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Inspector Hugh Collier #8
Death in the Dark: A Golden Age Mystery
"The truth can't hurt anyone," she said rather faintly. He did not speak for a minute. Then he said without looking at her. "Not if he's innocent." David Merle, a young circus acrobat, is arrested and convicted of the murder in London of wealthy eccentric Joshua Fallowes. Only his sister, Judy, and their aunt really believe in his innocence, although kindly Ben Levy stands by Judy (with whom he is rather smitten). Things are looking bad for David until his sister gets a note from thirteen-year-old Toby (last seen in The Mystery of the Kneeling Woman ). He has discovered some points of interest concerning the case, and this information sends Judy off to Sard Manor, a run-down country mansion complete with a privately-run zoo. She sets to work, sleuthing as an undercover housemaid. Fortunately Judy has a loyal friend in Toby, who comes furnished with a heroic Scotland Yard stepfather-none other than Inspector Collier. She'll need all the help she can get, when the potential antagonists include not only the denizens of the Manor, but the beasts which lurk without. Death in the Dark was first published in 1938. This new edition includes an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.
- GenresMystery
287 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 3, 2023
22 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
About the author
Moray Dalton
36 books26 followersPseudonym of Katherine Mary Deville Dalton Renoir (1881-1963)
Katherine Dalton was born in Hammersmith, London in 1881, the only child of a Canadian father and English mother. The author wrote two well-received early novels, Olive in Italy (1909), and The Sword of Love (1920). However, her career in crime fiction did not begin until 1924, after which Moray Dalton published twenty-nine mysteries, the last in 1951. The majority of these feature her recurring sleuths, Scotland Yard inspector Hugh Collier and private inquiry agent Hermann Glide. Moray Dalton married Louis Jean Renoir in 1921, and the couple had a son a year later. The author lived on the south coast of England for the majority of her life following the marriage. She died in Worthing, West Sussex, in 1963.
Katherine Dalton was born in Hammersmith, London in 1881, the only child of a Canadian father and English mother. The author wrote two well-received early novels, Olive in Italy (1909), and The Sword of Love (1920). However, her career in crime fiction did not begin until 1924, after which Moray Dalton published twenty-nine mysteries, the last in 1951. The majority of these feature her recurring sleuths, Scotland Yard inspector Hugh Collier and private inquiry agent Hermann Glide. Moray Dalton married Louis Jean Renoir in 1921, and the couple had a son a year later. The author lived on the south coast of England for the majority of her life following the marriage. She died in Worthing, West Sussex, in 1963.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 4, 2023
A young acrobat, David Merle, is found guilty of the murder of a wealthy, eccentric theatre patron, Joshua Fallowes, but his sister Judy firmly believes in his innocence. With some encouragement from a new friend, Judy sets off to infiltrate the family that benefitted most from Fallowes' death, Oliver Ramblet and his half-sisters. The Ramblet's live at Sard Manor, a small, ill-funded and floundering zoo. As a housemaid there, Judy uncovers enough secrets to put her life in danger.
Scotland Yard Detective Hugh Collier learns about the crime long after the trial and, with only days until Merle's execution, becomes convinced that Judy is right. In a race against time, Inspector Collier must uncover the real culprit and prevent the death of an innocent man.
There are many uncommon elements in this mystery/suspense novel, as well as a variety of unusual characters, a memorable plot, and an extremely likable and spunky heroine. It is well-written, intelligent and entertaining. This may well be my favorite Dalton novel, for it's unique story as much as for it's overall quality.
Scotland Yard Detective Hugh Collier learns about the crime long after the trial and, with only days until Merle's execution, becomes convinced that Judy is right. In a race against time, Inspector Collier must uncover the real culprit and prevent the death of an innocent man.
There are many uncommon elements in this mystery/suspense novel, as well as a variety of unusual characters, a memorable plot, and an extremely likable and spunky heroine. It is well-written, intelligent and entertaining. This may well be my favorite Dalton novel, for it's unique story as much as for it's overall quality.
February 7, 2024
Complicated and fast-paced, even if that was partially done by constantly moving the action from one place to another. Takes a little time to get to the mystery portion, and once that begins the killer becomes obvious quickly, but this is almost more the Columbo style of 'how will they be caught' as opposed to 'whodunit' and it works. Poor David can't get back the losses he suffered, though.
April 8, 2023
Moray Dalton certainly revelled in the creation of slightly unusual and, sometimes, downright odd, scenarios.
"Death in the Dark" has a troupe of acrobats, a private zoo and and a rich, eccentric, and theatre-loving murderee, as well as a thirteen year old aspiring detective and, less unusually, a philandering GP, a drug-taking mother, and an ex-Indian Army Chief Constable.
From the opening murder in a creepy house, to the dramatic close, via one character being mauled to death by a tiger, and some midnight acrobatics, the author combines traditional elements with a whiff of the more outre,in a rich ragout of a plot.
Unfortunately, as can be the case, these oddities barely fog a fairly simple solution with a quite conventional outcome for the guilty. My heart sinks rather when the phrase " not enough proof to convict" crops up, since I know what end will result.
That does not mean that the novel is anything but very enjoyable and so involving that I stayed up late to finish it. One thing I noticed in this, and in "The Kneeling Woman", is Dalton's ability to depict criminal trials succinctly without leaving the reader shortchanged yet with no deadly rehashing and repetition of already-presented evidence.
Curtis Evans provides the Introduction in which he misses one small but fun detail. "Aunt Apples" undoubtedly earned her soubriquet by virtue of her married surname, "Sturmer", the Sturmer Pippin being a once very popular English dessert apple.
4 stars.
"Death in the Dark" has a troupe of acrobats, a private zoo and and a rich, eccentric, and theatre-loving murderee, as well as a thirteen year old aspiring detective and, less unusually, a philandering GP, a drug-taking mother, and an ex-Indian Army Chief Constable.
From the opening murder in a creepy house, to the dramatic close, via one character being mauled to death by a tiger, and some midnight acrobatics, the author combines traditional elements with a whiff of the more outre,in a rich ragout of a plot.
Unfortunately, as can be the case, these oddities barely fog a fairly simple solution with a quite conventional outcome for the guilty. My heart sinks rather when the phrase " not enough proof to convict" crops up, since I know what end will result.
That does not mean that the novel is anything but very enjoyable and so involving that I stayed up late to finish it. One thing I noticed in this, and in "The Kneeling Woman", is Dalton's ability to depict criminal trials succinctly without leaving the reader shortchanged yet with no deadly rehashing and repetition of already-presented evidence.
Curtis Evans provides the Introduction in which he misses one small but fun detail. "Aunt Apples" undoubtedly earned her soubriquet by virtue of her married surname, "Sturmer", the Sturmer Pippin being a once very popular English dessert apple.
4 stars.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews