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Nightmare
Selected by Martin Edward as one of his 100 Classic Crime novels in The Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books‘Ambitious and genuinely distinctive … [a] neglected gem’ Martin EdwardsThis 2026 Spitfire Publishers edition includes a complete bibliography of Lynn Brock’s detective novels‘There is genius in Mr Brock’s power of charging a moment with noises, colour and feeling until it seems more real than life… ought to have been written by Edgar Allan Poe’ Times Literary Supplement
In the once-elegant suburb of Rockwood, a grand house has been carved into flats, its faded respectability sheltering a cast of uneasy neighbours. The walls are thin, the staircases echo with footsteps, and the relentless blare of a gramophone from the top floor torments all below. In the midst of this claustrophobic setting, Simon Whalley—an unsuccessful novelist—struggles with declining health, financial anxiety, and the slow erosion of hope. His days are marked by petty grievances, endless housework, and the gnawing sense of failure. When a neighbour’s maid is found brutally murdered, suspicion and paranoia ripple through the building. As Simon’s isolation deepens, his grip on reality falters, and the line between victim and perpetrator begins to blur.
About the Author
Lynn Brock was the pen name of Alexander Patrick McAllister, an Irish‑born writer who became one of the more distinctive, if now under‑appreciated, figures of the Golden Age of detective fiction. He was born in Dublin in 1877 and educated at the National University of Ireland, where he later worked for over a decade as a university administrator. Before turning fully to fiction, McAllister enjoyed early success as a playwright under the name Anthony P. Wharton, his play Irene Wycherley being staged in London in 1907 and New York in 1908 (‘Exceptionally impressive’ New York Times). He also used ‘Alister McAllister’ as another pen name. During the First World War he served with the British Army, including a period in military intelligence, and was wounded twice in France. In the 1920s he turned decisively to crime fiction, writing a series of complex and intellectually demanding detective novels under the Lynn Brock pseudonym. His principal creation was Colonel Wyckham Gore, a retired military man whose cases – beginning with The Deductions of Colonel Gore (1924) – were admired for their density, psychological depth and intricate plotting. Brock’s novels, often set in rural English landscapes, were popular in their day and praised by contemporaries including Dorothy L. Sayers and T.S. Eliot, though his demanding style later fell out of fashion. He died in Dorset in 1943, aged 65.
Praise for Lynn Brock
‘Characters–humour–lively plot, ingeniously unravelled’
Evening Standard
‘Colonel Gore is one of the most attractive of detective sleuths’
The Daily Mail
‘Commended without reservation. It will be a shrewd student of detective yarns who solves the secret of the slaying of Dr Melhuish’
New York Times
‘A masterpiece, while some of Lynn Brock’s chapters belong in an ordinary detective story others have the flavour of literature… genius’
Times Literary Supplement
In the once-elegant suburb of Rockwood, a grand house has been carved into flats, its faded respectability sheltering a cast of uneasy neighbours. The walls are thin, the staircases echo with footsteps, and the relentless blare of a gramophone from the top floor torments all below. In the midst of this claustrophobic setting, Simon Whalley—an unsuccessful novelist—struggles with declining health, financial anxiety, and the slow erosion of hope. His days are marked by petty grievances, endless housework, and the gnawing sense of failure. When a neighbour’s maid is found brutally murdered, suspicion and paranoia ripple through the building. As Simon’s isolation deepens, his grip on reality falters, and the line between victim and perpetrator begins to blur.
About the Author
Lynn Brock was the pen name of Alexander Patrick McAllister, an Irish‑born writer who became one of the more distinctive, if now under‑appreciated, figures of the Golden Age of detective fiction. He was born in Dublin in 1877 and educated at the National University of Ireland, where he later worked for over a decade as a university administrator. Before turning fully to fiction, McAllister enjoyed early success as a playwright under the name Anthony P. Wharton, his play Irene Wycherley being staged in London in 1907 and New York in 1908 (‘Exceptionally impressive’ New York Times). He also used ‘Alister McAllister’ as another pen name. During the First World War he served with the British Army, including a period in military intelligence, and was wounded twice in France. In the 1920s he turned decisively to crime fiction, writing a series of complex and intellectually demanding detective novels under the Lynn Brock pseudonym. His principal creation was Colonel Wyckham Gore, a retired military man whose cases – beginning with The Deductions of Colonel Gore (1924) – were admired for their density, psychological depth and intricate plotting. Brock’s novels, often set in rural English landscapes, were popular in their day and praised by contemporaries including Dorothy L. Sayers and T.S. Eliot, though his demanding style later fell out of fashion. He died in Dorset in 1943, aged 65.
Praise for Lynn Brock
‘Characters–humour–lively plot, ingeniously unravelled’
Evening Standard
‘Colonel Gore is one of the most attractive of detective sleuths’
The Daily Mail
‘Commended without reservation. It will be a shrewd student of detective yarns who solves the secret of the slaying of Dr Melhuish’
New York Times
‘A masterpiece, while some of Lynn Brock’s chapters belong in an ordinary detective story others have the flavour of literature… genius’
Times Literary Supplement
278 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1932
About the author
Lynn Brock
38 books3 followersAlister McAllister (1877-1943) was an Irish novelist and playwright who wrote detective stories under the name "Lynn Brock" and other works under the name "Anthony Wharton".
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 6, 2018
I read this book as it is 1 of 100 books used by Martin Edwards in his book - The Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books (2017) which shows the development of Crime Fiction from 1901 - 1950 - in this case I feel his choice wasn't well thought out. It has also been re-issued by HarperCollins as part of their Detective Club Series. The book was originally published in 1932 by Collins - it didn't appear as part of The Crime Club (red boards - black titles) or Thriller/Mystery Series (purple boards - silver titles) but more of a stand alone book issued in green boards - red titles (this info. is for collectors). It wasn't a success and finding a first edition is difficult.
The novel tries a newish approach for the time - by concentrating on the main character's history and what events and conditions have made up his present mental state e.g. how he was effected by his family & WW1 etc. And mixing these stories with his present circumstances and combining them with the stories of the people he is connected with e.g. his wife, his neighbours etc. So the overall aim of the book was a psychological approach of how a normal man (he is not a normal by any means - this is very misleading - see book taster below) can become a murderer. However, the story doesn't work, or gel together (not for me) as this story only deals with negativity and characters that are unlikeable - even the dog! (Bogey-Bogey). The main protagonist is called Mr. Whalley - even his name which means - to act stupidly - suggests that we as readers are going to expect to encounter a man who acts in a very irrational way or have weird peculiarities - which he does have e.g. compulsive cleaning disorder etc. In books such as - The Girl on the Train (Paula Hawkins) 2014 - Thirteen Steps Down (Ruth Rendell) 2004 or Strangers on a Train (Patricia Highsmith) 1950 the authors have used a similar device of negative/delusional characters but turned their novels into psychological thrillers which have made them successful - where as Brock hasn't been able to get out of his classical crime writing style and paces his novel at a tediously slow tempo - leaving his readers wondering when something is going to happen - admittedly I only read to page 120 (of 288) as I grew so bored and frustrated with the main character that I had to put the book down and stop (which I rarely do). I doubt if many cosy crime or detective fiction fans will have the patience to read this novel as the crime happens towards the end of the book and isn't the focus of it. I am left wondering who actually decides on these re-issues and if it isn't a good idea to propose that a group of avid classical crime readers be enlisted to suggest titles that rate highly amongst them and are both interesting and readable to a general public - as I am pretty sure that this choice was based on just a few select readers who perhaps read at a different level than most of us cosy crime/detective fiction fans. In fact this book re-issued by The Detective Club hardly has any crime in it and no detection. I would give this book 2 out of 10 for being adventurous and that the prose was readable no matter how annoying it was. Please note Detective Club (HarperCollins) that this book was a flop for a good reason and you need to be more selective with your re-issues.
Book taster taken from the first edition:
Mr. Lynn Brock, who as the creator of Colonel Gore ranks as one of our best detective story writers, has written in Nightmare an entirely original novel, which will arouse great interest and discussion. It is really a character study of a normal man turned murderer, a most fascinating study in psychology. The leading character is an unsuccessful novelist, who gradually goes to pieces under the strain of successive small and petty worries until, brooding over his troubles, he avenges himself on the people whom he imagines to be his enemies. He decides to murder them, and the crimes are carried out with great ingenuity. We think Nightmare is one of the most remarkable books that we have ever published, and will be sure to add to Mr. Lynn Brock's already great reputation.
The novel tries a newish approach for the time - by concentrating on the main character's history and what events and conditions have made up his present mental state e.g. how he was effected by his family & WW1 etc. And mixing these stories with his present circumstances and combining them with the stories of the people he is connected with e.g. his wife, his neighbours etc. So the overall aim of the book was a psychological approach of how a normal man (he is not a normal by any means - this is very misleading - see book taster below) can become a murderer. However, the story doesn't work, or gel together (not for me) as this story only deals with negativity and characters that are unlikeable - even the dog! (Bogey-Bogey). The main protagonist is called Mr. Whalley - even his name which means - to act stupidly - suggests that we as readers are going to expect to encounter a man who acts in a very irrational way or have weird peculiarities - which he does have e.g. compulsive cleaning disorder etc. In books such as - The Girl on the Train (Paula Hawkins) 2014 - Thirteen Steps Down (Ruth Rendell) 2004 or Strangers on a Train (Patricia Highsmith) 1950 the authors have used a similar device of negative/delusional characters but turned their novels into psychological thrillers which have made them successful - where as Brock hasn't been able to get out of his classical crime writing style and paces his novel at a tediously slow tempo - leaving his readers wondering when something is going to happen - admittedly I only read to page 120 (of 288) as I grew so bored and frustrated with the main character that I had to put the book down and stop (which I rarely do). I doubt if many cosy crime or detective fiction fans will have the patience to read this novel as the crime happens towards the end of the book and isn't the focus of it. I am left wondering who actually decides on these re-issues and if it isn't a good idea to propose that a group of avid classical crime readers be enlisted to suggest titles that rate highly amongst them and are both interesting and readable to a general public - as I am pretty sure that this choice was based on just a few select readers who perhaps read at a different level than most of us cosy crime/detective fiction fans. In fact this book re-issued by The Detective Club hardly has any crime in it and no detection. I would give this book 2 out of 10 for being adventurous and that the prose was readable no matter how annoying it was. Please note Detective Club (HarperCollins) that this book was a flop for a good reason and you need to be more selective with your re-issues.
Book taster taken from the first edition:
Mr. Lynn Brock, who as the creator of Colonel Gore ranks as one of our best detective story writers, has written in Nightmare an entirely original novel, which will arouse great interest and discussion. It is really a character study of a normal man turned murderer, a most fascinating study in psychology. The leading character is an unsuccessful novelist, who gradually goes to pieces under the strain of successive small and petty worries until, brooding over his troubles, he avenges himself on the people whom he imagines to be his enemies. He decides to murder them, and the crimes are carried out with great ingenuity. We think Nightmare is one of the most remarkable books that we have ever published, and will be sure to add to Mr. Lynn Brock's already great reputation.
January 3, 2018
For my full review click on the link below:
https://crossexaminingcrime.wordpress...
https://crossexaminingcrime.wordpress...
March 30, 2023
If this had been a modern novel I would have given it 2 stars, but I really enjoyed the contemporaneous depiction of life in 1930s England, and felt that most of the plot derived directly from things going on at that time. The protagonist’s behaviour was super annoying, and yet I wanted to commit murder with him after the first chapter, so I was hooked. It got a bit boring after he actually started murdering, but overall i thought it worked well.
Read
March 1, 2022No.
Want to Read
June 4, 2025Synopsis: so-far, novelist Simon Whalley has not found success. People have been treating him cruelly and he begins to think of revenge.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews