"Great Detective Stories"
Reader's Digest 1998
isbn 0276424182 hb 528 pg
>2K after #22 so will not fit on GoodReads
35 authors vary in styles, worth reading more. Best stories can be re-read; some I knew. Intro discusses genre, formulas, "golden age flowering between the two World Wars" - significance lost on me, till soft old-fashioned phrasing triggers date check. Most authors dead, some on gutenberg website. Short stories have little time, so develop plot over personality, but 5* for individualities in both. Close has paragraph bios.
1 The Longer View 1939 - Margery Allingham 1904-66
5* Romance amid troubles, fear for vulnerable victim.
Dejected after beloved marries another, rich Campion shows pal Feering his first shabby digs. "Help Me" lipsticked on wall, "Janey" low on door, evokes vision of "beautiful blonde with dark eyes", opposite of beloved.
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Spoiler
I guessed kidnapped child, but mother fits Campion's vision. Through binoculars, he views far, from racetrack bookie who accepts ransom, to ringleader supervising from flat white rooftop.
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2 The Little House 1927 - H.C. Bailey 1878-1961
5* Justice in nick of time from innocuous clue.
Flittery old Mrs Pemberton asks Fortune to get back grand-daughter's new kitten from "nasty and dirty" little girl next door, denied by owners, chemist Cabots, who frequent night-clubs and supply restaurants. Police smile, busy with restaurant worker corpse Fortune claims frail addict finished by cold night.
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Spoiler
Fortune aka water inspector finds hidden Rose, convinces Scotland Yard to rescue abused daughter of jailed Harfords, framed as dealers by jealous Miss Cabot.
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3 Lucky Penny 1985 - Linda Barnes 1949
5* Atmosphere and personalities entertain reader as solution unfolds.
Ex-cop cabby narrator Carlotta puzzles over soprano and movie slang of slim bundled robber who keeps change, but tosses bills, "hearing swish of trash-can lid".
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Spoiler
Justin Thayler killed wife for money and coin collection. Conspiring mistress employee Marcia paid gold Roman coin in cab fare, male disguise to retrieve. In Marcia's house, Carlotta unloads bullets from refrigerated gun, so saves ex-partner Mooney.
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4 Murder 1927* - Arnold Bennett 1875-1956
2* Confusing end, Bond seems oblivious to truth.
Quiet Lomax Harder 35 shoots first at left-handed Franting; "violent crude beast" threatens Emily, Harder's beloved but Franting's wife. Gun is in Franting's left pocket, but bullet hole in right temple p63.
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Spoiler
Amateur detective Bond convinces Supt of suicide. Should not wound be in
left temple? ----------
5 The Clever Cockatoo 1938 - E.C. Bentley 1875-1956
5* Clever answer and stop.
Mrs Lancey asks Trent to Italian villa for sister, lovely flirt Lady Bosworth, who has fits of blankness, loses all vivacity.
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Spoiler
In her lip salve, jealous old husband Sir Peregrine put stupefying drug few others knew. Trent frames cockatoo for destruction of shiny holder, confronts regretful husband to stop.
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6 The Tragedy at Brookbend Cottage 1914 - Ernest Bramah 1868-1942
5* Tense buildup to stormy climax, shocking end.
Blind Max Carrados and sidekick Carlyle consulted by navy Lt Hollyer for sister Millicent 28, before her older husband Austin Creake kills her to wed his typist.
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Spoiler
Creake caught faking lightning from train electricity, but infatuated Millicent shoots herself.
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7 The Silver Curtain 1991 - John Dickson Carr 1906-77
5* We can identify with naive patsy, but not guess answer from tonight and before.
In French casino town, silvery rain sheets over stabbed winner Davros, when broke Jerry Winton bends to pick up full wallet, in front of Dr Hébert and pretty Eleanor. Prefect Goron finds empty billfold in Davros' pocket. "The air is aromatic; open carriages clop and jingle".
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Spoiler
Davros stole pearl necklaces that Hébert sugercoated into pills, for broke English tourists to smuggle out. Hébert drops knife from roof onto greedy partner's back, bent to pick up second full billfold.
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8 Goldfish 1946 - Raymond Chandler 1888-1959
2* Trail of bodies.
After informant Peeler tortured dead, ex-cop Kathy offers narrator PI Carmady share of insurance reward for stolen pearls buried by thief Sype, now goldfish hobbyist.
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Spoiler
Exotic golfish have pearls inside. Wife falsely claims fakes, sort-of twist after others shot.
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9 The Chief Mourner of Marne 1927 - G.K. Chesterton 1874-1936
5* Sad, obvious, asks Christian forgiveness for wicked crime.
Father Brown solves why Marquis James Mairne exiled himself after duel with cousin Maurice.
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Spoiler
Younger Maurice took place of elder heir James, shot when he ran up to Maurice, who "fell before bullet flew", as taught by actor second, now rich on blackmail.
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10 The Mystery of the Baghdad Chest 1997 - Agatha Christie 1890-1976
4* Tricksy solution to love triangle murder.
Poirot asked by lovely Mrs Clayton to save beau Major Rich, accused of stabbing her husband, stuffing him into chest before party.
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Spoiler
Jealous Major Curtiss drilled breathing holes, told Clayton to spy for cheating from inside chest, stabbed him during party.
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11 Who Killed Zebedee 1881 - Wilkie Collins 1824-89
5* Narrator not named. Surprise chance solution.
Dying Catholic confesses his first murder case as London bobby 27. On honeymoon in boarding house, sleepwalker wife wakes to husband stabbed dead by knife inscribed "To John Zebedee, from -". Narrator's engagement to resident cook Priscilla Thurlby keeps case alive.
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Spoiler
In home village of intended, he chances on long-sought cutler, and takes away page with entire inscription in killer's own hand. Local rector recommends Priscilla, seduced and jilted by Zebedee. Narrator resigns, confronts fianceé, burns evidence and her confession.
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12 Within the Gates 1953 - Edmund Crispin 1921-78
5* Plays on uncommon key words.
Almost inside Scotland Yard, Fen sees Crowley, war-time MI5 cryptologist cum botanist, killed and papers snatched. DI Humbleby's department has a leak, needs Fen. F: "Discretion is my middle name". H: "But very few people
use their middle names". Fen on cryptogams-grams: "Like formication .. no connection whatsoever with .."
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Spoiler
Because death also outside Vegetation magazine hq, Fen sends Sgt Robden to question editor. Fen catches traitor Robden denying cryptogram analysis on body and editor's reply. Crowley was killed for his Cryptogam plant article.
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13 Hunted Down 1859 - Charles Dickens 1812-70
5* Tragic. Many revelations, of character and plot, foreshadow without disclosure.
Narrator Sampson instantly dislikes oily center part "straight up here .. no trespassing" of Julius Slinkton, who insures life of friend Beckwith, chats about actuary Meltham who left society. In fall 6 months later, by Scarborough seaside, he meets Slinkton and niece Margaret Niner, whose health fails like her late sister.
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Spoiler
Sampson saves Margaret by commending her to Meltham, who loved her sister. In winter, drunkard Beckwith reveals he is sober Meltham, who found Slinkton's diary, guilty record of his nieces' poisoning, Killer takes one last dose; Meltham dies later.
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14 The Man with the Twisted Lip 1892 - Arthur Conan Doyle 1859-1930
5* Unusual circumstances, happy ending.
In opium den, narrator Watson finds disguised Holmes seeking vanished Neville St Clair, who left clothes, blood on window sill over high tide, and professional beggar Boone, distinctive for orange hair and disfiguring face scar.
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Spoiler
Holmes scrubs face of sleeping jailed Boone to reveal St Clair, reporter whose assignment on beggars led to more remunerative profession, until wife saw him by chance.
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15 The Betrayers 1956 - Stanley Ellin 1916-86
5* Tragic for unexpected reasons.
Lonely Robert falls for fragile Amy subjected to quarrelsome husband Vince. When argument over $10,000 ends in ominous thump, her bloody handkerchief left in hall, Rob tracks down her sister Celia.
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Spoiler
He follows trail of men who betray innocent, from cruel father to Vince's $10,000 bank robbery. When cops break down door, she jumps out window to death.
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16 The Blue Sequin 1909 by R. Austin Freeman 1862-1943
4* Impossible now. Why kill whole cow for red herring?
Narrator Jervis helps Dr Thorndyke answer solicitor Stopford, why actress's diamonds left in her train room, after pointed implement (maybe umbrella spike of Stopford's artist brother) penetrated her skull. Thorndyke requests art supply ox-gall, is sent to butcher with fresh stock.
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Spoiler
Thorndyke finds one steer with sensitive cracked horn, asks butcher to bring gall and saw off horn. On horn tip are brain cells, hat spangle and dyed hair from corpse. Her head was out window to see hay rick fire.
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17 The Oyster Catcher 1957* by Michael Gilbert 1912-2006*
5* Common sense and listening ear beat techno-whiz micro-gadgetry. "Do you know why God gave young policeman two feet but only one head?"
Sgt Petrella finds non-existent census-taker and 'nothing unusual' 'man from the Council' visited neighbors Friday, when strong athletic secretary Miss Martin fatally coshed by 2' screwdriver. Superiors concentrate on forensics, oyster shell in pocket of coat left when intruder ran from frail old Colonel in previous burglary rash.
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Spoiler
Colonel noted red spot in intruder's eye, that Petrella finds in Miss Martin's second cousin. Coat belonged to Colonel's cousin who breeds budgies fed oyster shell.
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18 Long Gone 1986 aka She Didn't Come Home - Sue Grafton b1940
5* Builds up our sympathies, clever guess for answer.
California narrator Kinsey Millhone 32 seeks wife of "boyish faced" harried Rob Ackerman "determined to spawn more". Escrow officer Lucy, left 3 demanding toddlers with $500K and one first-class ticket to Buenos Aires, but packed overnight bag, including "round plastic container .. size of a compact", in her boss Sotherland's office locker.
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Spoiler
Finding her absconding, Rob killed and buried her in backyard sandbox, planted bag to frame boss, mistakenly packed her diaphragm because ignorant of her tubal sterilization, confesses to wired Kinsey.
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19 A Man Called Spade 1932 - Dashiel Hammett 1894-1961
5* No more elevator boys. Red herring easy. Real clues are phone records.
Too late, San Francisco lawyer Sam comes in answer to call from strangled Nob Hill client Max Bliss, tie missing, chest inked with T star symbol also on threat from Paris; Talbot signed another threat. Last visitor was brother Theo, recompensed after prison sentence for joint job.
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Spoiler
Vengeful Theo called Sam, first half-hour earlier as wrong number after killing brother, second claiming to be Max, really at City Hall marrying Max's secretary for alibi.
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20 The Sapient Monkey 1892 - Headon Hill 1857-1927
3* Chance photo closes simple case faster.
Rich Gale hires narrator PI Zamba to clear son Franklin of measly £500 theft. Promising bank cashier, engaged to boss Tudway's daughter, paid tailor with £5 note - serial number matches one stolen, but he claims from father.
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Spoiler
Real cashier thief hired party performer Pietro, whose monkey used Franklin's note in trick, all photographed by Maud Tudway.
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21 A Question of Confidence 1972 - Michael Innes 1906-94
2* Confusing in toto and why confesses.
Retired cop Sir John Appleby clears son's friend, Oxford historian Brian Button, who found unauthorized photocopies of his confidential Cannongate file by their static electricity, Master Dr Durham shot dead, interrupted dictating Button's dismissal for incompetence.
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Spoiler
In next day's mail, Durham confesses suicide and desire to give careless Button "lesson in pulling his socks up".
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22 Caught and Bowled, Mrs Craggs 1981 - H.R.F. Keating 1926-2011*
5* Likeable ordinary hard worker outsmarts pros. Unexplained link.
