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The Double
Detective Inspector Dick Staines and his friend Lord "Tommy" Weald are in Brighton on holiday, and Weald describes a beautiful woman he has seen in town - nurse Mary Dane. They run into Tommy's neighbor, Walter Derrick. Staines meets Mary Dane and is enchanted.
Staines has to head back to London. Tommy suggests Staines is welcome to stay in his Lowndes Square, London house. The house is strange - formerly owned by an obscure Religious Order who enjoyed building staircases, chapels, tunnels, and what-not. Staines settles in, but manages to lock himself out on the balcony. The neighbor's balcony is within reach. Staines remembers the adjacent balcony is Walter Derrick's house, and since he is an acquaintance anyway, he may as well try to cross to that balcony, enter Derrick's house, and get out to the street, then return to Tommy's.
Staines jumps over to the adjacent balcony, enters Derrick's house, and is trying to find his way downstairs and out when he encounters a man drugged and tied on the floor, with a woman bending over him - apparently Mary Dane. She and an unseen accomplice escape. The tied man is Derrick's caretaker, Larkin. A fingerprint is found on the glass which had the drugged beer - and is traced back to an unsolved murder.
Derrick reveals this is the third burglary in his home. It is found that his late father left an inheritance which was never found, and it is thought concealed in the home somewhere.
Staines is walking with Mary Dane when she is accosted by Lordy Brown, just off a ship, who claims she is really Mary de Villiers.
Now there are two - maybe three - Mary Danes: the nurse, the burglar, and Mary de Villiers. Or are there? - Rick Mills
Staines has to head back to London. Tommy suggests Staines is welcome to stay in his Lowndes Square, London house. The house is strange - formerly owned by an obscure Religious Order who enjoyed building staircases, chapels, tunnels, and what-not. Staines settles in, but manages to lock himself out on the balcony. The neighbor's balcony is within reach. Staines remembers the adjacent balcony is Walter Derrick's house, and since he is an acquaintance anyway, he may as well try to cross to that balcony, enter Derrick's house, and get out to the street, then return to Tommy's.
Staines jumps over to the adjacent balcony, enters Derrick's house, and is trying to find his way downstairs and out when he encounters a man drugged and tied on the floor, with a woman bending over him - apparently Mary Dane. She and an unseen accomplice escape. The tied man is Derrick's caretaker, Larkin. A fingerprint is found on the glass which had the drugged beer - and is traced back to an unsolved murder.
Derrick reveals this is the third burglary in his home. It is found that his late father left an inheritance which was never found, and it is thought concealed in the home somewhere.
Staines is walking with Mary Dane when she is accosted by Lordy Brown, just off a ship, who claims she is really Mary de Villiers.
Now there are two - maybe three - Mary Danes: the nurse, the burglar, and Mary de Villiers. Or are there? - Rick Mills
320 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 1932
33 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Edgar Wallace
2,162 books260 followersRichard Horatio Edgar Wallace (1875-1932) was a prolific British crime writer, journalist and playwright, who wrote 175 novels, 24 plays, and countless articles in newspapers and journals.
Over 160 films have been made of his novels, more than any other author. In the 1920s, one of Wallace's publishers claimed that a quarter of all books read in England were written by him.
He is most famous today as the co-creator of "King Kong", writing the early screenplay and story for the movie, as well as a short story "King Kong" (1933) credited to him and Draycott Dell. He was known for the J. G. Reeder detective stories, The Four Just Men, the Ringer, and for creating the Green Archer character during his lifetime.
Over 160 films have been made of his novels, more than any other author. In the 1920s, one of Wallace's publishers claimed that a quarter of all books read in England were written by him.
He is most famous today as the co-creator of "King Kong", writing the early screenplay and story for the movie, as well as a short story "King Kong" (1933) credited to him and Draycott Dell. He was known for the J. G. Reeder detective stories, The Four Just Men, the Ringer, and for creating the Green Archer character during his lifetime.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 25, 2022
ENGLISH: Mary Dane seems to have a double, and seems to be mixed up with a group of criminals who commit murders and try to rob the house of a friend of the protagonist, a Scotland Yard inspector who has fallen madly in love with her.
The inspector doesn't know what to think about Mary. Is it true that she has a double? Is she cheating him? Why, whenever something happens, he doesn't know where she is, or what is worse, she is with him and he has the feeling that she's trying to lure him away from the scene?
Mary Dane (together with her double, if she has one) is one of the best female characters in mystery literature.
ESPAÑOL: Mary Dane parece tener una doble, y parece estar relacionada con un grupo de criminales que cometen asesinatos y tratan de robar en la casa de un amigo del protagonista, un inspector de Scotland Yard que se ha enamorado perdidamente de ella.
El inspector no sabe a qué atenerse respecto a Mary. ¿Es verdad que tiene una doble? ¿No le estará engañando? ¿Por qué siempre que pasa algo no sabe dónde está ella, o lo que es peor, está con él y tiene la sensación de que está tratando de alejarle del lugar de los hechos?
