What do you think?
Rate this book
Paul Rivington #2
White Wig
A passenger is found shot dead on a London bus. Only four people were on board.
Apart from the driver and conductor, there was just an elderly man and a masculine-looking woman, who both alighted separately at earlier stops. To the police, the conductor is the obvious suspect, and he is held and charged.
The conductor’s fiancée hires private detective Paul Rivington to prove his innocence – and it turns out to be his most extraordinary and dangerous case to date.
Gerald Verner (1897-1980) was the pseudonym of British writer John Robert Stuart Pringle. Born in London, Verner wrote more than 120 novels that have been translated in over 35 languages, and many of his books have been adapted into films, radio serials and stage plays.
Apart from the driver and conductor, there was just an elderly man and a masculine-looking woman, who both alighted separately at earlier stops. To the police, the conductor is the obvious suspect, and he is held and charged.
The conductor’s fiancée hires private detective Paul Rivington to prove his innocence – and it turns out to be his most extraordinary and dangerous case to date.
Gerald Verner (1897-1980) was the pseudonym of British writer John Robert Stuart Pringle. Born in London, Verner wrote more than 120 novels that have been translated in over 35 languages, and many of his books have been adapted into films, radio serials and stage plays.
151 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 27, 2019
11 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Gerald Verner
118 books22 followersGerald Verner is one of the pseudonyms used by John Robert Stuart Pringle, who was born in Streatham, London, on 31 January 1897.
In his early writing days he used the name Donald Stuart, under which name he wrote 44 stories for the Sexton Blake Library as well as six stories for Union Jack and three for the Thriller magazine. In addition he wrote two stage plays, 'Sexton Blake' and 'The Shadow', two films, 'The Man Outside' (1933) and 'The Shadow' (1933) under the Stuart name. Later a number of his books were adapted for radio serials, stage plays and films.
He became a hugely successful thriller writer, producing more than 120 novels that were translated in 35 languages. The Duke of Windsor was a big Verner fan and at one time he was presented with 15 volumes specially bound.
Heavily influenced by Edgar Wallace, he wrote extensively for magazines such as Detective Weekly, the Sexton Blake Library, Union Jack and The Thriller. He also adapted Peter Cheyney's 'Meet Mr Callaghan' and Agatha Christie's 'Towards Zero' for the stage.
He also used the pseudonyms Thane Leslie, Derwent Steele and Nigel Vane.
He died at Broadstairs, Kent, of natural causes on 16 September 1980.
Gerry Wolstenholme
July 2013
In his early writing days he used the name Donald Stuart, under which name he wrote 44 stories for the Sexton Blake Library as well as six stories for Union Jack and three for the Thriller magazine. In addition he wrote two stage plays, 'Sexton Blake' and 'The Shadow', two films, 'The Man Outside' (1933) and 'The Shadow' (1933) under the Stuart name. Later a number of his books were adapted for radio serials, stage plays and films.
He became a hugely successful thriller writer, producing more than 120 novels that were translated in 35 languages. The Duke of Windsor was a big Verner fan and at one time he was presented with 15 volumes specially bound.
Heavily influenced by Edgar Wallace, he wrote extensively for magazines such as Detective Weekly, the Sexton Blake Library, Union Jack and The Thriller. He also adapted Peter Cheyney's 'Meet Mr Callaghan' and Agatha Christie's 'Towards Zero' for the stage.
He also used the pseudonyms Thane Leslie, Derwent Steele and Nigel Vane.
He died at Broadstairs, Kent, of natural causes on 16 September 1980.
Gerry Wolstenholme
July 2013
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 1, 2023
A mildly amusing old-timey murder mystery from Gerard Verner and Lume books, and precisely the sort of thing one might expect from either. In fact, I find Verner to be one of Lume’s better bets: his writing is consistently more engaging and less dated than a lot of things they resume.
This mystery of disguises is short, reads very quickly, and entertains sufficiently for the time invested. Which is decent enough for a freebie.
This mystery of disguises is short, reads very quickly, and entertains sufficiently for the time invested. Which is decent enough for a freebie.
January 14, 2021
Well written
The book starts well with solid characters and excellent writing. Plot is well thought out. Rivington does well with no phone or computer! The end is a little bit cheesy but overall a decent read.
The book starts well with solid characters and excellent writing. Plot is well thought out. Rivington does well with no phone or computer! The end is a little bit cheesy but overall a decent read.
Want to Read
June 9, 2025RK KINDLE
THE PAUL RIVINGTON MYSTERIES three classic British murder mysteries (Classic Crime Fiction Box Sets)
THE PAUL RIVINGTON MYSTERIES three classic British murder mysteries (Classic Crime Fiction Box Sets)
January 20, 2021
One, bus driver, one conductor, two passengers and one dead body. When the conductor is arrested his fiance engages private detective Paul Rivington.
Enjoyable mystery
Originally written in 1935
Enjoyable mystery
Originally written in 1935
April 18, 2025
The whole premise of this book is, to say the least, a trifle unlikely. That being said however, Gerald Verner puts it across very well. I'd like to say that Paul Rivington is a likeable character, but the truth is, I just can't picture him. Maybe that is why I haven't warmed, as yet, to this series. I've read this book a couple of times and each time I have been surprised by the perpetrator. They always says that the best crime stories have the least expected person as the criminal, well in this case Gerald Verner has certainly given us the LEAST expected person. From that point of view I would have to say it's a good story.
July 25, 2019
This started out quite promisingly, but soon degenerated into standard fare, with incompetent police, the gifted amateur given unlimited facilities to find clues, an over-confident villain, American crooks, a seedy nightclub, and a dank cellar.
The perpetrator was glaringly obvious and the plot was hackneyed. Perhaps I have now read too many by this author.
The perpetrator was glaringly obvious and the plot was hackneyed. Perhaps I have now read too many by this author.
August 1, 2017
An easy, light mystery story
July 25, 2019
starts off nicely but is getting a bit long winded.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews