The Mystery at Stowe

by Vernon Loder, Nigel Moss (Introduction)

First published by Collins in 1928, this was the first of 22 mystery novels by Vernon Loder, one of the most popular British mystery-thriller writers of his generation. When a guest at Stowe House is found dead, killed by a lethal dart, suspicion naturally falls on the resident collector of poisoned weapons from tribes in South America. With the entire house party as potential suspects, what part did the woman explorer play in this sinister tragedy? The local police are baffled, and call on the help of an amateur, whose recent assignment working with bushmen in Africa brings new insight into an increasingly unconventional investigation . . . This Detective Story Club classic is introduced by mystery genre collector and expert Nigel Moss, who looks at how one of the most dependable Golden Age authors has been forgotten.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, British Literature, Audiobook, Fiction, 20th Century

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1928

About the author

Vernon Loder was a pseudonym for John Haslette Vahey, an Anglo-Irish writer who also wrote as Henrietta Clandon, John Haslette, Anthony Lang, John Mowbray, Walter Proudfoot and George Varney.

Vahey started his working life as an apprentice architect, then an accountant before finally turning to writing fiction full-time.

extra bio info from a book blurb

Reviews

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Phew, what a reading experience. I had a restless night so I read on, and on, and on...but it was miserable. Yup, 1928 perhaps it was accepted? Doesn't work in 2026.
Other Goodreads friends like this, but I cannot endorse.

The "bargain" at $1.99 from Amazon - Not worth it!

[Bruce Beckham · Rating 3 out of 5]

I came across the prolific Belfast-born John Haslette Vahey advertised on the dust jacket of an old copy of Agatha Christie’s The Mystery of the Blue Train. As a Golden Age contemporary of Christie, he published 22 crime novels between 1928-1938 under the penname ‘Vernon Loder’. Plenty to get one’s teeth into!

The Mystery at Stowe is the first of these, although as far as I could glean, there is no ‘hero’ detective, and if anything I found it difficult to identify a clear protagonist in this work.

For the most part it is a tidily written, tightly constructed traditional mystery, the archetypal country house murder. A well-intentioned benefactor gathers together an upper-middle-class crowd, and a poison dart from a wall-mounted trophy blowpipe does the ill deed.

The victim is the wife in a rumoured love triangle, and her female explorer rival becomes the chief suspect. Out of the blue from Africa, enter a long-estranged suitor (not universally welcomed), bent on proving the police wrong.

So far, so good. The narrative keeps the locus tight, and the police make steady progress. But … I had forgotten one thing … the ‘rules’ of the Detection Club: anything goes!

Authors were invited to ‘cheat’ by concocting a practically implausible but theoretically possible modus operandi – indeed, it seemed the more contrived the better. In achieving the unfathomable whodunit, no amount of jiggery-pokery was off limits!

All well and good, but a rather unsatisfying climax for the reader who seeks a credible scenario.

[Sneha Pathak (reader_girl_reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

The book is quite readable and the murder and it's solution are both ingenious. But I felt that the book dragged in the middle and I skim read a few chapters which didn't really reduce anything from the plot or my reading experience.

[Wilte · Rating 1 out of 5]

A lot of polite and dull conversation. I skipped large parts in the middle of the book without missing out to much on the plot. Final plot twist and solution were underwhelming.

[John Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A while ago a Goodreads friend mentioned this author and I grabbed this novel. It has never quite made it to the front of the queue to read. Then the same friend praises the author again and I push this book to the top of the list.

I had never heard of the author in any of his nom de plumes but have to say that I was impressed. This is one of those classic stories from the 20s/30s of a death in a country house. Unlike so many others, the author manages to introduce the players in such a way that the reader can picture them all immediately without effort.

You have no problem envisaging the scenes in the old house or any of the characters or their feelings. You can almost predict who is going to die. Some lovely plot twists keeps the reader changing their allegiances  as the newcomer Jim Carton tries to get to the bottom of the mystery and save the girl he once proposed to, from being arrested.

Somehow  I felt very much at home when I started reading. True, it is a familiar theme but as it was written  about 100 years ago, may be more original at the time. It felt comfortable while at the same time it was compulsive reading. My thoughts about the guilty party changed regularly with the delightful misdirections  I still got it wrong in the end.

Very close to a 5 for my first book from an author rounded back only because of a bit of evidence not given to the reader when it was found. Although whether it would have meant anything with everything else we were given, I'll never know.

Definitely another author for my list.


1st Februarg 2026

[Aranzazu Elbauldeloscolores · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un thriller al más puro estilo clásico, con un detective que viene para investigar con lupa y darle caña al cerebro para encontrar pistas. No hay grandes giros sino que es poco a poco, como los thrillers de antes. Pero eso no lo hace menos interesante.

Nos meteremos en la piel de los personajes para ver como piensan y dudarás de todos ellos pues siempre todos parecen tener motivos. También me encanta como te mete en el cerebro del detective y alucino con las deducciones que saca.

Un desarrollo genial que acaba con un sorprendente desenlace, sin duda, un libro genial para los amantes del thriller clásico.

[࿙ Mamen ࿚ elrincondelibros86 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un libro de investigación maravilloso, es el primero que leo de este género, me ha sorprendido muchísimo: la pluma del autor, mucho diálogo como a mi me gusta, además de cómo se desarrolla la historia ¡Muy entretenida!… ¡Lo recomiendo muchísimo!

[KayKay · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Mystery at Stowe" is a fun and well-written gem from the golden age detective fiction era. Not only it is full of suspense but as well sweet and interesting. Pacy, entertaining and classy, I couldn't ask for more. Any vintage mysteries lovers would find it a delectable read.

This re-issuance by Harper Collins features a recent introduction together with the one from the original release. Having both introductions in one edition, to me, is a nice additional bonus.

I am delighted to bump into the Detective Club series published by Harper Collins picking the forgotten gems from its vaults. The series features awesome vintage dust jackets which I think they look absolutely stunning!

Will definitely want to read more less known titles from the series.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent story especially for a first attempt at the genre.

The characterisation is good and, as was to continue to be the case with Loder's novels, there are strong portrayals of women.

The amateur detective does get away with a lot but comes up with what is an interestingly thought-out solution.

Unfortunately, the edition I read was marred by lots of OCR inspired errors.

A good read. Recommended.

[Janet Farnham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and found it riveting to the end. It was a bit over long at times but this seems to be a technique common in the Golden Age tradition. And, for those who are not familiar with this genre, the attitudes and values can be very off putting. I am not a proponent of editing/censuring but it is illuminating what was once considered acceptable.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprisingly interesting. I kept going back and forth as to what happened. In the end it was obvious, but not obvious. Not bad, not Agatha Christie, but not bad.

[Beth Rawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written. Enjoyed it

[W G Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing great

Not one of his better books. Too confused and complicated but just about readable all the same.he has written better

[Emg · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little drawn out; most of the characters were irritating.

[Mr Derek Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Good.

This book contained a story that was well thought out and highly detailed. I did not see the conclusion and was very impressed by the detailed explanation.

[William Drehmel · Rating 4 out of 5]

On Oceania cruise ship SIRENA and found this in the library . A 1920s murder mystery set in an English manor. Occasionally terms were used that I wasn’t familiar with, but I enjoyed it a lot.

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well-written but dull.

[Richie Bannister-Lowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good read, it kept me guessing right until the end

[Nuria Carreras · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maldad en Stowe, 1928
Publicado por The Detective Story Club en 1929
Vernon Loder
@sherlockeditores, 2020
Traducción, adaptación y edición de Clara Ramírez

".... pero la invitada principal era, Elaine Gurdon. Soltera, muy atractiva, se había hecho famosa por sus expediciones a la selva de Patagonia y a la región del Chaco y era lo bastante célebre para aparecer periódicamente en las revistas ilustradas y en las mesas presidenciales de los clubes de mujeres "

En una gran mansión inglesa, se reúnen varios invitados del nuevo y flamante propietario Mr. Barley,"... un hombre corpulento, con una billetera tan gruesa como él "
La aventurera Miss Gurdon está buscando financiación para su próxima expedición y cuando su antiguo amigo Mr Tollard se ofrece a ayudar, el disgusto de Mrs. Tollard es evidente.
Tras la muerte repentina de Margery Tollard, aparentemente con una cerbatana que Elaine se trajo de un viaje, las cosas se complican para esta última hasta que hace su aparición Jim Carton, viejo amigo de la protagonista y detective aficionado.

Una ágil y entretenida muestra de la novela de la Golden Age, historias detectivescas que gozaron de mucho éxito durante las décadas de los 20 y 30. Aunque incluían muertes y sangre, rara vez mostraban violencia explícita y se caracterizaban por su ligereza inocente.

Vernon Loder fue uno de los varios seudónimos utilizados por el versátil y prolífico autor anglo-irlandés John Haslette Vahey (1881-1938), quien también escribió bajo los nombres de Anthony Lang, George Varney, John Mowbray, Walter Proudfoot y Henrietta Clandon.

La popularidad de Loder con los lectores de su tiempo fue resumida más tarde por el Sunday Mercury: “No tenemos un mejor escritor de misterio en Inglaterra”.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love that these Detective Club novels have re-surfaced, I am a huge fan of Golden Age crime so these books are perfect for me. When a guest is found dead from a poison dart, suspicions are rife and the local constabulary are stumped. 'The Mystery At Stowe' features everything we know and love about mysteries of this period – a country house, a party of suspects and an amateur sleuth. The characters featured in this tale are colourful and intriguing – a lady explorer, a collector of South American tribal darts and blow pipes, gossipy wives and a sleuth who is well-versed in South African bush men. I was kept guessing until the surprising solution was revealed. This was a quick enjoyable read for me and I'll be reaching for more in this series.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick , enjoyable read. Surprising ending.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

For my full review click on the link below:
https://crossexaminingcrime.wordpress...

[Juana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pues lo que me apetecía, jugar al Cluedo un rato y disfrutar. Una novela de misterio de la edad de oro de la novela detectivesca de los años 20 /30 del siglo pasado.

[Kat]

The solution is some unadulterated wtfery, up there with the Dickson Carr mystery where the guy takes off his legs. Otherwise a solid read, but probably would have worked better as a short story since some of the herrings and detection dragged on.