The Dead Shall Be Raised by George Bellairs, 1942

 

Series: This is Inspector Thomas Littlejohn #4, also published as Murder Will Speak

About the author: George Bellairs is the pseudonym of Harold Blundell (1902-1982), a British crime writer and bank manager. He wrote more than 50 books, most featuring the detective Inspector Thomas Littlejohn. He also wrote four novels under the pseudonym Hilary Landon. (wikipedia)

Major characters:

• Jeremy/Jerry Trickett, millworker (deceased 20 years ago)
• Enoch Sykes, millworker (deceased 20 years ago)
• Sir Caleb Haythornthwaite, last employer of Trickett and Sykes
• Bill o' Three Fingers, local tramp
• Mary (Tatham) Riles, former love of both Trickett and Sykes
• Mrs. Sykes, mother of Enoch
• Mrs. Myles, former employer of Trickett and Sykes
• Inspector Thomas Littlejohn
• Superintendent Tim Haworth
• (A complete list of characters is found at the beginning of Chapter VII.)

Locale: Waterfold village

Synopsis: It is Christmas, 1940, and Inspector Thomas Littlejohn of Scotland Yard is asked to assist in a case by local Superintendent Tim Haworth, having recently sung a leading role in Handel's Messiah. The performance is interrupted by the local Home Guard who have discovered a skeleton while digging a ditch - and it is believed to be Enoch Sykes who disappeared while wanted on suspicion of murder 20 years prior. The victim was Jeremy Trickett, a co-worker, and it was believed the result of a fight over a girl - Mary Tatham.

Now that Sykes' body is found, the search for him is over. But it is found he was also murdered - and at the same time as Trickett. The 20-year old theory of the case was no good. Now suspicion is directed at a third (unknown) person who killed them both. 

Littlejohn and Haworth are tasked with investigating a 20-year old crime, and few of the principals are still living. They do find one witness  - Bill o' Three Fingers, a tramp (missing one finger, thus the name), but before they can interview him, he is murdered also.

Review:

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

Dec 27 2025: Reading now, please check back again for more. RM

The Goblin Market by Helen McCloy, 1943

 

dustjackets.com

Series: This is Dr. Basil Willing #6

About the author: Helen McCloy (1904-1994) was an American mystery writer, whose series character Dr. Basil Willing debuted in Dance of Death (1938). Willing believes, that "every criminal leaves psychic fingerprints, and he can't wear gloves to hide them." He appeared in 13 of McCloy's novels and in several of her short stories. McCloy often used the theme of doppelganger, but in the end of the story she showed a psychological or realistic explanation for the seemingly supernatural events. (wikipedia)

Major characters:

• Pete Halloran, correspondent for Occidental News Service
• Philip Stark, correspondent for Occidental News Service
• Vincente Almazam, office boy for Occidental News Service
• Patricia Mitchell ("Mitch"), correspondent for Coordinated Press
• Miguel Urizar, captain of municipal police
• Charley Eustis, US Consul
• Peranda de Castellar ("Martin"), director of CAE
• Consuelo Aquila, Peranda's mistress
• Clarence Emmett, Pan Am Processing Co.
• Dr. Basil Willing, New York psychologist

Locale: Santa Teresa, a Caribbean island during WWII

Synopsis: Out-of-work news correspondent Philip Stark is in Santa Teresa and at the end of his resources. He is about to approach Pete Halloran of Occidental News Service for work, but Halloran is found dead of a broken neck on the stairs outside his office. Stark contacts Occidental and is hired on as Halloran's replacement.; working with office boy Vincente Almazam.  

Stark meets glamourous Patricia "Mitch" Mitchell, correspondent for competing Coordinated Press. She tells him Halloran had been working on a big story, and discovering one of his telegrams is missing, suspects his death was murder. Police captain Miguel Urizar insists it was an accident, and does not want anyone to pursue it. 

One of the suspicious people on Stark's list is Peranda de Castellar, director of CAE, an oil exporter. His mistress, Consuelo Aquila, has some clues for Stark, but before they can rendezvous, she is found dead also; with Stark set up as the fall guy.

Review: I was confused for a bit. Dr. Basil Willing is supposedly a series detective. He gets a brief mention early on, when Halloran left behind a doodle of a slice of pie inside a square. Willing is described as being able to interpret dreams and doodles. But he is in New York. So they write and offer him $50 for his interpretation. Then nothing is more is heard of him and I figured he had his cameo mention and was forgotten - until the very end, when he enters the story in a big, surprising way.

I always enjoy stories with newspaper reporters as the prime investigators, as this one does not disappoint. Stark is a reporter in the mold of Peter Piper (by Nancy Barr Mavity), and silk stockings and stilettos competitor Patricia Mitchell reminds me of Brenda Starr (of comic book fame). 

The Estate of the Beckoning Lady by Margery Allingham, 1955

 

This is Albert Campion #15

Cover image only - no review

Police at the Funeral by Margery Allingham, 1931

 

Series: Albert Campion #4

Cover image only - no review

Murder with Southern Hospitality by Leslie Ford, 1941

 

dustjackets.com

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. 

Locale: Natchez, Mississippi

Major characters:

• Louise Gould, Garden Club member, our narrator
• Cornelia Cartwright, Garden Club president
• Lusby, Cornelia's chauffeur
• Alec Cartwright, Cornelia's stepson
• Miss Laetitia "Letty" Drayton, Garden Club secretary
• Judge Ed Drayton, Letty's brother
• Kate Drayton, Letty's sister
• Anne Drayton
• Lawrence Drayton, Ed's son (Anne's cousin)
• Steven Heywood
• Millicent Storm, Garden Club member

Synopsis: Garden Club president, wealthy (and pushy) Cornelia Cartwright is determined to go to Natchez on a Garden Club pilgrimage. She brings along Louise Gould, and to save on expenses includes mousy club secretary Miss Letty Drayton, as she has family in Natchez; and Cornelia plans to impose on their hospitality instead of (gasp!) spending money on a hotel. Letty is reluctant to go at all, apparently embarassed by her family's poor situation. The three depart, driven by Cornelia's chauffeur Lusby.

Along the way they encounter a young Philadelphian, Steven Heywood, also bound for Natchez to look up a certain young woman. He is the heir to a will which leaves him several plantations if he marries her.

The three ladies arrive in Natchez and are astounded to find Letty's family not in a hovel, but in a palatial mansion, "Antigua". Letty is received coldly by her brother Judge Ed Drayton, sister Kate Drayton, and nephew Lawrence Drayton (Ed's son). Her niece Anne Drayton is the only one to welcome her warmly.  

 

Steven Heywood arrives at the neighboring mansion, "Tangiers", owned by his family. He is looking for his young woman, who turns out to be Anne. However, Anne is already engaged (at her uncle Ed's direction) - to her cousin (!) Lawrence. Anne is also pursued by Cornelia's stepson, Alec.

Letty has a secret concealed in a locket, which everyone tries to obtain. This leads to two deaths; a sour end to a Garden Club event.

Review: Billed as a "romantic suspense", this is a spellbinding page turner in the style of Mignon G. Eberhart. I found it quite enchanting with multiple levels of intrigue - for instance, Steven Heywood's continual flirting with Mrs. (!) Gould, a pushy uncle demanding two cousins marry, the contrast of palatial Antigua (home of the Draytons) and neighboring down-at-the-heel Tangiers (home of the Heywoods). 

There are remnants of southern culture: the north/south feuds, White/Black segregation with Blacks all cast in servant roles, corrupt officials, and several instances of the N-word.

Mysteries include:

Why is Letty's family so hostile to her?

Who exactly is Anne?

Who will Anne wind up with? Lawrence? Alec? Steven?

What is in Letty's locket? Who is doing away with people to get it?

All are resolved in a suprising turn of events.

 

The Midnight Hour by Elly Griffiths, 2021

 

Series: This is Brighton Mysteries #6. 

About the author: Elly Griffiths is a pseudonym of Domenica de Rosa.

Locale: London and environs

No review - image only.

O is for Outlaw by Sue Grafton, 1999

 

Image only - no review