Mary Dane (junto con su doble, si es verdad que lo tiene) es uno de los mejores personajes femeninos de la novela de misterio.
The inspector doesn't know what to think about Mary. Is it true that she has a double? Is she cheating him? Why, whenever something happens, he doesn't know where she is, or what is worse, she is with him and he has the feeling that she's trying to lure him away from the scene?
Mary Dane (together with her double, if she has one) is one of the best female characters in mystery literature.
ESPAÑOL: Mary Dane parece tener una doble, y parece estar relacionada con un grupo de criminales que cometen asesinatos y tratan de robar en la casa de un amigo del protagonista, un inspector de Scotland Yard que se ha enamorado perdidamente de ella.
El inspector no sabe a qué atenerse respecto a Mary. ¿Es verdad que tiene una doble? ¿No le estará engañando? ¿Por qué siempre que pasa algo no sabe dónde está ella, o lo que es peor, está con él y tiene la sensación de que está tratando de alejarle del lugar de los hechos?
Mary Dane (junto con su doble, si es verdad que lo tiene) es uno de los mejores personajes femeninos de la novela de misterio.
August 3, 2024
ENGLISH: Mary Dane seems to have a double, and seems to be mixed up with a group of criminals who commit murders and try to rob the house of a friend of the protagonist, a Scotland Yard inspector who has fallen madly in love with her.
The inspector doesn't know what to think about Mary. Is it true that she has a double? Is she cheating him? Why, whenever something happens, he doesn't know where she is, or what is worse, she is with him and he has the feeling that she's trying to lure him away from the scene?
Mary Dane (together with her double, if she has one) is one of the best female characters in mystery literature.
ESPAÑOL: Mary Dane parece tener una doble, y parece estar relacionada con un grupo de criminales que cometen asesinatos y tratan de robar en la casa de un amigo del protagonista, un inspector de Scotland Yard que se ha enamorado perdidamente de ella.
El inspector no sabe a qué atenerse respecto a Mary. ¿Es verdad que tiene una doble? ¿No le estará engañando? ¿Por qué siempre que pasa algo no sabe dónde está ella, o lo que es peor, está con él y tiene la sensación de que está tratando de alejarle del lugar de los hechos?
Mary Dane (junto con su doble, si es verdad que lo tiene) es uno de los mejores personajes femeninos de la novela de misterio.
The inspector doesn't know what to think about Mary. Is it true that she has a double? Is she cheating him? Why, whenever something happens, he doesn't know where she is, or what is worse, she is with him and he has the feeling that she's trying to lure him away from the scene?
Mary Dane (together with her double, if she has one) is one of the best female characters in mystery literature.
ESPAÑOL: Mary Dane parece tener una doble, y parece estar relacionada con un grupo de criminales que cometen asesinatos y tratan de robar en la casa de un amigo del protagonista, un inspector de Scotland Yard que se ha enamorado perdidamente de ella.
El inspector no sabe a qué atenerse respecto a Mary. ¿Es verdad que tiene una doble? ¿No le estará engañando? ¿Por qué siempre que pasa algo no sabe dónde está ella, o lo que es peor, está con él y tiene la sensación de que está tratando de alejarle del lugar de los hechos?
Mary Dane (junto con su doble, si es verdad que lo tiene) es uno de los mejores personajes femeninos de la novela de misterio.
September 9, 2020
The two main mystery elements were fairly easy to figure out. However, Dick Staines relationship with the beautiful nurse was really delightful and made the book worth continuing. As did her ability to be mysterious. I was kept wondering the entire time — is she evil or is she good? Which is just what Dick kept wondering. Add to that hidden passages, a mysterious fingerprint, a ghost, and (evidently) time travel - it makes for a fun read if you're an Edgar Wallace fan. And I am!
December 14, 2025
Interesting plotting, taking one through a number of mind exercises to figure out the final solution.
Given the hints dropped along the way, enough of the mystery reveals itself and enough remains to pique one's curiosity to the end.
Found it a bit repetitive, with the same loop of the hidden figures coming to into play, again and again.
Given the hints dropped along the way, enough of the mystery reveals itself and enough remains to pique one's curiosity to the end.
Found it a bit repetitive, with the same loop of the hidden figures coming to into play, again and again.
December 24, 2025
Growing up, my father used to have hundreds of these 1960s, 1970s red-bound Wallace books in German. They used to be enormously popular. a delight to find one in Western Australia - my first-ever Wallace because I never bothered reading any of my father's copies.
Story is fairly straightforward - a Scotland Yard detective is looking into break-ins, his lord-friend is falling in love with a nurse as is the detective, the nurse is somehow connected with the crimes, there's twins and secret passages and a hidden inheritance. fairly straightforward within the conventions of the genre!
Story is fairly straightforward - a Scotland Yard detective is looking into break-ins, his lord-friend is falling in love with a nurse as is the detective, the nurse is somehow connected with the crimes, there's twins and secret passages and a hidden inheritance. fairly straightforward within the conventions of the genre!
February 18, 2024
Pass
It reads like a laurel and hardy or a three stugges routine. Regardless, could not make it to the end.
It reads like a laurel and hardy or a three stugges routine. Regardless, could not make it to the end.
Read
July 25, 2024I tried and I failed. Not my cup of tea 😐
July 11, 2025
I like a lot of the novels from this era, but this one was just too dated for me, so I can't really give it a fair evaluation.
June 28, 2020
We are set up quickly with various mysteries: Who is masquerading as Mary Dane, and why? Why is everyone interested in Walter Derrick's architecturally-strange house? Who is Lordy Brown and why is he lurking around?
This is a long book (320 pages) and longer than most Wallaces, which were probably intended for Britons to read while on the Tube going to the Office. The entire middle of the book eats up a lot of pages with a love triangle: both Staines and Tommy have their eyes on Mary Dane, who consents to marry each (simultaneously!)
An amusing episode occurs in a department store when Mary gives Staines the slip (pardon the pun), by insisting she visit the Ladies' Undergarments section where men are simply Not Appropriate Shoppers.
Wallace did manage to fool me - I thought I had the killer pegged from the opening - but was wrong. The denouément did get complex, and I gave up trying to follow the shell game.
The reader may wish to have a copy of Knox's 10 Commandments (1928) handy, this story skirts several:
This is a long book (320 pages) and longer than most Wallaces, which were probably intended for Britons to read while on the Tube going to the Office. The entire middle of the book eats up a lot of pages with a love triangle: both Staines and Tommy have their eyes on Mary Dane, who consents to marry each (simultaneously!)
An amusing episode occurs in a department store when Mary gives Staines the slip (pardon the pun), by insisting she visit the Ladies' Undergarments section where men are simply Not Appropriate Shoppers.
Wallace did manage to fool me - I thought I had the killer pegged from the opening - but was wrong. The denouément did get complex, and I gave up trying to follow the shell game.
The reader may wish to have a copy of Knox's 10 Commandments (1928) handy, this story skirts several:
All supernatural ... agencies are ruled out as a matter of course. We have a ghost inhabiting Wallace's house.
Not more than one secret room or passage is allowable. Lost count. Secret passages are explained by renovations which walled-in staircases. Secret doors swing in and out.
No hitherto undiscovered poisons may be used, nor any appliance which will need a long scientific explanation at the end. The appliance appears on schedule: a vacuum pump with a long needle in the center; but relax - it is not the murder weapon. Scientific explanation is provided at the end.
Twin brothers, and doubles generally, must not appear unless we have been duly prepared for them. Doubles abound! Mary's double is duly prepared for, but wait, there's more!
November 4, 2023
Люблю творчість Едґара Волеса за чіткість, лаконічність і відсутність "води", у якій можна потопитись, так і не осягнувши суті написаного.
⠀
"The Double" - захоплююча детективна повість, у якій автор зумів поєднати злочини минулого і теперішнього, сімейні таємниці та дві любовні лінії. Так, місцями вона передбачувана, адже особу головного злочинця і таємницю двійників я розгадала одразу. Тим не менше фінал виявився для мене цілковитою несподіванкою.
⠀
Легкий і ненав'язливий стиль автора, цікаві персонажі і пригоди забезпечать вам хороший вечір у приємній компанії.
⠀
"The Double" - захоплююча детективна повість, у якій автор зумів поєднати злочини минулого і теперішнього, сімейні таємниці та дві любовні лінії. Так, місцями вона передбачувана, адже особу головного злочинця і таємницю двійників я розгадала одразу. Тим не менше фінал виявився для мене цілковитою несподіванкою.
⠀
Легкий і ненав'язливий стиль автора, цікаві персонажі і пригоди забезпечать вам хороший вечір у приємній компанії.
April 18, 2016
Este prima carte a lui Edgar Wallace pe care eu o citesc și am ales-o aleatoriu dintr-o listă de cărți pe care o aveam pe Kindle. Tema cărții este misterul, la baza romanului stând secrete, crime și multe întâmplări ieșite din comun, Chiar dacă nu este un roman foarte cunoscut, pot să vă spun că este scris într-un mod aparte. (...)
Continuarea recenziei pe blog:
https://literarybook.wordpress.com/20...
Continuarea recenziei pe blog:
https://literarybook.wordpress.com/20...
December 7, 2024
A good, readable crime mystery with enough clues peppered about to give you a fair chance of making sense of it all before the detective does and enough pace to let you sail over a couple of necessary coincidences.
March 15, 2024
Another fun Edgar Wallace that showcases why even today his novels are extremely readable; the usual mysterious woman, weird ongoings, dangerous criminal, romantic rivalry, all in the impossible to put down package, energy, fun, and excellent resolution
May 25, 2016
read some time in 1988
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews