Choose Your Weapon

by Vernon Loder

"This was murder, my dear. Someone seems to have beaned Marden with your blasted crystal!"

Jean Maze is looking forward immensely to the Ingle Parva village bazaar, at which she is to play the part of fortune teller, complete with a real crystal ball. On the day in question, however, she receives a macabre surprise when a business rival of her brother-in-law is discovered beaten to death in her fortune teller's tent. While the police diligently pursue all available leads, Jean does some theorising of her own. But is the murder really a case of business rivalry taken to extremes? And how and why was the corpse deposited in Jean's tent?

Originally published in 1937, this is a vintage murder mystery from the golden age of detection.

193 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1937

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

[Tracey Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cracking vintage crime story

I’m a huge fan of vintage crime novels and this one is superb. Jean Maze is unusual in being more astute than the bulk of the male characters - detectives and laymen alike - and her poise and logic contrasts with their casting about desperately for the perpetrator. Beautifully crafted and paced, this is one of Vernon Loder’s best offerings.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author wrote prolifically under a number of different names.

I rather like the workman-like murder-mysteries he brought out as Loder.

The plot here is not as convoluted as it seems and some may find the solution a bit of a shock.

Solidly-clued and easy to read. The conversation is better-written than in many of this time and genre (this dates from 1937).

The police are rather plodding and stodgy and the amateurs do a bit of misleading.

Quite entertaining in its unassuming way.

[lewis olliver · Rating 2 out of 5]

Usually enjoy golden age detection novels

Disappointingly claustrophobic plot. No empathy with undeveloped characters. Little atmosphere of location. Slow moving without increasing tension to any significant extent.