#18 - The Tunnel Mystery by J. C. Lenehan (1931)

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About this edition: This edition contains a teaser of the first chapter of the next edition (The Mystery of Villa Sineste by Walter Livingston).

About the author: Not much is known about J. C. Lenehan, other than he was a British writer. His series characters are Inspector Kilby and Charlie Ryan. Here is his bibliography.

Principal characters:

• Sir Joshua Jordan, victim of theft of a valuable necklace
• Sam Grundy, rough-looking butler to Sir Joshua Jordan
• David Hyde, diamond merchant
• Connie Hyde, his daughter
• Jack Davis, recently fired assistant to David Hyde, engaged to Freda Lowe
• John Lofthouse, witness to murder
• Freda Lowe, witness to murder
• William Ernest Pardoe, a young boy, witness to murder
• Reggie Robinson, a.k.a. "Light-fingered Freddie" Wilson, witness to murder, a pickpocket
• Richard "Dick" Lowe, a potter, uncle of Freda Lowe, amateur detective
• Dr. Victor Peters, who showed up at a convenient moment
• John Smith, the jeweler
• Abie, the Mole, notorious gang leader
• Police Constable George Brent
• Inspector Kilby of Scotland Yard
• Inspector Parker

Locale: England

Synopsis:

David Hyde, diamond merchant, is shot in a train compartment while the train passes through a tunnel. (Note that British trains are unlike American trains - there is no central corridor, each separate compartment, seating 8, has its own exterior door). Sharing the compartment at the time: John Lofthouse, Freda Lowe, Reggie Robinson, young student William Ernest Pardoe, his sister, and two collier's wives. As soon as the train stops, Dr. Peters steps out of the crowd in order to treat Hyde, but he is already dead. None of the other seven in the compartment noticed the shot, and the murder weapon is not in the compartment.

Hyde had been returning from a trip to purchase a valuable necklace from Sir Joshua Jordan. However, Jordan claims he was overpowered by Hyde and robbed of the necklace. The necklace is nowhere to be found.

It turns out the late David Hyde's assistant, Jack Davis, had planned to marry Hyde's daughter Connie. David Hyde opposed the idea, fired Davis, and threatened to cut her out of his will if they did marry.

Investigation begins by Constable George Brent, who also becomes enchanted with Freda Lowe. Several others jump in to "investigate": Dick the Potter has his own theory, Jack Davis lurks around in the tunnel, and the student William Ernest Pardoe has a knack for hanging around the rail yard and observing aspects that are overlooked by everyone else. It soon comes to light that "Dr. Peters" was a fake.

As Jack Davis continues to search for "Dr. Peters", he is captured and held prisoner. Sir Joshua Jordan receives a package and winds up dying in a mysterious manner.


Review:

The Tunnel Mystery involves a shooting inside a passenger train compartment as the train passes through a tunnel. The other occupants of the compartment are investigated at length. Much time is spent on trying to figure out just what happened. There are two love stories going on at the same time (Jack Davis/Freda Lowe, George Brent/Connie Hyde) and it is a bit difficult keeping them straight. The action progresses until the very end, and when the murderer is revealed it seems a bit like "Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie (although that didn't come out until 1934). All the various threads get unravelled on the last few pages. All in all, there are way too many people investigating the crime - official and unofficial. One especially good character is William Ernest Pardoe, a schoolboy who was a witness to the crime. He has a knack of hanging around the rail yard and observing things that the pros overlook.

#17 - The Merrivale Mystery by James Corbett (1931)

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About this edition: This edition contains a teaser of the first chapter of the next edition (The Tunnel Mystery by J. C. Lenehan).

About the author: James Corbett (1887-1958): Be careful - there are least three authors named James Corbett. This is not the one who wrote about hunting in Africa, or the history of football. sf-encylopia.com states Corbett is the "author of popular thrillers for the lending-library market ... his identity has not been clearly established." This James Corbett is the subject of the article Thriller Author James Corbett’s Mystery Writing Genius by William F. Deeck; which provides a list of many of Corbett's amazing sentences. 

Principal characters:

• Sir Philip Merrivale, the baronet - dies in the first sentence of the book
• Lady Sybil Merrivale, the beautiful young widow
• Stephen Merrivale, brother of Sir Philip
• Henry Merrivale, lawyer
• George Merrivale, an invalid confined to his room - or is he?
• Dr. Frank Merrivale, the only Merrivale who lives off-site
• Proust, the French servant, who listens at keyholes
• Tabitha, sister of Lady Merrivale
• Cecil Merrivale, drunkard brother of Lady Merrivale
• Lillian, cousin of Lady Merrivale
• Victor Serge, the famous detective
• Ralph Moreton, novelist, friend of Serge
• Frank Bancroft of Scotland Yard

Locale: England

Synopsis: First off, this book has nothing to do with Sir Henry Merrivale, a fictional detective created by "Carter Dickson", a pen name of John Dickson Carr.

Detective Victor Serge is called in to investigate the death of Sir Philip Merrivale, found shot to death in Merrivale Hall. He brings along his friend and companion Ralph Moreton. Merrivale Hall is chock full of various relatives, and the word is that they all hate each other. He interviews Lady Sybil Merrivale, now a beautiful young widow; who immediately claims he was shot by his brother, Stephen. Stephen, in turn, accuses Sybil. Stephen himself is likewise shot, even before the body of Philip can be removed.

No one wants to discuss why all the Merrivales live together, other than there is a 'secret arrangement' by which those in residence receive lavish monthly allowances; and no one will discuss who really owns Merrivale Hall, or pays for its operation and the allowances. 

Review: Oh my, this book should be read not as a serious mystery; but if you would enjoy a writer who has fun with the English language this is for you. It is an improbable mystery (and the author repeatedly tells you what a mystery it is throughout) with the dark English manor, a beautiful young widow, eavesdropping servants, hidden passages, and so on; with the obligatory love story running through it as well. Be sure to read the linked article above for a taste of his writing. Words are used in completely new ways, with several exclamation points per paragraph, and off-topic sentences thrown in at random. "Curse the whole press of the kingdom, Dawson. The sooner you and I start growing oranges in Spain the better!" and "I was tired to death hearing them call me insane. I took two arsenic pills (do they really make arsenic pills?) which I keep in case of emergency..."

As for the mystery of the three murders (which all occur at the very same spot - #2 occurs before the body of #1 can be removed), it is revealed at the end, but several rules of fair play with the reader are tossed out the window. 

Don't read it for the exercise of matching wits with the detective. Just read it and hold on tight!

#16 - The Gutenberg Murders by Gwen Bristow and Bruce Manning (1931)

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About this edition: This edition contains a teaser of the first chapter of the next edition (The Merrivale Mystery by James Corbett).

Gwen Bristow (wikipedia)

About the authors: Here is a Wikipedia article about Gwen Bristow and her husband, Bruce Manning. They also authored three other novels in the Mystery League series (The Invisible Host, Two and Two Make Twenty-Two, and The Mardi Gras Murders). 

Principal characters: 

• Dr. Prentiss, head of the Sheldon Library
• Quentin Ulman, assistant librarian; whose racket is "wine, women, and books."
• Luke Dancy, secretary of the library, cultivates an English accent
• Marie Catillo, employee of the library
• Terry Sheldon, nephew of the library's founder
• Alfredo Gonzales, head trustee of the library
• Winifred Gonzales, man-chasing wife of Alfredo
• Wade, reporter for The Morning Creole
• Dan Farrell, District Attorney
• Captain Murphy, Homicide

Locale: New Orleans

Synopsis: The prize possession of the Sheldon Library is nine leaves of a Gutenberg Bible, worth a small fortune. The leaves are stolen from the library's safe. DA Dan Farrell and reporter Wade (tapped as a special investigator) discuss possible identities of the thief. 

Dr. Prentiss and Alfredo Gonzales have been at odds over the years. Prentiss obtained the Gutenberg leaves, but Gonzales claims they are forgeries. Quentin Ulman has been known to steal various items from the library but has never been prosecuted - and he is having relationships with two different women. Winifred Gonzales chases every man she encounters. 

Almost immediately after the theft, Quentin Ulman is found dead, his body torched on the little-used road in front of the library's off-site bindery building where books are repaired.

The investigation gathers facts, and after a society party, Winifred is found dead in her burned out car.

Wade looks into the deaths, and finds love triangles as well as complications arising from a convoluted will left by the library's founder.

#15 - The Secret of High Eldersham by Miles Burton (1931)

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About this edition: This edition contains a teaser of the first chapter of the next edition (The Gutenberg Murders by Gwen Bristow and Bruce Manning).

collectionimages.npg.org.uk

About the author: Miles Burton is a pseudonym of Cecil John Charles Street, MC, OBE (3 May 1884 – 8 December 1964), who was known to his colleagues, family and friends as John Street. Here is a Wikipedia article about him. He has one other title in the Mystery League series: The Hardway Diamonds Mystery.

Principal characters:

• George Thorold - owner of the Rose and Crown tavern
• Hugh Dunsford - former operator of the tavern
• Samuel Whitehead - new operator of the tavern
• Ned Portch - tavern patron
• Walter Hosier - tavern patron
• Constable Viney - the local constable
• Colonel Bateman - Chief Constable of the County
• Inspector Robert Young of Scotland Yard
• Desmond Merrion, friend of Young, the civilian investigator
• Newport, Merron's manservant
• Sir William Owerton, magistrate and book collector
• Mavis Owerton, his attractive daughter
• Lt. Laurence Hollesley of Elder House
• Thorburn, a.k.a. Gregson, Hollesley's manservant

Locale: The village of High Eldersham, England

Synopsis: Action centers around the Rose and Crown Tavern, a struggling little pub faced with a loss of business due to its isolated location. Hugh Dunsford, operator, can't make a go of it and the owner, George Thorold, finds a new operator: Samuel Whitehead, retired policeman. 

One evening Samuel Whitehead is found stabbed to death in the tavern, after closing hours. The money remains in the till, so what is the motive?

Nearby village High Eldersham has a quiet farming population and the locals don't particularly want anyone new around. 

Constable Viney inquires around the village, and suspicion initially falls on Ned Portch, one of the last to see Whitehead alive. Chief Constable Bateman calls in Scotland Yard, who sends Inspector Young. Young's friend Desmond Merrion does most the the legwork investigating, finding that the locals have taken up witchcraft and go all in for secret ceremonies in the woods, where they use a mommet doll to inflict injury and misery to various persons.

#14 - Death Walks in Eastrepps by Francis Beeding (1931)

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About this edition: This edition contains a teaser of the first chapter of the next edition (The Secret of High Eldersham by Miles Burton). 

John Leslie Palmer, image from robertarood.wordpress.com

About the author: A Wikipedia article reveals Francis Beeding is a pseudonym of John Leslie Palmer (1885 - 1944), an English author. As "Francis Beeding", he and Hilary Saint George Saunders co-authored The House of Dr. Edwardes. The novel was later used as the basis for the Hitchcock film Spellbound.

Characters:

• Robert Eldridge, a.k.a. John/James* Selby, having an affair with a married woman
• Margaret Withers, the married woman - estranged from her husband
• Withers - the estranged husband
• Dick Coldfoot, Margaret's cousin, a blackmailer
• Mary Hewitt, victim #1
• Miss Helen Taplow, victim #2
• John Masters, fisherman, witness, and victim #3
• Captain Thomas Porter, victim #4
• Winifred Dampier, garden hobbyist, victim #5
• Colonel James Hewitt, Mary Hewitt's brother
• Hon. Alistair Rockingham, "soft in his head" after his nervous breakdown
• Higgins, Rockingham's butler - now his caretaker
• William Ferris, correspondent for the Daily Wire, victim #6
• Sergeant Ruddock, an insightful policeman
• Sir Jefferson Cobb, Chief Constable of the County
• Inspector Protheroe, the plodding type
• Chief Inspector Wilkins of Scotland Yard

Locale: UK

Synopsis: Our central character now goes by the name of Robert Eldridge, but he is really John Selby; who disappeared while running Anaconda, Ltd., which failed and left many investors penniless. He assumed the identity of Eldridge to avoid meeting up with any of the investors.

Eastrepps is a seaside resort town, and home of Margaret Withers - married but estranged. Eldridge has been having a once-a-week Wednesday night tryst with her, in secret; and sneaks off to see her by train - using an elaborate ruse to make it appear he is elsewhere. Her cousin, Dick Coldfoot, finds out and blackmails her to keep it quiet.

The troubles begin. Mary Hewitt is murdered while walking at night in an isolated area, closely followed by Miss Helen Taplow. Fisherman John Masters was a witness to the first then he becomes the third victim. All are killed by a sharp instrument to the head, all at 10:30 PM. 

Inspector Protheroe and Sir Jefferson Cobb enlist the aid of Scotland Yard, while Sergeant Ruddock conducts his own inquiries. Alistair Rockingham, a bit "soft in the head" after a nervous breakdown, is an immediate suspect. He likes to sneak out at night and accost young ladies.

The troubles continue. Captain Thomas Porter, Winifred Dampier and journalist Ferris are the next victims. 

An arrest is made and a suspect brought into court on circumstantial evidence.

Review:

This story of murders in a peaceful English seaside town is a page-turner. The main character Robert Eldridge- do we love him or hate him? - is an admitted crook and left many people penniless. Here he is having an illicit affair with a married woman, yet our sympathies are with them both. The deaths start to pile up (there are six), and Eldridge is arrested and brought into court entirely on circumstantial evidence.

The last quarter of the book is devoted to an accounting of the trial, in great detail. It reminds me of the courtroom dramas of Erle Stanley Gardner in the Perry Mason series. 

A few items should be noted: The description of the how the train alibi worked was confusing and took a while to figure out. The character Selby is sometimes John and sometimes James. There is an occasional use of terms for African-Americans which are unacceptable today, but were in common use at the time; likewise references to blackfaced minstrels.

*The first name is inconsistent in the text.

#13 - Turmoil at Brede by Seldon Truss (1931)

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About this edition: This edition contains a teaser of the first chapter of the next edition (Death Walks in Eastrepps by Francis Beeding).

About the author: We don't know much about Seldon Truss other than his full name was Leslie Seldon Truss, he is from the UK, and lived 1892-1990. He also wrote as George Selmark. His writing style about the savvy adventurer type reminds me of Leslie Charteris. He has one other title in the Mystery League series: The Hunterstone Outrage.

Characters:

• Mr. Penn of Pentonville*, a Saint**-like adventurer
• Garnett, butler to Mr. Penn
• Elizabeth Wild, a.k.a. Elizabeth Parsons, suspected of attempted murder
• Barrington Wild, her father
• Dimmer, head butler at Brede Hall
• Lady Hermione Brede, widow of Brede Hall
• Mrs. Vereker-Dane, climbing the ladder of society
• Matthew Vereker-Dane, her husband, a normal guy
• Mary Vereker-Dane, their debutante daughter
• Prince Rudautz of Estuania, a good catch (?) for Mary Vereker-Dane
• Basil Gorman, shady attorney #1
• Charles Latchmer, shady attorney #2
• Monsieur Paul Nicosia, owner of the Temple of Youth beauty parlor
• Detective Inspector Shane

Locale: England

Synopsis:

One night Elizabeth Wild has a late encounter with attorney Basil Gorman in the study at Brede Hall, which ends with a broken window, and Gorman shot and wounded on the floor. She disappears and is immediately suspected. Mr. Penn encounters her and takes her on as his assistant, to find her father Barrington Wild, who has been kidnapped.

