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Ludovic Travers #48
The Case of the Extra Man
I never did like missing people. Far too often we’ve found them dead.
When that cheerful soul, Doris Bosford, asked Ludovic Travers of the Broad Street Detective Agency to trace her missing husband the case soon involved matters less innocent than a mere disappearance. Andrew Bosford had been a crooner, but investigation showed that his latest source of income seemed concerned with a smuggling racket that had its headquarters in France. With the discovery of a body on the seashore—the body of the last man to employ Andrew as a singer—Ludovic felt the time had come for him to drop Mrs. Bosford as a client.
But the threads were to be put back into his hands as the result of two apparently quite unconnected events, and Ludovic found himself in a situation where it was far from easy to serve the interests both of his clients and those of Scotland Yard. This results in one of the best and most distinctive of Christopher Bush’s mystery novels.
The Case of the Extra Man was originally published in 1956. This new edition features an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.
“Bush gets better and better . . . And Ludovic Travers is becoming one of our favourite sleuths” San Francisco Chronicle
When that cheerful soul, Doris Bosford, asked Ludovic Travers of the Broad Street Detective Agency to trace her missing husband the case soon involved matters less innocent than a mere disappearance. Andrew Bosford had been a crooner, but investigation showed that his latest source of income seemed concerned with a smuggling racket that had its headquarters in France. With the discovery of a body on the seashore—the body of the last man to employ Andrew as a singer—Ludovic felt the time had come for him to drop Mrs. Bosford as a client.
But the threads were to be put back into his hands as the result of two apparently quite unconnected events, and Ludovic found himself in a situation where it was far from easy to serve the interests both of his clients and those of Scotland Yard. This results in one of the best and most distinctive of Christopher Bush’s mystery novels.
The Case of the Extra Man was originally published in 1956. This new edition features an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.
“Bush gets better and better . . . And Ludovic Travers is becoming one of our favourite sleuths” San Francisco Chronicle
208 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1956
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About the author
Christopher Bush
94 books12 followersChristopher Bush was educated in the local school. He then won a scholarship to Thetford Grammar, and went on to study modern languages at King's College London, after which he worked as a school teacher.
He participated in both world wars.
He was a prolific writer of detective novels, wrote three autobiographical novels and nine books about Breckland life using the nom-de-plume Michael Home.
He lived in Great Hockham.
He participated in both world wars.
He was a prolific writer of detective novels, wrote three autobiographical novels and nine books about Breckland life using the nom-de-plume Michael Home.
He lived in Great Hockham.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
October 3, 2020
I found this one a bit odd. It gets off to a good start then gets rather bogged down, before a somewhat hurried, if interesting, finish. I felt, in some ways, that Bush had thought up a pretty good set of ideas but really did not fully work where they would all lead.
The characterisation is strong and there is not too much Scotland Yard involvement. Perhaps this one suffers a little up against the excellences of 'The Russian Cross', 'The Amateur Actor', 'The Three Lost Letters', and others, in this latest batch of ten.
Recommendable. 3.5 stars
The characterisation is strong and there is not too much Scotland Yard involvement. Perhaps this one suffers a little up against the excellences of 'The Russian Cross', 'The Amateur Actor', 'The Three Lost Letters', and others, in this latest batch of ten.
Recommendable. 3.5 stars
Displaying 1 of 1 review