Death on the Last Train by George Bellairs, 1949

 

Series: Inspector Littlejohn #12

About the author:

Major characters:

Locale: England

Synopsis:

Review:

May 5 2025: reading now, please come back soon

Four Frightened Women by George Harmon Coxe, 1939

Series: Kent Murdock #4

About the author: George Harmon Coxe (1902-1984) began writing in the nickel and dime pulps for pennies a word. He was a particularly prolific author, writing a total of 63 novels, his last published in 1975. The Mystery Writers of America named him a Grand Master in 1964. (condensed from fantastic fiction)

 (no review)

Ellery Queen, Master Detective by Ellery Queen, 1941

 

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This title was also pubished as The Vanishing Corpse (Pyramid Books, 1968).

About the author: According to Francis M. Nevins,  this title (based on the screenplay) was ghost written by Laurence Dwight Smith (1895-1952). (from Ellery Queen, A Website on Deduction by Kurt Sercu)

 

Major characters:

• John Braun, health promoter
• Lydia Braun, his wife
• Barbara Braun, their estranged daughter
• Cornelia Mullins, Braun's assistant
• Rocky Taylor, Cornelia's husband
• Claude L. Zachary, Braun's lawyer and manager
• Dr. Jim Rogers, Braun's health article ghost writer
• Dr. Garten and Dr. Henderson, cancer specialists
•  Amos, Braun's gardener; and Joseph, his pet raven
• Nikki Porter, Barbara's roommate, a mystery writer
• Ellery Queen, Private Investigator
• Richard Queen, his father
• Dr. Samuel Prouty, medical examiner

Locale: New York City

Synopsis: Famous New York City health farm owner John Braun calls his employees in to tell them he has camcer, and perhaps six weeks to live. He is closing the health farm. He is also changing his will to leave his estate - exclusively - to his wife Lydia Braun. He is cutting out their daughter, Barbara Braun due to a disagreement over her marriage plans. She wants to marry Dr. Jim Rogers, who Braun employs as a ghost writer of his health articles; but Braun disapproves. 

With death imminent, the family tries to locate Barbara with the help of the police. She is staying - well, hiding - with mystery writer Nikki Porter, who resembles her. Ellery Queen tries to help out, and goes to the apartment to find her. Nikki Porter pretends to be Barbara, and is taken to the Braun home.

Nikki, thinking this a swell plot for a mystery, finds her way into Braun's suite. She observes him lock the door from the inside, then retreat to his bedroom. Later, trying to find her way out, she discovers his body - with its throat cut. 

Review: This story introduces Nikki Porter, who will become EQ's girlfriend throughout the series. This story also plugs several other EQ books along the way, Hardy Boys style. The health farm fad seems reminded me of Jack LaLanne and his fitness empire, which flourished a few years after this story. 

The story moves right along. I had to reread some to get a handle on how the Braun suite was laid out, as that is pertinent to the plot; and to understand how Nikki got herself locked inside.

The body gets lost - twice - in a couple of amusing episodes, and the reactions of the indignant medical examiner are enjoyable.

The hook behind the disappearing murder weapon is a stunt recycled in later EQ books as well.

It's hard to see, but the illustration on the cover is Claud Zachary kneeling on the floor as he throws the books of the business into the furnace. 

You may also enjoy this review by Bev Hankins on My Reader's Block. 

 

The Case of the Sulky Girl by Erle Stanley Gardner, 1933

 

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Series: Perry Mason #2

About the author: Erle Stanley Gardner (1889 – 1970) was an American lawyer and author. He is best known for the Perry Mason series of detective stories. The best-selling American author of the 20th century at the time of his death, Gardner also published under numerous pseudonyms, including A.A. Fair, Kyle Corning, Charles M. Green, Carleton Kendrake, Charles J. Kenny, Les Tillray and Robert Parr. (wikipedia)

Major characters:

• Frances Celane, the sulky girl
• Rob Gleason, her husband
• Edward Norton, her uncle
• Arthur Crinston, Norton's business partner
• Don Graves, Norton's secretary
• Edna Mayfield, Norton's housekeeper
• Pete Devoe, Norton's chauffeur
• George Blackman, Devoe's attorney

Locale: Los Angeles

Synopsis:  Frances Celane consults attorney Perry Mason regarding conditions of her late father's will. His estate was left in a 'spendthrift trust', in which a trustee has control of the funds and provides an allowance as he sees fit. By the terms of the trust, she would forfeit most of the estate if she marries before age 25. She is 23 now, wants marry Rob Gleason, and wants Mason to find a loophole to allow her to marry without losing her interest in the estate.

The trustee is her uncle, Edward Norton. Mason first meets with Norton's business partner, Arthur Crinston, to learn how to best approach Norton. Norton turns out to be a tough customer, and tells Mason he does not want to turn the estate over to her; as he suspects she is being blackmailed. Mason then learns Celane and Gleason are already married.

Norton is found dead, and circumstantial evidence initially points to his chauffeur, Pete Devoe. Then secretary Don Graves turns out to be a witness to the murder, having seen it occur through a window. Now Frances Celane and Rob Gleason are implicated.

Review: This is one of the first Masons, and I do like the early ones. There are some aspects which are left off the later ones, such as keeping the whiskey bottle in the desk drawer to share with the newspaper reporters. I do like the thorough physical description of Mason as well as the instances when he paces the carpet with his thumbs hooked in the armholes of his vest.

The witness episode is interesting, although I found it thin that a glance from a moving car 275 feet away could reveal anything at all, much less identify people and their clothing through a window. My driveway is a comparable length - 300 feet - and I can tell if there is a person at the other end, but that's about all!

Other than that point, this is an engaging story, and has a small cast, so it was easy to remember who's who. It also lacks the confusing Mason stunts of switching things around found in later stories. 

The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie, 1929

 

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Series: Superintendent Battle #2 (of 5)

 

Major characters:

• Jimmy Thesiger
• Gerald Wade, the late sleeper, victim #1
• Loraine Wade, his half-sister
• Bill Eversleigh
• Ronny Devereux, victim #2
• Lord Caterham, owner of Chimneys
• Lady Eileen Brent, "Bundle", Lord Caterham's daughter
• Tredwell, butler
• MacDonald, gardener
• Sir Oswald and Lady Marie Coote, renters of Chimneys
• Rupert Bateman, Sir Oswald's secretary
• George Lomax, "Codders", a cabinet minister

Locale: near London

Synopsis: Gerry Wade was known for sleeping late. At a country house party hosted by Sir Oswald and Lady Maria Coote, Wade's friends decide to play a trick on him and stash eight alarm clocks around his bedroom. He fails to rise in the morning, and is found dead. Seven of the clocks have been lined up on the mantle, and the eighth is found outside on the lawn.

Jimmy Thesinger (Gerry's friend ), Loraine Wade (Gerry's half-sister) , and Lady Eileen Brent, a.k.a. "Bundle" (daughter of the country house owners) team up to try and find the murderer. Bundle is driving to London and thinks she has hit a man (Ronny Devereux) but investigation shows he was shot. 

Several mentions of 'Seven Dials' lead the investigation to the Seven Dials Club in the district of the same name. Bundle locates a secret meeting room in the club, and infiltrates the secret Seven Dials Society; in which the seven members disguise their identity by wearing clock face masks, each set to a different number.

Review: A thoroughly enjoyable and fast-moving tale, with Bundle as the take-charge star investigator. There are lots of humorous episodes, including elderly George Lomax's repeated marriage proposals to Bundle; and the time she feigned unconsciousness and just relished listening to everyone being concerned as they hovered over her. It was fun trying to match up the members of the Society (known only as numbers 1-7) with their real identities, and of course, the big reveal of the true nature of the Society. Agatha had a bit of fun leading the reader off in several directions - such as does Seven Dials refer to the seven clocks on the mantle, the London district, the club in the district, or the seven dial masks on the Society members? Sevens and dials abound throughout.

You may also enjoy this review by Bev Hankins on My Reader's Block.

 

Daughter of Fu Manchu by Sax Rohmer, 1930

 

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A free e-book version is available from this page at fadedpage.com.

Series: Dr. Fu Manchu #4

About the author: Sax Rohmer was a pseudonym of Arthur Henry "Sarsfield" Ward (1883 – 1959).  His most popular series of novels featuried the master criminal Fu Manchu. Many of his works were serialized in newspapers and later combined into book editions.

Major characters:

• Sir Lionel Barton, Orientalist
• Rima Barton, photographer, Sir Lionel's niece
• Shan Greville, our narrator, Rima's boyfriend
• Dr. Petrie
• Dr. Forester, chemist
• Ali Mahmoud, headman
• Madame Ingomar, a.k.a. Fah Lo Suee, Fu Manchu's daughter
• Sir Denis Nayland Smth, Scotland Yard
• Detective-Inspector Fletcher

Locale: Egypt and London

Synopsis: An archeological dig consisting of Sir Lionel Barton, Shan Greville (our narrator), Rima Baron, Dr. Petrie, Dr. Forester, and local guide Ali Mahmoud are working in Luxor, Egypt at a site called Lafleur's Tomb (also called Tomb of the Black Ape) and its access tunnel Lafleur's shaft.  Sir Lionel is found - apparently dead - in his hut. The hut is closed and locked, and upon their return, find his body missing. He is later found comatose inside a sarcophagus in Lafleur's Tomb. Upon injection of an antidote, he revives. 

Suspicion falls on a mysterious woman, Madame Ingomar, who is revealed to be Fah Lo Suee, the daughter of Dr. Fu Manchu. Shan Greville is fascinated by her, although Rima is his steady girl. Shan is captured, drugged, and spirited back to England; where he is kept prisoner under Fah Lo Suee's power - and meets up with her father, the legendary Fu Manchu.

Review: This story has all the fun elements of an Egyptian adventure: tombs, sarcophogi, secret tunnels; along the Chinese elements of mysterious women and of course, Fu Manchu. Shan can't keep his eyes off Fah Lo Suee, and she toys with him mercilessly. It takes until the climax to find out what happens, whether he lives or dies, and with which woman. This is an enjoyable escape with lots of mystical oriental elements. I found myself wanting to go to Chinatown and search the back alleys looking for some Chinese food to complete the experience.

The Clue of the Poor Man's Shilling by Kathleen Moore Knight, 1936

 

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Series: This is Elisha Macomber #2 (of 16) 

About the author: Kathleen Moore Knight (1890-1984) is one of my absolute favorite authors. She wrote 34 mystery novels, most set on fictional Penberthy Island off Massachusetts, all published by the Crime Club; with a few under the pseudonym of Alan Amos. See my post All I Know about Kathleen Moore Knight, as well as this Wikipedia article and her booklist  on Fantastic Fiction.   

Locale: fictional Penberthy Island*

Major characters:

• Luella Paige, retired teacher, our narrator
• Dorcas Brothers, her housekeeper
• George & Cora Howland, lighthouse keepers
• Laura May Howland, their daughter
• Hiram Pearse, helper to George Howland
• Evan Ryder, friend of Laura
• Julian Hollister, rich Bostonian
• Lydia Hollister, Julian's (separated) wife
• Elisha Macomber, chairman of selectmen
• Buck Edwards, chief of police

Synopsis: Adjacent to Penbethy Island lies tiny Quantauk Island, not connected but served by a on-demand one-car ferry. Quantauk is the home of retired teacher (and our narrator) Luella Paige. In the summer, she sleeps in a room she has fashioned in her boathouse. She is awakened by a sound, to find the ferry afloat off her dock, with a car on it. She pulls it in to find the dead body of Julian Hollister. He was known as a well-to-do hard-drinking bounder, and his body shows signs of a fight. He is later found to have died from carbon monoxide poisoning, and the exhaust system of the car shows evidence of tampering.

When looking at the body, Luella found a white coin-shaped seed pod (photo) stuck on his sock - the seed pod of the Peter's Pence plant, also called 'The Poor Man's Shilling'. The plant is only known to grow on one location on the island. This leads Luella to begin investigating, teaming up with Board of Selectmen chair Elisha Macomber.

Quite a few people had motive to do away with Holllister. He had been playing up to local girl Laura May Howland, who hoped to marry him; much to dismay of her admirer Evan Ryder. Everyone is shocked when fashionable Lydia Hollister shows up to claim her husband's body - no one knew he was married. 

Review: This second of the series is a good page-turner with excellent atmosphere of foggy, damp, dark island nights. There is a lot of emphasis on how the various boats moved back and forth between the islands but I did not try to keep track of these movements. This one, as all the Macomber series, is good for lots of local color.

* Penberthy and Quantauk Islands are thinly-disguised versions of Knight's home, Martha's Vineyard and adjacent Chappaquiddick; sharing the same general shape, orientation, and general arrangement. Knight is buried on Martha's Vineyard.

