Two Envelopes And A Phone’s Reviews > Cat of Many Tails > Status Update
Two Envelopes And A Phone
is on page 223 of 337
As a serial killer novel with some (1940s) police-procedural feel to it - Ellery is an amateur sleuth, but he's surrounded by cops here, including his father - this unique entry in the series can suddenly have its 'modern' moments. Something seems very obvious in these late stages...but I'm not sure I buy it. I'm holding out for a twist. If there isn't one, I still like the book, overall - but we need a good finish.
— Mar 24, 2025 06:30AM
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Two Envelopes And A Phone’s Previous Updates
Two Envelopes And A Phone
is on page 96 of 337
Ellery Q. and his father enmeshed in a serial killer case has a different feel than all the other ones I've read. A lot of the discussion about what the psychology of an apparently random-victim killer could be seems like the template for similar discussions in modern serial-murderer books. I am very curious to see if all things are as random as they seem, and if a character we've met is the killer...
— Mar 23, 2025 02:34PM
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Theresa (mysteries.and.mayhem)
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Mar 24, 2025 01:31PM
I had to double check to see when this was written. Is the term "serial killer" used in the book? I'm sure they existed before the 70s, but a book written about one before the 70s has me curious (as a cat). Now I want to see how many books about serial killers existed before the 70s.
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Ok. I'm correcting myself. I see the theme was more widespread in the 40s and 50s than I would have thought! Now I have even more digging to do and books to add to my ever-growing TBR.
No, I don't think the actual term 'serial killer' has been used, but I'll double-check and get back to you on that. The earliest one I know is British, called Murder Gone Mad, by Philip MacDonald (1931).
Two Envelopes And A Phone wrote: "No, I don't think the actual term 'serial killer' has been used, but I'll double-check and get back to you on that. The earliest one I know is British, called Murder Gone Mad, by Philip MacDonald (..."Thanks!! I'm betting you're right about the term not being used in the book. I think that was coined by the FBI. But I could be very wrong, as I'm often willing to admit! 😅
Wait, there's The Lodger, by Marie Belloc Lowndes (1913), a novel that fictionalized Jack the Ripper's spree. Forgot about that one!If you want something fairly early, and from a serial killer's perspective, you could try Mr. Bowling Buys a Newspaper, by Donald Henderson (1943). Of interest might also be: The Z Murders by J. Jefferson Farjeon (1932), and The A.B.C. Murders, by Agatha Christie (1936).
You're full of such great bookish info! I'm thankful you're aways so willing to share it. I'm off to look into all of these titles, although The A.B.C. Murders was already on my radar from my initial research. So that's a definite add to my TBR now that you mention it too. :)
