Escape the Night by Mignon G. Eberhart, 1944

 

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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:

Locale: California

Synopsis:

Review:

Oct 14 2024: Reading now, please check back soon. RM

Terror by Twilight by Kathleen Moore Knight, 1942

 

This is Margot Blair #3 (of 4).

Major characters:

• Benjamin K. Embrie, wealthy patriarch
• Sam Embrie, his brother
• Countess Adelaide von Reisenau, his sister
• Count Hans von Reisenau, his brother-in-law
• Brooke K. Embrie, his disinherited son
• Adele Embrie Bourne, his missing daughter
• Arthur Bourne, Adele's husband
• Judith Maine, Arthur's secretary and in line to be wife #2
• Deborah Bourne, daughter of Arthur and Adele
• Adrian Ambrie, Deborah's second cousin
• Remsen Gray, reclusive neighbor
• Dan Murphy, chauffeur
• Donal Craigie, butler
• Janet Craigie, housekeeper, wife of Donal
• Margot Blair, of Norman and Blair, Public Relations
• Corey Graham, newspaper liaison for Norman and Blair, Public Relations

Locale: The Berkshires of western Massachusetts

Synopsis: Millionaire Benjamin K. Embrie hires public relations outfit Norman and Blair, paying a handsome monthly fee just to keep them ready if needed. He then approaches Margot Blair to serve as a support for his sheltered granddaughter, Deborah Bourne, buying her clothes and other things as needed; as her mother Adele Bourne has been missing for years and is presumed dead. Margot gets invited to his home Thistle Hills in the Berkshires to meet Deborah.  Embrie dies while she is en route.

Margot meets Deborah and finds it is believed she suffers from a periodic violent mania, in which it is believed she was responsible for some pet deaths. Embrie's will benefits his family equally, but it turns out that he was on the verge of signing a new will,  leaving everything to Deborah. When his death is found to be by poison, suspicion rests on the family members; who are all trying to point the finger at Deborah instead. 

Margot teams up with her newspaper liaison, Corey Graham and butler Donal Craigie to investigate who killed Embrie, and whether Deborah really has a mania or not.

Review: This has the standard formula of the victim being murdered just prior to signing a new will. (Moral: Don't tell anyone until after you sign it). 

The story is about the relatives "gaslighting" Deborah - making her think she is insane, in order to  get her found incompetent to inherit under a will.

I didn't care for the two instances of killing pets. This dampened my enjoyment of the story. I have read most of K.M. Knight's stories, this is the only one which has that.

I was not able to figure out Adrian Embrie's relationship until the end. He is identified as Deborah's distant cousin, he wanted to marry Deborah, and his parents are named but not connected up to family until at the end it is mentioned he is Sam's grandson (making him a second cousin to Deborah).

Also note the "twilight" in the title does not reference literal twilight, but rather the medical treatment known as "twilight sleep" which is a plot element. An AI inquiry defined this as: "Twilight sleep, also known as Dämmerschlaf, is an amnesic state characterized by insensitivity to pain, which can occur with or without the loss of consciousness. This technique was primarily developed for use during childbirth and involves the administration of a combination of drugs, specifically morphine and scopolamine. The purpose of twilight sleep is to manage pain during labor while allowing the patient to remain in a semi-conscious state."

 

 

The Broken Vase by Rex Stout, 1941

 

This is Techumseh Fox #3. 

No review, cover photo only.

Siren in the Night by Leslie Ford, 1943

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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. Here is her bibliography. Also see this Book Scribbles blog: Leslie Ford's Fall From Grace. 

Major characters:

• Loring Kimball, philanthropist
• Lucy Kimball, his second wife
• Amelia Kimball, his stepdaughter
• Thorne Kimball, his daughter
• Nat Donahue, indebted to Loring
• Ilya Donahue, his nasty wife
• Prentiss Vale, architect
• Dr. & Mrs. Norton
• The Butts family, Mr. & Mrs and son Freddie
• Grace Latham, narrator
• Col. John Primrose
• Jim Brodie, newspaper feature writer

Locale: San Francisco, 1942

Synopsis: Grace Latham is our narrator, and she describes San Joaquin Terrace where the action takes place. There are six houses in order (the street is U-shaped but that is immaterial):

1. Grace Latham & Molly Macintyre
2. Nat & Ilya Donahue
3. Mr. & Mrs. Prentiss Vale
4. Loring Kimball
5. Dr. & Mrs. Norton
6. Mr. & Mrs. Butts and son Freddie

San Francisco is on edge due to the war, and there are frequent blackouts to prevent bombing by the Japanese. The story centers on philanthropist Loring Kimball, his second wife Lucy, daughter Thorne and stepdaughter Amelia. His first wife reportedly died in the San Francisco fire. Kimball is seen as an eccentric, having physically moved his Victorian home up the hill to its present location, next to architect Prentiss Vale's modern home.  He keeps his first wife's bedroom as a shrine, as it was, locked, with the lights on all night. This has become a concern as the wardens have to get the light turned off during blackouts.

Neighbor Nat Donahue is employed by Kimball, who controls him by holding a number of financial notes owed by Donahue. Although married to Ilya, Nat is in love with Kimball's daughter, Thorne.

Kimball is working in his study one night, as the air raid siren goes off. All the lights in the neighborhood go out, and when the All Clear sounds, he is found dead at his desk. An autopsy reveals poisoning by cyanide.

Review: This book gives a thorough description of life in San Francisco during the war, with the frequent air raid warnings and blackout procedures. The story is fascinating, with a lot of drama between the neighbors, as well as the mystery of the locked shrine room and the unrequited love story of Nat and Thorne. I enjoyed the first 95% of the story, but I did not like the ending. It revealed the murderer, but the conclusion was sad, and to my mind, an unnecessary resolution. 

The Robineau Look by Kathleen Moore Knight, 1955

 

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.   

Major characters:

• Cynthia Robineau, our protagonist
• William H. Thorne, her employer
• Bertram "Bert" Robineau, her uncle 
• Florence Robineau, her aunt
• Earle Robineau, her cousin (son of Bert and Florence)

Locale: three locations in rural Alabama: 

• the modest bayou home of Bert, Florence, and Earle
• Avallon Church, a remote, deteriorating chapel and grounds
• Avallon Hall, a plantation-style mansion

Synopsis: New York City-dwelling Cynthia Robineau is executive secretary to Willam H. Thorne, president of Thorne Construction Company. Cynthia is surprised when Thorne expresses his love for her and proposes marriage. Cynthia is taken aback, and realizes she would have to choose between him and her career. Thorne suggests she take some time off to think it over. 

Cynthia receives an invitation from her cousin, Earle Robineau, to a big annual family reunion in Alabama. She accepts, taking advantage of the offer of time off. She has never met any of her family from there. She arrives at the modest bayou home of Uncle Bert and Aunt Florence Robineau (Earle's parents) to find they never sent the invitation and it must be a fake. As the relations gather, others find they also received the fake invitations.

The reunion begins, then murder stalks the family.

Review:

We have a big cast of characters so it is good to take notes as you go along. There are lots of Robineaus. A good read with slowly building suspense. 

I always find the stock "Gothic" cover illustrations (yes, on both editions!) amusing, always having the same trope-y ingredients: a young woman in a somewhat-revealing diaphanous gown, fleeing through unkempt grass at night from a creepy mansion in which only one window (always upstairs) is illuminated, while looking back over her shoulder.

The Skeleton in the Clock by Carter Dickson (John Dickson Carr), 1948

 

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About the author: Carter Dickson is a pseudonym of John Dickson Carr, known for his locked room mysteries. 

Major characters:

• John Stannard, a lawyer
• Ruth Callice, bookshop owner
• Martin Drake, artist
• Jennifer "Jenny" West
• Richard Fleet, Jennifer's fiancé
• Sophia, Dowager Countess of Brayle; Jennifer's grandmother
• Aunt Cecily, Lady Fleet (Jennifer's "aunt" by courtesy only - no relation)
• Enid Puckston, innkeeper's daughter
• Dr. Hugh Laurier
• Sir Henry Merrivale

Locale: Fleet House, rural England

Synopsis: In a late night confab, lawyer John Stannard, bookshop owner Ruth Challice, and artist Martin Drake discuss the idea of earthbound spirits lurking about after a sudden death. They come up with the idea of looking for some - and the most likely place being a prison's execution shed. Stannard has connections with the keepers of Pentecost Prison, and as it has been closed for years, manages to get the keys for an overnight stay.

Drake has been diligently searching for a lost love, only known to him as Jenny, since they got separated after a brief romance during the war three years earlier. Drake attends an auction with his friend Sir Henry Merrivale, and runs into Jenny - learning her name is Jennifer West - and to his dismay learns she is engaged to Richard Fleet.

Drake seeks out Fleet, to try to dissuade him from the marriage. To his surprise, Fleet is happy to back out of it (he actually prefers Susan Harwood). Drake learns that Richard's father, Sir George Fleet had fallen to his death from Fleet House, near the prison, twenty years ago. The police receive a series of anonymous postcards claiming his death was murder. Sir Henry Merrivale investigates.

Review: This story has several parallel mysteries occuring:

1. What happened to Jenny during the war, and can Martin find her again?

2. Why is there a skeleton in the clock case?

3. Was Sir George Fleet's death a murder? How was it done?

4. Will Martin and Stannard survive a night in the execution shed?

5. Who is sending the postcards?

6. Who is responsible for the murder of another character I won't name?

There is a lot going on in the story, and as usual, I had a bit of trouble following some of it - mostly due to the excessive use of pronouns instead of names, which caused me to lose track of who was speaking or acting at any given moment.

There is lots of humorous relief whenever H.M. is around, and his adventures - especially the bristly relationship with the Dowager and his misadventures at the auction house and the traveling carnival - are quite funny.

 

Also see this review by Bev Hankins on My Reader's Block.

The Case of the Half-Wakened Wife by Erle Stanley Gardner, 1945

 

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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:

• Jane Keller, owner of an island, a widow
• Martha Stanhope, her sister, a landlord
• Marjorie Stanhope, Martha's daughter
• Frank Bomar, Marjorie's fiancé
• Lawton Keller, Jane's brother-in-law
• Scott Shelby, holding an oil lease on the island
• Marion Shelby, his wife
• Ellen Cushing, real estate agent, Shelby's "girlfriend"
• Parker Benton, millionaire
• Perry Mason, attorney
• Della Street, his secretary
• Paul Drank, his investigator

Locale: Los Angeles area

Synopsis: Widow Jane Keller is owner of an island in the middle of a river near Los Angeles. She is selling the island to millionaire Parker Benton, to build a new home upon. The island had an oil lease against it, which had apparently expired for non-payment. Promoter Scott Shelby tries to pay the back lease payments to reinstate the lease, but there is a legal question whether he can do so. Parker Benton would prefer to buy the island free and clear, so invites all the parties - including Perry Mason, representing Jane - for a cruise on his yacht to sit down and try to come to an agreement. 

Due to fog, the yacht anchors for the night. A commotion is heard, and a MAN OVERBOARD alarm is raised. A shot had been heard at the same time, and Scott's wife Marion Shelby is found holding a gun. Scott is missing and assumed the one overboard. A search fails to find his body. Mason is suspicious he staged the incident and is now running off with his girlfriend, real estate agent Ellen Cushing - leaving his wife suspected of his "murder".

Review: This is from the most enjoyable period of the Perry Masons - the mid 1940's - when Mason is more of a rough and tumble character, not hesitating to literally throw an opposing lawyer out of his office, and even dust off his hands afterward. We also have a romantic interlude with Della Street, the most - ahem - detailed I have found in his books. 

The actions on the yacht are well done and enjoyable. There is the usual big cast, a bit larger than necessary, so it does require attention to keep track of the players. A big point in the story is the two separate telephone systems on the yacht, which could be confusing, but is explained well so even a non-techy person sees how it operates. 

One scene has Mason taking a deposition in his office. It was interesting to see how that was done, and how many of the courtroom procedures were duplicated.

An unusual aspect is that Mason has a tough time throughout the case. He builds up a circumstantial case to find it totally incorrect. His supposition on the fate of Shelby also turns out wrong. The case builds to a gradual resolution, without the usual courtroom theatrics.