bev_reads_mysteries's review
3.0
By Hook or By Crook (11/21/30)
Normally Arthur Crook, lawyer-cum-private detective, is in it for the money. But occasionally a case takes his interest and the client is in no position to pay, so he treats it like Robin Hood--allowing his richer customers to pay for those who can't. Such is the case when he receives a plea for help from Miss Janet Martin. Miss Martin is a spinster in reduced circumstances who has befriended a charming little girl, Pamela Smith, and her governess Miss Terry (Teresa) Lawrence.
Miss Martin, who can no longer see well enough to read, spends her days watching people from her window. She is quite taken by the little girl in the red coat and red tam-o-shanter and is delighted when her little dog chases her landladies cat and gives her and excuse to meet Pamela. They--and Terry Lawrence--have a lovely time chatting over biscuits and then they exchange a couple more visits. Pamela is the ward of a very well-to-do gentleman who has given Miss Martin to understand that the girl will be very well looked after in the event of his death. He even has Miss Martin witness his will. But when Mr. Scott dies from an overdose--possible suicide--there is no such will to be found and his sister, the ominous Mrs. Barnes, whom Terry and Pamela have always referred to as an imposing, interfering woman, has Pamela sent away to an orphanage. Terry is called upon to help, but she soon fades out--she's got a fiance; is she too busy to worry about the little girl? Miss Martin knows that something is not right and asks Crook to investigate. His detective work unearths not only abduction, but fraud and murder as well. But just how many people are in on the plot anyway?
This isn't a usual whodunit in the classic tradition. We pretty much know who the bad guy(s) is (are) from early on. What is up for grabs is how many people are involved and whether Miss Martin and Mr. Crook are going to be able to convince the authorities. What is really interesting is the depiction of the plight of older women in post-war Britain. It's dreadful to have a dwindling pension and to be so dependent on the (hopefully) good will of relations. And then to not have many friends or much of a way to entertain oneself can make for very long days.
As with so many of Gilbert's books, she brings Crook in quite late. My favorites bring him into the action sooner. But Miss Martin is such an interesting character and the back ground involving her is so important that I didn't miss him quite as much. A good, solid read. ★★★ and a half.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
The Shadowy Third (11/22/20)
Dave Calder, former attorney, has set up shop as a private investigator. His first job is for an old friend in the insurance business--find out who has stolen the priceless Stradivarius violin belonging to Igor Krassin, the renowned violinist. The violin disappeared from backstage at the concert hall where Krassin and the orchestra practice and perform. A successful investigation means $6,000 for Calder...a very welcome start for his business. But he gets very little help from the members of the orchestra and Krassin, who raised Cain when the instrument first vanished, doesn't seem all that concerned now.
Before Calder can make much headway, Krassin is killed and the suspect list covers pretty much anyone who knew him. He didn't exactly know how to win friends and influence people. Heading the list were Stanley Price, a petty thief who has was caught stealing from the orchestra and fired--and who has now vanished; Paula Drake, Calder's former flame as well as one of Krassin's cast-offs; her husband Arthur, who has a double-barreled motive--jealousy and, as Krassin's manager, a life insurance policy on his client; James Pascal, an art gallery owner with an odd interest in violins; Felix Hilf, who claims the violin is rightfully his; Lina Gehris, who is actually Krassin's estranged wife and now heir to his estate; and Simon Lear, who--since Krassin didn't live to sign a will in favor of Lear's music school--seems to have no motive, but keeps popping up in the oddest ways. Will Calder be able to find the Strad before the cops do and earn his fee? Will he be able to find it before someone decides his meddling needs to stopped permanently?
This had an excellent beginning and Calder is an interesting character who has a nifty relationship with his girlfriend/secretary Ann. The set-up within the world of orchestral concert musicians was appealing. But...although there was plenty of scenes with action, the plot just didn't seem to move. It seems a little bizarre to say this about a 161 page book, but it felt like a lot of the action was padding. Despite a murder or two and Calder getting beaten up and Paula trying to make moves on Calder (and making Ann jealous) and people disappearing and reappearing all over the place, Calder just seems to be spinning his wheels--through no fault of his own. Page just didn't seem to know how to use the action to advance the story. The ending also seemed to come out of left field--if there were any clues pointing to the connection made in the Calder's wrap-up, I managed to miss them. I really thought I had pegged the least likely suspect (though I hadn't a clue as to motive) and then Page gave me an even less likely solution. ★★ and a half (rounded to three here)
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
The Whispering Death (11/23/20)
The Whisperer holds all of London in a grip of terror--holding innocent victims for ransom and killing whenever his demands are not met. Using the fairly new wireless technology, he has devised a diabolical system that prevents his targets from lining up police help in advance. A bag with a wireless set is delivered to the target, who must don the headset and follow the hoarse whispered instructions exactly as they are given. Only one step is revealed at a time, so they never know where they're going or what they must do. So far, Scotland Yard has been powerless to stop the reign of terror--each time the Whisperer escapes their grasp and too many times a lifeless victim has been left behind.
Then the Whisperer sets his sights on Roland Blatch. Roland wouldn't seem to be an ideal target--he's a lowly secretary pulling a mere six hundred pounds a year--just enough that he and his girl Joyce Merrow can now think about getting married. He rather imprudently (as it happens) tells her not to worry about the Whisperer--he'd never go after people like them who couldn't pay up. But Roland has forgotten that his employer, Sir Henry Glazeborough, had given him the keys to a safe where 80,000 pounds of jewelry was stored....
The next thing he knows, he has received a threatening note telling him that Joyce has been kidnapped and also one of those dreadful wireless boxes. When he dons the headphones, he is told in periodic bursts of instructions to go and remove the jewels from his employer's safe, take a taxi to Liverpool station, which train to take, and then upon seeing a black flag signaling along the tracks to toss the bag with jewels out the window. Even having a Scotland Yard man pick up his trail immediately and accompany him on his little journey doesn't prevent the Whisperer from getting what he wants.
Joyce is released and Roland is happy for that--but he knows he can't face his employer. He's now a thief--even though an unwilling one. When a phone call comes telling him that he can throw his lot in with Whisperer, he decides to play a risky game. He'll join up with the Whisperer all right...but only so he can wreak revenge on the man who dared to threaten his girl and who ruined his career. What follows is a high-octane adventure where Roland does his best to outwit the cleverest criminal in London. He'll endure several hair-raising episodes, including two attempts on his own life--but will our hero win the day?
Vickers has put together a fine example of the "innocent man pulled into situations beyond his control." Roland is a brave, intrepid hero...willing to beard the lion in his den. The thrills and the ambiance of 1930s London is perfect and keeps the reader turning the pages. The only (small) downside to this exciting action/adventure mystery is that the identity of the Whisperer is all too obvious. But Roland holds up his end of the show so well that we don't mind too much. ★★★★
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
3 1/2 stars for the whole collection
Normally Arthur Crook, lawyer-cum-private detective, is in it for the money. But occasionally a case takes his interest and the client is in no position to pay, so he treats it like Robin Hood--allowing his richer customers to pay for those who can't. Such is the case when he receives a plea for help from Miss Janet Martin. Miss Martin is a spinster in reduced circumstances who has befriended a charming little girl, Pamela Smith, and her governess Miss Terry (Teresa) Lawrence.
Miss Martin, who can no longer see well enough to read, spends her days watching people from her window. She is quite taken by the little girl in the red coat and red tam-o-shanter and is delighted when her little dog chases her landladies cat and gives her and excuse to meet Pamela. They--and Terry Lawrence--have a lovely time chatting over biscuits and then they exchange a couple more visits. Pamela is the ward of a very well-to-do gentleman who has given Miss Martin to understand that the girl will be very well looked after in the event of his death. He even has Miss Martin witness his will. But when Mr. Scott dies from an overdose--possible suicide--there is no such will to be found and his sister, the ominous Mrs. Barnes, whom Terry and Pamela have always referred to as an imposing, interfering woman, has Pamela sent away to an orphanage. Terry is called upon to help, but she soon fades out--she's got a fiance; is she too busy to worry about the little girl? Miss Martin knows that something is not right and asks Crook to investigate. His detective work unearths not only abduction, but fraud and murder as well. But just how many people are in on the plot anyway?
This isn't a usual whodunit in the classic tradition. We pretty much know who the bad guy(s) is (are) from early on. What is up for grabs is how many people are involved and whether Miss Martin and Mr. Crook are going to be able to convince the authorities. What is really interesting is the depiction of the plight of older women in post-war Britain. It's dreadful to have a dwindling pension and to be so dependent on the (hopefully) good will of relations. And then to not have many friends or much of a way to entertain oneself can make for very long days.
As with so many of Gilbert's books, she brings Crook in quite late. My favorites bring him into the action sooner. But Miss Martin is such an interesting character and the back ground involving her is so important that I didn't miss him quite as much. A good, solid read. ★★★ and a half.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
The Shadowy Third (11/22/20)
Dave Calder, former attorney, has set up shop as a private investigator. His first job is for an old friend in the insurance business--find out who has stolen the priceless Stradivarius violin belonging to Igor Krassin, the renowned violinist. The violin disappeared from backstage at the concert hall where Krassin and the orchestra practice and perform. A successful investigation means $6,000 for Calder...a very welcome start for his business. But he gets very little help from the members of the orchestra and Krassin, who raised Cain when the instrument first vanished, doesn't seem all that concerned now.
Before Calder can make much headway, Krassin is killed and the suspect list covers pretty much anyone who knew him. He didn't exactly know how to win friends and influence people. Heading the list were Stanley Price, a petty thief who has was caught stealing from the orchestra and fired--and who has now vanished; Paula Drake, Calder's former flame as well as one of Krassin's cast-offs; her husband Arthur, who has a double-barreled motive--jealousy and, as Krassin's manager, a life insurance policy on his client; James Pascal, an art gallery owner with an odd interest in violins; Felix Hilf, who claims the violin is rightfully his; Lina Gehris, who is actually Krassin's estranged wife and now heir to his estate; and Simon Lear, who--since Krassin didn't live to sign a will in favor of Lear's music school--seems to have no motive, but keeps popping up in the oddest ways. Will Calder be able to find the Strad before the cops do and earn his fee? Will he be able to find it before someone decides his meddling needs to stopped permanently?
This had an excellent beginning and Calder is an interesting character who has a nifty relationship with his girlfriend/secretary Ann. The set-up within the world of orchestral concert musicians was appealing. But...although there was plenty of scenes with action, the plot just didn't seem to move. It seems a little bizarre to say this about a 161 page book, but it felt like a lot of the action was padding. Despite a murder or two and Calder getting beaten up and Paula trying to make moves on Calder (and making Ann jealous) and people disappearing and reappearing all over the place, Calder just seems to be spinning his wheels--through no fault of his own. Page just didn't seem to know how to use the action to advance the story. The ending also seemed to come out of left field--if there were any clues pointing to the connection made in the Calder's wrap-up, I managed to miss them. I really thought I had pegged the least likely suspect (though I hadn't a clue as to motive) and then Page gave me an even less likely solution. ★★ and a half (rounded to three here)
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
The Whispering Death (11/23/20)
The Whisperer holds all of London in a grip of terror--holding innocent victims for ransom and killing whenever his demands are not met. Using the fairly new wireless technology, he has devised a diabolical system that prevents his targets from lining up police help in advance. A bag with a wireless set is delivered to the target, who must don the headset and follow the hoarse whispered instructions exactly as they are given. Only one step is revealed at a time, so they never know where they're going or what they must do. So far, Scotland Yard has been powerless to stop the reign of terror--each time the Whisperer escapes their grasp and too many times a lifeless victim has been left behind.
Then the Whisperer sets his sights on Roland Blatch. Roland wouldn't seem to be an ideal target--he's a lowly secretary pulling a mere six hundred pounds a year--just enough that he and his girl Joyce Merrow can now think about getting married. He rather imprudently (as it happens) tells her not to worry about the Whisperer--he'd never go after people like them who couldn't pay up. But Roland has forgotten that his employer, Sir Henry Glazeborough, had given him the keys to a safe where 80,000 pounds of jewelry was stored....
The next thing he knows, he has received a threatening note telling him that Joyce has been kidnapped and also one of those dreadful wireless boxes. When he dons the headphones, he is told in periodic bursts of instructions to go and remove the jewels from his employer's safe, take a taxi to Liverpool station, which train to take, and then upon seeing a black flag signaling along the tracks to toss the bag with jewels out the window. Even having a Scotland Yard man pick up his trail immediately and accompany him on his little journey doesn't prevent the Whisperer from getting what he wants.
Joyce is released and Roland is happy for that--but he knows he can't face his employer. He's now a thief--even though an unwilling one. When a phone call comes telling him that he can throw his lot in with Whisperer, he decides to play a risky game. He'll join up with the Whisperer all right...but only so he can wreak revenge on the man who dared to threaten his girl and who ruined his career. What follows is a high-octane adventure where Roland does his best to outwit the cleverest criminal in London. He'll endure several hair-raising episodes, including two attempts on his own life--but will our hero win the day?
Vickers has put together a fine example of the "innocent man pulled into situations beyond his control." Roland is a brave, intrepid hero...willing to beard the lion in his den. The thrills and the ambiance of 1930s London is perfect and keeps the reader turning the pages. The only (small) downside to this exciting action/adventure mystery is that the identity of the Whisperer is all too obvious. But Roland holds up his end of the show so well that we don't mind too much. ★★★★
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
3 1/2 stars for the whole collection
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