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Anthony Bathurst #22
The Ebony Stag: An Anthony Bathurst Mystery
“Tell me, Doctor, could the wound have been made by the antlers of an angry stag?”
With Scotland Yard overstretched, Anthony Bathurst is recruited to investigate the death of seventy-three year old Robert Forsyth in the village of Upchalke. Forsyth had been brutally attacked in his home and stabbed through the chest with an unknown weapon.
As suspicions form that Forsyth was not who he claimed to be, Bathurst is troubled by a particular detail of the case. Why was a model of a stag, carved from ebony, carefully placed next to the corpse – and then smashed to pieces?
The Ebony Stag was first published in 1938. This new edition features an introduction by Steve Barge.
With Scotland Yard overstretched, Anthony Bathurst is recruited to investigate the death of seventy-three year old Robert Forsyth in the village of Upchalke. Forsyth had been brutally attacked in his home and stabbed through the chest with an unknown weapon.
As suspicions form that Forsyth was not who he claimed to be, Bathurst is troubled by a particular detail of the case. Why was a model of a stag, carved from ebony, carefully placed next to the corpse – and then smashed to pieces?
The Ebony Stag was first published in 1938. This new edition features an introduction by Steve Barge.
225 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1938
About the author
Brian Flynn
108 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
September 14, 2021
I very much enjoyed this 22nd adventure in detection for Anthony Bathurst, here disguised, (not too-well given his increasing fame), as Mr Lotherington.
An overworked and understaffed Scotland Yard offers ALB's services to the perplexed Chief Constable of Remenham in the case of the gruesome murder of a retired collector of rates (another disappeared profession of yesteryear).
A dislodged tooth, a smashed carving of a stag, a churchyard monument, some cinema newsreel, and a book of local history, all provide clues which lead the much-put-upon detective to his solution. On the way he is threatened, beaten up, shot-at and half-drowned.
There is some neat deception and some vivid characterisation- two wonderfully self-important local government officials are of especial note. There are a few holes in the plot and a good number of occasions where I thought simple and obvious action, such as a phone call to Somerset House, would have moved the investigation on.
However, this was a good yarn with a nicely-executed twist at the end.
3.75 stars.
An overworked and understaffed Scotland Yard offers ALB's services to the perplexed Chief Constable of Remenham in the case of the gruesome murder of a retired collector of rates (another disappeared profession of yesteryear).
A dislodged tooth, a smashed carving of a stag, a churchyard monument, some cinema newsreel, and a book of local history, all provide clues which lead the much-put-upon detective to his solution. On the way he is threatened, beaten up, shot-at and half-drowned.
There is some neat deception and some vivid characterisation- two wonderfully self-important local government officials are of especial note. There are a few holes in the plot and a good number of occasions where I thought simple and obvious action, such as a phone call to Somerset House, would have moved the investigation on.
However, this was a good yarn with a nicely-executed twist at the end.
3.75 stars.
October 10, 2026
Rating 3.5
Mystery was okay, Bathurst seemed a bit dumb at times but that is standard for the majority of the novels so far.
Location well drawn although felt similar to other places featured in the series.
Characters well drawn and interesting.
Overall an okay novel probably one of the better ones I have read so far.
Mystery was okay, Bathurst seemed a bit dumb at times but that is standard for the majority of the novels so far.
Location well drawn although felt similar to other places featured in the series.
Characters well drawn and interesting.
Overall an okay novel probably one of the better ones I have read so far.
July 6, 2026
The story line is interesting, including fraud, murder and historical theft. Only ALB can manage to work it out. A long denouement, showing everyone else who had been involved in the detection to have been brainless. The murderer was well hidden, amongst many suspicious persons and events.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews