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About the author: Philip MacDonald (1900-1980) was one of the most popular mystery writers of the 1930s, and between 1931 and 1963 wrote many screenplays along with a few radio and television scripts. His detective novels, particularly those featuring his series detective Anthony Gethryn, are primarily "whodunits" with the occasional locked room mystery. (wikipedia)
Major characters:
- C. F. Willington Sigsbee, theatrical producer
- Donna Sigsbee, his wife
- George Fern, his secretary
- Edward Vickers, his valet
- Lucrezia Fornelli, Vickers' fiancée
- Lars Kristania, famous heart-throb actor
- Paul Vanesco, Sigsbee's usual leading man
- Mary Wheelwright, Sigsbee's usual leading lady
- Montague Locke, theatrical promoter
- Robert P. Cray, theatrical promoter
- Faith Congreve, actor
- Oliver Prideaux, attorney, one-armed husband of...
- Anne Prideaux, a.k.a. Anne Massareen; new leading lady opposite Kristania
- Lovell Fox, man with a grudge
- Travers Hoylake, M.D.
- Colonel Anthony Gethryn
- Inspector Meridew, Metropolitan Police
Locale: London
Synopsis: Producer C. F. Willington Sigsbee was known for producing an annual long-running London show, always having Paul Vanesco as the reliable leading man, and Mary Wheelwright as the reliable leading lady.
Now Sigsbee has announced a new show - a straight play with a small cast - with the leads played by - surprise - famous actor Lars Kristania (for a fabulous salary) and Anne Massareen (stage name of Anne Prideaux). Vanesco and Wheelwright, now both out of work, are shocked and dismayed at being overlooked for the roles.
At a gathering at Sigsbee's, valet Edward Vickers finds Sigsbee's bathroom locked, with no response from within. He breaks through the door to find Sigsbee dead in the bathtub. The nearest doctor, Travers Hoylake, is called and his friend Colonel Anthony Gethryn accompanies him to the scene.
Things are not right at all. Gethryn consistently sees the scene as unreal and staged. He examines the lock to find it has been manipulated to be closed from the outside. Other anomolies: why would Sigsbee take a bath in the middle of a party? And why are his clothes set down in an illogical order? In the middle of all the commotion, Lovell Fox appears at the door (he has a grudge), and is refused admittance. A few more people stagger in, including Paul Vanesco - with a minor gunshot wound. Lovell Fox had entered by a window and shot the first person he saw.
Review: Whoa! Slow down! Wayyyyy too many characters! And they just keep coming in the door! By page 40 I have a huge list, and I only show a short list above.
The book is divided into three parts. I would suggest the reader first turn to the opening of Book 2, which begins with Anthony Gethryn's letter to his wife; in which he provides a list of the significant characters. Then you will know which characters you need not keep track of.
I was somewhat overwhelmed in the first part by all the characters and events. Things got much more enjoyable in Books 2 and 3, especially because Gethryn's letters to his wife back up and explain everything clearly and in sequence. So my advice is not worry about following Part 1 closely, things back up and get restarted in Book 2.
The locked room episode was incredibly short. As soon as Gethryn sees the lock, he pronounces how it was done. So don't look for a fascinating locked-room contraption.
This map is of the ground floor of this architecturally bizarre house - Sigsbee's body was found in the upstairs bathroom. We don't get a map of the other floors - there are at least two above and one below (where I imagine the kitchen must be - traditionally next to the dining room, but here looks like it is below and the meals are sent up the lift and carried thru the service end of the hallway).
You may also enjoy this review by Kate Jackson on her blog crossexaminingcrime.
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