About the author: Ernest Bramah (1868 - 1942) was an English author. He published 21 books and numerous short stories and features. Bramah created the characters Kai Lung and Max Carrados. (excerpt from wikipedia)
Major characters:
- Max Carrados, blind amateur detective
- Parkinson, his butler/guide
- Louis Carlyle, private inquiry agent
- Hutchins, train driver
- Herbert Mead, signalman
- Mr. Drishna, a.k.a. Ghoosh, an Indian
Locale: London
Synopsis: Private Inquiry Agent Louis Carlyle has been retained by train driver Hutchins, following an accident in which his train ran past a signal and crashed into the rear of another, causing a number of deaths. Carlyle discusses the case with his friend Max Carrados, an amateur detective who is blind.
The gist of the case is this: Hutchins claims he had a clear (green) signal. Signalman Herbert Mead swears he had put up a stop (red) signal. Both are adamant. Hutchins is despondent after being demoted to cleaning rest rooms, and has taken to drink. Carrados meets with him and believes he can clear him.
Carrados, guided by his manservant Parkinson, investigates the area of the signal in question, and finds it can be reached from the rear of an adjacent apartment; which had been rented by a mysterious Ghoosh.
Review: This is an excellent short story, and even fits in a couple of big surprises. The first is a tease about a relationship between Hutchins daughter Meg and the signalman, which Hutchins opposes. This is a clever piece of misdirection to the reader, suggesting hanky-panky by the signalman in a revenge move. Second, when a suspect is identified as having fooled with the signal, the question of motive remains. The motive is found, but it is not what one would expect.
Alert: There is one instance of the n-word.
You may also enjoy this review by Bev Hankins on My Reader's Block.
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