vsbedford's review against another edition
3.0
A perfectly okay mystery that's peopled with some horrible characters favored by writers of this age; at least, in this instance, when a side character is called a "girl" she's nineteen instead of 27 (that's always a huge irritant to me, like she's got a JOB, detective, and her own GD apartment, call her by her given name). Anyway, there's a super dum-dum who's foiled in love and insists that he is as capable as the police, a kindly professor/mentor that tries to rein him in, a thoroughly awful victim and his cold wife, etc., etc., etc. The wrap up of this book is a thorough word salad but it's a lively one so you don't notice that it makes absolutely no sense. A weak recommend.
I received an ecopy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ecopy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
iphigenie72's review against another edition
5.0
My second read of this series, excellent mystery. This series does not need to be read in order and it's probably why they are issuing them in ebooks out of order too, this one no 13 is the earliest I could find maybe they are choosing the best of the series?
We meet the suspects and maybe the victim at a party where a Elizabeth Leigh introduces the subject (because of a competition for the most clever way to dispose of a body her Club is having) of the best way to make a body disappear, later one, a body will be discovered and one of the ways will have been used in hiding it. Present are her guardian Bruce Attleton, a has been writer; his wife, a famous actress; a journalist who want to marry Elizabeth, a dramatist and a businessman. Attleton might be being blackmailed so the dramatist, Rockingham, wants the journalist to find the blackmailer while Rockingham and Attleton go to Paris separately. The journalist, Grenville, has a confrontation with the person he thinks is the blackmailer in the man's studio "The Belfry". When Rockingham comes back is it to tell Grenville that Attleton never met him in France, but Grenville has found Attleton suitcase and passport in the interim so they decide to get the police involve.
What I really liked about this is I was never sure of my deductions in the end I was right, but I like the feeling of uncertainty in a mystery. I really like how this series is written, getting to know the characters before the murder gives a deeper knowledge of them. It also feels like the detective is not hiding things to the reader, it is something that sometimes annoys me in the Inspector Alleyn series by [a:Ngaio Marsh|68144|Ngaio Marsh|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1237946649p2/68144.jpg] that she will have on the page her detective tell the twist in the ear of his sergeant (keeping the "surprise" for the reader) so I appreciate when that doesn't happen.
A very good mystery, I was a little lost about finding my next Golden Age of Mystery series to explore, but I have found it... I hope they reissue more, but I have some to read for awhile.
We meet the suspects and maybe the victim at a party where a Elizabeth Leigh introduces the subject (because of a competition for the most clever way to dispose of a body her Club is having) of the best way to make a body disappear, later one, a body will be discovered and one of the ways will have been used in hiding it. Present are her guardian Bruce Attleton, a has been writer; his wife, a famous actress; a journalist who want to marry Elizabeth, a dramatist and a businessman. Attleton might be being blackmailed so the dramatist, Rockingham, wants the journalist to find the blackmailer while Rockingham and Attleton go to Paris separately. The journalist, Grenville, has a confrontation with the person he thinks is the blackmailer in the man's studio "The Belfry". When Rockingham comes back is it to tell Grenville that Attleton never met him in France, but Grenville has found Attleton suitcase and passport in the interim so they decide to get the police involve.
What I really liked about this is I was never sure of my deductions in the end I was right, but I like the feeling of uncertainty in a mystery. I really like how this series is written, getting to know the characters before the murder gives a deeper knowledge of them. It also feels like the detective is not hiding things to the reader, it is something that sometimes annoys me in the Inspector Alleyn series by [a:Ngaio Marsh|68144|Ngaio Marsh|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1237946649p2/68144.jpg] that she will have on the page her detective tell the twist in the ear of his sergeant (keeping the "surprise" for the reader) so I appreciate when that doesn't happen.
A very good mystery, I was a little lost about finding my next Golden Age of Mystery series to explore, but I have found it... I hope they reissue more, but I have some to read for awhile.
lrconnol's review against another edition
5.0
This one kept me guessing until the end. Convoluted and confusing but a great mystery read.
annarella's review against another edition
5.0
I love British Library Crime Classic and this one was really good.
I loved the very intricate plot, full of twists, the characters and the style of writing.
A hidden gem of the Golden Age of Mystery.
Strongly recommended.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press
I loved the very intricate plot, full of twists, the characters and the style of writing.
A hidden gem of the Golden Age of Mystery.
Strongly recommended.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press
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