Penberthy and Quantauk

Martha's Vineyard and Chappaquiddick (google maps)

The Seven Sinister Sombreros by Erle Stanley Gardner, 1939

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With a title like that, who can resist? This story is available as an e-book from this page at fadedpage.com.

Series: Lester Leith

About the author: Erle Stanley Gardner (1889 – 1970) was an American lawyer and author. He is best known for the Perry Mason series of detective stories. The best-selling American author of the 20th century at the time of his death, Gardner also published under numerous pseudonyms, including A.A. Fair, Kyle Corning, Charles M. Green, Carleton Kendrake, Charles J. Kenny, Les Tillray and Robert Parr. (wikipedia)

Major characters:

Lester Leith, amateur investigator
Edward "Scuttle" Beaver, Leith's valet and a police spy

Sgt. Ackley

Karl Bonneguard, political party leader

Job/Joe Wolganheimer, treasurer (first name inconsistent)

Io Wahine, hula dancer, Wolganheimer's girlfriend

Hanz Bettler, the drugged guard #1

Emil Bradercrust, guard #2

Locale: unstated, apparently California

Synopsis: This humorous series features the recurring characters of Lester Leith, who investigates crime by reading newspaper articles, his valet Edward "Scuttle" Beaver (who is really a police spy), and Sgt. Ackley, who is always trying to upstage Leith and take credit for his solutions. Leith generally gets some inspiration from the newspaper, and send Scuttle out  on some outrageous errands to gather items or clues for him.

Karl Bonneguard is the leader of a fringe political party, along with his treasurer Job/Joe Wolganheimer. Their stash of $100k is stolen from a safe in a locked room, guarded by Hanz Bettler. Bettler had been drugged, called for help, and party member Emil Bradercrust came to his rescue and wound up drugged as well. Leith sends Scuttle out to recruit hula dancers, cowpunchers, and seven sombreros; to the amazement of Sgt. Ackley.

Review: This is one of Gardner's paid-by-the-word pulp stories, and should be not taken too seriously. (As you can see, the issue was only 10 cents!) This does has a just-one-draft rush-to-crank-it-out flavor (which Gardner does so well), and best to just sit back and enjoy the ride as Leith gathers his odds and ends, and has some fun with the hula dancers. I also enjoyed the simple black and white illustrations reproduced from the magazine. A good quick bedtime read. 

Thanks to Linda B. (Kentucky) for discovering this gem.

Peril at End House by Agatha Christie, 1932

 

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Series: Hercule Poirot #8

Major characters:

• "Nick" Buckley
• Maggie Buckley, her cousin
• Cmdr. George Challenger, her boyfriend
• Charles Vyse, her cousin, a lawyer
• Frederica "Freddie" Rice, her friend
• Jim Lazarus, Frederica's consort
• Bert & Mildred "Milly" Croft, Australian tenants
• Ellen Wilson, housekeeper

Synopsis: Hercule Poirot and Captain Hastings are on vacation when they meet Miss "Nick" Buckley. She reveals to them she has had three escapes from death in the past days. First, a heavy picture falls from over her bed. Second, a boulder rolls down the path to the beach towards her. Third, the brakes on her car were tampered with. No sooner does she describe these, when a bullet from the bushes pierces her hat.

Nick has a happy-go-lucky attitude about the whole thing. She introduces her companions: boyfriend Commander George Challenger, her best friend Frederica "Freddie" Rice, and Frederica's consort, Jim Lazarus. Freddie is married, but separated - her husband is in parts unknown.

Nick shows Poirot the scenes of each attempt, at her somewhat dilapidated house, End House; which is adjacent to Poirot's hotel. She rents the gatehouse cottage to an Australian couple, Bert Croft and his disabled wife Milly Croft. Questioned as to who may benefit from her death, it is only her cousin, lawyer Charles Vyse; to whom she has left End House in her will. 

Poirot urges Nick to never be alone, she recruits her cousin Maggie Buckley to come stay with her. One night, while everyone is watching fireworks across the bay, Maggie is wearing Nick's distinctive red shawl, and she is shot. Was she - or Nick - the intended victim?

Review: The aspects I liked are: 1). the small cast of characters, making it easy to keep track of the players, without a lot of cardboard two-dimensional red herrings coming in and out. 

2). Poirot's theatrical exposé at the end.

The aspect I didn't care for was the emergence of a significant character at the end of the story, so the reader doesn't get a chance to figure that person in along the way. The other "trick" Agatha pulled on the reader was a bit of surprise, surprise! regarding the names of the characters. (I had enough trouble following girls named Nick and Freddie!)

You may also enjoy:

• this review by Gayle (OutsmartYourShelf)
• this review by Bev Hankins on My Reader's Block.

 

Burnt Offering by Richard & Frances Lockridge, 1955

 

photo: AbeBooks

Series: This is Captain Heimrich #9.

About the authors: Richard Orson Lockridge (1898 –1982) was an American writer of detective fiction. Richard Lockridge with his wife Frances (1896-1963) created one of the most famous American mystery series, Mr. and Mrs. North. (wikipedia).

Major characters:

• Susan Faye, widow, fabric designer
• Michael Faye, her son
• Orville Phipps, banker, town supervisor
• Asa Pervis, tow truck operator
• Cornelia Van Brunt, matriarch widow
• Henry Van Brunt III, her son
• Sam Jackson, lawyer
• Capt. Merton Heimrich, NY State Police
• Marian Alden, his niece
• John Alden, her husband
• Sgt. Charlie Forniss

Locale: [fictional] Van Brunt, Putnam County, New York

Synopsis: Marian Alden, niece of NY State Police Captain Merton Heimrich, and her husband John Alden are anxious to fit in to their town of Van Brunt; and attend the local town meeting. All the NIMBYs are there to oppose a zoning change to allow smaller lot sizes the resulting influx of low-brows; and there is tension among the residents. Town Supervisor (and banker and land developer) Orville Phipps is chairing the meeting.

The meeting is interrupted by a fire at the fire station. The building and two engines are destroyed. Early in the morning, Asa Purvis, on towing duty at the garage across the street, finds Phipps' Jeep parked in his station. Thinking Phipps is looking at the fire station mess, he takes a look himself, and finds Phipps' burned body in the rubble. Did he die in the fire?

Captain Heimrich thinks the death suspicious. Widow Susan Faye reports she had been given a ride by Phipps long after the fire was out, and autopsy shows Phipps was dead before his body was placed in the rubble. Heimrich is attracted* to Susan, but discovers a possible motive she will inherit from Phipps, who was her cousin. Then her son Michael Faye is abducted briefly - and returned with a warning to forget whatever Phipps had told her. Someone then takes a shot at Asa Purvis.

*Heimrich and Susan will marry in a later title.

Review:  Well, I got spolier-ed on this one. I knew right off who the killer was, as a later book (I forget which) mentioned this specific case and I.D'd the killer. Serves me right for not reading them in order. But that did not diminish my enjoyment of this one.

I have served on my town's zoning board, so I felt right at home in the opening chapter as we get a play-by-play of the town meeting, complete with annoying NIMBY's. Fortunately the meeting only lasted the first chapter. 

I found it interesting how the well-to-do town had a specific section (The Flats) which has the down-and-outs. In the Hudson Valley, no less! And the town made nice pretty street signs, but none for The Flats. It made for some uncomfortable reading as the well-to-do's look down their noses and try to keep them from infiltrating the rest of the town; and kept calling to mind similar incidents of which I am aware. It was the catalyst for murder, but does it ever really rise to that point?

I enjoyed reading about Susan Faye before she and Heimrich got married. I had not realized what a tough position she had been in financially.

 While you're here, you may also enjoy:  

• this review by Bev Hankins on My Reader's Block
• this review by Kate on Cross Examining Crime

Enter the Saint by Leslie Charteris, 1930

 

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About the author: Leslie Charteris (1907 – 1993), was a British-Chinese author of adventure fiction, as well as a screenwriter. He was best known for his many books chronicling the adventures of his charming hero Simon Templar, alias "The Saint". Charteris spent 55 years – 1928 to 1983 – as either writer of or custodian of Simon Templar's literary adventures, one of the longest uninterrupted spans of a single author in the history of mystery fiction, equalling that of Agatha Christie (from Wikipedia). 

Series characters:

• Simon Templar, The Saint
• Norman Kent, one of the Saint's "haloes"
• Roger Conway, one of the Saint's "haloes"
• Dicky Tremayne, one of the Saint's "haloes"
• Patricia Holm, Simon's girlfriend
• Chief Inspector Claude Eustace Teal

This title contains three novellas. Some reprints are rumored to only contain two.

The Man Who Was Clever

The Saint infiltrates a gambling den at "Danny's Club", run by owner Edgar Hayn and cocaine smuggler 'Snake' Ganning. He enlists the help of gambling-debt-laden Jerry Stannard and his girlfriend Gwen Chandler. The plan is to get a hold of $10,000 of ill-gotten gains and route them to charity, while getting Stannard back on the right path.

Mini-review: This is the standard Saint pattern: a repulsive crook, an innocent in need of help, a beautiful girl, and a plan to teach the crook a lesson. Lots of action and fisticuffs. 

 The Policeman With Wings

Roger Conway meets a girl, Betty Aldo, who has a strange story. Her uncle Sebastian built a house seven years ago; and suddenly some characters are insisting on buying the property. He had stubbornly refused, and one day he was seen getting into a car with a policeman; and neither were heard from again. Even stranger, no policeman is missing.

Mini-review: A clever setup with the bad guys suddenly interested in real estate. The Saint turns the tables on the fake policeman scam and has Roger Conway masquerade as one as well, but everybody gets tied up in a house full of dynamite with a slow-burning fuse. High adventure!

The Lawless Lady

Countess Anusia Marova has chartered a yacht to entertain some rich guests. However, her real name is Audrey Perowne, and she is the head of a group of crooks set on robbing the guests. The Saint is set on infiltrating her operation, as one of her crooks had murdered an innocent girl. Simon is too well known, and deputizes Dicky Tremayne to get aboard as one of the gang.

 

Mini-review: Dicky Tremaine handles most of the action, with The Saint popping in for a cameo at the end. Infiltration of the gang and the resulting love interest stretches believablity, but it's all in good fun and revenge is properly taken.

The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories by Agatha Christie, 1932-1939

This is a collection of short stories featuring Christie's series characters (except #8).

1. The Regatta Mystery: At a luncheon following a yachting party, C. Parker Pyne investigates the case of a valuable diamond. It went missing in a "sealed" room after a teenage girl giggles that she could make it disappear.

2. The Mystery of the Baghdad Chest: Marguerita Clayton's husband is dead, and stuffed in a trunk. Before the body is cold, she wants Hercule Poirot on the case; not to find the killer, but to exonerate her lover.

3. How Does Your Garden Grow? Amelia Barrowby writes to Hercule Poirot for advice. Before he can respond, she is dead by poison. He visits the family to find not only were they  awaiting her inheritance, but placed a curious arrangement in her flower garden.

4. Problem at Pollensa Bay: On vacation in Spain, C. Parker Pyne meets Adela Chester, who certainly does not approve of her son Basil's fiancée, Betty. Pyne manages to adjust Adela's attitude with the help of a mysterious Miss Ramona.

5. Yellow Iris: Hercule Poirot is lured to a dinner party at the Jardin des Cygnes (Garden of the Swans), where there are five present at a table for six, marked by a vase of yellow irises. The host, Barton Russell, explains the dinner is in honor of his dead wife, Iris, who died of poison at a similar party in New York four years earlier; and he knows the murderer is one of them. As Poirot watches, one of the party falls face down on the table.

6. Miss Marple Tells a Story: Mr. Rhodes is suspected of killing his wife in a connecting hotel room. Her room was found locked on the inside, with access only through his own room. Miss Marple figures out who - and how - it was done. The layout is critical, here is my sketch map which will allow you to follow along:

7. The Dream: Benedict Farley asks for Hercule Poirot's advice. He has a recurring dream of looking at his office clock (3:28 PM) and then shooting himself. A week after Poirot interviewed him,  he is found shot dead at 3:28 in his locked room. Despite appearances of suicide, Poirot smells murder.

8. In a Glass Darkly: Our unnamed narrator sees a vision in his mirror, of a woman he admires being strangled by her fiancé. He finally gets the nerve to warn her about it, but then it happens for real. Can this marriage be saved?

9. Problem at Sea: Henpecked Colonel Clapperton and his annoying wife are on a voyage. She retires to her cabin to rest, locking her door. Later she is found murdered in her bed. Hercule Poirot stages a theatrical trick to expose the murderer.

Mini-reviews: 

The Regatta Mystery: We find how the diamond disappears, but the whole episode of the broken wine glass escapes relevance to me. 

Miss Marple Tells a Story: Best of the batch. I spent an enjoyable time  sketching out the layout (above) and using it to follow the paths of two characters - the chambermaid and the killer. It is a clever setup and quite satisfying when you understand how it was done.

Problem at Pollensa Bay: No murder here, just a social engineering episode. Good reading if you don't like who your son/daughter chooses for a mate and you want to "fix" it.

Yellow Iris: Both this story and Miss Marple Tells a Story use the theme of "invisible" people. The two stories are similar, but with a different cast and locale.

The Dream: How to commit a murder which only requires a tremendous amount of advance planning. Interesting way to lure your victim to the window. But why shoot him? Just let him fall out...

In a Glass Darkly: No murder here, but a long-term infatuation turns out OK in the end, all happily ever after. Satisfying, although unfortunate husband #1 got killed in the war. Did you catch the biblical reference? (title from 1 Corinthians 13:12)

Recommendations:

• Locked-room fans will enjoy 1,6,7,9.
• Murder mystery fans will enjoy 2,3,5,6,7
• Cozy fans will enjoy 4.

You may also enjoy this review by Bev Hankins on My Reader's Block.

Double for Death by Rex Stout, 1939

 

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Series: Tecumseh Fox #1

About the author: Rex Stout (1886 – 1975) was an American writer noted for his detective fiction. His best-known characters are the detective Nero Wolfe and his assistant Archie Goodwin, who were featured in 33 novels and 39 novellas between 1934 and 1975. (wikipedia). (bibliography)

Major characters:

• Nancy Grant, Fox's client
• Andrew Grant, Nancy's uncle - accused of murder
• Ridley Thorpe, president of Thorp Control
• Jeffrey Thorpe, Ridley's son
• Miranda (Thorpe) Pemberton, Ridley's daughter (divorced)
• Vaughn Kester, Ridley's confidential secretary
• Luke Wheer, Ridley's chauffeur/valet
• Dorothy Duke, Ridley's mistress
• Henry Jordan, Dorothy's father
• Corey Arnold, Ridley's stand-in
• Tecumseh Fox, private investigator
• Dan Pavey, Tecumseh's Vice President
• Ben Cook, White Plains Chief of Police
• P.L. Derwin, District Attorney of Westchester County

Locale: Westchester County, New York (just north of New York City)

Synopsis: Nancy Grant hires Private Investigator Tecumseh Fox to assist her uncle, Andrew Grant, who is facing a murder charge. Grant just happened to be on the scene when Ridley Thorpe was shot in his remote bungalow getaway, which he maintained for his affairs with various women. Fox discovers that Thorpe is still alive, and the dead man is Corey Arnold - a somewhat look-alike he hires as a stand-in for security purposes. Thorpe is concerned he is the suspect, and hires Fox to build up an alibi for him. Then another murder occurs.

Review: This one was extremely fast-paced, and quite hard to follow as Tecumseh races from one inquiry to the next. There are two victims, one a stand-in for the other, two clients, two guns, and lots of misdirection. Halfway through I considered DNF'ing it, but I stuck with it, didn't pay too much attention to the details, and just enjoyed the ride. Fox's household is an amusing scene,  with his landlady and various hangers-on inhabiting it. Bottom line: Tecumseh Fox is to Nero Wolfe as Donald Lam is to Perry Mason!

Death Answers the Bell by Valentine Williams, 1931

 

Series: Trevor Dene #1

About the author: Valentine Williams (1883–1946) was an English journalist and writer of popular fiction. Williams was awarded the Military Cross as a soldier and wrote two autobiographical books about his war-time experiences. In the aftermath of war, he travelled widely as a reporter.  It was during this period that he began writing thrillers and around 1926 he gave up his post at the Daily Mail to pursue a full-time career as an author. (Wikipedia)

Major characters:

• Miss Aline Innesmore, from New York
• Sir Charles "Chass" and Lady Julia Rossway
• Sholto Rossway, their son, 26
• Geraldine "Gerry" Rossway, Sholto's wife, 23
• Rodney Rossway, their son, 25
• Barrasford "Barry" Swete, tenant and family friend
• Mr. Murch, Sir Charles' secretary

Locale: London

Synopsis: Lady Julia Rossway, of Frant House, is presenting her friend Miss Aline Innesmore at Court. It is big occasion to be presented to the King and Queen, and Aline is wearing her new presentation gown. After, she stops by Frant House to the lodgings of the Rossway's tenant Barry Swete, a friend of the family; to show him her new gown. Swete's apartment, with The Yellow Door, is connected to Frant House via an old covered tennis court. It is early in the morning, and as Aline knocks on his door the lights inside suddenly go out. She returns to the car and notices blood on the hem of her gown (illustrated above). Chauffeur Giles and Lady Julia's son Rodney Rossway force entrance to find Barry dead on the floor. Later they realize the killer must have been in the room with them.

Review: I always enjoy Valentine Williams. I especially liked the tight cast of characters - the list above is IT (other than the police and a couple incidentals). The investigation would have been much easier all around except that the Rossways, having found the murder weapon, just pass it around as a curiosity for everyone to fondle instead of mentioning it to the police. Much of the middle part is trying to follow the travels of the gun, all immaterial as the murder had long since occurred. There is a secret passage, too, which figures in the story as well. It is discovered in the proper Gothic manner, in the middle of the night by the heroine (Aline) in her diaphanous nightgown holding a candle, with a cold wind blowing.

This is the first Trevor Dene and he has a very small part to play in the investigation, but he does get romantically involved with Aline. 

 

Road to Folly by Leslie Ford, 1940

 

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About the author: Leslie Ford is a pseudonym of Zenith Jones Brown, 1898-1984. She also wrote as David Frome and Brenda Conrad. Also see this Book Scribbles blog: Leslie Ford's Fall From Grace. 

Major characters:

Diane Baker, interior decorator, our narrator

John Michener, attorney

Of Darien plantation:

• Phyllis Lattimer, wealthy, ambitious, owns Darien plantation
• Rusty Lattimer, her husband
• Anne Lattimer, Rusty's sister
• Brad Porter, Phyllis' ex
• Felice Marin, French maid

Of Strawberry Hill plantation:

• Miss Caroline Reid, 80-year old matriarch
• Atwell Reid, her nephew, deceased before story
• Mrs. Elsie Reid, Atwell's widow, Caroline's niece (by marriage)
• Jennifer Reid, Elsie's 22-year old daughter
• Colleton Reid, Elsie's son

Locale: Charleston, South Carolina

Synopsis: Decorator Diane Baker travels from Philadelphia to visit old school chum la-di-dah Southern belle Phyllis Lattimer. Phyllis and her husband Rusty Lattimer own genteel Darien Plantation, which is adjacent to run-down Strawberry Hill Plantation; owned by the destitute Reid family. 

Grasping Phyllis is determined to get her hands on the Reid's antique furniture, and tries to use Diane to achieve this. She wants Diane to appeal to matriarch Caroline Reid. Caroline, 80, in poor health, is confined to her rooms. The family maintains a charade for her benefit, keeping her rooms and the gardens outside her window in pristine condition; while the rest of the estate is slowly being gutted and sold off. The Reid family consists of Caroline's niece, Mrs. Elsie Reid, widowed upon the hunting accident death of her husband Atwell Reid. Their two children are Jennifer Reid and Colleton Reid. No one talks about Atwell's death, but it appears Colleton had been holding the gun when it happened. Now another death occurs.

Complicating the dynamics are two cross-family love affairs: Rusty Lattimer with Jennifer Reid, and Colleton Reid with Rusty's sister, Anne Lattimer.

Review: This setting of genteel plantation estates reminds me of Rebecca (Daphne du Maurier). As in that story, there are long-kept family secrets which no one talks about; which are gradually revealed. As soon as arrogant Phyllis was introduced, I knew she was to be a victim. I liked the comparisons of the two side-by-side estates, one lavish, one becoming decrepit. The maintenance of the charade of unchanging wealth for Caroline's benefit is poignant. The story is presented through the eyes of third-party Diane Baker, and this is an effective way to move the story along. 

There are two murders, and the victims are left with a mass of Spanish moss over their faces. I was not sure if that is the murder method or not, it was not explained. I haven't seen Spanish moss but it seems an odd way to do away with someone. The cover (above) suggests the right hand is holding a clump of it (the light green stuff?), about to squish it onto the victim.

There is a jarring contrast with the Black servants - they are always spoken to politely and respectfully in person, but when they are not present they are referred to by using the n-word. Hypocrisy at its best.

About the title: Folly is a beach area just south of Charleston, although that does not play a part in the story.