Dead Reckoning

Peter Shane #3

by Francis Bonnamy

Hugh Mattson is found dead at the bottom of an iron staircase in the Library of Congress in Washington. Apparent accident becomes certain murder. Peter Shane, and helper Francis Bonnamy uncover the truth.

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1943

About the author

Francis Bonnamy was the pseudonym of Audrey Boyers Walz (1906-1983), an American writer.

She wrote many novels under the pen name of Francis Bonnamy; spelling the name Francis as a man would, to sell more copies. Although there are readers who follow Francis Bonnamy, she is best known for two historical novels, The Bizarre Sisters and The Undiscovered Country, which she successfully collaborated with her husband as Jay and Audrey Walz.

Reviews

[Ron Kerrigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

SPOILER: Set in wartime Washington D.C., the mystery involves a series of murders committed by a person in search of buried treasure, and looking for a clue in a map filed away at the Library of Congress.

The writing is easy to follow, and the story plausible. It has a typical golden age cast of suspects, plus the ever-observent amateur detective and his young sidekick helping the police crack the case.

An okay way to spend a few hours in a less frenetic time.

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: Professor Peter Shane and friends uncover the truth about an accident in the Library of Congress.