Double Cross Purposes

Miles Bredon #5

by Ronald Knox

From the start, it seems an unholy alliance. as every reader of the cheap press knows, the Honourable Vernon Lethaby (son of a peer) is a flamboyant, headline-seeking exhibitionist, young handsome--if a trifle effeminate--with extravagant tastes and an allowance that barely covers his racing debts. Rougher around the edges to be sure, Joe "Digger" Henderson is a man of quieter turn. Among his considerable abilities, the middle-aged Canadian adventurer, former rumrunner and suspected train robber boasts a remarkable facility for digging.

No more unlikely partnership ever struck out for the Highlands of Scotland to hunt for Prince Charlie's fabulous treasure. According to legend, the booty is snuggly interred in the Isle of Erran, and according to Lethaby, a ciphered map he recollects from childhood days at Dreams Castle might just pinpoint the precise location. All that remains is to make a suitable arrangement with Sir Charles Airdrie, the new owner of the castle and island, for the digging to begin.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

314 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1937

About the author

Monsignor Ronald Arbuthnott Knox was a Roman Catholic priest, theologian, author of detective stories, as well as a writer and a regular broadcaster for BBC Radio.

Knox had attended Eton College and won several scholarships at Balliol College, Oxford. He was ordained an Anglican priest in 1912 and was appointed chaplain of Trinity College, Oxford, but he left in 1917 upon his conversion to Catholicism. In 1918 he was ordained a Catholic priest. Knox wrote many books of essays and novels. Directed by his religious superiors, he re-translated the Latin Vulgate Bible into English, using Hebrew and Greek sources, beginning in 1936.

He died on 24 August 1957 and his body was brought to Westminster Cathedral. Bishop Craven celebrated the requiem mass, at which Father Martin D'Arcy, a Jesuit, preached the panegyric. Knox was buried in the churchyard of St Andrew's Church, Mells.

Reviews

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Double Cross Purposes (1937) was written by Ronald A. Knox, an English priest, respected theologian. Monsignor Knox in his religious capacity served as chaplain to Oxford--providing suitable Catholic lectures when C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien trod the hallowed halls--as well as translating the Latin Vulgate Bible into English using Hebrew and Greek sources. But in his spare time, he was a founding member of the Detection Club, penned the Ten Commandments of Detective Fiction, and authored six detective novels--five of which feature Miles Bredon. Bredon is an investigator who is often called upon by the Indescribable Insurance company to investigate suspicious circumstances connected with their insurance policies. Double Cross Purposes is the last of these novels.

This time Bredon is called to duty when the Indescribable provides a policy against fraud for would-be treasure hunter, the Honoroable Vernon Lethaby. Lethaby is the younger son of nobility and well-known for as a notorious, man-about-town. He will do anything for a lark or just to help a journalistic pal with a story sure to make a splash. And, being always short on cash, when an opportunity to do something outrageous with the possibility of profit comes along, there's no holding him back.

Lethaby spent his tender years in Scotland and remembers a rather treasure-mappish sort of sketch lurking somewhere on the walls of Dream Castle set amongst the burns and glens of the land along the river Dounie. There were also rumors that Bonnie Prince Charlie left some of his valuables hidden about the area and putting two and two together Lethaby dreams of making four times as much cash as he might need. Speaking of "need"--he needs someone to do the heavy lifting and spadework so he throws in his lot with a dubious man of travels and experience, one "Digger" Henderson so named because he's quite the digging prodigy. But, being the cautious sort, Lethaby takes out a policy with the Indescribable to cover him for fraud if his new friend happens to run off with all the doings.

So...having struck a deal with the current "king" of Dream Castle to go in halfsies on any treasure found, Lethaby and Henderson make plans to hunt on an island in the river Dounie. Meanwhile, the Indescribable sends Bredon, along with his wife Angela and friend, Mr. Poultney as cover, to keep an eye on the two treasure hunters and make sure there is no funny business that will defraud the company. Mr. Poultney is an elderly schoolmaster who shall use salmon fishing as a cover to keep watch on the other side of the island.

To everyone's surprise, the two men actually do strike gold--well, treasure of a sort, anyway. But then a fire, a murder, a treasure that disappeared after it should have, a drugged treasure hunter (no, I'm not going to tell you who), a ghostly, coffin-laden boat, mysterious lights, and a few midnight swims later Bredon is still trying to figure out if fraud has been (or is going to be) done, who died, who disappeared, and if anybody is crossing or double-crossing anybody else.

This is a quite lovely Golden Age Detective story--in every sense of the word. It was written between the wars, it's fairly clued, and it has a nifty, intricate puzzle plot. What more could a GAD-lover want? It has disguises and maps and suspicious chauffeurs. It has a curse on the treasure and a missing key. There is minister who seems a tad too interested in the treasure hunt and policemen who don't seem interested enough in dead bodies. The banter between Bredon and his wife is witty and I enjoyed their good-natured teasing of their schoolmaster friend. Poultney is every inch the pedant (who will tell you the origins of any word or phrase at the drop of a hat), but he is also an over-grown school boy just dying to play at sleuth hound with big kids. He is utterly delightful when he discovers a major clue and springs it upon Bredon. I had a great deal of fun with this one even though I guessed part (but not all!) of the solution.

First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.

[Bruce · Rating 2 out of 5]

I completed this long and somewhat tedious mystery for exactly the same reason I would listen attentively to a good friend telling a long and somewhat tedious anecdote. Ronald A. Knox is a writer I'd love to have as a friend -- read his theological essays to know him at his best. Double Cross Purposes actually has many pleasant and amusing things in it, including the observation that when people use the word "actually" too much they're usually lying. The plot, however, lacks verve.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was Father Knox' last crime novel first published in 1937.

It contains some beautiful descriptive writing, some tedious dialogue and a simple plot which seems elongated out of all proportion.

Miles Bredon is sent to the Scottish Highlands with a watching brief over what may be an insurance scam involving the search for Jacobite treasure. A body is found in a burned-out garage and the identity of the victim plays a not inconsiderable part in the mystifications.

There are numerous "characters" in this, with Mrs Wauchope making a welcome reappearance.

I struggled with various solutions and did latch on to many of the clues which are in the cluefinder towards the end of the book. However, realistically, there could only be one solution which would satisfy the author's moral compass- although he does not entirely play fair.

Rather disappointing but I shall continue reading my way through the novels. As a change from my usual practice, I am not reading in chronological order.

3.5 stars.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although beautifully written, the basic premise of this story just is not believable. I do believe that crime/mystery stories should bear some resemblance to reality.

No insurance company would take on risks like those in this story. There was a body in the burnt out garage but the police do not feature in it at all. To give Knox his due, he does play fair with the reader; all the clues are there and the plot is intricate and clever but not very exciting.

The constant verbal banter between the insurance company detective, Miles Bredon and his wife is very tiresome and goes on for far too long. In fact the whole book goes on far too long: 315 pages in my edition.

I have read several other of his books, all of which were much better than this one.

Disappointing.

[Tahlia Fernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was initially hard for me to get into. There was a lot of description of the scenery, which, in retrospect, probably was important for me to grasp.
I tend to skim over lengthy descriptions since I have trouble picturing them in my head and want to hurry up and get to the "good stuff" -- the characters.
And the characters in this are good. I had heard that Fr. Knox's husband-wife detective team were enjoyable and I definitely found them to be so. His characters are well-sketched and feel real.
If I have to work through my distaste of minute description of the surroundings, so be it. The characters are worth it.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another Golden Age mystery writer I thought I would try. Very slow, good atmospheric description of Scotland and amusing tone, but too too much extraneous detail and took too long to get to the solution. Enough of this author--amazed I finished it, but that is my own tendency.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Father Knox, a stalwart of Golden Age mystery writers, takes his detective Miles Bredon (ironically, happily married to Angela) to Scotland, to make sure that two suspicious characters who are looking for buried treasure aren't also planning to defraud the insurance company he works for. There are all sorts of suspicious goings-on, including a map that shows where the treasure may be, a fire that almost destroys the house where the treasure hunters are living, a mysterious chauffeur, and an obstinate maiden aunt. Too bad not more of these are available.

[Les Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the great things about books written around this time is, I know I'm not going to be offended with homosexuality or explicit sex. This means I can relax when I'm reading knowing that the next page is not going to offend me. Personal ranking 5*

[Laurel Hicks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite clever.