#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.

#2 - The Curse of Doone by Sydney Horler (1930)

photo: dustjackets.com

About this edition: This edition has just the novel, with no promotional or preview material.

Sydney Horler (photo: vintage45.wordpress.com)

About the author: Here is a Wikipedia article about Sydney Horler. He has two other titles in the Mystery League series: Peril! and The False Purple.

Characters:

• Ian Heath / "Ronald Gavin", agent of the Foreign Branch of the British Secret Service
• Jerry Hartsgill, old school chum of Ian Heath
• Harker Bellamy, Heath's superior
• Joe and Mrs. Dorrance, Heath's landlord and landlady
• Cicely Garrett, American, recent resident of Doone Hall
• Warren Murdoch, uncle of Cicely Garrett, inventor, and patriarch of Doone Hall
• James Neale, butler of Doone Hall; and his wife Janet
• Moses Grinstead, lawyer
• Philip Voyce, neighbor to Doone Hall; although six miles distant
• Professor Sapford, friend of Warren Murdoch
• -- Gibson, local ex-con who lurks around the Hall
• Gusta Straub, the woman with the monocle
• Victor Von Kroon, the man with the scar

Locale: Doone Hall, Dartmoor, England

Synopsis: Ian Heath becomes enchanted with Cicely Garrett after two chance encounters in London. She lives at Doone Hall, mysterious home of her reclusive inventor uncle Warren Murdoch, on the lonely moors of Dartmoor. A flying figure, similar to a giant bat, is seen flying around outside of the Hall sometimes at night. Legend identifies it as the former owner, Vernon Coxonfield, a vampire - who is buried beneath the cellar floors of Doone Hall.

At attempt is made on the life of Ian Heath, and he allows news of his 'death' to circulate so he may investigate without interference. Ian travels to Dartmoor to stay with Jerry Hartsgill, who has a cottage near Doone Hall.

Cicely, in the obligatory nightgown-carrying-a-candle, explores a corridor of the Hall, and encounters a man with half a face.

Warren Murdoch hides his invention in the Hall, and confides details of his invention to his colleague, Professor Sapford, who is murdered soon after - apparently by a vampire. This is followed by the similar death of Moses Grinstead. Murdoch dies (of natural causes) which leads to a search for the invention.

Comments: Book contains stereotypical terms for African-Americans, unacceptable today but were in common use at time of writing.

#1 - The Hand of Power by Edgar Wallace (1930)

photo: dustjackets.com

About this edition: This edition has just the novel, with no promotional or preview material.

Edgar Wallace (photo: Wikipedia)

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

Characters:

• Dr. Joshua Laffin, creepy retired physician who lives in a creepy house, and guardian of...
• Betty Carew, red-headed actress, and love interest of...
• Lord Clive Lowbridge, who has just inherited his title and mansion, but without any funding to manage it
• La Florette, a dancer, claims to be French but lets a Cockney accent slip occassionally.
• Police Inspector Bullott, who rents an unused room to...
• William "Bill" Holbrook, who quits his advertising job at Pawter Publicity Services to get back into journalism, along with...
• Benson, his butler, who also knows how to find out things.
• Pawter, head of Pawter Publicity Services
• Captain Harvey Hale, out-of-work sea captain since he ran his ship aground
• Toby Marsh, a street-wise, educated, well-spoken burglar, and a boarder of ... 
• Jenny Hamshaw, mother of La Florette
• Lambert Stone, American millionaire, and brother of...
• Leiff Stone, founder of the Sons of Ragousa, a shady fraternal organization which runs a lottery to attract members
• Brother John, an ex-priest, curious about Betty's stint in the window (names shown in red indicate those unfortunates who do not survive the novel). Brother John does not even survive two pages.
• Mr. Van Campe, manager of the theatre

Locale: England, and at sea

Synopsis: Betty Carew and La Florette work in the theatre, but when the play closes early Betty is compelled by her guardian Dr. Laffin to take a job from Pawter Publicity Services posing in a store display window; ostensibly advertising a unique desk. The real purpose is to deliver a message to a stranger who may show up at some point and ask for it.

Once the message is delivered, the display window job is done. Dr. Laffin takes Betty home, and locks her prisoner in her room. Bill Holbrook and Toby Marsh observe, conspire, break in, and release her. .

Betty returns to the theatre. She is approached and questioned by Brother John, a member of the shady fraternal organization Proud Sons of Ragousa; whose only purpose seems to be running a lottery. Brother John meets his end on the street immediately following. Bill Holbrook joins the Ragousas in an effort to infiltrate it. The Ragousas kidnap Betty in the belief she is destined to be their new leader.

Soon the action moves to an ocean liner bound for New York, with all the principal characters aboard, and apparently the evil Dr. Laffin too. The Ragousas are aboard also, with their eyes on plundering a cash shipment to the US.

11 West 42nd Street - today

Last year, on a trip to New York City, I went on a little spy expedition to take a look at the League's published address of 11 West 42nd Street, to see if anything recognizable remained after - what? almost 90 years. Here is what I found.

11 West 42nd St. is directly across 42nd St. from the New York Public Library, with its lions Patience and Fortitude standing guard, so we are definitely in the literary district.

The building's exterior is unchanged from when it was built. Doesn't this look like it could be Superman's Daily Planet?

The grand entrance. The octagonal sign confirms we are in the right place. Oh my, look at the carvings surrounding the doorway! This must be the doorway through which the staff of The Mystery League reported to work.

A better view of the door surround. Note the art deco style of writing - all the rage when the League's books were published.

The door was open, so in we went, and through the revolving door.

The lobby is open to the public. Elevators are on the left. On the right, out of view here, is a directory of businesses having space in the building; and an attendant/guard who will check you in - and maybe grant you admittance beyond the velvet rope. Since we had no legitimate business in the building, we did not go any further than the lobby.

Be still, my heart! What an artifact! The central outgoing mailbox is still here! The glass tubes extend to all upper floors, and mail can be slid into a slot on any floor and whoosh down to a crash landing here. I remember (in other buildings) the fun of seeing mail go tearing down through intermediate floors. This would be the very mailbox in which the League's outgoing mail was posted. We imagined contracts and royalty checks to authors, answers to reader inquiries, and notifications to Baffle winners all passing through this ornate receptacle.

I hope you have enjoyed this little visit to 11 West 42nd. St.! If you find yourself in NYC, step across 42nd street from the New York Public Library and take a peek for yourself.