The Mystery of the Evil Eye: A Dr Hailey Detective Novel

by Anthony Wynne

Sir William Armand, a prominent lawyer, is found murdered, stabbed through the eyes near his country house on the Northumbrian coast. The timing appears suspicious, immediately following his order to his daughter, Estelle, to break off her engagement with the man she loves, Jack Derwick. A gruesome white ‘berry’ and a charm against the evil eye imprinted at the base of a tree are found where Sir William met his terrible death. Dr Eustace Hailey, a forty-something surgeon, scientist and amateur detective, investigates and succeeds in running to cover a strange and awful manifestation of distorted passion.

Genres: Mystery

262 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 14, 2021

About the author

Anthony Wynne is a pseudonym of Robert McNair Wilson, an English physician, who developed a specialism in cardiology after working as an assistant to Sir James Mackenzie, whose biography he subsequently wrote in 1926.

He was born in Glasgow, the son of William and Helen Wilson, (née Turner),

He was educated at Glasgow Academy and Glasgow University and became House Surgeon at Glasgow Western Infirmary. He was Medical Correspondent of The Times from 1914–1942.

He twice stood, unsuccessfully, for Parliament, as Liberal candidate for the Saffron Walden district of Essex in 1922 and 1923.

He wrote biographies and historical works under his own name and a single novel under the pseudonym Harry Colindale. Under Anthony Wynne, he created Eustace Hailey, a doctor in mental diseases and amateur sleuth, who featured in many of his 45 mystery novels, beginning with The Mystery of the Evil Eye (1925) and ending with Death of a Shadow (1950).

As Anthony Wynne he also wrote short stories for a variety of magazines and newspapers.

He married Winifred Paynter on 7th December 1905 in Alnwick, Northumberland, and the couple had three sons. In the September quarter of 1928 he married again, Doris May Fischel, at Hampstead and they had two sons.

He died in the New Forest, Hampshire, on 29 November 1963.

Reviews

[John Keeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I Am Not Sure What To Say

To be honest by the time I had gotten about half way through I had already become bored with this book. I was already skimming through paragraphs and pages. In fact I had decided to skip to the end to see how it ended. However the next day I decided to go back to where I had originally stopped and complete the remainder of the book. Quite frankly I found the ending somewhat confusing but I won’t go into that. I will admit that I had identified the murderer almost from the beginning. I don’t know that I will read any more of this author’s books although he is highly recommended.

[Pamela Mclaren · Rating 3 out of 5]

An engrossing and crafty mystery from the Golden Era of Detective Fiction. The Mystery of the Evil Eye — the first in the Hailey mystery series — was originally published in 1925, right in the of so many terrific books in this genre.

In this tale, there is the disappearance and murder is of prominent lawyer Sir William Armand, shortly after his daughter, Estelle, breaks off her engagement to Jack Derwick. Quickly, it is assumed that Derwick is the murderer.

Enter Dr. Eustace Hailey, surgeon, scientist and amateur detective. Anthony Wynne, the pen name of Robert McNair Wilson, crafted a strong lead character who, like Sherlock Holmes takes the time to really dig deep, finding not only the body, but the clues missed by the local police.

Yes, both Estelle and Derwick were in the woods, near where Sir William's body was eventually found but there was also the mysterious visitor James Sawyer of London, just who was he? what was he arguing with Sir William about? And what about the strange mark on the tree where the body was found?

The challenges keep coming in Hailey's investigation but he stays true, convinced that Derwick is not guilty of the crime.

There was a lot — A LOT — of twists and turns with a lot of very slow action. I admit that it was a bit frustrating and the solution is very convoluted. I enjoyed this story and have to admire author Wynne's skill in coming up with the solution. But great? Not quite.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book, the first in the Dr. Hailey series. On the one hand, it kept me reading, and I enjoyed Hailey's interpretations of the clues. However, I have some serious reservations about it. Firstly, the prosecution's initial case seems to me ludicrously insubstantial, relying as it does on what even the author admits is purely circumstantial evidence. I doubt that a modern court would press charges in this situation. Secondly, Wynne violates the "rules" of fair play mysteries by making the real culprit stark raving mad. Yes, I know that these "rules" were not drawn up until a decade later, but they were there for a reason. Anyone at all—at least in 1925, when this book was published—could change from perfectly sane to insane with the snap of a finger, and that's what the solution amounts to. Actually, I suspected the vicar long before the end because he was the least likely suspect—another aspect of the plot that would not have held water at a later time. Still, I think I'll try another couple of Wynne's books.

[Carissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second Dr. Hailey mystery I have read. Like so many Golden Age mysteries, it has a pair of star-crossed lovers. Dr. Hailey is a likable sleuth, and although I solved the mystery by process of elimination, it was an enjoyable read.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sir Wiliam Armand, lawyer has disappeared, on the same day that he persuaded his daughter Estelle to end her engagement to Jack Derwick, barrister, whom was visiting their home of Calthorpe Hall. Inspector Biles requests the help of amateur detective Dr Eustace Hailey to determine the location of Armand.
An entertaining historical mystery