The House without the Door

Henry Gamadge #4

by Elizabeth Daly

Acquitted of murdering her husband, Mrs. Vina Gregson remains essentially a prisoner, trapped in her elegant New York apartment with occasional furtive forays to her Connecticut estate. A jury may have found her innocent, but Mrs. Gregson remains a murderess in the eyes of the public and of the tabloid journalists who hound her every step. She has recently begun receiving increasingly menacing letters written, she is certain, by the person who killed her husband. Taking the matter to the police would heighten her notoriety, so she calls on Henry Gamadge, the gentleman-sleuth who is known for both his discretion and his ability to solve problems that baffle the police.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, New York, Classics, Detective, Cozy, Golden Age Mystery

220 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1942

About the author

Elizabeth Daly (1878-1967) was born in New York City and educated at Bryn Mawr College, Pennsylvania and Columbia University. She was a reader in English at Bryn Mawr and tutored in English and French. She was awarded an Edgar in 1960. Her series character is Henry Gamadge, an antiquarian book dealer.

Daly works in the footsteps of Jane Austen, offering an extraordinarily clear picture of society in her time through the interactions of a few characters. In that tradition, if you knew a person's family history, general type, and a few personal quirks, you could be said to know everything worth knowing about that person. Today the emphasis is on baring the darkest depths of psycho- and socio-pathology; contemporary readers raised on this style may find Ms. Daly both elitist and somewhat facile. But fans of classic movies and whodunits know that a focus on polished surfaces brings with it the possibility of hidden secrets and things unsaid; for those who disdain the obvious confessional style of today, the Gamadge books have much to recommend them.

Elizabeth Daly now seems sadly forgotten by many which a shame as all her books are superbly crafted and plotted, indeed she counted none other than Agatha Christie as one of her fans. She published sixteen books all of which featured her main series character Henry Gamadge. He is a bibliophile and expert on rare books and manuscripts which makes her books particularly appealing to fans of the bibliomystery. There was some disparity between UK and US releases some being published out of sequence, the bibliography shown follows the US editions which are the true firsts. Murder Listens In and Shroud for a Lady are re-titled reissues of earlier books.

Reviews

[Lisa Kucharski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once the mystery is set up, you can't put the book down! It's compelling trying to review the evidence of a past crime, and a new one beginning. You spend all your time guessing and guessing and then changing your mind and back again.

The best thing about the characters involved is that they are generally very very plain people. This makes you have to study everything extra carefully.

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm kind of torn between 4 and 3.5 stars. On the one hand, I love the way Henry Gamadge has developed a "family" of sidekicks/assistants who help out with the detection (not saying more so as not to spoil the first few books for anybody), and I continue to enjoy Daly's writing. On the other hand, this particular book just feels like Gamadge does way too much concealing or manipulating evidence to bring about the desired result for the ending to feel completely satisfying or even make complete sense. Still enjoyed reading it, but others in the series are better plotted.

[tortoise dreams · Rating 3 out of 5]

In The House without the Door, the fourth Henry Gamadge mystery, he now acts more like a consulting detective in the traditional mode, and somehow between books he's tied the knot. We met his intended in the previous installment, Murders in Volume 2 when he stole her away from her fiancé. This time a woman who was acquitted of murdering her husband is receiving threatening letters and fears that whoever murdered her husband now wants to kill her. Gamadge is on the job, but another murder soon follows. The book started well and the general premise is interesting, but there were enough mystifying moments that I wonder if my book (the Felony & Mayhem edition) was misprinted. Gamadge, our "detective," actually a handwriting and rare book expert, is weirdly willing to go to extraordinary, disturbing, and illegal lengths to deceive the police for obscure and insufficient reasons. Which just makes it all the more confusing. Oddly of its time is that he "would have suffered tortures" if his wife "had lacquered her nails." I thought nail polish was common in the 1940s (it is in the movies of the time) as it had become popular in the 1920's, but folks in 1942 probably knew what his "torture" was all about. The House without the Door is an average whodunnit, a goodly number of readers may solve it early despite Daly being deliberately obfuscatory. The ending isn't well explained, and the solution seems implausible, unlikely, and solid clues are minimal. On the other hand I happily read all the way to the end, baffled as I was. [3★]

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Early Bird Book Deal | Mystery mostly created through intentionally confusing language | I suggested the correct solution to my cat when he lay down on the Kindle very early on ("you have to get up, I need to find out why [person] is a bad guy"), so clearly the actual mystery wasn't that difficult. What Daly did was to write a lot of conversations in which the people talking knew what they were discussing, but wanted to be discreet, so they wouldn't say anything straight out. This keeps the reader from having any idea what they're really saying to each other, and is one of the laziest ways to build mystery. Along with that, is constantly having Gamadge rushing from one place to the next, getting more and more tired, telling people how urgent and dangerous it all is, as a cheap way of manufacturing dramatic tension. The two combined became only tedious for me, and the murder that occurs in the book (halfway through, but when the characters have barely all been sketched out) seemed to barely bother anybody. So this is definitely not one of the best in the series. That said, the regular series characters are taking shape, which brought more enjoyment than the plot.

[MaryJo Dawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very clever ending to an interesting plot!
But then, Henry Gamadge is a very clever man.
I enjoy the dry wit and humor that comes up throughout the process too,
although it does not take away from the underlying tragedy of the whole situation.
At this point in the series it's nice to find out Henry has some enrichment in what had been a solitary lifestyle.
From my point of view, character development adds to the enjoyment of a good mystery.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

The fourth Henry Gamadge mystery, first published in 1942, is a curiously flat affair using a device which was not difficult to fathom. The plotting is not particularly strong with a fairly unbelievable explanation of how the murder featured in the book was perpetrated.

I also find Daly’s characters rather wooden: many are potentially very interesting but they fail to leap off the page. This was also true of the set-up here with a woman,her family and associates suffering the after-effects of her trial for the murder of her husband,and her life being threatened. There was an unreality about this, with too many oddities of behaviour and reticences in the testimony of the protagonists.

What irritates me is that the whole thing reeks of manipulation. Not only is that the basis of the story but the characters come across as mere puppets. I do not object to that feature of GAD fiction generally but here the strings are all too obviously pulled.

3.25 stars.

[Yibbie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well, even our favorite authors can’t write a masterpiece every time. I’m afraid that if this was the first of Daly’s book books I’d read, I’d have written her off as a rather poor plotter. She takes one my favorite amateur detectives and makes him into a secretive, meddling abettor. Her skill with words was still there though so there were some interesting scenes. I would recommend not bothering with this one though.

[Adam Carson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was lured into this book by the exciting and slightly spooky title. Well, to save you the time, there’s no house without a door - it’s a metaphor.

There’s lot’s of set up here and ultimately a reasonably interesting (though slightly predictable) plot twist. I just struggled to get into it - I couldn’t help feeing the detective made this unnecessarily complex, obfuscating facts from the police for fairly flimsy reasons.

I didn’t really enjoy, 3 stars is probably too much.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Henry Gamadge, documents expert and sometime crime solver, is asked by a friend to look into a case involving anonymous letters and several apparent murder attempts against a woman who was acquitted of murdering her husband. There are numerous potential heirs with an interest in the woman's will, but no clear suspects. Still, the case seems to be aiming at making someone look guilty--not just for attempting to kill Mrs. Gregson, the widow, but perhaps for the murder of her late husband as well. And Gamadge suspects time is pressing to stop whoever is behind the dangerous proceedings.
The series by Elizabeth Daly has been long out of print. I honestly don't recall reading them previously, but they rested on my favorites shelf for many years. Re-reading them, I'm learning to appreciate Daly's intricate plotting, as well as her central characters--Gamadge, his wife Clara, assistant Harold, and assorted friends and acquaintances. This outing delivers dilemmas, poison, hidden pistols, frustrated police detectives, and dangerous dames.

[Cindy Ladensack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing story about the resurrection of an old crime — I still think that Daly’s method of storytelling is a bit confusing, and that at times Gamadge kind of leaps ahead without much much substantiation (and he can be condescending towards the members of his little group of compatriots, which kind of irritates me), but this one was a satisfying read.

[Susan in NC · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars - kind of a letdown after enjoying book #3 in the series so much. I mainly read this book to see how Clara and Henry Gamadge were settling into married life, and how she was settling into Gamadge’s household. Pleased to see she gets along swimmingly with Harold, the taciturn, live-in assistant, and Gamadge’s houseman Theodore and cat Martin. Even Clara’s chow dog has settled in, and Clara helps with this investigation. Her role created one of the highlights, but no spoilers! Mainly, I was glad to see she wasn’t going to be shunted to the sidelines of domesticity.

This case was something of a muddle, and even at the end I was still somewhat confused. Basically, it starts with a friend bringing Gamadge to meet the notorious Mrs. Gregson - acquitted three years previously of poisoning her husband in Connecticut. She was hounded by newspaper reporters and poison pen letters despite the acquittal, and went into hiding in New York City under a false name. Now she wants Gamadge to investigate a series of attempts on her life, and threatening letters that the killer of her husband must come out of hiding.

There were several poor relations in the house when Mr. Gregson was murdered, and I never quite grasped the relationships and likelihood of guilt among these people. Add in Daly’s telegraphic way of writing dialogue, and Henry Gamadge’s laconic nature, and I wasn’t really sure what was going on much of the time, or why Henry seemed so stressed - I couldn’t tell, but his new young bride pointed it out to one of their friends. Rather frustrating, really; hard to care when you can’t tell what’s going on or why!

I guessed whodunnit near the end, and was right, so that was fairly entertaining. I will read on because I have several of the Henry Gamadge mysteries in used paperbacks or kindles. Still early in the long series, I’m hoping to get back to the exciting storytelling that had me gripped and reading quickly through book 3.

[Chazzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mrs. Curtis Gregson was acquitted of her husband’s murder a couple of years back, but now is receiving hate mail and there have been a few “attempts” on her life. Just because a jury found her innocent doesn’t mean the public thinks she is. There are also the tabloid reporters looking for another story. She has become a prisoner of her elaborate New York apartment.

Rather than deal with the police, Mrs. Gregson turns to Henry Garmadge for help. His reputation of discretion and ability to solve unusual cases, without publicity, makes him the perfect choice for her.

Gamadge comes up with possible suspects, but when a murder happens, he takes a closer look at everyone involved. The inter-relationships among the people, makes his search that much more complicated.

His chief specialties may be old books, signatures and ink, but he is also thorough when it comes to figuring out clues.

[Mbuye · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting variation of the locked room mystery.

Although the beginning is a little slow, I realise now that most good mystery novels have to be slow to start with. The early chapters are designed to build up the psychological profile of even the minor characters, something that most authors of crime stories rarely have the luxury to do. And in this particular novel, that psychological profile is all you need for a comfortable guess at the criminal. The clues and physical evidence are simply the topping on the pizza.

However, it is only after you get the explanation that you can understand the steps in the way forward to the solution. To the extent that there is no reader participation in the solution, a feeling that Daly cheated is inevitable, until you examine the explanation closely, and then it dawns on you that you were in on the whole crime from the word go.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*
This 4th book in the Gamadge series is the first one in which Henry Gamadge is married (though the signs were clear at the end of the 3rd book that this was on its way). Daly did a good job of providing all the clues that Gamadge picks up on without signalling to the reader which are the important ones and which are red herrings - a feature of this series that I truly appreciate!

[Hana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ammetto di star diventando una vera e propria fan di Henry Gamadge (e di Elizabeth Daly). Modi poco convenzionali, ma risultati assicurati. Ammetto però che i miei sospetti si sono subito concentrati sul colpevole, quindi non viene ingannato né Gamadge né il lettore ma ciò non pregiudica il piacere della lettura.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought I liked these Golden Age mysteries but I often find them difficult to read because of the plodding plots and somewhat stilted language of that era. Henry Gamadge is a thorough detective and a good sleuth. The novel was at times hard to follow as conversations flow from person to person without identifiers. I don’t think I’ll read any more Elizabeth Daly novels.

[dmayr · Rating 4 out of 5]

"This is a very bad case," as Gamadge tells his wife Clara. Usually calm and collected, Gamadge was impelled with urgency as he tackles the case of murderous attempts on Mrs. Gregson who was acquitted of her husband's murder years ago. One of the best books in the series in my opinion.

[Virginia B · Rating 4 out of 5]

THAT was a surprise! Never even occurred to me who the bad guy was, no inkling at all. A bit contrived, and required lengthy explanations in the end, but I don’t care because I like clever Henry Gamage and his time period.

[Red Risa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Series keeps getting better

So far my favorite book in the series so far. Although slot of time is spent on car and train travel. It is pertinent, but can be tedious! Gamadge has a couple of great expositional scenes.

[Heatherinblack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good mystery even if I had my suspicions

The risks the murderer took were a bit extreme, but it was still a very well done mystery. The solution was clever without being convoluted.

[John R. Goyer · Rating 2 out of 5]

We have Gamadge involved from the beginning in this volume, and I'm afraid to say I like it much better when the stage is set by unknown forces before he appears. The story is good but overall I felt the ending dragged and perhaps less of Gamadge is better... Let him shine but be an enigma.

[Marsha Valance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Approached by a real estate agent friend on behalf of an acquitted murder suspect in receipt of threatening letters, bibliophile sleuth Henry Gamadge tries to protect her by isolating her in an upstate sanatorium while he searches for her blackmailer's identity.

[Erik Gallesi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una scrittura particolare che ricorda Agata Christie con ambienti e situazioni anni '40. Un personaggio strano che indaga per diletto con modalità discutibili scoprendo la psicologia nascosta di ogni protagonista.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elegant and smooth, a classic whodunnit. I really enjoy Daly, although I feel like this one more than many others has some unstated assumptions based on social cues, which her 1940s readers would have been fine with, but with whoosh right past me. Nevertheless a very enjoyable read.

[Lisa T. Ungerer]

I did not guess the solution to this one

The best Henry Gamage so far. A woman who was acquitted of her husband's murder hires Henry to figure out who is threatening her. Lots of twists and turns. Even Clara helps out. But the end was a surprise. Highly recommended

[Dawn Tyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable mystery cleverly worked out by the charming Henry Gamadge and co. The wrapping up here was a bit convoluted and there were some dodgy manipulations of evidence along the way but overall a satisfying read.

[Puzzle Doctor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting at times, but nothing special. Full review at classicmystery.wordpress.com

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. This one had me guessing until the end.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stayed up way too late as this one turned into an unexpected page turner. There were a few things that made no real sense, but the overall arc of the story is very entertaining.

[Kathleen Lustig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such good mysteries

As usual, Ms Daly keeps you guessing until the end. These are so well written and you become so involved with the characters.