This post is a smidge (well maybe a bit more) late, as it was my March read for my short story collecting reading project. I was looking forward to reading this one as this is a series I invariably buy annually with my Christmas money, procuring the next instalment. To date these are the ones I have reviewed:
- Bodies from the Library (2018)
- Bodies from the Library 2 (2019)
- Bodies from the Library 3 (2020)
- Bodies from the Library 4 (2021)
Each collection comes with an individual introduction for the authors included, as well as a general introduction at the beginning, all of which are written by Tony Medawar. It was interesting to note in the general introduction which story Medawar considers is probably the earliest example of the detective story: ‘“Das Fräulein von Scuderi” (1819), a novella by Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffman, who was born in Russia and is best known for his ghastly creation The Sandman.’
Story No. 1: ‘The Predestined’ (1953) by Q. Patrick
This tale was originally published in Britannia and Eve, and it is concerned with an orphan called Jasper Dogarty, who lives with his doting grandma. The story runs through various events in his life, starting with his 10th birthday party. Even from this early moment he is shown to be unpleasant:
‘Jasper, an ungracious host, had shown more interest in the strawberries and the gifts than in his guests’ comfort. In fact, there had been a scuffle with a diminutive female guest, whose pigtails he had so continually tweaked that she had rounded upon him in a sudden burst of impolite ferocity.’
It is at this party that his grandma notices a reddish-blue weal on Jasper’s throat. But by the time they get to the doctor it has disappeared. This weal reappears at later points in his life, and I feel this aspect of the plot is used to great effect, especially as we see what Jasper decides to do next as an adult, once he has married a rich older woman.
Story No.2: ‘Villa for Sale’ (1966) by Ellis Peters
Australian Women’s Weekly originally published this story. I enjoyed reading the introduction to this tale, as whilst I was aware of Peters’ later work such as the Cadfael series, I was not aware of her earlier writing from the 1930s. This included romance novels such as Day Star (1937) and Rents are Low in Eden (1938), as well as detective stories like What Happened at Montalban? (1939) and even thrillers such as Masters of the Parachute Mail (1939) and Freedom for Two (1939). Peters was surprisingly prolific, and her range of writing is also impressive, which also included translation work.
As seasoned mystery readers we are always dubious when one character offers too good a deal to another person. You are wondering where the catch will be, which is the case in Peters’ story where a newly married couple are offered a villa for 50 francs, by a widow. There is an interesting reversal of ideas, but I don’t feel there is either a crime or any detection. Fortunately, this is a short enough tale for the brief plot it had.
Story No. 3 ‘The Ginger King’ (1940) by A. E. W. Mason
The third entry in this collection was first published by The Strand Magazine. Mason is not an author I have read much by, with The House of the Arrow (1924), being the only story that comes to mind. It was interesting reading about his theatrical and political career, and it is intriguing that despite his success as a writer during his lifetime, he is not as well known today, compared to some of his contemporaries.
Medawar provides some good titbits regarding one of Mason’s better-known mysteries, At the Villa Rose, which has been adapted for film five times. Medawar writes that:
‘Mason had been inspired to write Hanaud’s first case, At the Villa Rose (1910), by the chance observation of two French names scratched on the window of an English inn, names connected with the real-life double murder and robbery in 1903 of Eugénie Fougère and her maid Victorine Giriat at Aix-les-Bains in France.’
‘The Ginger King’ features Monsieur Hanaud (Mason’s series sleuth) who at the start of the story is lunching at the home of his friend and Watson, Mr Ricardo, having been part of a trial which took place in London. During this lunch John Middleton calls upon the pair, requesting Hanaud’s help. John is a secretary for a fire insurance company, which Ricardo uses. Middleton is suspicious of a recent business fire, as the owner has a history of losing business premises this way. He doesn’t have much to go on, and the owner and his wife have a seemingly perfect cinema-based alibi. However, Hanaud is on the case and the solution is ultimately arrived at due to the owner’s cat. The role of the cat in this mystery is certainly an interesting one, although I don’t think the solution is one you can anticipate.
Story No. 4: ‘Sugar-Plum Killer’ (1950) by Michael Gilbert
The ‘“Sugar Plum Killer” was first published as part of a five-part serial in the Daily Herald between 18 and 22 December 1950. The authority on Gilbert’s work, Jonh Cooper, as noted that some years later Gilbert reworked the story to include Patrick Petrella; as ‘Kendrew’s Private War’ it was published in Argosy in April 1959 and collected in Even Murderers Takes Holidays and Other Mysteries (2007).’
I was most interested to learn about Gilbert’s writing routine, in Medawar’s introduction:
‘In interviews, Gilbert regularly recounted how he would write during the 50 minutes it took to travel to London by train from Sole Street Station in Kent. Seated always in a less crowded first-class carriage, he aimed to write a minimum of two sides of foolscap on the way in, while keeping the journey home for research. What he also made clear in interviews, but is less often remembered, is that he always planned at home, what he was going to write about. Typically he made a synopsis of the next two chapters in a legal notebook, which he would then flesh out during the morning commute.’
Gilbert’s mystery kicks off with two detectives discussing the most dangerous men they have met. D. I. Chapman talks about his experiences with a criminal called Dodrowski, known as Sugar Plum Dods due to the way he talked to women. So, if you were hoping the title had huge relevance to the plot then you’re going to be disappointed. Anyways, I digress. His companion, probationary Detective Walkinshaw parts company with him, yearning for his moment to shine in seizing a dangerous criminal. That moment comes sooner than he expects as a short while later Chapman is a victim of a hit and run and Walkinshaw is determined to find his killer. However, to do this he deliberately withholds evidence from his colleagues as he wishes to capture the driver single handedly, a trait I found made him a less appealing character and it is not surprising that he needs rescuing. The best bit of this story, for me, was the amusing police report at the end.
Story No. 5: ‘Vacancy with a Corpse’ (1946) by Anthony Boucher
This is the first novella of the collection, and it was originally published by Mystery Book Magazine, with Boucher using the penname H. H. Holmes.
Detective Lieutenant Ben Latimer is in a relationship with Felicity Cain, who comes from a well-to-do family, and is also an aviatrix. Her grandfather is a retired judge, who is ill and receiving death threats. The letters are marked in a way which could link them to a group of Italian criminals. Felicity, at the beginning of the narrative, is asking for Ben’s help, on her grandfather’s behalf, who would also like some subtle police protection, as he does not want his other family members to know.
Roger Garvey, secretary to Felicity’s grandfather and wannabe rival for her affection’s, interrupts Ben’s tête-à-tête with her. This small scene is interesting in how it simultaneously depicts life during WW2 on the home front in America, whilst also showing how snobbish Roger is. For example, Roger is fed up with servants continually leaving to do war work, nor does he enjoy having to use public transport (and mix with common folk) rather than use a car.
Felicity is shown to be less bothered by all of this and she stands out from her more traditional rich family background. This is in contrast to Felicity’s mother, who is still living in the past. This is illustrated well when Felicity asks her mother (who has been cooking) the following question: “Mother, haven’t you anything but gold lamé to wear in the kitchen?”’ Her mother of course is more used to dressing for dinner, than cooking it. Change is a theme which is further pursued when the story talks about Felicity’s family home:
‘This has been San Francisco’s showplace once, she reflected – the Cain Mansion. Now all of its grand old neighbouring houses, on top of the hill, had been converted into three– or four– flat dwellings, housing families whom the Cains did not know. The one time ‘mansion’ had become just a funny old building. her mother’s ideas were like that, too – all very well for a life of privilege, but hopeless in these changed times. Nothing that might happen in the way of new ideas, new modes of living, could ever have demolished her mother’s concept of the world and her place in it.’
Felicity’s more independent and outgoing nature is explored well through her comment about a film, Hell’s Angels. She says of it:
‘”That’s the one where the Zeppelin comes out of the clouds over London and he crashes his ship into it. But, Mina, who wants to be like that kind of a woman? What’s the fun of letting the man do all the flying?” Her own idol had been Amelia Earhart.’
I think Felicity’s willingness to move with the times and explore new roles makes her a more engaging character for the reader.
Like the famous country house, Felicity’s home quickly fills up with family, including Ben’s ex-fiancée, now nun, Sherry, and Sister Ursula (which some will recognise as one of Boucher’s series sleuth). There is also Homer Hatch, who has been promised a room by the city housing bureau. Moreover, a murder is discovered during the evening meal. You might be thinking it is the grandfather, but it is not… Was the victim the intended target? Was it suicide or murder? The stakes are raised with certain plot developments, makings things more tense. The ending is a bit abrupt, but the mystery as a whole has some good key cluing for identifying the killer.
Story No. 6: – To Be Revealed
This was the story that I selected for my Cafes and Crime book group read with my mum, so stay tuned to find out our thoughts on this one.
Story No. 7: ‘Benefit of the Doubt’ (1932) by Anthony Berkeley.
John Bull first published this story, which was subtitled: ‘The real life of a young doctor’s dilemma.’ Dr Charles Harvey is called out to see a wife’s sick husband late one night. A life changing decision it would seem. When he sees the man, nothing more is wrong with him than indigestion. But the next morning the husband is dead. Apparently, he died in terrible pain, but his wife didn’t want to bother the doctor and call him out, as he was so insistent there was nothing wrong with him. Who’s to blame? Or who will be blamed? And, what else is going on here? The twist at the end fits the story well but it is easy to anticipate.
Story No. 8: ‘Scandal of the Louvre’ (1916) by S. S. Van Dine (a.k.a. Willard Huntington Wright)
Under the penname of Albert Otis, this story was first published in Pearson’s Magazine. I hadn’t realised that Van Dine had written mystery fiction prior to his novels of the 1920s. Three holidaymakers are visiting the Louvre, a trio who also happen to be crooks. They plan and execute the theft of no less a painting than the Mona Lisa, a crime which will set them up for life. Despite involving a high value art theft, the story is neither tense nor dramatic. For something like that I would recommend watching How to steal a Million (1966).
Story No. 9: ‘The Pressure of Circumstance’ (1936) by J. J. Connington
This tale ‘was first published as a serial in the London Daily News between 10 and 14 February 1936.’ The author later adapted it ‘into an “original” radio play, broadcast on the BBC Home Service in two parts on 23 and 30 August 1943 as the last of the series Mystery Playhouse by members of the detection club.’
The mystery commences with Norris Lessingham saying goodbye to his son Jack, who is going away to be part of an Amazon expedition. Various family members are seeing him off at the train station, all except his wife, Claire, due to a bridge engagement. She is portrayed as a poor keeper of promises, selfish, unhelpful, and unreliable. She arrives at the last minute, having not gone to the bridge game she said she was going to, with a man in tow, Owen. This is a situation ripe for murder. The narrative jumps ahead two months and shows Norris deciding nothing is enough. All I will say is, always be wary of a character who has their own private laboratory. This part of the story is more of an inverted mystery, as the reader will be able to figure out the “how” of the crime. I am not the biggest Connington fan, but I wonder if perhaps his work is more enjoyable in a shorter format.
Story No. 10: ‘The Riddle of the Cabin Cruiser’ (1943) by John Dickson Carr
This was a radio play which ‘was first broadcast on 18 November 1943 on the BBC’s General Forces service. It was the third in a series of mystery plays entitled “A Corner in Crime”, a feature of the long-running variety programme Here’s Wishing You Well Again. The solution was broadcast 2 December.’
The play is centred on the death of a wealthy stockbroker George Randolph, who is found stabbed in his cabin cruiser. The bulk of the story is set at the inquest which brings out various details about the case. It culminates with a challenge to the reader by the author himself:
‘John Dickson Carr: Well? You are the judges. Was it accident, suicide or murder? What was the provable falsehood which roused the suspicions of Dr Carteret; and which, I might tell you, ultimately betrayed the whole plot?’
The lie is a clever one, one that I definitely missed. Nevertheless, this mystery is a nice little puzzle but there is not much more to it.
Story No. 11: ‘Skeleton in the Cupboard’ (1952) by Ianthe Jerrold
The earliest confirmed publication of this story was in the Brisbane Telegraph. The author rang a bell as did the premise of the tale and that was because it is a short story that I have already reviewed earlier this year in the Crimes of Cymru (2023) collection under the title ‘Brother in the Barrow’. Of the two titles I think the latter is much better.
Story No. 12: ‘The Year and the Day’ by Edmund Crispin (a.k.a. Robert Bruce Montgomery)
This is an undated story by Crispin and has never been published before this collection. I enjoyed learning how his teaching background was useful to his crime writing:
‘On coming down in 1943, Montgomery taught at Shrewsbury School for two years. He was not a conventional schoolmaster, and his favourite idea for an English lesson was to read a ghost story by M. R. James, whom Montgomery would later pastiche in the novel Holy Disorders (1945) and in the uncollected short story ‘St Bartholomew’s Day’. The experience was rewarding in more than one sense, for he said in later years that “teaching small boys at Shrewsbury taught me more about crime than I ever needed to know.”’
It was also interesting to read about the creation of The Glimpses of the Moon (1977), Crispin’s final mystery novel, which I reviewed recently. Medawar writes that this is:
‘[…] a novel which owes a debt to Gladys Mitchell, who, along with Carr and Michael Innes, had been Montgomery’s favourite writers. While the novel had been extrapolated from the debris of the two books he had begun in the 1950s, its unevenness gives the impression that more than one person had a hand in the writing.’
This is something I would be keen to find out more about.
The narrator, a barrister, encounters a man he knew at school at the Venturer’s Club. His childhood acquaintance is now a brain surgeon, and after indulging in some champagne the surgeon tells the narrator about a past patient of his named Harvester. The subsequent story involves a murder gone wrong and a will. It is a nicely told story, but the ending is easy to anticipate, with the title giving a rather obvious nod to Cyril Hare’s work.
Story No, 13: ‘Murder in Montparnasse’ (1949) by John Bude
This is another novella and like so many of the authors in this collection, I had fun learning about the other more unusual stories they wrote outside of the mystery fiction genre. Bude once wrote a semi-autobiographical romance entitled The Baboon and the Fiddle (1932), as well as an ‘apocalyptic fantasy’ called The Steel Grubs (1928) and a ‘bizarre invasion fantasy’ named The Lumpton Gobbelings (1954).
‘Murder in Montparnasse’ is centred on a hunchback named Prosper, who looks after an invalid named Pierre Lebrun. Lebrun gets up at 7pm and is awake until the small hours, spending his time at a local café in Paris, having been taken there by Prosper. But we know something is afoot when one night Prosper is accosted by an unknown (to us) man, when he is returning to the café to collect Pierre. This mysterious stranger wants a private meeting and above all Pierre is not to know anything about it. Next, we see the café patrons worried when Pierre does not appear for ten days. When he does return, Prosper brings him asleep. Unsurprisingly before the night is through it will be discovered he is dead, poisoned. Murder or suicide? Inspector Moreau is in charge of the investigation which expands to include a missing artist. This is way too long a story, particularly since it is obvious very quickly what the full solution is. Yet it just seemed like Bude did not really try to conceal it.
Story No. 14: ‘The Thistle Down’ (1939) by H. C. Bailey
This mystery ‘was first published in The Queen’s Book of the Red Cross (1939) with profits going to the Lord Mayor of the City of London’s Red Cross Fund.’ It begins with Sir Max Tollis demanding over the phone that Reggie Fortune (Bailey’s series sleuth) should come and solve the death of his secretary, Bob Dale. Dale was shot and it is a presumed suicide, but Max doesn’t believe it is so. The eponymous thistle is used to show that the death is unlikely to have taken place where the body was found. I felt the motive aspect was a bit too “convenient”, but the reversal of events at the end is interesting, although quite technically based.
Story No. 15: ‘The Magnifying Glass’ (1956) by Cyril Hare (a.k.a Alfred Alexander Gordon Clark)
Hare’s tale was first published in the Evening Standard. For those new to Hare, Medawar explains in his introduction to the author where his penname came from:
‘He was called to the Bar in 1924 and, while living in Cyril Mansions in Battersea Park, joined the Inner Temple where he had chambers in Hare Court – the names of his home and workplace inspiring the pen name by which he is best known today.’
His story is very short and is centred on two criminals – Harrison and Overton. The pair fall out when some of the counterfeit money Harrison brings to Overton is too poor in quality to use. Their argument results in Overton’s death. Whilst a crime definitely takes place, this is not a story of detection, and it has an ending in the Richard Hull and Anthony Berkeley vein.
Story No. 16: ‘The “What’s My Line?” Murder’ (1956) by Julian Symons
If you’re thinking: “Wasn’t there a TV programme called that?” then you would be correct, as Symons’ story is set on the existing TV show of the same name, which started in 1951. Moreover, he includes two real life people in his story. The first is Gilbert Harding, who was a real-life journalist and TV personality. He was the first chairman for What’s My Line? until he was replaced by Eamonn Andrews, who also appears in the tale. Symons’ mystery was ‘serialised daily in the London Evening Standard between 27 February and 8 March 1956.’
The story opens with Gilbert Harding turning up for a recording of the show, and we get to see the celebrity panellists behind the scenes before the programme starts. We also become aware of which celebrity they are meant to guess the identity of during the show, a ventriloquist who we quickly discover will be unpopular with several people at the TV studio. Yet it isn’t him who dies live during the show. Whilst the police investigation is led by Inspector Gimlet, Harding turns sleuth himself (and in real life Harding was a policeman at one point in his career) when it becomes clear one of the people who used the hospitality room did the deed. He invites some of the others to a conference to discuss the situation and he delegates interview tasks. There are clear possible motives for the murder, but the biggest stumbling block is figuring out how the poison was administered. Harding is an interesting character to follow, and the writing style flowed well. The murderer is easy to identify, I think, and a killer’s suicide is needed to bolster the case as there is a lot of theory in the solution. Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading this story, which continues the trend of Symons being a hit or miss author for me. This time it was a hit.
Rating: 4/5