Old Lovers Ghost

Colonel Primrose Mystery #7

by Leslie Ford

In the midst of the spectacular scenery of Yellowstone Park, pretty Cecily Chapman encounters new love--and a menacing phantom out of the past.

Genres: Mystery

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1939

About the author

Leslie Ford is the nom de plume of Zenith Jones Brown , who also wrote as David Frome and Brenda Conrad.

Reviews

[Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

While reading Old Lover's Ghost, I often had occasion to wonder why Leslie Ford isn't better known and regarded by mystery fans. In this novel, her building up of an intensely dramatic situation amongst vivid and interesting characters is masterful. Now, having finished the novel, I suspect the answer is that her focus is a bit heavy on this dramatic and romantic plot, apart from the development of a well-wrought scheme of detection leading to a denouement. That development and denouement are there, mind you, with excellent suspense and a crucial clue that the reader has ample opportunity to apprehend. If Miss Ford were an even better writer (and she's quite good already) she might have achieved what so many writers seem to want: a detective novel that succeeds as a "straight" novel of character as well. She comes closer than most with Old Lover's Ghost.

[Jimmy Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leslie Ford was one of the pen names of Zenith Jones Brown, an American author born in California. She spent time in Washington state, in London England, and in Maryland, writing for Dial magazine and as a war correspondent. Her mystery stories often were serialized in the Saturday Evening Post prior to publication. As an American female mystery writer, it's unfortunate she hasn't garnered a larger following; she writes with the same variety, thrills and excitement as Agatha Christie.

In "Old Lover's Ghost," narrator and repeat character Grace Latham is visiting Yellowstone at the height of tourist season with a group of friends... and runs into a few more, including the ubiquitous detective Colonel Primrose. One of her new acquaintances is the highly unlikable George Pelham - the type who never exerts himself on a camping trip, never follows park rules, and repeats dreadful rumors about others. He's engaged to Cecily Chapman, who puts up with all his nonsense - and it appears he caught her on the rebound after her first love was killed in a car crash. No one in Cecily's family likes this new match - in fact, no one really seems to like George, other than George's brother-in-law. Hmmm.

It's a good thing Colonel Primrose was on the job to solve this one, as there was plenty of groundwork laid to mislead us. Wilful Cecily is no help at all, and Grace goes down the wrong road several times - as did I - surrounded by park rangers and other tourists. Well written, nicely done.

[Rick Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this one, and it serves as a virtual travelogue of Yellowstone as well. Some portions of the writing I didn't understand too well, such as the episode of "discovering" Steven Grant in the ranger cabin - after I reread it carefully I was able to follow the action.

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[Leah B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so wonderfully surprised by this book. Leslie Ford dives straight into the plot and effortlessly introduces her characters in quick, but deep detail. She paints a lovely and vivid scene and I absolutely loved her strong and inquisitive female characters - especially considering this was penned in the 40’s. Adventure, love, mystery, a little murder - and lots of sass and conviction. You won’t want to put this down! This was my first Leslie Ford novel and it won’t be my last.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good solid story. Strong characters. Enjoyed it.

[Jessi · Rating 3 out of 5]

"It was Cecily Chapman’s extraordinary grandmother who insisted on that three-day pack trip from her ranch into Yellowstone Park. Perhaps the idea hadn’t occurred to her, originally, that once we were there, somebody was bound to push George Pelham into a boiling geyser hole. … It certainly did the rest of us, my seventeen-year-old son Bill, myself, Grace Latham, and Joe Anders the wrangler-guide to say nothing of the camp cook and practically all the horses."
Thus begins Grace Latham's trip in Yellowstone. She travels from the south of the park up to the Lake Hotel with a group that includes the redoubtable Mrs. Chapman, the woman who doesn't want George Pelham to marry her granddaughter. She's on to his tricks and is willing to do as much as possible to make sure that the two won't marry. Of course, since Cecily's true love, Steve Grant, is dead, it's not like there's anyone to stand in the way. But when the group meets both George Pelham's brother-in-law as well as Steve Grant when they get to the Lake area, confusion abounds and it's no more worrying than when George Pelham ends up dead with no shortage of suspects.