The Mystery of the Gold Box by Valentine Williams, 1932

 

Also published as The Gold Comfit Box

 

Series: Dr. Adolph Grundt #5

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:

• Philip Clavering, alias James Dunlop, British Secret Service, and our narrator
• Charles Forrest, British Secret Service (dead at opening of story)
• Dr. Adolph Grundt
• Madeleine Stafford, German agent
• Amschel Lipschutz, German agent H. 79, (dead at opening of story)

Locale: Belgium and Germany

Synopsis: British agent Philip Clavering, operating in Brussels, is sent to the scene of a train wreck. The train has been sabotaged, resulting in the deaths of British agent Charles Forrest and German saboteur Amschel Lipschutz. Clavering's assignment is to recover a small box carried by Forrest, which contains a list of British agents operating in Germany. Clavering finds the box apparently taken by German agent Madeleine Stafford, slightly injured in the wreck. Dr. Adolph Grundt calls for her at her hotel, and they cross the border into Germany.

Review:

Aug 28 2025: reading now, please check back,. RM

The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie, 1928

 

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About the author:

Series: Hercule Poirot #6

Locale: England and France

Major characters:

• Rufus Van Aldin, American millionaire
• Major Richard Knighton, his secretary
• Ruth Kettering, his daughter
• Derek Kettering, Ruth's husband
• Ada Mason, Ruth's maid
• Armand, Comte de la Roche, a pretender
• Mme. Mirelle, a Parisian dancer
• Mary Ann (Mrs. Samuel) Harfield, Emma's cousin
• Katherine Grey, Emma's companion, with the grey eyes
• Lady Tamplin, Katherine's cousin
• Lenox Tamplin, Lady T''s daughter

Synopsis:

American millionaire Rufus Van Aldin has presented his daughter, Ruth Kettering, with a selection of priceless rubies as a gift. He is also trying to persuade her to divorce her husband, Derek Kettering, who is having an affair with Parisian dancer Mirelle. Ruth agrees. Ruth is no stranger to infidelity herself, having occasional trysts in Paris with greasy gigilo Armand, who has taken the illegitimate title of Comte de la Roche.

Wealthy matriarch Emma Harfield has passed away (prior to the story), leaving her entire estate to her long time companion, Katherine Grey. Katherine enjoys her new wealth with a spending spree on new clothes and travel to the Riviera. Two grasping relatives proceed to suck up to Katherine with an eye on getting part of her booty: Mary Anne (Mrs. Samuel) Harfield, Emma's cousin; and Lady Tamplin, Katherine's cousin.

Ruth takes The Blue Train to the Riviera, and meets Katherine on board. Unknown to Ruth, her husband Derek is also on board. The next morning, Ruth is found murdered in her compartment; and the rubies missing. Derek stands to inherit her entire fortune, but if he is the murderer, why take the rubies? The police suspect the Comte de la Roche, who was also on board. Yet another passenger is Hercule Poirot who is asked by Van Aldin to find the murderer.

Review:

Aug 26 2025: reading now, please come back soon. RM

The Norths Meet Murder by Frances & Richard Lockridge, 1940

 

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Image only - no review

Green Hazard by Manning Coles, 1945

 

Image only - no review.

The Door by Mary Roberts Rinehart, 1930

 

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About the author: Mary Roberts Rinehart (1876 – 1958) was an American writer, often called the American Agatha Christie, although her first mystery novel was published 14 years before Christie's first novel in 1920. Rinehart is considered the source of the phrase "The butler did it" from her novel The Door (1930), although the novel does not use the exact phrase. Rinehart is also considered to have invented the "Had-I-But-Known" school of mystery writing, with the publication of The Circular Staircase (1908). (from a Wikipedia article).

The Bell household:

• Elizabeth Jane Bell, protagonist and narrator
• Mary Martin,  secretary
• Joseph Holmes,  butler
• Robert White,  chauffeur
• Norah Moriarty,  cook
• Clara Jenkins,  housemaid
• Abner Jones,  gardener
• Sarah Gittings,  nurse

The Somers household, of New York City:

• Howard Somers 
• Katherine Somers, Howard's wife (Elizabeth's cousin)
• Judy Somers, their daughter (Elizabeth's niece)
• Wallie Somers, Howard's son by first marriage
• Jim Blake, Katherine's brother (Elizabeth's cousin)
  
• Dick Carter, Judy's boyfriend

Locale: not stated, but convenient to New York City

Synopsis: Our narrator Miss Elizabeth Jane Bell lives "alone" (with her staff of seven!), while her niece Katherine Somers is staying with her. One evening nurse Sarah Gittings goes out to walk the two dogs, and does not return. While awaiting Sarah, an intruder is seen in the house, but escapes. A search finds the dogs tied to a tree on the adjacent Larimer Lot, and later Sarah's body found in a  "sewer" which is a tall circular brick standpipe.

