The List of Adrian Messenger

Colonel Gethryn #12

by Philip MacDonald

Brigadier-General George Firth of Scotland Yard was surprised and delighted when Adrian Messenger contacted him - he hadn't seen his old friend for at lest six months. However, when they met, Firth sensed that all was not well. Messenger handed him a list of ten men's names and asked Firth to use his influence to investigate them.

The following day Messenger was due to fly to America, but he never reached his destination for the aeroplane on which he was travelling crashed. And when First started to investigate the men on Messenger's list he discovered that each of them had met an accidental death in the last five years ...

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Adventure, Novels

198 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1959

About the author

Philip MacDonald (who some give as 1896 or 1899 as his date of birth) was the grandson of the writer George MacDonald and son of the author Ronald MacDonald and the actress Constance Robertson.

During World War I he served with the British cavalry in Mesopotamia, later trained horses for the army, and was a show jumper. He also raised Great Danes. After marrying the writer F. Ruth Howard, he moved to Hollywood in 1931. He was one of the most popular mystery writers of the 1930s, and between 1931 and 1963 wrote many screenplays along with a few radio and television scripts.

His detective novels, particularly those featuring his series detective Anthony Gethryn, are primarily "whodunnits" with the occasional locked room mystery. His first detective novel was 'The Rasp' (1924), in which he introduced his character Anthony Gethryn.

In later years MacDonald wrote television scripts for Alfred Hitchcock Presents ('Malice Domestic', 1957) and Perry Mason ('The Case of the Terrified Typist', 1958).

He twice received an Edgar Award for Best Short Story: in 1953, for 'Something to Hide', and in 1956, for 'Dream No More'. Indeed many critics felt that his short story writing was superior to his novels and they did win five second prizes in the annual contests held by 'Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine'.

He also wrote under the pseudonyms Oliver Fleming, Anthony Lawless, Martin Porlock, W.J. Stuart and Warren Stuart.

Reviews

[Gerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having first seen this movie in 1963, I read a Penguin edition of the book at the time but spotting in a bookshop the other day, I decided the time was right for a re-read. And I was not disappointed from my first impressions, which had been excellent.

Adrian Messenger unfortunately does not outlive page 23 of the novel but by that time he has left enough queries to set the train of events in hand that lead to old-timer Anthony Gethryn being invited to assist Scotland Yard in investigating what is at the outset an unknown situation, with crime(s) possibly pending.

The list of names is initially a puzzle but some serious and detailed investigation lead Gethryn and his colleagues to a possible solution. And that solution worries them for they fear that whoever is responsible for any unfortunate happenings earlier may well decide to continue his activities. Clever work by the detectives lead them to a possible suspect but where is he and what name is he now using?

And who or what is his target? Once again diligent work by the investigating team lead them to a conclusion but then the problem arises as to how to track down the criminal. Fortunately they are clever enough to piece together the clues that they have and get hot on the trail.

Will they be successful before the unknown killer strikes again?... A read of 'The List of Adrian Messenger'' a gripping thriller if ever there was one, will reveal all the answers.

[Randee Baty · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great novel! This is a classic British mystery that kept my engaged and intrigued. While it is 11th in a series, I have never read any of the others and I didn't feel I missed a thing by starting with this one. It's definitely a stand-alone mystery.

A British novelist, Adrian Messenger, shows up with a list of seemingly unrelated people and wants his friend, who is in law enforcement, to check them out. Just find out if they are still alive or not. That's all he wants to know. When Messenger is subsequently killed in a questionable airplane accident, the search begins to find out if the list is related to his death and how the people on it are related to each other. The answer will take them into the upper echelons of British aristocracy.

While easy to read, the book does assume the readers are smart and clever. I like a book that assumes I'm intelligent. It's a smart, classic mystery writing at it's best!

[Andrew Cartmel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Philip MacDonald is one of the finest craftsmen of the crime novel, and a fascinating figure in 20th century literature. He's on top form here, with a lifetime of writing experience behind him. It's an engrosing and clever whodunnit which also prefigures the contemporary serial killer novel... although the fact that his antagonist is killing for monetary gain, rather than kicks, is a very refreshing change (if I can put it like that!). The recently concluded Second World War casts a shadow over the novel, and is pivotal in the plot. I'm now going to watch the John Huston movie adaptation, but I don't have high hopes for it... I saw it many years ago and my recollection is that they played the story for laughs.

[Dave · Rating 2 out of 5]

Surprisingly dull, given the adventurous plot. Comes alive at the end--which is seen through the eyes of the criminal--but overlong and ploddingly procedural up until then, with a pointless love story and a character that speaks pidgin-French to "humorous" effect.

[Lizzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed its complicated plot and all its characters, especially Anthony Gethryn. A little disappointed with how it resolved, but not a big deal. I'll look for more Gethryn mysteries.

The romance between a couple of characters was a little awkward, both how one of them acted like a silly teenager, and the fact that much is made of how big, how gigantic she is. "Cable address Valhalla?" someone says. As a women of height I had mixed feelings. At the point when she's literally swept off her feet by her lover, she realizes with joy that for the first time she feels little. I should be offended, but in fact that spoke to my heart too. I'd love to feel little!

[Martina Sartor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un giallo dove il vero mistero non è CHI è l'assassino, ma il fattore che lega i nomi presenti nella lista di Adrian Messenger e il movente per cui tutti loro a mano a mano vengono uccisi. Dopodiché la storia diventa una caccia all'uomo misterioso, con colpo di scena finale.

[Linda Chrisman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this back in around 1964 and thoroughly enjoyed it. My tattered paperback copy disappeared from my collection many years ago but I never forgot the book.

Received an equally tattered paperback from Amazon and devoured it in one sitting. YOU may find it far-fetched, dated, etc. but I enjoyed it all over again. A remorseless killer, two resourceful and dashing heroes, a plot full of twists, what’s not to enjoy? Get so tired of nitpicking reviews. Just enjoy the book for itself - a ripping tales from the early ‘60’s!

[Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Messenger gives a list of ten names (with addresses) to a policemen friend of his, telling him that there is something big going on. A few days later, Messenger himself is killed when a bomb explodes on a plane over the Atlantic. What links the names? What is their significance? Anthony Gethryn (MacDonald's detective) is on the case. This was made into a movie back in the 1960s, but I suspect it wasn't as good as the book. Definitely worth reading.

[Puzzle Doctor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full review at classicmystery.blog

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adrian Messenger presents his old friend George Firth with a list of ten names with addresses. While he is on a short trip to America, he would like Firth, an official with Scotland Yard, to check up on these men--without knowing the whys or wherefores. He just wants the answer to one simple question: Are these men living at these address? Firth owes Messenger many favors, so, of course, he agrees. But Messenger never makes it to America. The plane he's flying on goes down over the Atlantic. Three people make it out of the plane alive--including Messenger--but he dies of his injuries before help can arrive. A tragic accident. Or is it?

Raoul St. Denis, famous French journalist & former member of the French resistance during the war, was also on that plane. And he was one of the survivors. St. Denis is very familiar with the sound of explosive devices and he's quite certain that one went off before the plane went down. It begins to look like someone didn't want Messenger to make that trip to America...especially when reports begin to come in on the ten men. Every one of them but one has died in an accident within the last five years. Or what has been officially declared an accident. Firth calls on General Anthony Gethryn, former intelligence officer and master at unraveling out-of-the-way puzzles. Could someone be orchestrating this deliberate elimination of the men on Messenger's list? Would someone really blow up a plane and (in another instance) derail a train to get at a particular man? And, if so, to what purpose?

Messenger's only comments to Firth about the situation was that "It's so big, and so--so preposterous, I daren't tell anyone yet." The only way for Gethryn and the Scotland Yard men to track the culprit is to find out what ties these ten men together. Their first clues come from St. Denis, who gives a near-verbatim recital of Messenger's last words before his injuries got the better of him But even then they don't catch all of the clues before the villain starts on the second part of his plan...They're going to have to move fast to catch him before he completes it.

This was the first MacDonald book I ever read...many moons before I ever even knew what a blog was. And it was one of the first mysteries I read where a killer was working his way through a group of people for purposes of his own; purposes that our detective had to discover in order to make sense of the apparently randomness of the group. And definitely one of the first where the motive wasn't psychologically driven. I thought it was a knock-out book that kept me reading like mad to get to the end. It made enough of an impression on me that once I got settled in again, I remembered what the connection was. But the book is so good that it didn't matter. I loved following the investigation with Gethryn and the way he worked with St. Denis in the last half of the book. And I still love the poetic justice (mentioned in the last line of the book--below) that comes to the killer in the end.

Outstanding book that was made into a movie in 1963 with Kirk Douglas and George C. Scott (among others). Now I just need to find time to sit down and watch it too.

First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read in 2019 and enjoyed it very much after watching the movie first. I was pleasantly surprised to realize how much dialogue in the movie was taken directly from the book.

Just a great book, a great plot, a great movie!!
******************
Usually, I like the book better than the movie, but since I came to know "The List of Adrian Messenger" from the 1963 movie with Kirk Douglas and George C. Scott, my affections are always with the movie. I have read this book many times, seen the movie countless more times... and it is a really great mystery plot.

Adrian Messenger is writing a book about his time during WWII in Burma. He asks a friend to check into a list of 10 men while he goes to the United States to look for support or a theory he has. He suspects a sinister plot, but does not want to speak until he has more evidence. Messenger is killed in an airplane explosion on his way to the United States. Scotland Yard takes up the list when it is discovered that all of the men they have found to-date are dead from accidental deaths (and eventually 100% of them were found to be dead from accidents). Thus begins the search for the reasons for these deaths, and the building fear that the killer will accomplish his goal before Scotland Yard can intervene in time.

Kirk Douglas does such an excellent job "morphing" into each of the different disguises that George Brougham takes, that the movie is superior in this regard. The cameos within the movie are also just like little jewels.... Tony Curtis, Frank Sinatra, Robert Mitchum, Burt Lancaster.... all disguised!

I actually think the movie tightens up some of the book, and removes some unneeded elements. The need for the action to end in California in the book is removed in the movie, where all action remains in England. The book includes the death of the elder Bruttenholm (Marquis of Gleneyre), and it is treated rather casually and without much sorrow. Yet this is THE DEATH that precipitates the last attack on the remaining Bruttenholm heir, young Derek. I think the movie handles it much better, by letting the Marquis live. By the way, in the movie, young Derek is played by John Huston's son, Tony! The movie was directed by John Huston, who appears in a cameo during the fox hunt.

[Sam Reaves · Rating 3 out of 5]

Philip MacDonald had a long career that stretched from the thirties through the early sixties; he was a popular British Golden Age author who wound up in Hollywood writing screenplays. This book was probably his greatest success; it was made into a movie in 1963 with an all-star cast. Both the movie and the book are great fun.
As with many classic mysteries, the plot is a bit contrived, but who cares? Suspend disbelief and enjoy the ride. The title character, scion of an aristocratic family and a promising young author, contacts a friend at Scotland Yard and asks him to investigate a list of ten men, of disparate backgrounds, occupations and residences. What they all have in common is that they died in apparent accidents, over a period of five years. Shortly after delivering the list, Messenger himself is killed on his way to the U.S. when a bomb brings down his transatlantic flight. MacDonald's series hero Anthony Gethryn (a classic upper-class amateur sleuth), who just happens to know both Messenger and his Scotland Yard pal, takes charge of the investigation. The quest will take him all over Britain and finally across the pond to California, where the diabolical plot behind the killings is thwarted.
It's classic stuff, with scenes set in comfortable London clubs and on vast rural estates, diverse characters including a statuesque English beauty and a tough French ex-resistance hero, and indomitable coppers working tirelessly to unmask a master criminal. The writing is sound, the settings and characters well-sketched; MacDonald was good at his craft. Good entertainment if not great literature; see the movie, too, while you're at it.

[Sapphire Detective · Rating 5 out of 5]

I watched the film version of this some years ago now--on the recommendation of my father--and I loved it. I honestly think it might be one of John Huston's best, and that's a career stacked with a lot of bests. And the book it was adapted from happens to be in my local library--the only library around where I live to have it at that. So I don't know why it took me so long to finally read it, but now I have, and I'm glad I did. This had everything I loved about the movie, and a little surprise in the ending too! (not too big a surprise, mind you, but the climaxes do play out different, and though I might be partial to the film version, this was still fun). Well worth the read!

My rating: 5/5
Would I own/re-read?: Sure!
TW: Death, Conspiracy, Major Accidents, Era-Appropriate Sentiments
Does the animal die?: There are references to foxhunting, and a horse is forced to trip as part of a murder.
How difficult was the mystery?: It's not the kind of mystery that can be solved outright, there's more information hidden that we have zero access too, but a sharp eye might be able to put things together before the book outlines it.

[Fabio Pucci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thriller che evita di adottare una struttura whodunit incentrando il mistero sul filo invisibile che lega nove nomi riportati in una lista, nove persone apparentemente senza alcun legame. La scrittura è snella e piacevole, con una bella accelerata verso la fine (con temporaneo, riuscito cambiamento di prospettiva), ma il soggetto non riserva particolari sorprese, con lo spettatore che intuisce parte degli sviluppi con largo anticipo rispetto al lettore. L'origine dell'inghippo risulta peraltro totalmente priva di fascino, pur nella sua logicità. Suggestione nulla, nessuna reale ambiguità nel ritratto dei personaggi (a meno di non considerare come tale il trasformismo alla Diabolik del colpevole, esplicitato sin dai primi capitoli), misteri non particolarmente misteriosi, ma visibilmente nessuno di questi elementi era tra le intenzioni dell'autore, più interessato all'efficacia spettacolare del tutto. In ogni caso, più vicino a certi thriller statunitensi contemporanei che al giallo classico inglese.

**!

[James · Rating 2 out of 5]

The front cover promises an "utterly unpredictable climax." The climax is incredibly predictable: the detective figures everything out, waits for the killer, the killer shows up, book ends. The back cover contains the word "YOU" in gigantic font, followed by "will not stop reading until at last you reach the satisfying solution of one of the most unbelievable shocking mysteries ever told." It is not. I gave this the full benefit of the doubt and my enthusiasm as a reader, picking it up on a Sunday and finishing on a Monday, but it left me cold. As for the list itself, it seems like a collection of random names, the detective and reader assume that they must all be connected, they find the connection, and that's it!

And the motive for the killer is preposterous.

The problem with all of these books is that the answer is never as good as the puzzle.

[Maggie Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book at least twice before -- once during high school and then sometime after that. It made a very positive impression on me both times. I was surprised that I remembered so much of the story -- including several of the twists (which is why I probably remembered them.) However, I did not remember how it ended so I was "in suspense" for the last few chapters. The writing is dated, but MacDonald has a wry sense of humor that makes it enjoyable. Truly a classic of the period. I don't remember reading many of the others in the series, but I will see what I can find in the library. The copy I got from the library was donated to the school (luckily the school catalog is attached to the state catalog) in 1969 and the school has kept it!

[John Bunyan · Rating 4 out of 5]

1959 British police procedural. Good plot and holds up 65 years later. Writing style is very British, but more contemporary than, say, Agatha Christie. I read this some time in the 1970s when I was reading all the McDonald and MacDonald* mystery/detective fiction. I did not know then that this was 12th in a series. I will check out some earlier ones.

*Philip MacDonald is not as good (for me) as Ross MacDonald but holds up far better than John D MacDonald or Greg McDonald.

[Francesca Lombardo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Godibilissimo e avvincente, scritto molto bene e con personaggi piacevoli nella loro superficiale descrizione, ha solo una caduta di stile nel finale (ma è un’opinione personale). Consigliato per passare alcune ore senza pensieri.

[Kathy Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another well written mystery pursued by Englishman Colonel Gethryn following the death of Adrian Messenger by an explosion on an airplane. Messenger has left a mysterious list of 10 men.

[Monica Willyard Moen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an intriguing mystery with a wickedly clever plot.

[Debi Emerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book many times (and seen the movie almost as often). Even though I know the ending, it is still a great read!

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of a thriller than a whodunnit. Very enjoyable but dragged for me a bit at the end…and I am not sure if the motive made sense!

[Benedetta Ammannati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adoro i gialli inglesi, sono ben strutturati, con caratteri ben delineati e una storia credibile e lineare.
Questo non fa eccezione e si legge in un battibaleno perché ti tiene incollato all'ebook!

[Carles · Rating 3 out of 5]

”Tot i així, finalment, hem rebut autorització, molt a contracor, per publicar-la, sempre que, en primer lloc, canviem els noms de les persones i dels llocs, la qual cosa és fàcil; i, en segon lloc, no s’especifiquin dates, cosa molt més difícil.”

Desprès d’aquest paràgraf inicial, qui es pot resistir a seguir llegint?

Novel·la amb un plantejament que m’ha enganxat. Enigmes, pistes i un investigador amb capacitats deductives sobresortints. Ja la primera reunió, quan comencen a calcular probabilitats, m’ha semblat genial.

Molt ben escrit. Personatges i escenaris ben retratats. Acció constant, lectura molt entretinguda. Converses que sonen tan típiques angleses, amb rèpliques ocurrents i que, fins i tot quan han de ser mordaces, mai perden les formes.

“—Li ho diré —digué Anthony—. Però abstingui’s de tirar coses fins que hauré acabat...”

Alta societat anglesa. Cites erudites. Potser una mica massa tòpics.
Certs comportaments i descripcions referides a dones, avui em sonen desfasats.
Final trepidant.

Hem vist el film del 1963 de John Huston, amb George C. Scott, Dana Wynter, Kirk Douglas, Tony Curtis, Burt Lancaster, Robert Mitchum, Frank Sinatra... música de Jerry Goldsmith.
Ens ha semblat una pel·lícula correcte, però n'esperàvem més envers el bon material de la novel·la i el rutilant repartiment del film.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I checked up on this book before I started it, I found that it is the eleventh in the series, but you can definitely forego reading all previous ten to get to this one. I did not feel like I missed anything by reading this as a stand alone.

Unlike current mystery thrillers, this book does not thrive on gore and splatter to give you an immediate interest. Instead it builds a slow burn to get to the heart of the mystery - is there even a connection between these people that have died? What kind of evil genius can manufacture these situations that look to the investigators like accidents?

Take this up for a good return to the way mysteries are supposed to be written. Without the gore, without the absolute sickness, and without thinking to yourself, 'where did he even think this up? That's just... (head shake)...'

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: Adrian Messenger went to Scotland Yard asking them to investigate a list of ten. They had all died by accident in the last few years.

[Edith · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The List of Adrian Messenger" is a classic of its era, set just post WWII, austerity still very evident. Colonel Anthony Gethryn--he's really a general, but hates pulling rank, so immodest, you know--is on the trail of an invisible man (who, in a manner of speaking, is entirely visible to the reader). I can't tell you much, for fear of spoiling your surprise, but if you like British mystery stories of this vintage with superhero detectives, set in high places, this is a particularly good one. Implausible, but entirely enthralling.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An oldie, originally published in 1959. Found this intriguing book at St Vincent de Paul store. Nice writing style and interesting characters. Short book with frequent breaks made for easy reading in spite of numerous people popping in. Good mystery with a very nice touch of romance, including an atypical femme who was taller than most men in the book. Not perfect, but definately enjoyable.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a classic thriller/suspense novel. It's got it all: a mysterious list of names from a dead man, various forms of murder, international travel, a witty detective, a serial killer with an eye twitch, a peer of the realm in peril, and romance with a Frenchmen. What else do you need? Good frothy fiction at its finest.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book would be one of my favorite mystery suspense novel. Well-written and surprisingly intense chapter every chapter. A faceless monomaniac killer who's goal was to become a Marquis of Gleneyre. Andrian's list somehow lead to this facesless killer who was ready to commit his final deed.