Cry murder

by Nancy Rutledge

158 pages, Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1953

About the author

Nancy Rutledge (1901-1976) was the author of several works of crime fiction between 1944 and 1960 under her own name, two of them published only in England. She also had one mystery novel published as by Leigh Bryson, a Handi-Book paperback original in 1947.

Rutledge was popular enough in the 1950s and 60s to have eight mystery novels serialized in the Saturday Evening Post, and one that appeared complete in one 1960 issue of Redbook.

Seriealized works:
* Alibi for Murder, (sl) The Saturday Evening Post Aug 27, Sep 3, Sep 10, Sep 17, Sep 24, Oct 1 1960
* Cry Murder!, (sl) The Saturday Evening Post Nov 14, Nov 21, Nov 28, Dec 5, Dec 12, Dec 19, Dec 26 1953
* Death Stalks the Bride, (sl) The Saturday Evening Post Mar 29, Apr 5, Apr 12, Apr 19 1958
* Easy to Murder, (sl) The Saturday Evening Post Jan 6, Jan 13, Jan 20, Jan 27, Feb 3, Feb 10 1951
* Escape Into Danger, (sl) The Saturday Evening Post Dec 20, Dec 27 1958, Jan 3, Jan 10, Jan 17, Jan 24 1959
* Forgotten World, (n.) Redbook May 1960
* Murder for Millions, (sl) The Saturday Evening Post Nov 20, Nov 27, Dec 4, Dec 11, Dec 18, Dec 25 1948, Jan 1, Jan 8 1949
* Murder in Disguise, (sl) The Saturday Evening Post Feb 18, Feb 25, Mar 3, Mar 10, Mar 17, Mar 24 1956
* Soldier’s Dog, (ss) The Saturday Evening Post Nov 29 1952
* Tropic Holiday, (sl) The Saturday Evening Post Dec 19, Dec 26 1959, Jan 2, Jan 9 1960

Reviews

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first book by this once-popular author, and an inverted mystery. The story is told from the point of view of the murderer, a grandiose narcissist stage actor who is being blackmailed by someone from his past. Plenty of plot twists as his plan goes wrong in various interesting ways, leaving the outcome of the story in doubt almost to the very end.