Series: Trevor Dene #1
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:
- Miss Aline Innesmore, from New York
- Sir Charles "Chass" and Lady Julia Rossway
- Sholto Rossway, their son, 26
- Geraldine "Gerry" Rossway, Sholto's wife, 23
- Rodney Rossway, their son, 25
- Barrasford "Barry" Swete, tenant and family friend
- Mr. Murch, Sir Charles' secretary
Locale: London
Synopsis: Lady Julia Rossway, of Frant House, is presenting her friend Miss Aline Innesmore at Court. It is big occasion to be presented to the King and Queen, and Aline is wearing her new presentation gown. After, she stops by Frant House to the lodgings of the Rossway's tenant Barry Swete, a friend of the family; to show him her new gown. Swete's apartment, with The Yellow Door, is connected to Frant House via an old covered tennis court. It is early in the morning, and as Aline knocks on his door the lights inside suddenly go out. She returns to the car and notices blood on the hem of her gown (illustrated above). Chauffeur Giles and Lady Julia's son Rodney Rossway force entrance to find Barry dead on the floor. Later they realize the killer must have been in the room with them.
Review: I always enjoy Valentine Williams. I especially liked the tight cast of characters - the list above is IT (other than the police and a couple incidentals). The investigation would have been much easier all around except that the Rossways, having found the murder weapon, just pass it around as a curiosity for everyone to fondle instead of mentioning it to the police. Much of the middle part is trying to follow the travels of the gun, all immaterial as the murder had long since occurred. There is a secret passage, too, which figures in the story as well. It is discovered in the proper Gothic manner, in the middle of the night by the heroine (Aline) in her diaphanous nightgown holding a candle, with a cold wind blowing.
This is the first Trevor Dene and he has a very small part to play in the investigation, but he does get romantically involved with Aline.
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