Clever Mrs Craggs's sharp eye for dirt convinces Supt Hutton of murder and killer when bluff "theYorkshireman" expires from heart failure while winning cricket bet in Lord's Club Long Room, where members known only by nicknames Boggers, Winkie, Oldest Member but Three.
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Spoiler
Oldest is visibly poor - grimy tie, cardboard over shoe sole hole - cannot afford bet loss. How does he know red wine reacts fatally with MAOI depression medicine, after Yorkshireman and cook both refuse contraindicated cheese?
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23 A Case of Butterflies 1989 - Peter Lovesey b 1936
5* Catch villains by knowing nature and basic human weaknesses.
Commander Jerry Glazier collected butterflies as kid, sees Purple Emperors hover insistently over outbuilding floor of rich Sir Shenton, who reacts oddly to ransom note for wife Ann, gone after Ireland tour with fellow entemologist Cressie, her revealing photo in Shenton's waller.
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Spoiler
Purple Emperors feed on decomposed meat, attracted to Ann's body, placed weeks before Cressie toured with friend posing as Ann.-
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24 The Homesick Buick 1950* - John D. MacDonald 1916-86
5* Dates from when car radios had preset push buttons. Useless minutiae. Funny people.
Geek Pink Dee 14 can tell Washington FBI agent Randolph A. Sternweister origin of getaway cars from one of bank robber shot fleeing in close-knit Leeman Texas.
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Spoiler
"Where all six frequencies are represented by radio stations in the immediate geographical vicinity" and FBI shows victim's photo yields hideout.
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25 Chapter and Verse: The Little Copplestone Mystery 1989 - Ngaio Marsh
2* Killer "overly conceited and vindictive" seems weak reason to encode evidence (Hadet anagram of Death) or confess.
Rare book seller Timothy Bates from New Zealand brings village Supt Rory Alleyn old local Wagstaff family bible. Verses refer to 3 non-existent 1779 Hadets. Bates falls to death from church tower.
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Spoiler
When accused, gossipy crossword-loving postmistress confesses to 3 deaths on same dates in 1921.
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26 Footprints in the Jungle 1951 - W. Somerset Maugham 1874-1965
4* Double narration is clear. Sad, no proof. No first name for Mrs Bronson-Cartwright.
After bridge game with the Cartwrights, narrator tells partner Glaze how Olive looks like both parents, "the pleasantest of people here", still in love. Police chief Glaze narrates 20 years ago, shooter of Malay rubber planter Reggie Bronson never caught, Olive born 4 months after; mother wed Cartwritght after 4 more.
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Spoiler
On jungle shortcut, cyclist Reggie shot when stopped (thus best friend Theo), remains later found of coolies' wages in pocketbook and watch (thus not motive). Reggie infertile, had all the money, so wife's pregnancy led to murder.
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27 Sadie When She Died 1972 - Ed McBain 1926-2005*
5* Gory "knife protruding from the blood and slime of the lady", tragic. Detectives save news of her demise "for last, like dessert". We suspect husband Fletcher, who invites detective Carella where posted menu prices "would have frightened him out of six months' pay".
Carella suspects criminal lawyer Fletcher sliced across abdomen of hated adulterous wife Sarah after knifer, burglar Corwin, left.
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Spoiler
Carella interviews names from Sarah's "little black book" who slept with "Sadie Collins". Corwin confesses, suicides Xmas day, before Fletcher tapes "she begged me to kill her" on car bug.
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28 Deadly Fantasies 1989 - Marcia Muller b 1944
4* Guessable, sadly inevitable. Personalized cast.
Narrator Sharon McCone regrets disbelieving rich heiress Laurie Newingham, poisoned after voicing suspicions of greedy siblings.
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Spoiler
To finance poorly-managed volunteer agency, Dolph Edwards married her secretly (California law benefits common-law anyway), put arsenic in contact lens solution that she licked off. Ick.
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29 The Man in the Inverness Cape 1910* - Baroness Orczy 1865-1947
3* Confusing solution.
Lady Molly tells servant, narrator, to meet bony Scot Olive Marvell, who denies brother Leonard would disappear with diamonds of painted actress Lulu Fay, engaged to Lord Mountnewte.
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Spoiler
In cheap shrill disguise, Molly cozies up to Marvell maidservant Rosie Campbell, deduces 3 conspirators dressed as each other to confuse witnesses.
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30 Mystery at the Library of Congress 1960 - Ellery Queen 1905-71 & 1982*
3* Obscure riddle basis, what books share.
Library clerk Shuffing always brings illegal drug distributor Bacom 3 books whose titles point to contact. Police ask Ellery to identify contact first, from "The Complete Shakespeare", Shaw's "Man and Superman", and "Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant".
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Spoiler
All three authors have beards, so contact is nearest bearded man.
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31 Concrete Evidence 1993 - Ian Rankin 1960
5* Clever. Conflicting personalities and physical traces beat fancy forensics.
UK Inspector Rebus traces skeleton from basement to Alexander Abbot, whose business partner Ford vanished years ago at sea.
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Spoiler
Competitor Kirkwall saved sample of Ford's writing, differs from hotel reservation where Ford never seen.
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32 When the Wedding Was Over 1979 - Ruth Rendell 1930
3* Plot unaffected by minor roles, bracketed by Thomas Hardy quote "Matrimony begins with dearly beloved and ends with amazement".
Chief Inspector Wexford checks if dubious Gandolph found new evidence in diary of Ada Fenton, friend to brother's lover Florence Winchurch, hanged for 1900 strychnine poisoning of husband Edward .
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Spoiler
Diary entry forged for 29 Feb. Pope Gregory ruled 1900 not leap year.
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33 The Adventurous Exploit of the Cave of Ali Baba 1928 - Dorothy L. Sayers 1893-1957
2* Secret society of hooded numbered strangers known only to the One. Passwords, rituals.
For 2 years after Lord Peter Wimsey reported dead, fired footman Rogers helps The Society commit crimes, until Number One unmasks the "man from Lambeth", sets explosives to destroy hideout-prison.
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Spoiler
Number Two frees Rogers, aka Wimsey undercover, to rescue her lover One, suffocating in Wimsey's airless booby-trapped room-size safe (cave?).
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34 The Man in the Street 1947 - Georges Simenon 1903-89
4* Sorry for man pursued, we are led down false path.
Police chief Maigret trails man days non-stop to catch doctor's killer.
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Spoiler
Bogus news article that his wife fled free fools man to give himself up, because she shot her lover.
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35 Pickup on the Dover Road 1981 - Julian Symons 1912-94
4* Again, we're led astray.
Donald, driving toward sunny France from rainy England, hears radio report of nearby murder, picks up "Golly", Billy Golightly, who knows too much about the incident.
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Spoiler
Sgt Golightly waited on one possible escape route for nephew who killed his aunt for inheritance.
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*
Dates found elsewhere than in Acknowledgements
4 http://gaslight.mtroyal.ca/murder.htm
17 in Ellery Queen Magazine Aug 1957
http://www.philsp.com/homeville/fmi/t945.htm
24 in Eleanore Middleton Edwards' "Great Mystery Stories"
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/313404984
29 in "Lady Molly of Scotland Yard" 1910
http://www.e-reading.org.ua/chapter.php/143724/3/Legendary_Women_Detectives.html
30 Queen = NY cousins Manford Lepofsky 1905-71 + Daniel Nathan 1905-82
Definitions:
16 quondam = previous
gall = bile secretion in small pouch under liver
ox-gall = watercolor wetting agent
21 divagate = digress
26 pudang = engagement ring
sukas = sage
stenga = intoxicating aphrodisiac drink
seis = dance music
Typos:
p18 "paper magnet" is magnate (pompous snob striding through newsroom slowed by flying metal or paper - clips, staples, desks, cabinets, pages, books, dollars, receipts)
p63 "right temple" would be left if truly suicide. Are we to notice wrong decision?
p265 leg's is legs
p400 is comma in "Not, at all" typo or sarcasm?
http://peterlovesey.com/
Partial Review on GoodReads
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/407107337