Elizabeth had been trying to negotiate the return of an embezzlement confession, signed under duress by her father, an employee of the law firm of Latchmer and Gorman. The firm has a history of representing society debutantes who marry then die unexpectedly, with a resulting transfer of wealth. 

Latchmer dies from mysterious causes. Mr. Penn discovers a system of coded newspaper advertisements being used between the firm and society households. Elizabeth, under the name Elizabeth Parsons, is placed as a maid to spy on the Vereker-Dane household; and promptly finds herself in peril. The Temple of Youth beauty parlor is more than it appears.

Review:

This is quite a tangle of intrigue. We have society matrons, a beautician, and lawyers dealing in a shady scam triangle to set up debutantes with proper marriages, then causing their deaths to cash in on their estates. Mr. Penn of Pentonville will immediately bring to mind Simon Templar (The Saint) of Leslie Charteris books, and fans of The Saint will feel right at home. He is an adventurer operating under an alias, just on the outside of the Law. Wealthy, with a fast car and fast fists. The action takes place at Brede Hall, the stereotypical country manse; complete with a tower and dungeon - and the Temple of Youth, an elaborate beauty parlor complete with hidden rooms, paintings on the wall with the eyes cut out so spies can peer through them, and a beautician who enjoys performing lobotomies on undesired witnesses. Mr. Penn's true identity will come as a surprise.

* Pentonville Prison
** The Saint, a.k.a. Simon Templar, of the Leslie Charteris novels

#12 - The Maestro Murders by Frances Shelley Wees (1931)

About this edition: The first Mystery League edition of 1931, this edition also contains a teaser of the first chapter of the next edition (Turmoil at Brede by Seldon Truss).

About the author: A Wikipedia article states "Frances Shelley Wees (1902 – 1982) was an American-Canadian educator and writer. She was born in Gresham, Oregon, moved to Saskatoon where she began teaching when she was seventeen. Wees received a BA from the University of Alberta; during this time, she wrote her first novel which remained unpublished. In 1931, she published The Maestro Murders. She went on to write more than two dozen mystery and romance novels. 

Characters:

• Michael Forrester
• Theresa "Tuck" Torrie - public stenographer, Michael's girlfriend
• Bernice "Bunny" Temple - Theresa's business partner
• John Forrester, District Attorney; Michael's father
• Police Commissioner A. L. Davies
• Detective -- Grey
• Mrs. Merriwell, flaunter of her ruby collection
• Alderman Mervyn Collinson
• Odette Collinson, his wife
• Professor Seeley - expert on antiquities, and news columnist
• Fraser Laurence, attorney for Professor Seeley
• Benjamin Lehmann, owner of the antique shop, and theatre manager
• Eve Levasseur, actress
• Roger Mills, man about town, friend of Eve Levasseur
• Dr. Adrian, police psychologist
• Ruth Adrian, his daughter

Synopsis:

A heist of the "Weldon Jewels" has just occurred, including a precious jewel box known as the "Casket of Queen Catherine". The police are baffled, and DA. John Forrester and Police Commissoner Davies decide to try some fresh blood on the case - meaning Forrester's son, Michael.

Michael's girlfriend, Tuck, has her transcription office burgled. Professor Seeley had just turned in a manuscript to her for transcription, describing the Casket of Queen Catherine; stating he saw it in a local antique shop. Seeley is then found dead.

Michael realizes Seeley was murdered due to his knowledge of the artifact, and reports this to the authorities. Michael begins looking into the heist/murder officially, much to the professional jealousy of Det. Grey. He starts by looking up Seeley's attorney, Fraser Laurence - to find him murdered in his apartment - just as Tuck walks in the door. Michael and Tuck team up in the investigation, which is likened to a spider's web. The strands of the web lead to Fraser Laurence, actress Eve Levasseur (girlfriend of Fraser Laurence), Benjamin Lehmann, Roger Mills, and others.

Soon a second jewel heist occurs and Mrs. Merriwell's rubies disappear also. Michael and Tuck follow the trail to the antique shop, where they discover some hidden rooms. All the strands of the web converge there.

I'm in the book, too: