Scan barcode
lgpiper's review
3.0
This was an ok book, albeit not great. Some financial magnate, Sigsbee Manderson was found shot dead on his estate. One of the newspapers sent off Philip Trent to report on the issue, and also to do a spot of investigating on his own part. He teams up, so to speak with Inspector Murch.
Initially, it appears it might be a case of suicide, but a lot of minor details seem to point otherwise. There seem to be lots of suspects, but none on which one can pin conclusive evidence. In particular, one person who might have been involved is Manderson's spouse, Mable Manderson. For some reason, Trent falls in love with Mable, so he can't finger her for any complicity. Eventually, it all comes out, but the final solution is quite differently from what people imagined, and because Manderson was such a despicable ass hat, no one gets convicted of anything in the end.
I'm not quite sure what my son saw in this book to have him recommend to me. As I said, it was ok, but nothing special. It would be ***-, were GoodReads to allow us +s or -s on our ratings.
Initially, it appears it might be a case of suicide, but a lot of minor details seem to point otherwise. There seem to be lots of suspects, but none on which one can pin conclusive evidence. In particular, one person who might have been involved is Manderson's spouse, Mable Manderson. For some reason, Trent falls in love with Mable, so he can't finger her for any complicity. Eventually, it all comes out, but the final solution is quite differently from what people imagined, and because Manderson was such a despicable ass hat, no one gets convicted of anything in the end.
I'm not quite sure what my son saw in this book to have him recommend to me. As I said, it was ok, but nothing special. It would be ***-, were GoodReads to allow us +s or -s on our ratings.
221bpinkst's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
maplessence's review
4.0
4.5★
I loved this book, & only one major plot hole (& a too long finale) stopped me giving it 5★!
I thought this was a thirties mystery and found out half way through my read that it was a groundbreaking novel from 1913!
Journalist E C Bentley originally wrote it as a parody & the tone varies wildly throughout the book - detective, comedy, farce, high tragedy? Bentley never seems quite sure & the bleaker moments often come as a shock. This should wreck my enjoyment, & no one is more surprised than me that it doesn't.
I found the character of the newly widowed Mabel Manderson one of the most compelling I have read in detective fiction. An innocent femme fatale.
& when you think you have read
&, although I thought (as recently as yesterday) that [bc:Bloody Murder: From the Detective Story to the Crime Novel|976721|Bloody Murder From the Detective Story to the Crime Novel|Julian Symons|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1348274486s/976721.jpg|961617] was a waste of my reading time, it does give some interesting background material to this novel.
I loved this book, & only one major plot hole (& a too long finale) stopped me giving it 5★!
I thought this was a thirties mystery and found out half way through my read that it was a groundbreaking novel from 1913!
Journalist E C Bentley originally wrote it as a parody & the tone varies wildly throughout the book - detective, comedy, farce, high tragedy? Bentley never seems quite sure & the bleaker moments often come as a shock. This should wreck my enjoyment, & no one is more surprised than me that it doesn't.
I found the character of the newly widowed Mabel Manderson one of the most compelling I have read in detective fiction. An innocent femme fatale.
& when you think you have read
Spoiler
the twist & wonder where on earth the book is going for the next two chapters, Bentley twists again. I was totally fooled.&, although I thought (as recently as yesterday) that [bc:Bloody Murder: From the Detective Story to the Crime Novel|976721|Bloody Murder From the Detective Story to the Crime Novel|Julian Symons|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1348274486s/976721.jpg|961617] was a waste of my reading time, it does give some interesting background material to this novel.
More...