in that it seems to be inhabited primarily by murders (LOL). We do get some lovely views of historic inns and houses and the lush countryside of the Hudson Valley, as well. 

Heimrich marries local widow Susan Faye and becomes stepfather to her son, Michael and large, morose Great Dane, Colonel. In case you're worried that they may be a weaker version of Pam and Jerry, they are not. Each one is a new character. While their marital relationship is always a feature of each novel, it's different from the one between Pam and Jerry North, but is still as positive and supportive. Michael is a secondary character who is fleshed out, but unobtrusive. 

Lockridge is a master at portraying the emotions of animals, or perhaps interpreting is a better word. He did it with cats in Mr. and Mrs. North and does it again with Colonel in this series. Although he does anthropomorphize them, it always feels authentic. Those of us who have lived with animals recognize the behaviors and his interpretations of them. 

The Good Son : A flash fiction in memory of my grandfather

 He closed the hymnal and returned it to the pocket in the back of the pew in front of him. His thoughts turned, as they always did when he sang, to that day in November 1929 in Chicago when the telegram arrived. “Father dead. Come home.” 

It had taken him nearly six years to save up the money for music school and the day he left the farm he knew a freedom he had only dreamed of. He was older than the other students, but it hadn’t mattered. They were all there because of a mutual love of music, of making music, of hearing music, of living music. Chicago itself was a liberating new world, with its concert halls and museums and restaurants and speakeasys where they would go at nights to listen to the new jazz bands and even join them in “jam sessions.” Sometimes he rode the “El” from one end to the other and back just for the ride and the view of the lake and the city. If he was honest, he missed the majestic mountains that enclosed the valley he called home, but Chicago more than made up for that loss. 

And then, just four months later, he had to leave it all to come home. Come home to the smells he had hoped to leave behind forever —the musky cows in the barn, the rank manure in the corral, the cloying hot milk in the pasteurizer, and the sour rotting silage. But what could he do? He was the oldest. His mother needed him. His little sisters and brother needed him. He’d always been a good son, a good brother, so he did what good sons did and went home. He ran the farm. He married. Had children. Found solace in a bottle when the smells became too strong.  

And now he sat in the chapel of the church near the farm, the one where he’d attended services all his life, and his parents before him, waiting to be called up to give his first grandchild, his granddaughter, her name and a grandfather’s blessing. What kind of blessing would he give? He’d say the obligatory things, of course, but he would be expected to add something personal. Something from him to her. He couldn’t do anything about the red hair she’d inherited from him, as he’d learned long ago, but there was something he could do, if he dared to do it. Something unexpected. 

He and his son, carrying his tiny daughter, were called to the front, where two of the other elders waited. The men all held out their hands to make a platform for his infant granddaughter, beautiful in her white lace dress, even with that red hair. He recited the traditional words, giving her the name that her parents had chosen, and then pronounced the expected blessings of health, marriage, motherhood, faith. The time had come. Did he dare do it? Dare say the almost heretical words? A grandfather’s blessing had power. It would follow her all of her life, especially when pronounced in this holy place. He took a deep breath, then spoke, “And I bless you with a mind of your own, with the strength and resolution to make your own choices and follow your own path.” No one looked surprised or shocked. Likely they thought he meant to follow the path that their faith laid out for women and reject that of the world, but what mattered was what he had meant. His intent. That she follow her dreams and ambitions and not allow the expectations of others to make her decisions for her. He closed with the traditional words. His son held the baby up so that all could see her. She stared out at them, her eyes moving from left to right across the congregation, as if considering them and finding them wanting. 

Recipe of the month : Hot Strawberry Sundae : a favorite at Kansas City Union Station

 

Hot Strawberry Sundae

A favorite dessert at Kansas City Union Station

Suzanne Stauffer

Apr 05, 2026

Making a detour to the end of the meal this month. One of my nieces was visiting with her boyfriend, so we made this decadent dessert on their last night. I’m not including the original recipe, as it doesn’t need any updating, just reformatting to make it easier to read. I do include a few of suggestions for options at the end. According to the James D. Porterfield, Dining by Rail : The History and Recipes of America’s Golden Age of Railroad Cuisine, this was developed by Chef Joe Maciel from “a sundae made with hot maple syrup and strawberries [that he was served] at the 1934 Chicago World’s Fair” (p. 300). I’m tempted to try to replicate that original sundae as well.

Serves 8 adults.

1 pint (2 cups) very ripe strawberries, halved

1/4 cup dark rum

3/4 cup honey

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

Rind of one medium orange, cut into strips

Vanilla ice cream

Combine strawberries and run and let marinate one hour, covered.

Combine remaining ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a full boil. Remove from heat. Remove orange rind. Combine with marinated strawberries. Spoon over ice cream and serve immediately.

Optional changes : Double the amount of strawberries. There’s enough syrup for 8 servings, but I found it skimpy on strawberries.

Use other berries or a combination. Or maybe peaches? Bananas?

You can use white rum; it won’t have that caramelized flavor, but it still works. I’ve been thinking about trying Malibu rum — coconut and strawberries are a favorite combo of mine. Try some of the other liquors that taste good hot — whiskey, brandy, maybe tequila?

I used a neutral clover honey that I bought at Costco, but you could experiment with different types. Just don’t use one that will clash with or overpower the other flavors.

I’ve also been thinking about using strawberry ice cream, or chocolate (with Malibu rum and strawberries or bananas!) What about lime sherbet and tequila and triple sec?

Maybe add some chopped nuts.