Murder by Proxy

The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes Series 1 #3

by Chris Harrald (Dramatist), M. McDonnell Bodkin

Adapted by Chris Harrald from the short story by Matthias McDonnell Bodkin.

Inspector Lestrade was made to look a fool in the Sherlock Holmes stories. Now he has a chance to get his own back, with tales of Holmes' rivals. He continues with a country house murder and the devious talents of private detective Paul Beck.

Lestrade . . . . . James Fleet
Beck . . . . . Anton Lesser
Lucy . . . . . Alex Tregear
Jonathan . . . . . Stuart McLoughlin
Mark . . . . . Simon Bubb
Julia . . . . . Eloise Secker
Neville . . . . . Sean Baker
Tilley . . . . . Brian Bowles
Mrs Beck . . . . . Jane Whittenshaw

Directed by Sasha Yevtushenko.

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook

Audiobook

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Charles van Buren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story also appears in THE RULE OF THUMB DETECTIVE, a collection of M. McDonnell Bodkin's Paul Beck mysteries. Despite the description on GoodReads, Inspector Lestrade has nothing to do with this story. Perhaps he is featured in the audible dramatization but he is not in the written story. Paul Beck is a late 19th, early twentieth century literary rival of Sherlock Holmes.

In this story Beck solves an ingenious murder by using his usual common sense and observing the physical evidence. I do not know enough about handling percussion cap firearms to know if the method of firing one used in this tale would actually work. Perhaps someone else could comment on that. Whether or not it would work, the story is well written and entertaining.

[Jodi Peacock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short story but good story line

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic locked-room mystery featuring the detective, Paul Beck. The story revolves around the murder of Squire Neville, who is found shot dead in his study on a sweltering August afternoon. Witnesses insist that no one could have entered or left the room, yet the case is clearly one of foul play. The victim's nephews, John and Eric, agree to call in the celebrated "rule of thumb detective" Paul Beck to investigate.

[Sharon Dorival · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Murder by Proxy" is a classic whodunit that delivers on its promise of intricate plotting and surprising twists. M. McDonnell Bodkin crafts a compelling mystery centered around a seemingly impossible crime. The cleverness lies in unraveling the layers of deception and understanding the motive behind the indirect method of murder. While the pacing might feel a bit deliberate to modern readers, the satisfaction comes from following the astute deductions and the eventual, often unexpected, revelation of the culprit. If you enjoy vintage crime fiction with a focus on puzzle-solving, "Murder by Proxy" is a worthwhile delve into the ingenuity of early detective stories.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining mystery listening

I listened to this as part of the Victorian Mystery Megapack. A very interesting short story mystery with a quick ending.

I would recommend to readers looking for a quick read or listen. 2023

[Benjamin Stahl · Rating 3 out of 5]

A curious murder mystery when the sun is the murderer.

[Jini · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't understand how it happened.