“It’s Lister who decides…” #nottodisturb #murielspark

Over the years; I’ve read a lot of Muriel Spark‘s novels; mostly pre-blog although some have appeared here on the Ramblings. However, I’m aware that there are still a good number of her titles I’ve not read and recently an Instagram reel on the subject of Scottish Gothic books sent me off in the direction of a novella of hers first published in 1971 – “Not To Disturb”. What the reel said about it made it sound irresistible, so once more a reasonably price copy arrived at the Ramblings just as I’d finished another book and jumped straight into my hands! The book is set in a mansion in Geneva, in the midst of a raging storm. Inside, the staff are gathered, awaiting the arrival of the owners, Baron and Baroness Klopstock, as well as one of their secretaries, Victor Passerat. Led by the butler, Lister, they seem to be in a state of suspense, with their conversations implying that that a tragedy is about to take place; in fact, Lister constantly talks as if it already has… The Baron and…