X v. Rex

by Philip MacDonald

The small English town of Farnley is terrorized by a series of baffling murders of policemen committed by a madman

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime

260 pages, hardback

First published January 1, 1933

About the author

Philip MacDonald (who some give as 1896 or 1899 as his date of birth) was the grandson of the writer George MacDonald and son of the author Ronald MacDonald and the actress Constance Robertson.

During World War I he served with the British cavalry in Mesopotamia, later trained horses for the army, and was a show jumper. He also raised Great Danes. After marrying the writer F. Ruth Howard, he moved to Hollywood in 1931. He was one of the most popular mystery writers of the 1930s, and between 1931 and 1963 wrote many screenplays along with a few radio and television scripts.

His detective novels, particularly those featuring his series detective Anthony Gethryn, are primarily "whodunnits" with the occasional locked room mystery. His first detective novel was 'The Rasp' (1924), in which he introduced his character Anthony Gethryn.

In later years MacDonald wrote television scripts for Alfred Hitchcock Presents ('Malice Domestic', 1957) and Perry Mason ('The Case of the Terrified Typist', 1958).

He twice received an Edgar Award for Best Short Story: in 1953, for 'Something to Hide', and in 1956, for 'Dream No More'. Indeed many critics felt that his short story writing was superior to his novels and they did win five second prizes in the annual contests held by 'Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine'.

He also wrote under the pseudonyms Oliver Fleming, Anthony Lawless, Martin Porlock, W.J. Stuart and Warren Stuart.

Reviews

[David Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic Golden Age crime fiction from 1933. As The Observer noted, ‘A Jack the Ripper story with a policeman obsession.’ There is a combination of narration interspersed with the diary jottings of the serial killer. The Metropolitan Police and the Government are powerless to prevent a series of killings of policemen and, in the face of growing public alarm and opprobrium, turn to the mysterious well-bred man about town, Nick Revel, who has befriended the daughter of the Assistant Commissioner and, despite being a suspect, guides the police investigation with a number of helpful suggestions.

[John Frankham · Rating 5 out of 5]

A first-rate whodunnit from 1933.

'A killer in the streets of London. He killed and vanished, then came back to kill again. Each time his victim was a uniformed policeman---and each time he escaped without leaving a clue.'

We follow the head of the Metropolitan police in his attempts to solve the case. And his daughter is involved with the first man arrested, and also then becomes friendly with the next likely suspect. And the Prime Minister is very worried.

We also read the killer's diary entries after each murder.

A really well-written 220 pages. Just who is the murderer?

[Lisa Kucharski · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not one of his better pieces. A man is murdering policemen and mysterious gentleman comes to save the day. It's a bit disjointed, though most certainly entertaining for the time it was written. If you pick it up and like it keep reading, but if you don't leave it, the quality is the same to the end.

[Puzzle Doctor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but not the classic that I hoped it would be. Full review (under the title X v. Rex) at http://classicmystery.wordpress.com

[Squeak2017 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had the impression that this book was intended to be innovative, but I felt it was trying too hard to be clever. So many different murders took place that the novel felt disjointed, especially since the only unifying factor was the shadowy diary of the unidentified murderer.

Gradually the police and other investigating characters come into focus, though the lead - almost only - female character is portrayed as a halfwit and the two male protagonists are ridiculous extremes - one too smooth, too sophisticated, too self-assured, and the other a hulking great heavyweight not possessed of any brains at all. The two vie for the lady’s favours.

I felt the book didn’t work as a puzzle as too much happened offstage - too much happened altogether, in fact. The chapter entitled kaleidoscope was complete nonsense, trying to be ultra modern but I was left with the feeling that the author was being self indulgent at the expense of the unity of the novel.

[Dave · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow, is this annoying! Must not be the right mood for shiny glibness. Maybe another day.

[William Pugsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent and inventive serial killer mystery. MacDonald uses various writing techniques that flesh out the main through-line. One chapter "Kaleidoscope" lists what could be headlines then "shake and look again" to tell the connection and importance of each item in a very compelling way. Cinematic.

[Margaret Suckling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Very well-written and tense.

[Scott Herbertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the first serial killer classic murder mysteries and ranks with ABC Murders by Agatha Christie and Death Walks in Eastrepps by Francis Beeding in my opinion as one of the best. Also titled X vs Rex and originally published pseudonymously as by Martin Porlock.

Macdonald wrote another very good serial killer murder mystery in the same period - Murder Gone Mad which is as good, if not better.

All of these work on the popular viewpoint (pre-profiling etc) that the serial killer is most likely a 'madman'. The reader who knows that he or she is reading a 'who dunnit' will be more alert but these four are great puzzles and great thrillers in one.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Someone is killing policemen around London. If the group or the individual is not caught, Scotland Yard and the police force will be disbanded and reorganized under the supervision of the military. The suspect is a well-known, well-liked, wealthy sportsman industrialist who teams up with a mysterious stranger to find the killer(s). A glimpse of London society between the wars and a great example of Golden Age mystery.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A madman is killing policemen, and London is on the brink of anarchy. The police commissioner's daughter, Jane, is engaged to a man who was briefly suspected of one of the first of the murders, but he's saved by an alibi supplied by a mysterious young man, Nicholas Revel. Some of the police think that Revel knows too much about the crimes, nor does he have an alibi for any of the killings.

[Catsalive · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very old-fashioned, well it would be as it was first published in 1933, but quite amusing. I think it is very much of the style of murder mysteries written at that time.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thriller rather than a whodunnit. Would love to know more about Nicholas Revel!

[Ronald · Rating 4 out of 5]

read SOMETIME in 2005

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

For my full review click here:
https://crossexaminingcrime.wordpress...