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Robert Macdonald #16
La sombra del sacristán
Gracias a su inquebrantable ética profesional y su escocesa testarudez, el inspector MacDonald, de Scotland Yard —característico personaje de E. C. R. Lorac—, con el método deductivo expuesto en Jaque al asesino, descubre, en La sombra del sacristán, la misteriosa relación que une la muerte de un extraño gerente, ocurrida en un accidente de tráfico, con el complejo mundo de la alta política..
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1939
89 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
About the author
E.C.R. Lorac
74 books178 followersEdith Caroline Rivett (who wrote under the pseudonyms E.C.R. Lorac, Carol Carnac, Carol Rivett, and Mary le Bourne) was a British crime writer. She was born in Hendon, Middlesex (now London). She attended the South Hampstead High School, and the Central School of Arts and Crafts in London.
She was a member of the Detection Club. She was a very prolific writer, having written forty-eight mysteries under her first pen name, and twenty-three under her second. She was an important author of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction.
She was a member of the Detection Club. She was a very prolific writer, having written forty-eight mysteries under her first pen name, and twenty-three under her second. She was an important author of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
September 8, 2023
En castellano, la obra se tituló "La sombra del sacristán".
La novela fue escrita por Edith Caroline Rivett Lorac (1884-1959) y firmaba como E.C.R. Lorac o Carol Carnac. Esta autora fue miembro del Detection Club.
El inspector Macdonald debe investigar un asesinato donde todos los personajes tienen algo que esconder.
El inspector Macdonald es inteligente y utiliza el método deductivo, pero la trama es bastante aburrida. Está narrada de manera insulsa, sin mucha emoción.
Lo bueno es que la autora no nos esconde nada. El lector y el detective están al mismo nivel de conocimiento.
------------------------------
The novel was written by Edith Caroline Rivett Lorac (1884-1959) and signed as E.C.R. Lorac or Carol Carnac. This author was a member of the Detection Club.
Inspector Macdonald must investigate a murder where all the characters have something to hide.
Inspector Macdonald is clever and uses the deductive method, but the plot is rather dull. It is blandly narrated, without much excitement.
The good thing is that the author doesn't hide anything from us. The reader and the detective are on the same level of knowledge.
La novela fue escrita por Edith Caroline Rivett Lorac (1884-1959) y firmaba como E.C.R. Lorac o Carol Carnac. Esta autora fue miembro del Detection Club.
El inspector Macdonald debe investigar un asesinato donde todos los personajes tienen algo que esconder.
El inspector Macdonald es inteligente y utiliza el método deductivo, pero la trama es bastante aburrida. Está narrada de manera insulsa, sin mucha emoción.
Lo bueno es que la autora no nos esconde nada. El lector y el detective están al mismo nivel de conocimiento.
------------------------------
The novel was written by Edith Caroline Rivett Lorac (1884-1959) and signed as E.C.R. Lorac or Carol Carnac. This author was a member of the Detection Club.
Inspector Macdonald must investigate a murder where all the characters have something to hide.
Inspector Macdonald is clever and uses the deductive method, but the plot is rather dull. It is blandly narrated, without much excitement.
The good thing is that the author doesn't hide anything from us. The reader and the detective are on the same level of knowledge.
June 16, 2024
Excellent mystery featuring my favorite Scotland Yard man, Chief Inspector Macdonald.
Published in 1939 and set in London, the troubles and looming war in Europe are barely mentioned. The basic mystery revolves around the murder of one Mr. Suttler, a blackmailer of rich and poor alike.
The investigation into his death reveals a number of likely suspects, including several politically prominent men, a publican, and a poor clerk. A quick arrest is made--the poor clerk, but Macdonald is not convinced of his guilt and keeps digging. Which makes even more politically connected people unhappy.
There's a lot of snappy dialogue between Macdonald and various politicos; and a lot of clever sleuthing by Macdonald and his stalwart subordinates, Reeves and Jenkins. The revelation of the murderer and his motive reveals a tabloid-worthy scandal that would have ruined his reputation in 1939, but would barely raise an eyebrow today.
The one theme that runs through the book, and might make for some uncomfortable reading, is the prevalent antisemitism of the era. Macdonald is his usual humane self, but others he encounters are obvious in their prejudices. One of the suspects is vehemently antisemitic, and another major character is a Jewish businessman, who is often referred to as the Jew.
All in all, I found it to be another of the author's consistently good 'fair play' mysteries. I am slowly working my way through all that are available; I wish that Lorac's entire Macdonald series were still in print.
Published in 1939 and set in London, the troubles and looming war in Europe are barely mentioned. The basic mystery revolves around the murder of one Mr. Suttler, a blackmailer of rich and poor alike.
The investigation into his death reveals a number of likely suspects, including several politically prominent men, a publican, and a poor clerk. A quick arrest is made--the poor clerk, but Macdonald is not convinced of his guilt and keeps digging. Which makes even more politically connected people unhappy.
There's a lot of snappy dialogue between Macdonald and various politicos; and a lot of clever sleuthing by Macdonald and his stalwart subordinates, Reeves and Jenkins. The revelation of the murderer and his motive reveals a tabloid-worthy scandal that would have ruined his reputation in 1939, but would barely raise an eyebrow today.
The one theme that runs through the book, and might make for some uncomfortable reading, is the prevalent antisemitism of the era. Macdonald is his usual humane self, but others he encounters are obvious in their prejudices. One of the suspects is vehemently antisemitic, and another major character is a Jewish businessman, who is often referred to as the Jew.
All in all, I found it to be another of the author's consistently good 'fair play' mysteries. I am slowly working my way through all that are available; I wish that Lorac's entire Macdonald series were still in print.
November 9, 2024
Relentlessly anti-Semitic, & other prejudice
I have classed E.C.R. Lorac as one of my favourite golden era authors since I discovered her books a few years ago, and have read all of them available to me. I have generally found her views on the progressive (or at least mostly inoffensive) side for the era. However, this book was intolerably anti-Semitic, while obviously thinking it is presenting a balanced and logical perspective on "the Jewish problem". Jewish people are consistently portrayed as devious, avaricious money-lenders and thieves, inclined to be underhand and criminal. There's some frankly bizarre fatphobia and classism against a publican and his wife, whose chief character flaws lie in the fact that they are fat, and run a pub. The husband is occasionally aggressive, but somehow this is seen as being his most sympathetic quality. Obviously they are also stupid, like the rest of the working class. I don't really know why I forced myself to read this - partly I felt I should be clued into what rhetoric E.C.R. Lorac was peddling, but I think I was also hoping that there would be some kind of redeeming message somewhere in the book. There wasn't.
I have classed E.C.R. Lorac as one of my favourite golden era authors since I discovered her books a few years ago, and have read all of them available to me. I have generally found her views on the progressive (or at least mostly inoffensive) side for the era. However, this book was intolerably anti-Semitic, while obviously thinking it is presenting a balanced and logical perspective on "the Jewish problem". Jewish people are consistently portrayed as devious, avaricious money-lenders and thieves, inclined to be underhand and criminal. There's some frankly bizarre fatphobia and classism against a publican and his wife, whose chief character flaws lie in the fact that they are fat, and run a pub. The husband is occasionally aggressive, but somehow this is seen as being his most sympathetic quality. Obviously they are also stupid, like the rest of the working class. I don't really know why I forced myself to read this - partly I felt I should be clued into what rhetoric E.C.R. Lorac was peddling, but I think I was also hoping that there would be some kind of redeeming message somewhere in the book. There wasn't.
June 14, 2017
For my full review click on the link below:
https://crossexaminingcrime.wordpress...
https://crossexaminingcrime.wordpress...
February 8, 2025
Like many fans of the Shedunnit podcast, I've become a fan of E.C.R. Lorac and am thrilled that so many of her previously scarce works are now available digitally- and for $0.99! The Black Beadle is often lauded as her twistiest and smartest whodunnit, and it's a really great puzzle. Unlike investigations where clues turn up systemically chapter by chapter, The Black Beadle sustains ambiguity and confusion throughout- was it a murder or an accident? Is the motivation a long hidden secret or current political ambitions? When so many potential suspects are intertwined, how can you investigate one without tipping off another? And how can you tell an ambulance chaser from a blackmailer, if indeed either is involved? The investigation is layered, rich, and engaging until the end.
As a modern reader, however, I was frequently discomforted by the ways England's Jews were discussed in the book. As a frequent Golden Age reader, I'm familiar with the era's stereotypes and understand that they'll surface, but usually only briefly. In this instance a character's Jewish heritage and sympathies play a role in the investigators' suspicions, so there are frequent discussions of the attributes and attitudes of the 'Jewish race.' Given the contemporary situation of Jews in Europe, I suspect that these were the types of discussions happening at the time, but it was jarring to read about it in those terms. Overall, I think Jews were portrayed sympathetically, and it was educational to read a contemporary account, but noteworthy nonetheless.
As a modern reader, however, I was frequently discomforted by the ways England's Jews were discussed in the book. As a frequent Golden Age reader, I'm familiar with the era's stereotypes and understand that they'll surface, but usually only briefly. In this instance a character's Jewish heritage and sympathies play a role in the investigators' suspicions, so there are frequent discussions of the attributes and attitudes of the 'Jewish race.' Given the contemporary situation of Jews in Europe, I suspect that these were the types of discussions happening at the time, but it was jarring to read about it in those terms. Overall, I think Jews were portrayed sympathetically, and it was educational to read a contemporary account, but noteworthy nonetheless.
January 7, 2025
Reread in January of 2025
A good book by a good author that nonetheless encapsulates a lot of the difficulties contemporary readers face when reading books of the time period. The story features a Jewish character, a character who fears "Jewish domination," lots of broad statements about "the Jews" as a race, a bonus potshot at the Welsh, a few general statements about how Scots are XYZ (some by her detective, a Scottish police officer), one use of the N-word in a slang term for working a subordinate too hard, and dislike of fat people (especially women) as a central point of the plot. I tend to read these stories partly for the fun of the puzzle but also partly for the view into the past, so they disturb me but also interest me - I think Lorac is in some ways attempting to do a broadly sympathetic take on things but is, as we mostly are, hampered by the view of things from 1939. (Granted, I think the situation described as the reason for the murder could play out roughly the same way in our theoretically more enlightened times - tell me newspapers of all sorts wouldn't make hay out of the situation. Fat people are still very much seen in the same light today.)
So read the book, if you want, with some intellectual distance built in, and I think you'll find it worthwhile. But books of this time period can be land mines, so if you're looking for a light read, this may not be the one.
A good book by a good author that nonetheless encapsulates a lot of the difficulties contemporary readers face when reading books of the time period. The story features a Jewish character, a character who fears "Jewish domination," lots of broad statements about "the Jews" as a race, a bonus potshot at the Welsh, a few general statements about how Scots are XYZ (some by her detective, a Scottish police officer), one use of the N-word in a slang term for working a subordinate too hard, and dislike of fat people (especially women) as a central point of the plot. I tend to read these stories partly for the fun of the puzzle but also partly for the view into the past, so they disturb me but also interest me - I think Lorac is in some ways attempting to do a broadly sympathetic take on things but is, as we mostly are, hampered by the view of things from 1939. (Granted, I think the situation described as the reason for the murder could play out roughly the same way in our theoretically more enlightened times - tell me newspapers of all sorts wouldn't make hay out of the situation. Fat people are still very much seen in the same light today.)
So read the book, if you want, with some intellectual distance built in, and I think you'll find it worthwhile. But books of this time period can be land mines, so if you're looking for a light read, this may not be the one.
January 28, 2025
Enjoyable plot and well written as always. However, let down by some pretty terrible anti-semitism which is made worse by being dressed up as trying not to be anti-Semitic.
October 26, 2024
“Lorac” with her Macdonald series is one of the better English detective novelists of the Golden Period. This one, written and set in the late 30s, is a scandal in high society: a hit and run murder with political as well as social consequences. There’s a pathetic clerk (who would be a convenient scapegoat), two blackmailers, and an angry publican as well as the upper crust of English society who are desperate to contain a rippling scandal. It deals honestly with the problem of establishment anti-semitism as well as the iniquities of the English class system. The resolution is a bit too over dramatic and the circumstances of the hit and run turns on an incredible coincidence. As before, Lorac’s books have terrible titles.
I get why blackmail is used as a plot device in British society mysteries but I’d genuinely like to know if it was at all common in real life.
I get why blackmail is used as a plot device in British society mysteries but I’d genuinely like to know if it was at all common in real life.
May 16, 2023
Pese a que desde que se introduce cierto personaje, se intuyen claramente las motivaciones del asesinato así como su autoría, me ha resultado una novela entretenida, ideal para desconectar de otras historias con mucha más enjundia.
Creo que toda la trama se puede resumir en la siguiente pregunta que, acertadamente, se hace uno de los personajes:
Creo que toda la trama se puede resumir en la siguiente pregunta que, acertadamente, se hace uno de los personajes:
September 17, 2024
Ladies and gentlemen, I don't expect to write this review so soon and at this hour. Although my original plan was to have written this review yesterday. But I embarked on a very interesting debate with @ana_estelwen Ana Peris de Elena, @mariaelenavenant and my sister @maggiesendra about the possibility that if a person sells his soul to the Devil he can be condemned. This topic will be covered if Providence proves propitious when I write my review of the video game @baldursgate3 @larianstudios (which has not yet been written). This very interesting discussion was the cause that delayed me from writing my review of "The Hunchback" by Paul Feval Father Le Bossu which has been longer and more complicated than it seemed to me at first, so I apologize a thousand times to my followers and to the users of @goodreads . In fact, the two projects I had today have been postponed, which were to post the review of "The Search for Malifestro" by Erik S. Meretzki The Search for Malifestro (which was going to be more vindictive, I failed that two of the three interviews of Sandra Miesel Sandra Miesel in @ignatius_press about Catholicism and, science fiction and, criticism was going to be more controversial but, that topic will be left for another review now, which is not yet to be discussed). My other project was to have written my letter to my friend Professor Manuel Alfonseca Manuel Alfonseca to whom I will always be indebted and who has agreed to do me a very big favor. I was going to tell you that I had already thought about the votes of the next vote of the Catholic Book Club, one will be for your pentalogy of the "Rompecabezas mágico/ Chronicles JigsawPuzzle" https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group... (I will post some images of the books when I get home to open my followers), and although I have doubts about the second vote I am finally going to vote for a novel that interests me a lot written by a writer English friend of my friend @fiorellawriter is a fantasy novel that has me very interested Fiorella De Maria Corinna Turner Elfling.
