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Anthony Bathurst #11
The Padded Door: An Anthony Bathurst Mystery
"The murderer must have crept stealthily behind Pearson and taken him all unawares-unsuspecting."
Leonard Pearson was not a pleasant individual - a likely blackmailer - so it came as no surprise when he met a sticky end. Attacked from behind, his head smashed with a blunt instrument, the only tangible clue lay in the identity of his final visitor. Captain Hilary Frant called on Pearson that night, and was heard threatening Pearson. And then his heavy walking-stick went mysteriously missing . . .
Frant's family, once he is arrested, have but one recourse - send for Anthony Bathurst. But the trail is already growing cold. With the hanging judge, Mr. Justice Heriot, presiding over the trial, matters seem bleaker still. But an unexpected second death soon turns everything on its head . . .
The Padded Door was first published in 1932. This new edition features an introduction by Steve Barge.
Leonard Pearson was not a pleasant individual - a likely blackmailer - so it came as no surprise when he met a sticky end. Attacked from behind, his head smashed with a blunt instrument, the only tangible clue lay in the identity of his final visitor. Captain Hilary Frant called on Pearson that night, and was heard threatening Pearson. And then his heavy walking-stick went mysteriously missing . . .
Frant's family, once he is arrested, have but one recourse - send for Anthony Bathurst. But the trail is already growing cold. With the hanging judge, Mr. Justice Heriot, presiding over the trial, matters seem bleaker still. But an unexpected second death soon turns everything on its head . . .
The Padded Door was first published in 1932. This new edition features an introduction by Steve Barge.
- GenresMystery
217 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 5, 2020
21 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
Brian Flynn
102 books26 followers"Brian Flynn, English author and an accountant in government service, a lecturer in elocution and speech, an amateur actor. He wrote about 50 novels, mostly for the library market. His serial character is Anthony Bathurst." - fantasticfiction.com
Also wrote under the pseudonym Charles Wogan.
Also wrote under the pseudonym Charles Wogan.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 4, 2020
It is quite difficult for me to review and rate this novel.
In terms of puzzle quality, ingenuity and structure, it scores well. There are two murders, one early on and the other, which will surprise some readers, at about halfway through.
Bathurst seems to make little progress, despite being convinced of the innocence of the man accused and tried for the first murder, that of a blackmailer. After the second death, the investigation moves on apace, and the solutions are rapidly found. I certainly found the second murder fairly easy to work out.
What sticks in my throat is that the perpetrator of the first murder is duly punished, while those responsible for the second apparently go scot-free, Bathurst effectively acting as judge and jury. I found this part of the solution repugnant. It is difficult to go fully into this without giving away important parts of the plot, but it certainly goes against any reasonable person's concept of justice and makes for a very unsatisfactory ending.
3.5 stars.
In terms of puzzle quality, ingenuity and structure, it scores well. There are two murders, one early on and the other, which will surprise some readers, at about halfway through.
Bathurst seems to make little progress, despite being convinced of the innocence of the man accused and tried for the first murder, that of a blackmailer. After the second death, the investigation moves on apace, and the solutions are rapidly found. I certainly found the second murder fairly easy to work out.
What sticks in my throat is that the perpetrator of the first murder is duly punished, while those responsible for the second apparently go scot-free, Bathurst effectively acting as judge and jury. I found this part of the solution repugnant. It is difficult to go fully into this without giving away important parts of the plot, but it certainly goes against any reasonable person's concept of justice and makes for a very unsatisfactory ending.
3.5 stars.
November 24, 2025
Rating 3.5
Cannot decide how to rate this tbh. As with other novels in the series, i don’t think any are terrible but generally they don’t blow my socks off either. Based on the books so far am not surprised that these didn’t keep being published into the 1960’s/1970’s and I suppose they weren’t picked up by tv producers, assuming they found any titles, due to reflections of both Wimsey and Campion in their leads.
This has two murders take place (given away by map in front of book) that Bathurst investigates and both times not called in by Scotland Yard.
It felt like previous novels in that Bathurst doesn’t seem to be getting anywhere until around the 50% mark and then suddenly the forward momentum accelerates to the ending.
The ending of the investigations and the subsequent revelations of who did what and when , are familiar to readers of the genre.
The second murderer isn’t punished which a few reviewers didn’t like, it is something seen in a number of GAD novels that I have read, so it must have been something that the general population had discussed or seen discussed in newspapers when deaths (or other crimes took place) and the reasons could be considered more or less for the good of society.
Overall a solid quick read. Will continue to the next in the series at some point
Cannot decide how to rate this tbh. As with other novels in the series, i don’t think any are terrible but generally they don’t blow my socks off either. Based on the books so far am not surprised that these didn’t keep being published into the 1960’s/1970’s and I suppose they weren’t picked up by tv producers, assuming they found any titles, due to reflections of both Wimsey and Campion in their leads.
This has two murders take place (given away by map in front of book) that Bathurst investigates and both times not called in by Scotland Yard.
It felt like previous novels in that Bathurst doesn’t seem to be getting anywhere until around the 50% mark and then suddenly the forward momentum accelerates to the ending.
The ending of the investigations and the subsequent revelations of who did what and when , are familiar to readers of the genre.
The second murderer isn’t punished which a few reviewers didn’t like, it is something seen in a number of GAD novels that I have read, so it must have been something that the general population had discussed or seen discussed in newspapers when deaths (or other crimes took place) and the reasons could be considered more or less for the good of society.
Overall a solid quick read. Will continue to the next in the series at some point
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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January 4, 2026I agree with the top review on this page (which I won't link, because it contains some pretty serious unmarked spoilers): this is a solid, enjoyable mystery story with an ending that makes you raise your eyebrow a little bit.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews