Death by the Gaff

by Vernon Loder, John Haslette Vahey

All is not well in the town of Cwyll, North Wales. The Horn Hotel is doing a brisk trade, with anglers coming from far and wide to enjoy the local fishing. But amongst them is Solomon Hayes, an unpleasant womaniser who has already come to blows with one of the guests over his selfish and rude behaviour. So no-one is entirely surprised when Hayes's body is discovered floating face down in one of the fishing pools - his throat pierced by a gaff. But who committed the crime? And what has happened to the murder weapon?

Originally published in 1932 under the author's real name (John Haslette Vahey) this is an intriguing murder mystery from the golden age of crime fiction.

212 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1932

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

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought I would never reach the end of this but did...and it was the best part.

Too much fishing background for me, and not enough of a mystery. If it is not one obvious possible murderer, then it has to be the other.

If you have not tried Loder before, this is not the one to start with.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two and a half stars.

If Enid Blyton had written a murder mystery I think it would have been like this. Everything is rather "beastly".

[Cary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good British Whodoneit!