For book group this month we are sharing our top ten favourite mysteries which were published in the 1940s. It did not take me long to realise that this was going to be a difficult challenge. After all me and 1940s mystery fiction are like two peas in a pod, we just go together. Mostly, using my blog as a guide, I duly compiled a long list. When I had done this for the 1930s last year, my long list was around the 20-book mark, and I presumed this list would be the same. Oh, how wrong could I be! To begin with my long list (which only included books rated 4.5/5 or higher) started out 46 books long. I did ask book group if my cat and three chickens could participate as temporary members (naturally I would be sharing their choices). Shockingly they vetoed this suggestion, so then I did have to whittle down, in earnest, my insane list to ten titles (a list which incidentally had crept up to the round number of 50!). If you have been hearing wailing sounds and the noise of gnashing teeth, then it has not been the local weather nor your neighbours, it was probably me as I ruled out one more book. It was tortuous and it became ever more so, the fewer spaces I had left in my top ten and I did nearly reach a state of internal deadlock.
But then the thought occurred to me that I could share with you the 40 titles which did not make the final 10, as they are worthy of being championed, recommended and more importantly read. Unlike the top ten which needs to have only one title per author, my long list does have some authors make more than one appearance. Nevertheless, the list still includes 38 different writers. I intend to mostly concentrate on why I like each book, rather than trying to explain why they did not make the final 10 and my plan is to write about them in instalments of 10 titles per post, in chronological order. This is not an objective list, it is purely my personal preferences, so it is inevitable that I will have forgotten a book or not included one of your favourite authors. It would be great to read other people’s Top Ten 1940s lists, so do share them in the comments below or add a blog post link, if you have one.
So, let’s begin with our first ten mysteries
Mystery No. 1: Drink to Yesterday (1940) by Manning Coles
This is one of the few titles that I added to the long list, which I have not reviewed on my blog. Manning Coles was the penname for writing duo Adelaide Frances Oke Manning (1891–1959) and Cyril Henry Coles (1899–1965). Coles worked for British Intelligence during WW1 and WW2 and Manning was employed in the War Office during the First World War. I have read seven of their Tommy Hambledon spy novels, and to be honest I felt the quality diminished over time, so much so that I stopped buying more in the series. However, those first two titles (which occupy the first and second slots on this list) are brilliant espionage mysteries. This is not a subgenre I am overly fond of, so I feel that shows how exceptional they are, for me at any rate. I think what makes the early stories stand out so much is they are grippingly grim and realistic, as well as emotionally moving and they engage reader curiosity in terms of the plot and where the stories are heading. The early stories were inspired by Cyril Henry Coles’ experiences, so perhaps that is another reason why they read so well.
Mystery No. 2: A Toast to Tomorrow (1940) by Manning Coles
This is the second Tommy Hambledon mystery, but it was my first experience of Manning Coles’ work. This was an error on my part, as they were both published in the same years and I muddled them up. This did not diminish my love of the books, but I would recommend reading them in publication order, as events from book one influence book two. I haven’t said anything about the plots of either novel, and I am reluctant to do so, as I think they are enjoyed best, by going in blind. At some point I think I will re-read this pair.
Mystery No. 3: The Wrong Murder (1940) by Craig Rice
This story is the first in a pair of books, whose events are intertwined, so definitely read The Right Murder (1941) second. The Wrong Murder is part of the Jake Justus and Helene Brand series, one which I have had a lot of enjoyment from, and this particular tale sees Jake trying to see if he can win a bet with the wealthy Mona McClane. Will she get away with murder? Or will Jake be able to catch her out, avoid jailtime himself and get back to going on his honeymoon with Helene? This is a wonderfully fast paced mystery, with a great finale and killer last line. The wild antics of the central characters do not mean the plot lacks structure, if anything the construction is even tighter, and you can see how well it has been put together to maximise the fun and the puzzle.
Mystery No. 4: The Left Leg (1940) by Alice Tilton
If you’re a veteran reader of my blog, then you’ll probably be aware of my enthusiasm for Alice Tilton’s Leonidas Witherall series. The mysteries are madcap screwball comedies, with the protagonist royally getting into a mess (not always of his own making) and then having to extricate himself, which invariably means solving a murder or two along the way. No one could ever accuse Witherall of having a boring life. Even going to a department store or just minding his own business on a bus (which is where The Left Leg begins) can land him in all kinds of peril and predicaments. Staying at home to focus on his work equally does not prevent trouble from knocking on his door. Despite Tilton unleashing a large number of bizarre events at the reader in the setup of her stories, which soon begin to spiral outside of Witherall’s control, Tilton herself never loosens her grip on her plots and her writing style is a joy to experience. It would be great if a publisher could reprint this eight-book series. I have ranked the whole series here.
Mystery No. 5: Odor of Violets (1941) by Baynard Kendrick
This was a book group read back in 2022, and it was my first experience of Kendrick’s full length work. The mystery is centred on blind private investigator, Captain Duncan Maclain, who lost his sight during WW1 and in this tale he is investigating the murder of an actor in Greenwich village. There is a wartime thread to the plot, and one of the things which interested me the most about this novel is the way it blends and fuses a number of subgenre styles together. There is domestic suspense, puzzle elements, espionage thriller and hardboiled noir. The overall effect is very enjoyable and Maclain is an engaging sleuthing lead. The plot is well-constructed, and it is effective in demonstrating how his blindness aids him in developing other skills (which at times almost give him a superhero quality) but also leaves him vulnerable.
Mystery No. 6: The 9 Dark Hours (1941) by Lenore Glen Offord
This is a story which I nominated for the Reprint of the Year award in 2018. In contrast to some of the mysteries already discussed, the canvas for this tale is much smaller, as the majority of the plot is centred on one location, Agnes Cameron Ferris’ apartment block. She arrives back home unexpectedly, after her weekend holiday takes a wet turn for the worst, only to discover that a strange man has taken over her apartment, claiming that it is his. Is he a friend or foe? Can she trust him or not? What is exactly going on in the apartment block? These questions and more are asked and answered in a tight 184 pages, yet I felt this was a good length as it meant the story was packed with action and characterisation was not skimped on either.
Mystery No. 7: The Black Shrouds (1941) by Constance and Gwenyth Little
The Little sisters (who were sometimes published under the penname of Conyth Little) originated from Australia, before eventually moving to America. Most of their books are set in America, although the Great Black Kanba (1945) is set in Australia at Christmas time. They did not write a series, but their standalone novels share a number of tropes and settings. The Black Shroud is one of their mysteries set in a boarding house, with Diana Prescott our central character. She has left her family home to pursue a career in acting. Strange and bizarre events soon begin to occur, as is typical for a Little mystery, and the comedy is rich throughout. Characterisation and humorous dialogue are two of their strengths. I particularly enjoyed the comically combative relationship between Diana and her father (who is unhappy with her plans). It is a real treat to read.
Mystery No. 8: The Puzzle of Happy Hooligan (1941) by Stuart Palmer
This is my favourite mystery featuring schoolteacher and amateur sleuth Hildegarde Withers and it sees her taking a sabbatical in Hollywood, which means she is handily available when someone starts playing pranks at a local film studio. Such pranks invariably lead to murder. There is action and drama galore, and this story definitely seems to have a greater sense of danger and violence, which equally shines a new light on Hildegarde’s character. She certainly seems more ruthless/unethical at the end of the tale, though in fairness she is not the only fictional sleuth to undergo a character change when going to Hollywood.
Mystery No. 9: Seven Clues in Search of a Crime (1941) by Bruce Graeme
This series was one of my most favourite discoveries in 2021, and I am so pleased that Moonstone Press reprinted the majority of the Theodore Terhune series. If a bookseller amateur sleuth and bibliomysteries appeal to you then this book, and series for that matter, is one you should try without delay. I love how Graeme tinkered with the narrative structure of his mysteries in this series, and Seven Clues in Search of the Crime is an excellent opening book in which Terhune has to grapple with seven clues, not for a crime that has already happened, but for one which will take place in the future. I felt this was a fun and interesting way to re-look at the mystery puzzle concept.
Mystery No. 10: Evil Under the Sun (1941) by Agatha Christie
Well, no list of favourite 1940s mysteries would be complete without a Christie or two and naturally she will be making more than one appearance on this list. I re-read this Hercule Poirot mystery in 2023 and I was impressed with how many red herrings Christie throws at the reader. I don’t think it is too outrageous for me to suggest that Christie delivers one of her most intense, if not her most intense barrage of red herrings in this story, particularly in the opening chapter or two. What makes this such a comprehensive bombardment is how these red herrings cover a wide range of aspects of the murder plot, from relationship dynamics to intricate parts of the murder modus operandi. This is a well-put together puzzle mystery and I felt Christie offers her readers a rich cast of characters, making this a story you can return to many times and still get something fresh and new from it.
How many of these have you read? Are any of these favourites of yours too?
Stay tuned for The Best of the 1940s Part 2.