The Ghost of the Manor

The Shadow Pulp #32

by Maxwell Grant, Walter B. Gibson (Authur)

Genres: Pulp

Paperback

Published June 15, 1933

About the author

Maxwell Grant was a pseudonym often used by Walter B. Gibson to write stories of "The Shadow".

Reviews

[Ronald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Straightforward, the first of Gibson's Gothic novels(of which would write about 2 per year), the Shadow stays in the background through most of it

[Margeaux · Rating 1 out of 5]

This coming from a longtime fan of The Shadow, who has enjoyed so much over the years, but this is the worst Shadow novel I've read so far. Basically, it's a murder mystery, and not a very good one at that. While The Shadow lurks in the background here and there, there are only two instances he takes an active part in events. Walter Gibson (writing under the name Maxwell Grant), can usually do far better, but this one seems like something you might have found a decade or so earlier in Detective Story Magazine on a bad day.

[Tim Deforest · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unusual Shadow novel in that it makes little use of his agents (Rutledge Mann briefly appears--none of the other agents show up this time) and is much less action-packed than usual.

That's okay, though. This novel is structured as a gothic mystery/whodunit, as brothers set to inherit great wealth are being knocked off one by one. The murders take place in the same location in an old manor--with the killer seeming to be able to appear and disappear at will.

The mystery is a good one, depending on a specific gothic mystery trope to explain how the killer pulled off his crimes. The Shadow, of course, figures it out in time to prevent an innocent man from being charged with the crimes. As is typical with Shadow novels, there's a nice plot twist at the end even after it seems the crime as been solved. And we do get a nice action scene at the climax, when the Shadow confronts the real killer.

[Little Timmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

When it comes to pulp heroes there are 2 or 3 great standouts and the Shadow is one of those. The stories are fast paced and action filled. The mystery just adds to the excitement. With his army of agents to help the Shadow never lets you down for a great read. Highly Recommended