Review:

We have a nice opening sequence where Elizabeth describes the characters, and an in-depth description of the house floor plan. There is a sketch map of the property (above) showing poor planning in locating the garage (how does one get their car into it?); a sketch map of the house would be valuable as well. Once all the descriptions are done, we get to the story.

It is not clear why a nurse is employed, as Elizabeth seems in perfect health.

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

The Ringer Returns by Edgar Wallace, 1931

 

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About the author: Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace (1875-1932) was a prolific British crime writer, journalist and playwright, who wrote 175 novels, 24 plays, and countless articles in newspapers and journals (Goodreads). In terms of production, by cranking out one novel per month, he was the British equivalent of Erle Stanley Gardner. See this Wikipedia article.

Major characters:

• Henry Arthur Milton, "The Ringer"
• Superintendent Bliss, Scotland Yard
• Detective Inspector Mander, Bliss' "incompetent assistant"

Locale: England

Synopsis: This is a collection of 17 short stories featuring "The Ringer", a master-of-disguise character who operates outside the law to bring his own brand of justice to evildoers; while constantly pursued by Superintendent Bliss of Scotland Yard. Some criminals The Ringer chases are murderers, but there are also scam artists and thieves. The stories are standalone, but some refer to characters in the preceding ones, so reading in order is recommended.

Review: The Ringer is from the same mold as Leslie Charteris' The Saint. He operates outside the law, sometimes with a wink-wink from Scotland Yard; with a goal of restoring fortune to those who have lost it. He is always pursued by the authorities, but always manages to fool them. One aspect which sets him apart from The Saint is that The Ringer is a master of disguise, and this figures in most of the stories as he uses impersonation frequently.

With This Ring by Mignon G. Eberhart, 1941

 

About the author: Mignon Good (1899-1996) was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. In 1929 her first crime novel was published featuring 'Sarah Keate', a nurse and 'Lance O'Leary', a police detective. This couple appeared in another four novels. Over the next forty years she wrote a novel nearly every year. In 1971 she won the Grand Master award from the Mystery Writers of America. (from Goodreads)

Major characters:

• Sophronia "Rony" Chatonier, 23, our protagonist
• Eric Chatonier, her invalid newlywed husband
• Blanche Radoczi, Eric's sister
• Turo Radoczi, Blanche's husband, a musician
• Mimi Chantonier, Eric's sister
• Buford "Buff" Scott, Mimi's boyfriend, a lawyer
• Judge Henry Yarrow, friend of the family
• Stuart Westover, Eric's friend, to whom Rony is attracted
• Catherine Sedley, the femme fatale in the cottage
• Lewis Sedley, Catherine's ex-con husband
• Magnolia, the maid/housekeeper/nurse

Locale: Louisiana bayou country

Synopsis: Sophronia "Rony" Brace went through a hurried marriage with Eric Chatonier, of Louisana's bayou country. Eric has a heart condition and is quite delicate. At the wedding Rony takes an immediate crush on the best man, Stuart Westover; but tries to put him out of her mind. Eric takes her to Louisiana where she meets the rest of the clan at Belle Fleur:

Eric has two sisters - Blanche (married to musician Turo Radoczi) and Mimi (with boyfriend lawyer Buff Scott). Blonde femme fatale Catherine Sedley lives in a cottage on the property, awaiting the release of ex-con husband Lewis; with divorce in her plans. Family friend Judge Henry Yarrow lives on a small yacht anchored in the bayou. 

Eric makes a new will, leaving everything to Rony; and cutting out his sisters. Judge Yarrow plans to oppose it. Eric gives Rony a note to deliver to the judge on the yacht, and when she gets there she finds him dead. She is immediately suspected of the murder, in order to stop his opposition to the will; so she will inherit the full estate and marry Stuart Westover.

Review:

An enjoyable mystery, albeit with a lot of MGE formula:

• Exotic locale
• Square 2-story house with balcony all the way around
• Love triangle of woman (protagonist), stuck with bad man, in love with unattainable good man
• Femme fatale on the sidelines
• Protagonist wrongly accused of murder
• Big storm, power failure

A good several night's read, placing me in the Louisiana bayou country!