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
• Pete Devoe, Norton's chauffeur

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 points to his chasuffeur, Pete Devoe.

Review:

Apr 20 2025: reading now, please come back soon.

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