Having said that, I am ready to talk about this novel in question. I bought this novel in second-hand books at the Petrarch bookstore. It belongs to a collection of detective novels edited by the Argentine novelist Jorge Luis Borges Jorge Luis Borges called seventh in the Argentine publishing house Emece. I have downloaded the entire catalog in case I am interested in any of the titles. The first was "The Beast Must Die" by Nicholas Blake, a pseudonym behind which the poet laureate Cecil Day Lewis The Beast Must Die Cecil Day-Lewis and father of the best living actor who for me is Daniel Day Lewis Daniel Day Lewis . I must confess that I did not like this novel very much. This is a selection of novels chosen by Jorge Luis Borges following his tastes, on the contrary, he was not hostile to American literature (although he did show rejection for French detective novels) and included Hard Boiled in his lists and some fantasy novels. But, he had his phobias, he did not include any novel by Edgar Wallace Edgar Wallace (he seemed to follow the criteria of G.K. Chesterton G.K. Chesterton who, considered that Edgar Wallace that one of his stories inspired King Kong King Kong was more of an adventure novelist than a detective novelist) for a reason he did not include S.S. Van Dine S.S. Van Dine for whom he had an aversion. I like some of his novels, especially "The Bishop Murder Case|933668] which I think is a masterpiece, (although with an enormously amoral ending which made me not give it five stars) but I understand that his deterministic and Nietzchenean ideology Friedrich Nietzsche puts a lot of people off. Sometimes it can be slow, boring, and heavy and, some cases of Philo Vance ruthless. On the other hand, it seems that Borges had a great aversion to French detective novels not including in his catalog writers from this country my beloved Gaston Leroux Gaston Leroux (something with which he greatly disagrees since I am a great lover of the "Phantom of the Opera" and the "Mystery of the Yellow Room" The Phantom of the Opera The Mystery of the Yellow Room although the author has other pretty good novels), he also didn't include Maurice Leblanc Maurice Leblanc , nor Georges Simenon Georges Simenon (I only read one novel to this one and I didn't like it). Maurice Leblanc was the creator of the Gentleman Thief Arsene Lupin who, is very similar to Gaston Leroux G.K. Chesterton in a very good book of @acantiladoeditorial "How to write detective stories" How to write detective stories called them the red knight and the white knight. I think Leroux is very good and, almost a sacrilege, not to include him, but everyone has their tastes. I wouldn't have included Michael Innes Michael Innes (the latter was a student of J.R.R. Tolkien J.R.R. Tolkien) for example which is very boring. But the truth is that it is a fairly complete catalog and up to the 140 it has quite good titles. From this collection I took "Calvary Seven" by Anthony Boucher The Case of the Seven of Calvary (it seems that this was the only book edited by this author), there are also many books dedicated to John Dickson Carr John Dickson Carr that I like more when the protagonist is Gideon Fell and, not when he writes under the pseudonym Dickson Carter or the detective is Gaunt or, Sir Henry Merrivale. G.K. Chesterton is missing from this catalog, but it is not because Jorge Luis Borges did not like it (Chesterton was one of his favorite writers) that he did not get the rights to publish it.
I didn't know E.C.R. Lorac, a Scottish writer who belonged to the Detection Club devised by Anthony Berkeley Anthony Berkeley and whose rules were written by the charismatic priest and writer Ronald A. Knox Ronald A. Knox . The presidents of this mythical group have been G.K. Chesterton, E.C. Bentley author of the mythical "The Last Trent Case" E.C. BentleyTrent's Last Case , Dorothy Leigh Sayers Dorothy L. Sayers , Agatha ChristieAgatha Christie , Gorell, Julian Symonds Julian Symonds , H.R.F. Keating H.R.F. Keating , Simon Brett Simon Brett and currently the president Martin Edwards Martin Edwards in @goodreads I had a conversation with him about Japanese detective novels.
This Scottish author E.C.R. Lorac created the Scottish detective Robert McDonald this novel has what "The Devil Plays the Flute" by Seishi Yokomizo The Devil Plays the Flute that humanistic and beneficent worldview of the human being embodied by his detective Robert McDonald who is undoubtedly for his nobility, integrity and, The ability to empathise is the best thing about the novel. The worst thing is that it is a bit slow especially at the beginning. It takes time to start, but when it does it does not disappoint at all. This novel moves in the world of politics and begins with a party given by a Victorian Lady and attended by Soane takes place a few years before the World War I with the problem of fascism. This was what made me wrong because at the beginning this novel is going to follow a line of "Farthing" by Jo Walton Among Others, "Counterpoint" by Aldous Huxley Point Counter Point , "Fatherland" by Robert Harris Fatherland or the novels of Philip Kerr Philip Kerr . But, thank God, it takes a different and more fascinating course. Not focusing on a political problem but on a moral one and on a great knowledge of the human psyche. This novel tells how a person can harbor good or evil in his heart. In fact, more than the murderer, the real villain is the victim who is a real blackmailer as happened in "the mystery of Layton Court by Anthony Berkeley (an enormously recommended writer, and very underrated) of which I suppose one day I will review "The Case of the Poisoned Chocolates"The Layton Court MysteryThe Poisoned Chocolates Case . A blackmailer named Joseph Sutler is run over and there are five suspected of having killed the anti-Semitic Tory politician Barry Revian, a Jew named Grantchard, a worker named Owen Jones whom he blackmailed, and a tavern keeper who was once a boxer and who is very prone to violence. They all have virtues and normal defects, avoiding any kind of Manichaeism, which is undoubtedly the best thing about the novel. Barry Revian is a man attentive to the elderly and faithful to his friends (it is assumed that the car that hit Sutler had been stolen), but without any scruples when it comes to killing if necessary (not to mention his friends). Grantchard is a Jew who has helped many people of his religion, especially Central Europeans, to receive asylum in England and helps the people of his town, but for fear of Barry Rebian's anti-Semitic ideology he will not hesitate to turn to Joseph Sutler looking for a scandal that will prevent his nomination for that position to which he aspires. Owen Jones was discovered by Sutler while stealing and, he subjected him to blackmail, wanted to kill him, he was caught at Sutler's house trying to steal the incriminating documents against him. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Due to his social background, he does not have the connections that both Revian and Grantchard have, and he is the perfect guilty scapegoat, so the reader already knows that he is not the criminal. Granby the Innkeeper lacks the brain to carry it, but he is under more pressure than he can handle and is more prone to fits of anger. He is married to an obese woman whom he protects. The key to solving the case will be in the victim's past and, in a casual phrase of one of the Scoreby witnesses who calls him Samuel Bagster, and speaks of a Venables pastor. The title of the novel gives/offers many clues (the Spanish in English is called "Black Beadle"").
The interesting thing is that apart from MacDonald's investigation there is another one made by Revian's rival Gilbert Manlandt of opposite ideology and, competing for the same position but both in love with two sisters of the same family Diana, and Althea, one of the interrogations of one of the witnesses Charles Raymond in front of his servant is mythical (British Zionism makes McDonald feel no affection for this character who also he is so obsessed with protecting Revian that he will end up hurting him). MacDonald has good collaborators like Tree, or Reeves who will have an epic moment with Granby. The only bitter residue is that in the end the blackmailer not only destroys the life of the murderer but also that of the people around him. Be careful, there is not just one blackmailer but two. I loved the ending and it surprised me for the better and I didn't expect it. I liked this novel more than I thought it was, despite the slow pace. It may lack agility and a little quality, but it has the essentials. I wish I could give it more grade. But my grade is (3'5/5). PD. I think I'll repeat with ECR Lorac and, I'll give a chance to "Checkmate to Murder” Checkmate to Murder I'm grateful that, although the setting is that of politics, there are no political allusions or a prewoke novel where it would have been easy for Revian to have been a villain without nuances. Thank God this does not happen.
Having said that, I am ready to talk about this novel in question. I bought this novel in second-hand books at the Petrarch bookstore. It belongs to a collection of detective novels edited by the Argentine novelist Jorge Luis Borges Jorge Luis Borges called seventh in the Argentine publishing house Emece. I have downloaded the entire catalog in case I am interested in any of the titles. The first was "The Beast Must Die" by Nicholas Blake, a pseudonym behind which the poet laureate Cecil Day Lewis The Beast Must Die Cecil Day-Lewis and father of the best living actor who for me is Daniel Day Lewis Daniel Day Lewis . I must confess that I did not like this novel very much. This is a selection of novels chosen by Jorge Luis Borges following his tastes, on the contrary, he was not hostile to American literature (although he did show rejection for French detective novels) and included Hard Boiled in his lists and some fantasy novels. But, he had his phobias, he did not include any novel by Edgar Wallace Edgar Wallace (he seemed to follow the criteria of G.K. Chesterton G.K. Chesterton who, considered that Edgar Wallace that one of his stories inspired King Kong King Kong was more of an adventure novelist than a detective novelist) for a reason he did not include S.S. Van Dine S.S. Van Dine for whom he had an aversion. I like some of his novels, especially "The Bishop Murder Case|933668] which I think is a masterpiece, (although with an enormously amoral ending which made me not give it five stars) but I understand that his deterministic and Nietzchenean ideology Friedrich Nietzsche puts a lot of people off. Sometimes it can be slow, boring, and heavy and, some cases of Philo Vance ruthless. On the other hand, it seems that Borges had a great aversion to French detective novels not including in his catalog writers from this country my beloved Gaston Leroux Gaston Leroux (something with which he greatly disagrees since I am a great lover of the "Phantom of the Opera" and the "Mystery of the Yellow Room" The Phantom of the Opera The Mystery of the Yellow Room although the author has other pretty good novels), he also didn't include Maurice Leblanc Maurice Leblanc , nor Georges Simenon Georges Simenon (I only read one novel to this one and I didn't like it). Maurice Leblanc was the creator of the Gentleman Thief Arsene Lupin who, is very similar to Gaston Leroux G.K. Chesterton in a very good book of @acantiladoeditorial "How to write detective stories" How to write detective stories called them the red knight and the white knight. I think Leroux is very good and, almost a sacrilege, not to include him, but everyone has their tastes. I wouldn't have included Michael Innes Michael Innes (the latter was a student of J.R.R. Tolkien J.R.R. Tolkien) for example which is very boring. But the truth is that it is a fairly complete catalog and up to the 140 it has quite good titles. From this collection I took "Calvary Seven" by Anthony Boucher The Case of the Seven of Calvary (it seems that this was the only book edited by this author), there are also many books dedicated to John Dickson Carr John Dickson Carr that I like more when the protagonist is Gideon Fell and, not when he writes under the pseudonym Dickson Carter or the detective is Gaunt or, Sir Henry Merrivale. G.K. Chesterton is missing from this catalog, but it is not because Jorge Luis Borges did not like it (Chesterton was one of his favorite writers) that he did not get the rights to publish it.
I didn't know E.C.R. Lorac, a Scottish writer who belonged to the Detection Club devised by Anthony Berkeley Anthony Berkeley and whose rules were written by the charismatic priest and writer Ronald A. Knox Ronald A. Knox . The presidents of this mythical group have been G.K. Chesterton, E.C. Bentley author of the mythical "The Last Trent Case" E.C. BentleyTrent's Last Case , Dorothy Leigh Sayers Dorothy L. Sayers , Agatha ChristieAgatha Christie , Gorell, Julian Symonds Julian Symonds , H.R.F. Keating H.R.F. Keating , Simon Brett Simon Brett and currently the president Martin Edwards Martin Edwards in @goodreads I had a conversation with him about Japanese detective novels.
This Scottish author E.C.R. Lorac created the Scottish detective Robert McDonald this novel has what "The Devil Plays the Flute" by Seishi Yokomizo The Devil Plays the Flute that humanistic and beneficent worldview of the human being embodied by his detective Robert McDonald who is undoubtedly for his nobility, integrity and, The ability to empathise is the best thing about the novel. The worst thing is that it is a bit slow especially at the beginning. It takes time to start, but when it does it does not disappoint at all. This novel moves in the world of politics and begins with a party given by a Victorian Lady and attended by Soane takes place a few years before the World War I with the problem of fascism. This was what made me wrong because at the beginning this novel is going to follow a line of "Farthing" by Jo Walton Among Others, "Counterpoint" by Aldous Huxley Point Counter Point , "Fatherland" by Robert Harris Fatherland or the novels of Philip Kerr Philip Kerr . But, thank God, it takes a different and more fascinating course. Not focusing on a political problem but on a moral one and on a great knowledge of the human psyche. This novel tells how a person can harbor good or evil in his heart. In fact, more than the murderer, the real villain is the victim who is a real blackmailer as happened in "the mystery of Layton Court by Anthony Berkeley (an enormously recommended writer, and very underrated) of which I suppose one day I will review "The Case of the Poisoned Chocolates"The Layton Court MysteryThe Poisoned Chocolates Case . A blackmailer named Joseph Sutler is run over and there are five suspected of having killed the anti-Semitic Tory politician Barry Revian, a Jew named Grantchard, a worker named Owen Jones whom he blackmailed, and a tavern keeper who was once a boxer and who is very prone to violence. They all have virtues and normal defects, avoiding any kind of Manichaeism, which is undoubtedly the best thing about the novel. Barry Revian is a man attentive to the elderly and faithful to his friends (it is assumed that the car that hit Sutler had been stolen), but without any scruples when it comes to killing if necessary (not to mention his friends). Grantchard is a Jew who has helped many people of his religion, especially Central Europeans, to receive asylum in England and helps the people of his town, but for fear of Barry Rebian's anti-Semitic ideology he will not hesitate to turn to Joseph Sutler looking for a scandal that will prevent his nomination for that position to which he aspires. Owen Jones was discovered by Sutler while stealing and, he subjected him to blackmail, wanted to kill him, he was caught at Sutler's house trying to steal the incriminating documents against him. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Due to his social background, he does not have the connections that both Revian and Grantchard have, and he is the perfect guilty scapegoat, so the reader already knows that he is not the criminal. Granby the Innkeeper lacks the brain to carry it, but he is under more pressure than he can handle and is more prone to fits of anger. He is married to an obese woman whom he protects. The key to solving the case will be in the victim's past and, in a casual phrase of one of the Scoreby witnesses who calls him Samuel Bagster, and speaks of a Venables pastor. The title of the novel gives/offers many clues (the Spanish in English is called "Black Beadle"").
The interesting thing is that apart from MacDonald's investigation there is another one made by Revian's rival Gilbert Manlandt of opposite ideology and, competing for the same position but both in love with two sisters of the same family Diana, and Althea, one of the interrogations of one of the witnesses Charles Raymond in front of his servant is mythical (British Zionism makes McDonald feel no affection for this character who also he is so obsessed with protecting Revian that he will end up hurting him). MacDonald has good collaborators like Tree, or Reeves who will have an epic moment with Granby. The only bitter residue is that in the end the blackmailer not only destroys the life of the murderer but also that of the people around him. Be careful, there is not just one blackmailer but two. I loved the ending and it surprised me for the better and I didn't expect it. I liked this novel more than I thought it was, despite the slow pace. It may lack agility and a little quality, but it has the essentials. I wish I could give it more grade. But my grade is (3'5/5). PD. I think I'll repeat with ECR Lorac and, I'll give a chance to "Checkmate to Murder” Checkmate to Murder I'm grateful that, although the setting is that of politics, there are no political allusions or a prewoke novel where it would have been easy for Revian to have been a villain without nuances. Thank God this does not happen.
February 21, 2025
It's a treat to be led by the nose by a good mystery writer. Most of what CDI Macdonald knows by the end of the book is also known by us, the readers, but we are helpless in the hands of this author. When the truth is revealed at the end, we slap our foreheads and say "Of course, why didn't I see that before?"
The outline of the story is of the murder of a blackmailer by hit-and-run, using a stolen car. The car belongs to a political bigwig who is about to be appointed to a big office, and the blackmailer appears to have been collecting evidence to blackmail the bigwig. Did the bigwig do it? Was it a setup from his political enemies? Was it an unbelievable coincidence? It's all there for you to put together. Go and test your mettle against the redoubtable Chief Detective Inspector Macdonald.
One can't give an honest review of this book, written in 1939, without talking about the elephant in the room -- its discussion and treatment of Jews. One of the suspects is a big financier, very cultured, and a Jew. His portrayal is a stereotype, not a hideous one by any means, but still given abilities and qualities that are closely associated specifically with rich Jews in the minds of many people. Another, very sympathetic, character is irrationally afraid of the influence of Jews on his country -- these days we would call that anti-Semitism. And worst of all is that even CDI Macdonald says the following, in a discussion with a British elder statesman:
"Isn't that the crux of the whole Jewish problem?" asked Macdonald. "That in their national cleverness they always try to go one better than the Gentile? Have they not brought much of the present trouble upon their own heads by being too clever?"
It is clear from the contents of the book that, although the author knew of such things as labor camps and Jews fleeing from parts of Europe for their lives, she did not know of the "final solution" nor of the death camps. Still, this is one of the most vile sentiments I have read from that period, from a supposed neutral voice of a Scotland Yard CDI.
Many books we read that were written in earlier periods have new prefaces in them, warning the reader of such very uncomfortable content, and avowing that they are keeping the text intact for historical reasons. These prefaces at least acknowledge that this kind of by-the-way prejudice has no place in modern literature. These new electronic editions of Lorac's works are clearly not being even proof-read -- there are many obvious OCR errors that are not corrected -- and no-one has bothered reviewing the content. So be alerted here to this very uncomfortable content.
The outline of the story is of the murder of a blackmailer by hit-and-run, using a stolen car. The car belongs to a political bigwig who is about to be appointed to a big office, and the blackmailer appears to have been collecting evidence to blackmail the bigwig. Did the bigwig do it? Was it a setup from his political enemies? Was it an unbelievable coincidence? It's all there for you to put together. Go and test your mettle against the redoubtable Chief Detective Inspector Macdonald.
One can't give an honest review of this book, written in 1939, without talking about the elephant in the room -- its discussion and treatment of Jews. One of the suspects is a big financier, very cultured, and a Jew. His portrayal is a stereotype, not a hideous one by any means, but still given abilities and qualities that are closely associated specifically with rich Jews in the minds of many people. Another, very sympathetic, character is irrationally afraid of the influence of Jews on his country -- these days we would call that anti-Semitism. And worst of all is that even CDI Macdonald says the following, in a discussion with a British elder statesman:
"Isn't that the crux of the whole Jewish problem?" asked Macdonald. "That in their national cleverness they always try to go one better than the Gentile? Have they not brought much of the present trouble upon their own heads by being too clever?"
It is clear from the contents of the book that, although the author knew of such things as labor camps and Jews fleeing from parts of Europe for their lives, she did not know of the "final solution" nor of the death camps. Still, this is one of the most vile sentiments I have read from that period, from a supposed neutral voice of a Scotland Yard CDI.
Many books we read that were written in earlier periods have new prefaces in them, warning the reader of such very uncomfortable content, and avowing that they are keeping the text intact for historical reasons. These prefaces at least acknowledge that this kind of by-the-way prejudice has no place in modern literature. These new electronic editions of Lorac's works are clearly not being even proof-read -- there are many obvious OCR errors that are not corrected -- and no-one has bothered reviewing the content. So be alerted here to this very uncomfortable content.
June 8, 2023
4.5-5 stars for me. A favorite golden age author of mine, this is tough to review for risk of spoilers. Also, published in 1939, as WWII was starting, it’s a lifetime away from current thinking, and hard to read a successful financier referred to repeatedly as “the Jew”, but then again, chief Inspector Macdonald is often referred to as “the Scot” and stereotyped accordingly. It was a very different time, and I read a lot of books from the period, and realize that.
As distasteful and jarring as these ethnic and religious stereotypes are, this was a fascinating read; also an old fashioned one, as it’s about blackmail, and the personal secrets men in power at the time would do anything to keep buried. Seems a quaint notion in America in 2023 these days, political figures having shame! I very much enjoyed more of my favorite detective’s intellectual and ethical sparring with the powers that be, but actually getting in a bit of real sparring in with an ex-prizefighter publican who was also drawn into the blackmailer’s evil web.
Quite a fascinating case, I won’t go into more detail for fear of spoilers, but Macdonald really gets put through the wringer in this one. Great mystery, and snapshot of the thinking of prewar British ruling class. I really hope more of Lorac’s early Macdonald mysteries are published, I try and buy them as they become available in ebook or paperback. So far, in no particular order - but I really like the prewar and wartime mysteries.
As distasteful and jarring as these ethnic and religious stereotypes are, this was a fascinating read; also an old fashioned one, as it’s about blackmail, and the personal secrets men in power at the time would do anything to keep buried. Seems a quaint notion in America in 2023 these days, political figures having shame! I very much enjoyed more of my favorite detective’s intellectual and ethical sparring with the powers that be, but actually getting in a bit of real sparring in with an ex-prizefighter publican who was also drawn into the blackmailer’s evil web.
Quite a fascinating case, I won’t go into more detail for fear of spoilers, but Macdonald really gets put through the wringer in this one. Great mystery, and snapshot of the thinking of prewar British ruling class. I really hope more of Lorac’s early Macdonald mysteries are published, I try and buy them as they become available in ebook or paperback. So far, in no particular order - but I really like the prewar and wartime mysteries.
July 6, 2025
Interesting - I do love the Robert MacDonald series: MacDonald is written to be a thoroughly decent man. This one, written just before World War II - 1939 is the publication date - the backstory is all whether hatred of Jews by the upper class would influence the future of Jewish refugees. Which means you are in for some anti-Semitic comments in the early pages that aren't great from the vantage point of the 21st century. But the story is about prejudice and classism - and how MacDonald has to guard against bias, his own and the powers that be, when trying to figure out the truth. In that way it is masterful.
March 12, 2025
I thought this was probably Lorac’s best novel. The characters were well formed and the plot kept me interested. Whilst I understand that some readers may have been offended by some of the content, it was a novel “of its time” and should be considered in that light. I feel confident that Lorac did not set out to deliberately offend, she was merely reflecting the views prevalent to 1939, i.e. nearly 100 years ago.
May 1, 2025
(1935) Joseph Suttler, building society manager, is exposed as a blackmailer is murdered. Chief Inspector MacDonald has four main suspects, three of which have politically associations and the fourth, will he be made the scapegoat. Can MacDonald find enough evidence against the guilty party.
An entertaininghistorical mystery
Originally published in 1939
An entertaininghistorical mystery
Originally published in 1939
May 3, 2025
This is a great mystery. It doesn't rely on violence or even clever twists. You are kept guessing to the end but it is all carefully explained. McDonald is a great character, someone who you can trust and respect. There are social issues discussed and observations that are truly enlightened for the time of the writing.
July 25, 2025
Another Good E. C. R. Lorac Mystery
I have to admit I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I have the previous mysteries of hers. Don’t get me wrong. It was well plotted, just not what I was looking for. As usual, trying to decide who could be the murderer for me was impossible which is one of the reasons I love this author.
I have to admit I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I have the previous mysteries of hers. Don’t get me wrong. It was well plotted, just not what I was looking for. As usual, trying to decide who could be the murderer for me was impossible which is one of the reasons I love this author.
November 29, 2024
Didn't enjoy this at all. Wooden dialogue and the plot was, I thought, pretty transparent. My main problem, however, was the appalling snobbery and racial stereotyping displayed by nearly all the main characters. I appreciate the book is of its time but that's no excuse.
February 21, 2025
Oy vey.
What a pile of racist twaddle . You know the kind of stuff- He wasn't a bad egg for a jew boy. Well, they certainly know how to make money, etc.
Pity really cos a few Lorac yarns are worth reading but this little effort? I wish Id saved my shekels.
File under Toss on Toast (or bagel).
What a pile of racist twaddle . You know the kind of stuff- He wasn't a bad egg for a jew boy. Well, they certainly know how to make money, etc.
Pity really cos a few Lorac yarns are worth reading but this little effort? I wish Id saved my shekels.
File under Toss on Toast (or bagel).
Read
April 1, 2025I only read a few pages of this and realised I wanted to read something else. I have read several books by this author whom I highly rate as a golden age writer but didn't want to continue with this one.
March 7, 2025
A good read which shows 30's attitude to race and class in Britain.
December 27, 2024
The mystery here is overshadowed by a lot of political and philosophical ideas the author was working out. Extremely heavy antisemitism and anti-fat bias are espoused by many characters throughout the book, including some that we’re meant to consider complicated but sympathetic. But I will say that those perspectives aren’t breezed past thoughtlessly the way they are in a lot of other fiction of this period. They’re considered problematic and ultimately a burden for those who harbor them. Not an easy read, but it also clearly wasn’t meant to be. It’s chilling to remember that this book was published in 1939. So much of what’s going on at that time is similar to what we’re seeing today with the rise of fascism.
August 25, 2023
I’ve read this, but my cover was different, 2013 reissue- just trying to merge various covers, keep track of ones I’ve read! Here’s the edition and my review: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
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