#9 - The House of Terror by Edward Woodward (1930)

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The House of Terror by Edward Woodward (1930)

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About this edition: This is one of five titles released simultaneously in a Christmas boxed set. These are the only five titles appearing in the green cloth binding.

About the author: Not much is known about Edward Woodward. The frontispiece of this book lists three of his other novels: The Pigeon Wins, The Gamblers, and Black Sheep. Note that both Goodreads and Google confuse him with the English actor by the same name (born 1930, obviously not this author) and attribute various other works (incorrectly) to him. 

Major Characters:

• Dr. Cuthbery Merrivale, the local doctor
• Hester Merrivale, his sister
• George Fenchurch, the man with the limp - an artist intent on painting scenes at Cleeson Manor
• Jacob Martuke, local inn owner
• Deborah Martuke, his wife, who becomes housekeeper at Cleeson Manor
• Rupert Dykeminster, owner of Cleeson Manor
• John Pedmore, Dykeminster's servant, a hunchback
• Alicia Dykeminster, sole heir of Rupert
• Veronica Starling, Alicia's roommate
• Charles Nicholson, attorney for the Dykeminsters
• Carlos Tenodo, Spanish newspaper man, friend of Rupert
• Andrew Fleeson, houseman at Cleeson Manor
• Sir Ronald Deepwood, a neighbor
• Detective-Inspector Lattimer

Locale: Cleeson, Yorkshire; on the moors of England; and the mountains of Spain

Synopsis: Dr. Cuthbery Merrivale picks up wandering George Fenchurch one night on the moors, and treats him for an ankle injury. Fenchurch is an artist who has come to paint scenes of old Cleeson Manor. However, it turns out the owner, Rupert Dykeminster, has gated off public access to the Manor grounds and set vicious dogs loose inside the gates. Fenchuch is determined to access the grounds. About the same time, Rupert is found dead from a poisonous blow dart, and the dogs found dead also. Fenchurch, being on the scene, is the obvious suspect but willingly provides evidence it was not he.

Alicia Dykeminster is the sole heir to the estate (along with a list of strange conditions), and moves in to Cleeson Manor with her friend Veronica Starling despite various warnings. The manor holds a secret that many people want. A campaign to scare them away fails, but winds up with Veronica being kidnapped and carried off to the mountains of Spain.

Review: Most of the story occurs around Cleeson Manor, with the last third or so taking place in the mountains of Spain. The Cleeson Manor section is great fun with all the usual country house tropes tossed in: we have a menacing hunchback, poison darts being shot about (one used to hold a warning note), underground tunnels, watchers in hollow trees, sliding panels in the woodwork, and plenty of secret passages. 

The Spanish section has more adventure, and is reminiscent of a Manning Coles. Lots of chases, skulking about, car crashes, and narrow escapes. An especially fun episode is when Fenchurch is hiding in a room above a bar, peeking through a hole to watch the rogues below just as they discover an enemy (Fleeson) is in their midst in disguise - and all hell breaks loose.

Throughout the book a secondary mystery is the identity of Fenchurch and Fleeson - the reader will first believe they are good guys, then bad guys, and so forth. Their true identities are tightly held until the final chapter, a surprise on both counts. Two dashing mysterious heroes and two lovely young ladies in the mix - you can see where this is going, and it is great going.

#8 - The Monster of Grammont by George Goodchild (1930)

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About this edition: This is one of five titles released simultaneously in a Christmas boxed set. These are the only five titles appearing in the green cloth binding.

wikipedia

About the author: Here is a Wikipedia article and a Goodreads article about George Goodchild (1888-1969).

Characters:

• Ralph Wallace
• Julian "Connie" Conrad - war veteran
• Monsieur Fallières - owner of Château Grammont
• Yolande Fallières - his daughter
• Monsieur Severin - servant at Château Grammont
• Arnard Fouchard - of the police
• Heinrich
• Niels

Locale: France

Synopsis: Ralph Wallace and Connie Conrad are touring France and encounter Monsieur Fallières and his daughter Yolande, who own the massive Château Grammont; where Connie was billeted during the war.

It turns out the château is also home of a 'monster' who appears periodically, breaking mirrors, and is suspected in the death of a servant a year ago. Monsieur Fallières goes missing, then is found murdered, soom the servant Monsieur Severin is murdered also.

Meanwhile, young Ralph Wallace is attracted to Yolande, while Connie is interested in parlour maid Bertha - who has a couple of seedy associates, Heinrich and Niels, whom she secretly allows access to the house. Both they - and the 'monster' - are after something, but what?

#7 - The Day of Uniting by Edgar Wallace (1930)

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About this edition: This is one of five titles released simultaneously in a Christmas boxed set. These are the only five titles appearing in the green cloth binding.

Edgar Wallace (photo: wikipedia)

About the author: Here is a Wikipedia article on Edgar Wallace. He also authored The Hand of Power in the Mystery League series.

Major characters: 

• Jimmy Blake, 27, wealthy happy-go-lucky war ace
• Gerald Van Roon, Jimmy's cousin, roommate, and scientist
• Joe Sennett, foreman at Ponters Ltd.
• Delia Sennett, Joe's daughter
• Tom Elmers, employee at Ponters Ltd.
• John Stamford Chapelle, Prime Minister of England
• John Stope-Kendrick, Secretary of State
• Walter Maggerson, mathematician and explorer
• Lord Harry Weltman, Minister of Defence
• Tyrhitt Palythorpe, ex-con, printer of Spice, a scandal sheet

Locale: England

Synopsis: Ponter's Ltd. is a commercial print shop, specializing in scientific texts. They also have a contract to printing government documents. One night foreman Joe Sennett catches Tom Elmers fooling around with the type.  It is found that someone is sabotaging the books being printed by inserting erroneous or nonsense text after the proofs have been approved. Highly embarrassing. 

Jimmy Blake, wealthy happy go lucky war ace, meets and is taken with Delia Sennett; daughter of foreman Joe Sennett. Blake gets an invite from his lodger, Gerald Van Roon, to a dinner of scientific types hosted by Prime Minister Chapelle. At the dinner, explorer Walter Maggerson staggers in begging the PM to stop "The Terror" (but no one knows what "The Terror" is).

Tyrhitt Palythorpe, ex-con and printer of a seamy scandal sheet, tries to lure Tom Elmers away to work for him. 

One night Gerald Van Roon is called away, and is soon found dead on the nearby heath. Soon John Stop-Kendrick dies also by his own hand, while running from "The Terror".

Whatever "The Terror" is, it is the main focus of a group of officials who meet at night in a vacant building and engage in a frenzy of activity to stop it.

#6 - The Invisible Host by Gwen Bristow & Bruce Manning (1930)

photo: dustjackets.com

About this edition: This edition announces the next release will be a special Christmas selection, consisting of five titles in a special slip case. A short preview of each appears in the back. The titles included are:

• The Day of Uniting. Edgar Wallace, 1930
• The Monster of Grammont. George Goodchild, 1930
• The House of Terror. Edward Woodward, 1930
• The Hardway Diamonds Mystery. Miles Burton, 1930
• Peril. Sydney Horler, 1930

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 Gutenberg Murders, Two and Two Make Twenty-Two, and The Mardi Gras Murders). 

Major characters: See list below.

