El escudo de armas

by Edgar Wallace

Cuando el Viejo mata al guardia nocturno a martillazos y escapa del asilo de Sketchley, los vecinos del apacible paraje se organizan para dar con el loco más antiguo del refugio de indigentes.

Solo John Lorney se niega a participar del esfuerzo. Lorney es nuevo en Surrey y la gente lo mira con reticencia desde que compró la mansión Tudor donde ha montado un lujoso hotel al borde de la carretera. El mundo es pequeño y la posibilidad de que viejos criminales se reúnan en El escudo de armas no es tan remota. Finalmente, Sketchley es un sitio donde pasan cosas extrañas: robos, restituciones, un viejo misterioso y merodeador.

Una noche, prende fuego la finca de un señorío vecino. El dueño y sus invitados se ven obligados a trasladarse a El escudo de armas. Uno de ellos muere asesinado.

No hay ninguna pista que relacione los sucesos entre sí hasta que llegan Rennet, un detective americano, y el señor Collett, un inspector de Scotland Yard. La investigación revelará la conexión que los une a todos.

Genres: Mystery

161 pages, ebook

First published July 1, 1931

About the author

Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace (1875-1932) was a prolific British crime writer, journalist and playwright, who wrote 175 novels, 24 plays, and countless articles in newspapers and journals.

Over 160 films have been made of his novels, more than any other author. In the 1920s, one of Wallace's publishers claimed that a quarter of all books read in England were written by him.

He is most famous today as the co-creator of "King Kong", writing the early screenplay and story for the movie, as well as a short story "King Kong" (1933) credited to him and Draycott Dell. He was known for the J. G. Reeder detective stories, The Four Just Men, the Ringer, and for creating the Green Archer character during his lifetime.

Reviews

[Lisa Kucharski · Rating 4 out of 5]

The copy I read is called The Arranways Mystery but it is a different edition. Enjoyed the story and the humor. If someone in the story hadn't killed the victim, you would feel compelled to get into the story and do it yourself.

The story begins with following the Arranway family and various people that touch their life. Little by little you can see that pretty much everyone had a reason to kill the victim. However the murder comes 3/4 into the book and by chance a man from Scotland Yard is there and had a good idea who the murderer is but has his hand stayed by "procedure." The procedure here is that the local man in charge must be in control, and he's sadly not ready for the job.

We read from Collette's point of view to the end, as he investigates as he can, and where he comes in at the end and tries to do his best- and in the end .... (well I won't spoil it for you.)

Well, written- moves well. Fun.

[Laura Rye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! I had heard about Edgar Wallace, but this is the first of his works that I have actually read. It only took me 2 days---my 312 page book was published in 1933, so the pages are smaller and the print is larger--probably close to a modern 160 page book. The pace was fast, the plot was involved, the characters numerous and complex....I wanted to finish it quickly because the plot and characters were so complex that I didn't want to stretch it over a long period and possibly forget some of the clues. Its a great story, well written...a good 1930's detective story. Very entertaining....I will definitely be looking into more of his works.
I now find this book has also been listed as "Coat of Arms" by Edgar Wallace. My 1933 edition didn't mention that title anywhere.

[Francesca Lami · Rating 3 out of 5]

La verità è un arma utilissima per una persona innocente - continuò Collett- anche se è brutta. Per una persona colpevole essa ha un manico affilato come la lama.

[Eduardo Garcia-Gaspar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buena y divertida historia de detectives, en la que participan personajes atractivos que casi pueden tocarse. Una obra recomendable que hará pasar un buen rato a los lectores, comenzando con un manicomio en medio de una tranquila campiña inglesa, de donde se escapa un loco que ha pasado casi toda su vida en su interior y así da un color pintoresco adicional al de la campiña...

[Julie Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. Having the main investigation done by a Scotland Yard officer with no jurisdiction was a nice touch as he outdid the bumbling local inspector. It allowed justice to be tempered with mercy in the end.

[Paola · Rating 2 out of 5]

Un po' troppi personaggi... a volte dimentico chi era chi, ma tutto sommato non male.

[Christian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty interesting novel. The coat of arms being the name of a guest house in Surrey, tempers and jealousy flare up until there is a body.

The resolution is a bit odd but yet very satisfying.