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Robert Macdonald #25
Checkmate to Murder
On a dismally foggy night in Hampstead, London, a curious party has gathered in an artist's studio to weather the wartime blackout
As World War II takes its toll around them, a civil servant and a government scientist are matching wits in a game of chess, while an artist paints the portrait of his characterful sitter, bedecked in Cardinal's robes at the other end of the room. In the kitchen, the artist's sister is hosting the charlady of the miser next door.
When the brutal murder of said miser is discovered by his nephew, it's not long before Inspector Macdonald of Scotland Yard is at the scene, faced with perplexing alibis and with the fate of the young man in his hands. In the search for the culprit, Macdonald and his team of detectives must figure out if one of the members of the studio party is somehow involved in the death, or if some other scurrilous neighbour could be responsible.
The British Library of Crime Classics is pleased to revive this clever, classic mystery for amateur sleuths and fans of British historical fiction.
As World War II takes its toll around them, a civil servant and a government scientist are matching wits in a game of chess, while an artist paints the portrait of his characterful sitter, bedecked in Cardinal's robes at the other end of the room. In the kitchen, the artist's sister is hosting the charlady of the miser next door.
When the brutal murder of said miser is discovered by his nephew, it's not long before Inspector Macdonald of Scotland Yard is at the scene, faced with perplexing alibis and with the fate of the young man in his hands. In the search for the culprit, Macdonald and his team of detectives must figure out if one of the members of the studio party is somehow involved in the death, or if some other scurrilous neighbour could be responsible.
The British Library of Crime Classics is pleased to revive this clever, classic mystery for amateur sleuths and fans of British historical fiction.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1944
180 people are currently reading
642 people want to read
About the author
E.C.R. Lorac
74 books177 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 - 30 of 159 reviews
March 31, 2025
Of all the murder mysteries I've read of E.C.R. Lorac, Checkmate to Murder is the best one. It is very cleverly written, with a complex plot and quite convincing red herrings. It is well structured and balanced, and so, the suspense was kept intact. Not a moment was there to be either bored or tired. If I say that this murder mystery in the Robert McDonald series is one of the best mysteries I have read, that'll sum up how I felt about this novel.
Lorac's best attraction is her writing. It is both atmospheric and mysterious. She knows how to create a setting and transport the reader into that setting. The novels set in London, including this one, are particularly alluring with the dark feel of the London blitz hovering in the background.
Robert McDonald, one of my most love fictitious detectives (seconding only to Sherlock Holmes), was portrayed in his best light. His intelligence, cleverness, experience as a detective, and above all, his human side were best exhibited here. I truly loved the role he played in this murder mystery. Lorac has always portrayed Chief Inspector McDonald well, but here, he is portrayed exceptionally well.
This murder mystery was enjoyable both for its writing and the enveloping mystery. Although I guessed the culprit correctly, guided by my experience of reading many murder mysteries and somewhat the motive accurately, I could never have guessed how the crime was committed. It was so cleverly done.
Checkmate to Murder is the most enjoyable mystery in the Robert McDonald series that I've read so far, and it certainly comes under what I consider to be a best-written whodunit.
More of my reviews can be found at http://piyangiejay.com/
Lorac's best attraction is her writing. It is both atmospheric and mysterious. She knows how to create a setting and transport the reader into that setting. The novels set in London, including this one, are particularly alluring with the dark feel of the London blitz hovering in the background.
Robert McDonald, one of my most love fictitious detectives (seconding only to Sherlock Holmes), was portrayed in his best light. His intelligence, cleverness, experience as a detective, and above all, his human side were best exhibited here. I truly loved the role he played in this murder mystery. Lorac has always portrayed Chief Inspector McDonald well, but here, he is portrayed exceptionally well.
This murder mystery was enjoyable both for its writing and the enveloping mystery. Although I guessed the culprit correctly, guided by my experience of reading many murder mysteries and somewhat the motive accurately, I could never have guessed how the crime was committed. It was so cleverly done.
Checkmate to Murder is the most enjoyable mystery in the Robert McDonald series that I've read so far, and it certainly comes under what I consider to be a best-written whodunit.
More of my reviews can be found at http://piyangiejay.com/
July 8, 2024
Last week I read Lorac's Murder By Matchlight (great title) and was somewhat disappointed. Since she was a very popular mystery writer of the Golden Age, I thought I would try another of her books that I hoped would be better. It was.
An unusual group of people (artist, civil servant, government scientist, artist's male model, and artist's sister) are gathered in the artist's shabby studio during the London blackout. Suddenly a civilian patrolman bursts in with a British soldier in tow and advises them that he is a murderer who just killed the miserly man who lives next door and is the owner of the studio. This brings Scotland Yard DI Macdonald (Lorac's continuing character) to the scene to investigate and as Sherlock Holmes said "the game is afoot".
Everyone comes under suspicion and the story is somewhat of a locked room mystery. It's fun trying to figure out exactly how the murder was committed. It is a short and likeable book for down time reading.
An unusual group of people (artist, civil servant, government scientist, artist's male model, and artist's sister) are gathered in the artist's shabby studio during the London blackout. Suddenly a civilian patrolman bursts in with a British soldier in tow and advises them that he is a murderer who just killed the miserly man who lives next door and is the owner of the studio. This brings Scotland Yard DI Macdonald (Lorac's continuing character) to the scene to investigate and as Sherlock Holmes said "the game is afoot".
Everyone comes under suspicion and the story is somewhat of a locked room mystery. It's fun trying to figure out exactly how the murder was committed. It is a short and likeable book for down time reading.
July 14, 2021
This mystery was published in 1944 and is set during WWII, so has a really authentic feel to it. Bruce Manaton, artist, is living in a shabby studio, with his put upon sister, Roseanne. One evening, he is painting the actor, Bruce Manaton, in his role as a Cardinal, while Roseanne prepares a meal and two other men, Robert Cavendish and Ian Mackennon are playing chess. The blackout holds the group in darkness, while flickering lights throw shadows around the room, when there is a knocking on the door. A Special Constable appears, clutching a young soldier, who he accuses of killing their neighbour, the miser, Mr Folliner. The soldier, a great-nephew of Mr Folliner, states his innocence, Scotland Yard become involved and it is up to McDonald to unpick the motives and suspects.
London in wartime is a place of shabby furnishings and shortages. When searching the studio, it is commented upon that all of Roseanne's possessions could fit into a single suitcase, while previous inhabitants of the studio are sneered at for leaving London because of the bombing. Quite aside from the mystery element, which is interesting, this is a fascinating portrait of London after enduring years of rationing, bombs, blackout and making do and mending. A very interesting read.
London in wartime is a place of shabby furnishings and shortages. When searching the studio, it is commented upon that all of Roseanne's possessions could fit into a single suitcase, while previous inhabitants of the studio are sneered at for leaving London because of the bombing. Quite aside from the mystery element, which is interesting, this is a fascinating portrait of London after enduring years of rationing, bombs, blackout and making do and mending. A very interesting read.
July 14, 2024
4.5 stars, buddy read with Jessica! This was such a great read! I love it when Macdonald has Jenkins and Reeves with him in his investigations.
November 1, 2020
Keep Calm and Carry On!
It’s wartime London and a thick fog is making the darkness of the blackout even deeper. A perfect night for murder! Four men are together in an artist’s studio. Bruce Manaton, the artist, is working on a portrait of his friend, actor André Delaunier, dressed for the sitting in the scarlet robes of a Cardinal. Meantime two other men, Robert Cavenish and Ian Mackellon, are absorbed in a game of chess. Each couple is in a pool of light while the rest of the studio is in shadow. In the kitchen off the studio, Bruce’s sister, Rosanne, is preparing a meal (because she’s the woman, obviously). Suddenly into this quiet scene bursts the local Special Constable, clutching a young soldier whom he claims has just murdered the old miser who lives next door. But when Inspector MacDonald of the Yard begins to investigate, he’s not convinced it’s as simple a case as it first appears…
ECR Lorac has been one of the major successes of the British Library Crime Classics series as far as I’m concerned, and I guess I’m not alone since they’ve now republished several of the Inspector MacDonald books, as well as a standalone written under another of her pen names, Carol Carnac. One of her real strengths is her settings, and her wartime ones are particularly atmospheric. Here she uses the combination of fog and blackout brilliantly, not just to provide a cloak for nefarious goings-on, but also to conjure up a sense of what it was like to be living in a London still struggling stoically on under the constant threat of air raids.
The worst of the Blitz is over, but the memories of the bombings are still fresh. So much so, that, as Bruce later explains to Inspector MacDonald “Londoners have heard so many bangs during their recent history, that a pistol shot isn’t so impressive a row as it used to be.” This, together with the random blasts of fog horns, means that the group in the studio didn’t consciously hear the shot that killed old Mr Folliner.
Through patient police work, MacDonald and his team soon have reason to doubt that the young soldier, who, it turns out, is Mr Folliner’s nephew, is the murderer, although he was found by the Special Constable in the old man’s bedroom with the corpse. But if he’s innocent, then who did the deed? The list of suspects is small, and it seems almost impossible that anyone in the vicinity at the time could have done it. MacDonald will have to work out not only whodunit but how.
It’s a good puzzle, with some of the elements of the “impossible crime” about it, though I find it impossible myself to explain why without giving mild spoilers, so I won’t. The characterisation is very good, with Bruce and Rosanne Manaton particularly well developed. Bruce is talented, but he’s moody and selfish, and Rosanne acts almost as much as a mother to him as a sister. People aren’t spending much on art during the war, so Rosanne struggles to make ends meet and stop Bruce blowing what little money they do have on drink. She too is a talented artist, but Bruce kindly lets her sacrifice her own career so that she can do all the cooking and cleaning and worrying for them both.
We also get to know Inspector MacDonald a little better, though his life outside work is still largely a blank. I like that he never works alone – Lorac always makes us aware of the teamwork that is going on in the background to support his detecting, and gives them full credit for their contribution. As used to be the case in those halcyon days (in fiction), the police team work well together, efficiently, professionally and in an atmosphere of mutual respect.
Another great read from Lorac’s pen – I remain baffled as to why she is less well known than the other Golden Age Queens of Crime and am very glad that the BL is doing such a great job in changing that. 4½ stars for me, so rounded up.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, the British Library.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
It’s wartime London and a thick fog is making the darkness of the blackout even deeper. A perfect night for murder! Four men are together in an artist’s studio. Bruce Manaton, the artist, is working on a portrait of his friend, actor André Delaunier, dressed for the sitting in the scarlet robes of a Cardinal. Meantime two other men, Robert Cavenish and Ian Mackellon, are absorbed in a game of chess. Each couple is in a pool of light while the rest of the studio is in shadow. In the kitchen off the studio, Bruce’s sister, Rosanne, is preparing a meal (because she’s the woman, obviously). Suddenly into this quiet scene bursts the local Special Constable, clutching a young soldier whom he claims has just murdered the old miser who lives next door. But when Inspector MacDonald of the Yard begins to investigate, he’s not convinced it’s as simple a case as it first appears…
ECR Lorac has been one of the major successes of the British Library Crime Classics series as far as I’m concerned, and I guess I’m not alone since they’ve now republished several of the Inspector MacDonald books, as well as a standalone written under another of her pen names, Carol Carnac. One of her real strengths is her settings, and her wartime ones are particularly atmospheric. Here she uses the combination of fog and blackout brilliantly, not just to provide a cloak for nefarious goings-on, but also to conjure up a sense of what it was like to be living in a London still struggling stoically on under the constant threat of air raids.
The worst of the Blitz is over, but the memories of the bombings are still fresh. So much so, that, as Bruce later explains to Inspector MacDonald “Londoners have heard so many bangs during their recent history, that a pistol shot isn’t so impressive a row as it used to be.” This, together with the random blasts of fog horns, means that the group in the studio didn’t consciously hear the shot that killed old Mr Folliner.
Through patient police work, MacDonald and his team soon have reason to doubt that the young soldier, who, it turns out, is Mr Folliner’s nephew, is the murderer, although he was found by the Special Constable in the old man’s bedroom with the corpse. But if he’s innocent, then who did the deed? The list of suspects is small, and it seems almost impossible that anyone in the vicinity at the time could have done it. MacDonald will have to work out not only whodunit but how.
It’s a good puzzle, with some of the elements of the “impossible crime” about it, though I find it impossible myself to explain why without giving mild spoilers, so I won’t. The characterisation is very good, with Bruce and Rosanne Manaton particularly well developed. Bruce is talented, but he’s moody and selfish, and Rosanne acts almost as much as a mother to him as a sister. People aren’t spending much on art during the war, so Rosanne struggles to make ends meet and stop Bruce blowing what little money they do have on drink. She too is a talented artist, but Bruce kindly lets her sacrifice her own career so that she can do all the cooking and cleaning and worrying for them both.
We also get to know Inspector MacDonald a little better, though his life outside work is still largely a blank. I like that he never works alone – Lorac always makes us aware of the teamwork that is going on in the background to support his detecting, and gives them full credit for their contribution. As used to be the case in those halcyon days (in fiction), the police team work well together, efficiently, professionally and in an atmosphere of mutual respect.
Another great read from Lorac’s pen – I remain baffled as to why she is less well known than the other Golden Age Queens of Crime and am very glad that the BL is doing such a great job in changing that. 4½ stars for me, so rounded up.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, the British Library.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
October 26, 2021
4.5 stars - This was another great mystery from Lorac, starring her intelligent, methodical, and compassionate Inspector Macdonald of Scotland Yard.
The mystery is very well done, with plenty of twists and turns, a wonderfully evoked wintry London setting, with the blackouts, rationing and destruction of WWII playing a vital role. Lorac is very good at creating intriguing characters, intricate puzzles, and especially creating a setting readers can truly sink into and feel! Her descriptions of bombed-out properties, inky dark, cold January nights during the blackout, and the camaraderie of the local pub, and the surrounding denizens, keeping an eye on each other, bucking each other up to get through another day, like this novel’s cheery Cockney char lady, Mrs. Tubbs, are engrossing. I can’t help wondering if modern Londoners, reading this, could imagine the current residents getting through such an ordeal with such a positive attitude! Greatest generation indeed.
This mystery opens on a cold winter night at an artist’s studio; a very disparate group have gathered to either pose or paint, or play chess, and all have brought a contribution from their meager rations to the communal meal, being prepared by the artist’s sister. Suddenly a special constable bangs at the door, demanding entry and assistance - he has a prisoner with him, a young Canadian soldier caught in the house next door- he was standing beside the bed of the old man who lived there. The old man has been shot dead, and the constable assumes the young man did it - he tried to flee, but swears he didn’t do it - the old man was his great-uncle, and he was visiting.
As soon as the pros are called in, Macdonald and his team, the story begins to change - there are several promising leads, and they follow them all. Some are dead ends, others are red herrings - but there is never a dull moment! I always enjoy accompanying Macdonald and Reeves as they interview witnesses and gather information; they meet such interesting people, and it’s a pleasure to sit in on the conversations. They are both such decent and compassionate, yet tireless investigators; as Macdonald observes after talking to a chatty, friendly, elderly pub keeper in chapter 9:
He is one of the most admirable and likable detectives I’ve ever come across, and I’m so glad Lorac’s books are being republished- she deserves to be read. My only suggestion would be read, don’t listen to the audiobook if the narrator doesn’t work for you. It is David Thorpe, who I have listened to and enjoyed on several other mysteries, but he doesn’t always work for me, some of his accent choices, or the pitch of his voice for some characters, can be annoying and distracting. But if you like golden age mysteries, or just well-written, atmospheric mysteries, and get the chance to read Lorac, please give her a try. I have read several through Scribd and my library, or purchasing the beautiful British Library Crime Classics paperbacks, and she is now one of my favorite authors.
The mystery is very well done, with plenty of twists and turns, a wonderfully evoked wintry London setting, with the blackouts, rationing and destruction of WWII playing a vital role. Lorac is very good at creating intriguing characters, intricate puzzles, and especially creating a setting readers can truly sink into and feel! Her descriptions of bombed-out properties, inky dark, cold January nights during the blackout, and the camaraderie of the local pub, and the surrounding denizens, keeping an eye on each other, bucking each other up to get through another day, like this novel’s cheery Cockney char lady, Mrs. Tubbs, are engrossing. I can’t help wondering if modern Londoners, reading this, could imagine the current residents getting through such an ordeal with such a positive attitude! Greatest generation indeed.
This mystery opens on a cold winter night at an artist’s studio; a very disparate group have gathered to either pose or paint, or play chess, and all have brought a contribution from their meager rations to the communal meal, being prepared by the artist’s sister. Suddenly a special constable bangs at the door, demanding entry and assistance - he has a prisoner with him, a young Canadian soldier caught in the house next door- he was standing beside the bed of the old man who lived there. The old man has been shot dead, and the constable assumes the young man did it - he tried to flee, but swears he didn’t do it - the old man was his great-uncle, and he was visiting.
As soon as the pros are called in, Macdonald and his team, the story begins to change - there are several promising leads, and they follow them all. Some are dead ends, others are red herrings - but there is never a dull moment! I always enjoy accompanying Macdonald and Reeves as they interview witnesses and gather information; they meet such interesting people, and it’s a pleasure to sit in on the conversations. They are both such decent and compassionate, yet tireless investigators; as Macdonald observes after talking to a chatty, friendly, elderly pub keeper in chapter 9:
…as was often the case during an investigation, Macdonald seemed to happen across “side-shows,”which had entertainment value apart from the information he collected. Mrs. Blossom in her parlor was just such a side show, and the recollection of her would enliven Macdonald‘s meditations during many a subsequent leisure moment…
He is one of the most admirable and likable detectives I’ve ever come across, and I’m so glad Lorac’s books are being republished- she deserves to be read. My only suggestion would be read, don’t listen to the audiobook if the narrator doesn’t work for you. It is David Thorpe, who I have listened to and enjoyed on several other mysteries, but he doesn’t always work for me, some of his accent choices, or the pitch of his voice for some characters, can be annoying and distracting. But if you like golden age mysteries, or just well-written, atmospheric mysteries, and get the chance to read Lorac, please give her a try. I have read several through Scribd and my library, or purchasing the beautiful British Library Crime Classics paperbacks, and she is now one of my favorite authors.
April 26, 2021
I love a good “locked room” mystery. E.C.R. LORAC produced one when she wrote CHECKMATE TO MURDER in 1944 even though there is no “locked room”.
It is set at the height of “Blacked Out” Britain during WW II. The place is Hampstead a suburb of London, in a neighborhood that had fallen on hard times. At one time, it had been a very genteel middle class area. Now there is one house occupied, with a detached artist’s studio. Most of the other homes were empty and derelict.
Mr. Folliner is a 90-year-old single man who is considered a mean man, a miser and a recluse. He occupies the house and rents the artist’s studio to Bruce Manaton a failing artist and his sister Rosanne an artist. Folliner is the murdered victim.
As the story opens, the Manaton’s are hosting an evening with friends. Andre Delaunier is an actor posing for Bruce in a Cardinal’s outfit. Robert Cavenish is middle aged and employed in the British Home Office. Ian MacKellan is a younger man and a chemist also employed by the government. These two are engrossed in a chess game.
Rosanne is making dinner for the group in the kitchen. Mrs. Tubbs, a cockney housekeeper employed (sort of) by Mr. Folliner drops by briefly and accidentally (?) leaves her key to Folliner’s house in the Manaton’s kitchen. Rosanne briefly leaves the house to check on the how well the blackout curtains are working.
There is a pounding on the door. When the door is opened, there stands Special Constable Verraby holding Neil Folliner, the old man’s Canadian grandnephew whom he accusers of murdering his uncle. Eventually, Detective Chief Inspector MacDonald and his staff show up to begin the investigation. MacDonald is main character of this series. He is assisted by Detective Inspectors Jenkins and Reeves. Verraby is also a real estate investor and a suspect.
Among the other suspects are Randall Stort, another artist, and his housemate Listelle. They were the previous tenants of the studio and not well thought of. They have disappeared.
MacDonald reminds me of the television detective Columbo who seemed to act very slowly but actually is piecing together the elements of the crime in his mind. He uses his D.I.s to do the legwork while he does the thinking.
The author’s real name was Edith Caroline Rivett and she wrote under the name Carol Carnac as well. She died in 1958 at age 64. The book is joint project between the British Library in London and Poisoned Pen Press in Arizona. I look forward to reading more in the series.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for fans of British mysteries (a la Agatha Christie), mysteries with a wartime backdrop or just a fun read. See if you can guess the killer before the police.
GO! BUY! READ!
It is set at the height of “Blacked Out” Britain during WW II. The place is Hampstead a suburb of London, in a neighborhood that had fallen on hard times. At one time, it had been a very genteel middle class area. Now there is one house occupied, with a detached artist’s studio. Most of the other homes were empty and derelict.
Mr. Folliner is a 90-year-old single man who is considered a mean man, a miser and a recluse. He occupies the house and rents the artist’s studio to Bruce Manaton a failing artist and his sister Rosanne an artist. Folliner is the murdered victim.
As the story opens, the Manaton’s are hosting an evening with friends. Andre Delaunier is an actor posing for Bruce in a Cardinal’s outfit. Robert Cavenish is middle aged and employed in the British Home Office. Ian MacKellan is a younger man and a chemist also employed by the government. These two are engrossed in a chess game.
Rosanne is making dinner for the group in the kitchen. Mrs. Tubbs, a cockney housekeeper employed (sort of) by Mr. Folliner drops by briefly and accidentally (?) leaves her key to Folliner’s house in the Manaton’s kitchen. Rosanne briefly leaves the house to check on the how well the blackout curtains are working.
There is a pounding on the door. When the door is opened, there stands Special Constable Verraby holding Neil Folliner, the old man’s Canadian grandnephew whom he accusers of murdering his uncle. Eventually, Detective Chief Inspector MacDonald and his staff show up to begin the investigation. MacDonald is main character of this series. He is assisted by Detective Inspectors Jenkins and Reeves. Verraby is also a real estate investor and a suspect.
Among the other suspects are Randall Stort, another artist, and his housemate Listelle. They were the previous tenants of the studio and not well thought of. They have disappeared.
MacDonald reminds me of the television detective Columbo who seemed to act very slowly but actually is piecing together the elements of the crime in his mind. He uses his D.I.s to do the legwork while he does the thinking.
The author’s real name was Edith Caroline Rivett and she wrote under the name Carol Carnac as well. She died in 1958 at age 64. The book is joint project between the British Library in London and Poisoned Pen Press in Arizona. I look forward to reading more in the series.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for fans of British mysteries (a la Agatha Christie), mysteries with a wartime backdrop or just a fun read. See if you can guess the killer before the police.
GO! BUY! READ!
March 2, 2021
Well, that was a lot of fun! Very clever and with heavy doses of atmospheric London circa 1941. Will definitely be reading more of Inspector MacDonald and this series!
March 27, 2025
Whew, this was a great Lorac! I love the details of life in wartime London and the everyday, upright characters that intersect with the investigation. Lorac's background in arts gives some lovely detail here.
December 6, 2021
Dame Agatha Christie and Her Peers
Thanks so much to British Library Crime Classics for giving us more mysteries by Christie's contemporaries!
CAST - 3 stars: Roseanne Manaton seems to have given her life to supporting her unsuccessful artist/brother, Bruce Manaton. Two friends play chess. Another friend, Andre Delaunier, is an actor and poses for Bruce. Next door to the Manaton's rented studio lives a secretive miser visited by a young relative from Canada. A Mrs. Tubbs is a cleaning lady and is pure Cockney. I loved when Lorac says Hitler would never have understood the indomitable Mrs. Tubbs. That says so much about Mrs. Tubbs. Unfortunately, Lorac gives us rather weak portrayals of about everyone else. Inspector McDonald is solid but flat.
ATMOSPHERE - 4 stars: Fascinating. Fog, blackouts, lack of goods (shortage of tea!), bombings, weariness from another war are all here. I loved the comparison of ancient Victorian kitchens to modern WW2 kitchens: Lorac makes it clear she's not much of a fan of either. But little is used in service to the story itself. And this novel really could have used a floor plan of the studio and environs.
PLOT - 3 stars - The neighbor/miser is hit on the head then shot dead, his money box emptied. Average plot.
INVESTIGATION - 2 stars: MacDonald knocks on doors. Roseanne disappears and leaves the story. Can't say I blame her. Plot points are not resolved.
RESOLUTION - 1 star: Yea, right...
SUMMARY - 2.6 stars. Pluses are ATMOSPHERE, ROSEANNE, AND MRS. TUBBS. But I didn't believe the resolution. And let's just say actor Andre didn't seem to be a Lawrence Olivier.
Thanks so much to British Library Crime Classics for giving us more mysteries by Christie's contemporaries!
CAST - 3 stars: Roseanne Manaton seems to have given her life to supporting her unsuccessful artist/brother, Bruce Manaton. Two friends play chess. Another friend, Andre Delaunier, is an actor and poses for Bruce. Next door to the Manaton's rented studio lives a secretive miser visited by a young relative from Canada. A Mrs. Tubbs is a cleaning lady and is pure Cockney. I loved when Lorac says Hitler would never have understood the indomitable Mrs. Tubbs. That says so much about Mrs. Tubbs. Unfortunately, Lorac gives us rather weak portrayals of about everyone else. Inspector McDonald is solid but flat.
ATMOSPHERE - 4 stars: Fascinating. Fog, blackouts, lack of goods (shortage of tea!), bombings, weariness from another war are all here. I loved the comparison of ancient Victorian kitchens to modern WW2 kitchens: Lorac makes it clear she's not much of a fan of either. But little is used in service to the story itself. And this novel really could have used a floor plan of the studio and environs.
PLOT - 3 stars - The neighbor/miser is hit on the head then shot dead, his money box emptied. Average plot.
INVESTIGATION - 2 stars: MacDonald knocks on doors. Roseanne disappears and leaves the story. Can't say I blame her. Plot points are not resolved.
RESOLUTION - 1 star: Yea, right...
SUMMARY - 2.6 stars. Pluses are ATMOSPHERE, ROSEANNE, AND MRS. TUBBS. But I didn't believe the resolution. And let's just say actor Andre didn't seem to be a Lawrence Olivier.
July 7, 2021
Another marvelous mystery from Lorac, featuring my favorite Scotland Yard man, Chief Inspector Macdonald.
It is a cold, foggy night in London, during the middle of WWII:
The book opens with a very detailed look at the people occupying a vast artist's studio--a very strong introduction to our main characters. There's Bruce Manaton(the artist) and his sister Rosanne, who are the tenants of the studio; an actor, dressed as Cardinal Richelieu, who is posing for Bruce; and two of their friends, who are playing chess.
At sometime during this convivial evening the elderly next-door neighbor is shot to death. Old Man Folliner is reputed to be a miser. An empty lockbox is found near the victim. Was robbery the motive? If so, where's the money?
Macdonald has a tough case on his hands. However, Lorac always plays fair--all the clues are there. It is up to our clever inspector (and the reader) to recognize them.
I found the mystery to be very twisty--the 5 people in the studio are not our only suspects and everyone seems to have a solid alibi. Someone must be lying, but who?
It is always a delight to see Macdonald in action and to follow his thought processes. Also present is his young colleague Inspector Reeves, who is on call to interview dragon-ish older women and climb a fence or two. I am quite fond of young Reeves and always happy when he makes an appearance.
The climax is very action-packed and the solution to the mystery was very satisfactory, I closed the book well pleased.
It is a cold, foggy night in London, during the middle of WWII:
The book opens with a very detailed look at the people occupying a vast artist's studio--a very strong introduction to our main characters. There's Bruce Manaton(the artist) and his sister Rosanne, who are the tenants of the studio; an actor, dressed as Cardinal Richelieu, who is posing for Bruce; and two of their friends, who are playing chess.
At sometime during this convivial evening the elderly next-door neighbor is shot to death. Old Man Folliner is reputed to be a miser. An empty lockbox is found near the victim. Was robbery the motive? If so, where's the money?
Macdonald has a tough case on his hands. However, Lorac always plays fair--all the clues are there. It is up to our clever inspector (and the reader) to recognize them.
I found the mystery to be very twisty--the 5 people in the studio are not our only suspects and everyone seems to have a solid alibi. Someone must be lying, but who?
It is always a delight to see Macdonald in action and to follow his thought processes. Also present is his young colleague Inspector Reeves, who is on call to interview dragon-ish older women and climb a fence or two. I am quite fond of young Reeves and always happy when he makes an appearance.
The climax is very action-packed and the solution to the mystery was very satisfactory, I closed the book well pleased.
June 23, 2023
My last foray with Chief Inspector Robert Macdonald [sic] in Post After Post-Mortem: An Oxfordshire Mystery was a bit unsatisfactory and not up to E.C.R. Lorac’s usual standard. How wonderful to see Lorac back to her glory in Checkmate to Murder, a 1944 mystery recently rereleased. It’s the 25th in the series, but I have not been reading this series about the intrepid, patient “London Scot” in order, and readers don’t need to, either.
Scotland Yard has dispatched Mcdonald to investigate the shooting death of a miser, from whom thousands of pounds have been stolen during World War II. Found at the scene is the great-nephew of the 90-year-old miser, Neil Foliner, a Canadian soldier stationed in England who had sent a postcard to announce another of his visits to London. The 20-year-old great-nephew, although arrested, explains that preannouncing a murderous visit makes no sense and that he had neither pistol nor money on him. Mcdonald’s inclined to believe young Foliner. But then who is the killer?
Thank you so much to British Library of Crime Classics and Poisoned Pen Press for re-issuing yet another Lorac gem!
Scotland Yard has dispatched Mcdonald to investigate the shooting death of a miser, from whom thousands of pounds have been stolen during World War II. Found at the scene is the great-nephew of the 90-year-old miser, Neil Foliner, a Canadian soldier stationed in England who had sent a postcard to announce another of his visits to London. The 20-year-old great-nephew, although arrested, explains that preannouncing a murderous visit makes no sense and that he had neither pistol nor money on him. Mcdonald’s inclined to believe young Foliner. But then who is the killer?
Thank you so much to British Library of Crime Classics and Poisoned Pen Press for re-issuing yet another Lorac gem!
July 30, 2021
Atmospheric murder set in London during the Blitz. An old man is murdered in his grimy house, and his nephew is apprehended at the scene. However, Inspector Macdonald is not convinced of the young soldier’s guilt, and investigates the occupants of an adjoining artist's studio - painter Bruce Manaton, his sister Rosanne and actor André Dalaunier who was sitting for a portrait, plus two friends (Cavenish and Mackellon) who are playing chess. All the suspects appear to have alibis, but Macdonald is determined to investigate thoroughly and soon begins to uncover puzzling circumstances.
The strength of this novel for me was the wartime setting, with derelict houses and the imposition of the blackout. There is a real sense of struggle and deprivation behind the efforts to survive. The plot bore some similarities to other mysteries I’d read before and I soon identified the culprit, although I hadn’t completely worked out the method or how Macdonald did his job.
I really enjoy Lorac’s writing and Macdonald is a likeable and convincing protagonist. There were some engaging secondary characters too, especially the feisty elderly female characters such as Mrs Blossom the landlady. 3.5* for this mystery.
The strength of this novel for me was the wartime setting, with derelict houses and the imposition of the blackout. There is a real sense of struggle and deprivation behind the efforts to survive. The plot bore some similarities to other mysteries I’d read before and I soon identified the culprit, although I hadn’t completely worked out the method or how Macdonald did his job.
I really enjoy Lorac’s writing and Macdonald is a likeable and convincing protagonist. There were some engaging secondary characters too, especially the feisty elderly female characters such as Mrs Blossom the landlady. 3.5* for this mystery.
June 1, 2024
A very enjoyable and clever mystery. It is World War II in London and four men sit in an artist's studio. Two of the men are playing chess, and the artist is painting the 4th man, an actor. The artist's sister is in the kitchen preparing dinner and chatting with an old neighbor coming back from an old miser's (who has rented the decrepit studio to the artist and his sister).
Into this quiet scene bursts a young Canadian soldier followed by a "special" Constable (I'm thinking that's a civilian volunteer) accusing the young man of the murder of the old miser in the house next door.
Police Inspector Robert MacDonald (whom I just love!) is on the case. And although we are given enough clues to force me to admit the author played fair, I did not solve this one. The solution was a satisfying conclusion to a story that kept me absorbed from start to finish.
Another excellent piece of writing from my new favorite mystery author, E.C.R. Lorac.
Into this quiet scene bursts a young Canadian soldier followed by a "special" Constable (I'm thinking that's a civilian volunteer) accusing the young man of the murder of the old miser in the house next door.
Police Inspector Robert MacDonald (whom I just love!) is on the case. And although we are given enough clues to force me to admit the author played fair, I did not solve this one. The solution was a satisfying conclusion to a story that kept me absorbed from start to finish.
Another excellent piece of writing from my new favorite mystery author, E.C.R. Lorac.
October 17, 2025
It's always a delight to find an entire, new to one, series on mysteries. I enjoyed this one very much and look forward to the next. I can't vouch for any others, but the two I've read, are a more peaceful type mystery. Rather nice.
September 28, 2024
Reading this book was truly aggravating and annoying. I fell for it due to a sale on Amazon for 99 cents and a number of favorable reviews here on Goodreads. Glad to have it done with. It is a murder mystery like none other, thank goodness.
July 21, 2016
It's the early 1940s. London. A fog-shrouded night with windows draped in black-out curtains or
painted over to meet the black-out standards. In Bruce Manaton's barn-like studio, the hush of the fog seems to seep in and focus the concentration of the oddly-assorted group gathered for the evening. Bruce, a talented but as of yet unsuccessful artist, is fully focused on his latest painting--a portrait of a man in the scarlet robes of a Cardinal. The model for this work is Andre Delaunier, an equally talented and unsuccessful actor, who holds his pose with the import of Shakespearean drama. At the other end of the room, Robert Cavenish, a thoroughly respectable Home Office man, and Ian MacKellon, a brilliant chemist somehow connected with the war effort, are thoroughly engrossed in a game of chess. Moving in and out from the kitchen just beyond, Rosanne Manaton, the artist's sister, prepares dinner and runs her own artistic eye over the tableau. Outside, muffled by the fog are various warning signals and other noises. Among them a shot?
For next door, the Manatons' miserly landlord, Albert Folliner, is shot to death in his sitting/bedroom and apparently robbed of his miser's stash. The Special Constable who has been on his nightly rounds comes bursting into the Manatons' lodging dragging a young Canadian soldier as prisoner. The soldier is Neil Folliner, the nephew of the slain man, and the Special Constable swears he has caught the man red-handed. But Scotland Yard sends Inspector Macdonald to take over the case and when he has finished taking statements, examining the premises--both the studio and the landlord's rooms, and following up the clues that escaped the constable's nervous eyes, he finds that all may not be as straight forward as it seems. For instance--if the constable came upon Neil Folliner after the crime was committed, why have the former's footprints been overlaid by the latter's? And what happened to the loot? And is Mrs. Tubbs really just the jolly cockney charwoman that she seems to be? And what about those previous tenants of the studio?
As I told John from Pretty Sinister Books (who tried to warn me away from this one), I must have a thing for Lorac's fog-shrouded, black-out-centered mysteries, because I thoroughly enjoyed her Checkmate to Murder (1944). Inspector MacDonald is a very thorough yet very human policeman. He is never quick to judge and he has a way of seeing everything--even the things the witnesses and suspects think they've hidden properly. The mystery is fairly clued--maybe too fairly, because I figured this one out. Not absolutely every little detail, but enough that I'm calling it a win for Inspector Bev.
But figuring out the solution fairly early didn't detract from my enjoyment. The characters are well-drawn and Mrs.Tubbs, Folliner's charwoman; Mrs. Stanton, whose garden backs up against the "murder house' and studio; Mrs. Blossum, the owner of the Green Dragon pub; and Bert Brewer, a rheumatic gardener all add a good bit of local period color to the proceedings. ★★★★ for a highly enjoyable wartime mystery.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
painted over to meet the black-out standards. In Bruce Manaton's barn-like studio, the hush of the fog seems to seep in and focus the concentration of the oddly-assorted group gathered for the evening. Bruce, a talented but as of yet unsuccessful artist, is fully focused on his latest painting--a portrait of a man in the scarlet robes of a Cardinal. The model for this work is Andre Delaunier, an equally talented and unsuccessful actor, who holds his pose with the import of Shakespearean drama. At the other end of the room, Robert Cavenish, a thoroughly respectable Home Office man, and Ian MacKellon, a brilliant chemist somehow connected with the war effort, are thoroughly engrossed in a game of chess. Moving in and out from the kitchen just beyond, Rosanne Manaton, the artist's sister, prepares dinner and runs her own artistic eye over the tableau. Outside, muffled by the fog are various warning signals and other noises. Among them a shot?
For next door, the Manatons' miserly landlord, Albert Folliner, is shot to death in his sitting/bedroom and apparently robbed of his miser's stash. The Special Constable who has been on his nightly rounds comes bursting into the Manatons' lodging dragging a young Canadian soldier as prisoner. The soldier is Neil Folliner, the nephew of the slain man, and the Special Constable swears he has caught the man red-handed. But Scotland Yard sends Inspector Macdonald to take over the case and when he has finished taking statements, examining the premises--both the studio and the landlord's rooms, and following up the clues that escaped the constable's nervous eyes, he finds that all may not be as straight forward as it seems. For instance--if the constable came upon Neil Folliner after the crime was committed, why have the former's footprints been overlaid by the latter's? And what happened to the loot? And is Mrs. Tubbs really just the jolly cockney charwoman that she seems to be? And what about those previous tenants of the studio?
As I told John from Pretty Sinister Books (who tried to warn me away from this one), I must have a thing for Lorac's fog-shrouded, black-out-centered mysteries, because I thoroughly enjoyed her Checkmate to Murder (1944). Inspector MacDonald is a very thorough yet very human policeman. He is never quick to judge and he has a way of seeing everything--even the things the witnesses and suspects think they've hidden properly. The mystery is fairly clued--maybe too fairly, because I figured this one out. Not absolutely every little detail, but enough that I'm calling it a win for Inspector Bev.
But figuring out the solution fairly early didn't detract from my enjoyment. The characters are well-drawn and Mrs.Tubbs, Folliner's charwoman; Mrs. Stanton, whose garden backs up against the "murder house' and studio; Mrs. Blossum, the owner of the Green Dragon pub; and Bert Brewer, a rheumatic gardener all add a good bit of local period color to the proceedings. ★★★★ for a highly enjoyable wartime mystery.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
December 25, 2021
3.5 stars. This book is set during the second world war in London and is highly atmospheric. In fact, the central crime goes undetected because Londoners seem to have become used to loud sounds during this time due to constant air raids and thus, the sound of a bullet fired in a house nearby goes unnoticed.
There are five people in an artist's studio and in the building next door a murder takes place. A special constable on duty arrests the dead man's nephew at the crime scene but as the detectives in charge, led again by MacDonald of thr Yard, continue to probe further it seems that the case against the nephew isn't rock solid. Even the special constable who arrested him had a motive to kill the old man. And inspector Macdonald isn't wholly sure that the present or even the ex occupants of the studio aren't involved. Once again, he reaches the final conclusion through dogged research by him and his juniors who also get a chance to shine in this novel.
What makes me give it only 3.5 stars is the fact that i wasn't wholly convinced by how the crime takes place. Don't get me wrong, it is highly ingenious. Perhaps a shade too much for my taste. Many readers find this to be Lorac's best book. I will not go that far but it is definitely a well written mystery which i would recommend.
There are five people in an artist's studio and in the building next door a murder takes place. A special constable on duty arrests the dead man's nephew at the crime scene but as the detectives in charge, led again by MacDonald of thr Yard, continue to probe further it seems that the case against the nephew isn't rock solid. Even the special constable who arrested him had a motive to kill the old man. And inspector Macdonald isn't wholly sure that the present or even the ex occupants of the studio aren't involved. Once again, he reaches the final conclusion through dogged research by him and his juniors who also get a chance to shine in this novel.
What makes me give it only 3.5 stars is the fact that i wasn't wholly convinced by how the crime takes place. Don't get me wrong, it is highly ingenious. Perhaps a shade too much for my taste. Many readers find this to be Lorac's best book. I will not go that far but it is definitely a well written mystery which i would recommend.
August 7, 2021
My first book by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed the interesting setting and convoluted plot. An old man is murdered in his house and there are a small number of suspects. Next door a group of friends had spent the evening together and claim ignorance of the event until the police arrives at the door. Quick enjoyable police procedural set in WWII.
September 5, 2023
It's becoming increasingly obvious that the British Crime Library Classic books have turned from "Hidden gems that were overshadowed by Christie, Sayers & co" to "anything that was published in the golden and silver age of crime fiction". It's not that Checkmate to Murder is bad. It's just very very average. MacDonald is not an eccentric like Poirot or Wimsey, which can be a nice change (and which I appreciated in some other Lorac books), but which just made him quite boring in this book. The mystery itself is also not overly exiting. Again, it wasn't bad. Just average. And, while I really appreciated how Lorac anchored some of her other books firmly in a place and time, this felt like it could be set anywhere, during or after the war.
November 15, 2021
Completely improbable and yet still charming in that "golden age mystery" way.
December 1, 2021
This is my first read in the celebrated British Library Crime Classics series, of which I will likely read more.
I enjoyed this, but my "blink" on it is that it is a very efficient murder mystery writer who could have deepened it with some revisions and re-orderings. The book is celebrated for being set when London was in blackout, but, really, I don't think it leverages the setting as much as it might. Finally, I thought we didn't, in the end, understand enough about Rosanne . . .
I enjoyed this, but my "blink" on it is that it is a very efficient murder mystery writer who could have deepened it with some revisions and re-orderings. The book is celebrated for being set when London was in blackout, but, really, I don't think it leverages the setting as much as it might. Finally, I thought we didn't, in the end, understand enough about Rosanne . . .
May 1, 2023
In wartime London, blackout curtains are more common than some goods and services. That's especially true for two siblings and struggling artists renting a back garden studio from an ancient miser. One night they are entertaining three guests at the studio when a special constable arrives at their door with news of murder.
E.C.R. Lorac is quickly becoming one of my favorite mystery authors. That isn't so much because of the complexity of her mysteries, but more for the very rich characterizations and atmosphere she crafts for her stories. Her lead detective, Inspector MacDonald, is to me a refreshing change from many police-type characters. He's not a bully; in fact he treats his colleagues as equals and potential suspects with basic respect. Not to mention that his powers of observation and deduction are impressive.
Lorac also takes the time to develop the rest of the cast; the various players from main to supporting are elevated from mere stock players to individuals, and MacDonald's colleagues are also given chapters of their own where we see them in action and learn about their personalities. Add to that the thick fog and wartime setting and you have a captivating tale.
My one criticism is the lack of a sketch of the house and the studio where the events took place. I had to constantly recheck prior chapters to get a mental picture of where the characters were sitting at certain key moments, and it detracted from the experience. But, as in wartime London, you can't have everything.
E.C.R. Lorac is quickly becoming one of my favorite mystery authors. That isn't so much because of the complexity of her mysteries, but more for the very rich characterizations and atmosphere she crafts for her stories. Her lead detective, Inspector MacDonald, is to me a refreshing change from many police-type characters. He's not a bully; in fact he treats his colleagues as equals and potential suspects with basic respect. Not to mention that his powers of observation and deduction are impressive.
Lorac also takes the time to develop the rest of the cast; the various players from main to supporting are elevated from mere stock players to individuals, and MacDonald's colleagues are also given chapters of their own where we see them in action and learn about their personalities. Add to that the thick fog and wartime setting and you have a captivating tale.
My one criticism is the lack of a sketch of the house and the studio where the events took place. I had to constantly recheck prior chapters to get a mental picture of where the characters were sitting at certain key moments, and it detracted from the experience. But, as in wartime London, you can't have everything.
June 3, 2021
I've enjoyed some of ECR Lorac's post-war novels - more for their portrayal of period detail than the plots. This one, though, I struggled with. After a magnificent opening scene worthy of Velazquez - two chess players, an artist at his easel, a model posing as a cardinal - it went downhill for me.
It has a lot more of MacDonald and the investigation in it than the other books I've read, which usually focus on the victim and potential suspects. There is endless puzzling over the locations of the crime and the suspects (my least favourite aspect of Golden Age mysteries). The Cholmondley-Warneresque judgements about people based on class, occupation and even Angl0-Saxon versus Scot really grated (obviously the salt-of-the-earth Cockney char gets a pass).
As always with this author, the period detail is good - the complexities of complying with the blackout, the struggle to get by - but not one of my favourites.
*
Read more of my ECR Lorac reviews on my blog https://katevane.com/tag/ecr-lorac/
I received a copy of this book from British Library Publishing.
It has a lot more of MacDonald and the investigation in it than the other books I've read, which usually focus on the victim and potential suspects. There is endless puzzling over the locations of the crime and the suspects (my least favourite aspect of Golden Age mysteries). The Cholmondley-Warneresque judgements about people based on class, occupation and even Angl0-Saxon versus Scot really grated (obviously the salt-of-the-earth Cockney char gets a pass).
As always with this author, the period detail is good - the complexities of complying with the blackout, the struggle to get by - but not one of my favourites.
*
Read more of my ECR Lorac reviews on my blog https://katevane.com/tag/ecr-lorac/
I received a copy of this book from British Library Publishing.
October 13, 2025
A good whodunit especially a locked room mystery is a rare treat and this one by Lorac fits the bill perfectly. With the dependable DCI MacDonald at the helm, the mystery which at first looks impossible is peeled off one layer at a time, and, David Thorpe bringing out the best of Highlander accent!
My rating - 4.5/5
My rating - 4.5/5
December 29, 2017
Entertaining enough Golden Age mystery although struggles to hide the culprit. Full review at classicmystery.wordpress.com
September 19, 2020
For my full review click on the link below:
https://crossexaminingcrime.wordpress...
https://crossexaminingcrime.wordpress...
January 4, 2023
Another classy whodunnit written and set in the wartime London of damp fog, blackouts and financial struggle where post-blitz drab lives are enlivened only by a visit to the pub.
An irascible artist is cared for by his long-suffering sister; they rent and reside in a dilapidated studio behind their miserly landlord’s run down Hampstead house.
There is an evening gathering as the artist paints his friend who is modelling as a count while two other men are absorbed in a chess match near them. The artist’s sister is making supper in the adjacent “k and b”.
Suddenly these routine events are disturbed by the noisy arrival of a Special Constable and his prisoner, a soldier arrested for shooting and killing the landlord next door.
The soldier turns out to be the landlord’s great nephew and it is the task of Inspector MacDonald to investigate the crime with his trusty team of Jenkins, Reeves and Ward. Some amusing and efficient procedural stuff follows.
This is highly a satisfying and intriguing conspiracy with the cleverness of the murder reminiscent, to me at least, of the killing in Ngaio Marsh’s “A Man Lay Dead”.
A knowledge of chess is not necessary for the enjoyment of this tale.
An irascible artist is cared for by his long-suffering sister; they rent and reside in a dilapidated studio behind their miserly landlord’s run down Hampstead house.
There is an evening gathering as the artist paints his friend who is modelling as a count while two other men are absorbed in a chess match near them. The artist’s sister is making supper in the adjacent “k and b”.
Suddenly these routine events are disturbed by the noisy arrival of a Special Constable and his prisoner, a soldier arrested for shooting and killing the landlord next door.
The soldier turns out to be the landlord’s great nephew and it is the task of Inspector MacDonald to investigate the crime with his trusty team of Jenkins, Reeves and Ward. Some amusing and efficient procedural stuff follows.
This is highly a satisfying and intriguing conspiracy with the cleverness of the murder reminiscent, to me at least, of the killing in Ngaio Marsh’s “A Man Lay Dead”.
A knowledge of chess is not necessary for the enjoyment of this tale.
May 26, 2023
This is my first book by this author, and it wasn't a problem to jump into the series this far down the line. I love mysteries set in the Golden Age, except for when they leave me cold. The problem is I read books for the characters first, and many writers were only focused on giving the reader a good puzzle. That doesn't work for me, so when I try a new mystery writer from that period I keep my expectations low. This book worked pretty well.
I liked the setting, WWII London in a poor part of town where a painter and his sister, also an artist, live in a run down studio next door to a reclusive old man. One night when some acquaintances are visiting, the old man is murdered and they and their friends are embroiled in trouble. I really enjoyed the two MCs, they were interesting to read about, and I especially like the detective. The mystery was well done, with plenty of clues and red herrings, and the solution satisfying. While I didn't love it, I also didn't have to make myself pick it up and read more. All in all I'd call it a 3.5 which I'm happy to round up to 4 stars.
I liked the setting, WWII London in a poor part of town where a painter and his sister, also an artist, live in a run down studio next door to a reclusive old man. One night when some acquaintances are visiting, the old man is murdered and they and their friends are embroiled in trouble. I really enjoyed the two MCs, they were interesting to read about, and I especially like the detective. The mystery was well done, with plenty of clues and red herrings, and the solution satisfying. While I didn't love it, I also didn't have to make myself pick it up and read more. All in all I'd call it a 3.5 which I'm happy to round up to 4 stars.
November 12, 2023
Number 25 (of 46!) in the Inspector Macdonald series. A good solid mystery, almost a police procedural, with a clever and somewhat plausible resolution. The characters are interesting though not all are fully drawn. The real strength that takes it a step above average is the contemporaneous (written and published during WWII) descriptions of life in London during wartime. The prolific Lorac very much evokes the privations and resilience, the make-do and can-do attitude of the times (as well as the can't-do, runaway reaction of some), in a foggy atmospheric whole of bombings and endurance. She also provides a convincing and painful portrait of a self-sacrificing sister fending for her unreliable brother. Inspector Macdonald is pragmatic and plodding, slowly and systematically developing his case, never spectacular or surprising, solid and reliable but we know and learn little about him. Not of the Holmes, Vance, Poirot school. Chess is part of the storyline but doesn't play a big part and no esoteric knowledge is required. [3½★]
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