Locale: New Orleans

Synopsis: Eight people receive identical anonymous (from 'your host') telegrams inviting them to a posh New Orleans party, indicating each is to be the guest of honor:

1. Mrs. Gaylord (Margaret) Chisholm, high society, hostess of a debutante's ball
2. Dr. Murray Chambers Reid, professor of economics
3. Jason Osgood, financier
4. Peter Daly, playwright
5. Sylvia Inglesby, lawyer
6. Tim Slamon, politician
7. Henry "Hank" Abbott, painter
8. Jean Trent, actress

This Wikipedia article summarizes the plot as follows: The Invisible Host tells the story of eight people who are summoned to a deserted, well-appointed New Orleans penthouse by an anonymous invitation. Once there the guests, who are all known to each other, are served a fabulous dinner. But soon thereafter, they are accused by a voice over the radio that they are all going to die before the night is out. The unseen host has meticulously prepared the demise of each guest, and has booby-trapped the penthouse to prevent anyone from escaping. As they steadily succumb to the murderer's devices, some begin to suspect that the killer may be one of them.

This novel was turned into the 1934 movie, The Ninth Guest. (Available on DVD from Amazon).

Also see this synopsis and review by Kate (Archairreviewer) on her blog Crossexaminingcrime.

#5 - The Mystery of Burnleigh Manor by Walter Livingston (1930)

photo: dustjackets.com

About this edition: Published in 1930. A preview chapter of #6 - The Invisible Host by Gwen Bristow and Bruce Manning is included in the back of the book.

About the author: Walter Livingston is also the author of The Mystery of Villa Sineste, #19 in the Mystery League series.

Characters:

• Edward Burnleigh, eldest of the three brothers, died by own hand 16 years previously
• Lord Cecil Burnleigh, middle brother, now owner of Burnleigh Manor
• Robert Burleigh, youngest brother, disappeared with Edward's wife 21 years previously
• Lady Burnleigh, wife of Edward; disappeared with Robert 21 years previously
• Glome, Cecil's servant
• Hooper, Edward's servant
• --- Riker, American architect, hired by Cecil to examine the Manor and plan for its restoration
• Captain Lowry, caretaker of the Manor and Lodge, resides in the Lodge
• Edith Lowry, his daughter

Locale: England

Timeline: A bit confusing but this seems to be the background:

• 21 years prior to story: Robert runs off with Lady Burnleigh (Edward's wife). Cecil searches for him without success.
• 16 years prior to story: Edward dies by his own hand on Christmas Eve. The Manor passes to Cecil.
• Present: Lord Cecil arrives with Riker to plan the Manor's restoration.

Synopsis:

Hmmm... well, it's not a murder mystery. No one gets murdered.

The story focuses on Burnleigh Manor, now a rundown boarded-up relic, along with the Lodge, a smaller well-kept residence at the gate on the same grounds. The Manor was the property of the eldest brother, Edward, until his death; when it passed to Cecil. The youngest brother, Robert, had run off with Edward's wife (Lady Burnleigh), both without a trace. Five years later, Edward dies by his own hand on Christmas Eve. The story begins sixteen years later.

Cecil, now owner of Burnleigh Manor, contracts with an American architect, -- Riker, to examine the manor and plan for its restoration. There are reports of intruders in the boarded-up Manor, with footprints found inside and some items missing.

Cecil and Riker arrive at the Manor. Riker is attracted to Emily Lowry, but she is aloof; yet constantly attracted to the Manor. As Riker begins his inspection,  he deals with trouble-making intruders who thoughtfully leave him little treatening notes (Phantom of the Opera style) and disappear down secret passages. The questions are: 

• Whatever happened to Robert and Lady Burnleigh? 
• Who is the person (s) still accessing the Manor, and how do they do it? 
• So what is troubling Edith, anyway?

Review:

Please see this review by Bev Hankins on her blog, My Reader's Block.

#4 - Jack O'Lantern by George Goodchild (1930)

photo: dustjackets.com

About this edition: Two preview chapters of #5 - The Mystery of Burnleigh Manor by Walter Livingston are included in the back of the book.

photo: Goodreads.com

About the author: Here is a Wikipedia article and a Goodreads article about George Goodchild (1888-1969).

Characters:

• Sir Randolph Cantler, found floating dead at the waterfront
• Jack O'Lantern - alias of Paul Lefroy, tall, gaunt, rather unstable criminal
• Tobias Lantern - murderer tried and executed long ago, possibly related to Jack O'Lantern
• Judge Wallington - who presided over Tobias Lantern's trial
• Hugo Michels, retired judge, friend of Judge Wallington
• John Wrench, Detective-Inspector of the C.I.D. (Criminal Investigative Division)
• Superintendent Sweeting - jealous superior of John Wrench
• Sonia Pelling, ward of Judge Wallington, love interest of John Wrench
• Nali, Hindu servant of Judge Wallington
• Jim Banting - older "retired" criminal
• Kate Banting, daughter of Jim Banting, quite taken with Lefroy
• Sam Knudge - dimwitted criminal, accustomed to garish outfits, taken with Kate

Locale: London

Synopsis: Sir Randolph Cantler is found floating dead at the waterfront. The escaping killer is believed to be an (unknown) man using the alias Jack O'Lantern. Meanwhile, Inspector John Wrench apprehends a burglar, "The Slasher", who is found to have a note from Jack O'Lantern in his pocket. 

Judge Wallington discusses the case with John Wrench, and speculates on a connection between Jack O'Lantern and a Tobias Lantern, whom he tried - and had executed - many years before. Wrench is also enamored with Wallngton's ward, Sonia Pelling. Wallington receives death threats from Jack O'Lantern.

Sonia is frightened by a face at the window, who leaves the initials JOL scratched in the window pane.

Three underworld characters  --- Jim Banting, his daughter Kate, and Sam Knudge are intimidated by Lefroy (Jack O'Lantern) although Kate is fascinated by him. Knudge decides to get rid of his love-interest rival by tipping off the police as to his whereabouts, but the police are unsuccessful in locating him.

Wrench, in disguise, prowls the underworld in search of Jack O'Lantern. Meanwhile, the judge is not feeling too well - is it illness or poison? Difficult to tell, he disappears too!

Jim Banting, and the love triangle of Sam Knudge/Kate Banting/Jack O'Lantern hole up in a house which catches fire. 

#3 - The House of Sudden Sleep by John Hawk (1930)

photo: eBay seller departedbooks

About this edition: Two preview chapters of #4 - Jack O'Lantern by George Goodchild are included in the back of the book.

About the author: John Hawk is a pseudonym of Helen Cournos, who also wrote under the name Sybil Norton. I couldn't learn much about her beyond this Wikipedia article about her husband John. As John Hawk, she also authored The Lone Lodge Mystery, The Serpent-Headed Stick, The Mid-Ocean Tragedy, The Titanic Hotel Mystery, It Was Locked, and The Murder of the Mystery-Writer.

Characters:

• Jimmy Armstrong, partner of David Ribbelsdale
• Rodney Colt, Assistant District Attorney
• Félicité Monot, the Ribbelsdale's nurse to their two children
• Cynthia Stoddard, writer of love letters to David
• --- Pulver, District Attorney
• David Ribbelsdale, already dead when story begins
• Edith Ribbelsdale, David's mother
• Suzanne Ribbelsdale, 31, David's wife - now widow
• Dorcas Wilder, half-sister of Suzanne Ribbelsdale
• Peter Wilder, always scared brother of Dorcas Wilder

Locale: Connecticut

Synopsis: David Ribbelsdale is found dead at his desk in his home office, with no obvious cause of death - he seems to just fallen asleep and never woken up. Assistant DA Rodney Colt is asked to come in. It is not obvious if the death is by natural cause, suicide, or murder. There are rumors of infidelity. In his desk are found love letters from an unknown "Cynthia".

Rodney Colt finds everyone in the Ribbelsdale household seems to have secrets, and enlists the help of sexy, flirtatious Félicité Monot to keep her eye on them. Cynthia is found to be a Cynthia Stoddard but little is known about her.

Edith Ribbelsdale dies in the same manner as her son, David.

Peter Wilder dies the same manner, just after writing a letter accusing someone of being the murderer.