There are other authors from the Golden Age of Detective Fiction that are better known than E.C.R. Lorac, but I enjoy her books with the wit and clever plots. Martin Edwards, who wrote the introduction to Death of an Author, suggests that Lorac had fun with the premise of this book. The mystery, originally published in 1935, pokes fun at male reviewers and fellow authors who thought no woman could be clever enough to write Lorac’s mysteries. They suspected she was a man.
When Eleanor Clarke shows up at Scotland Yard, she claims she’s the secretary to the reclusive author Vivian Lestrange. She wants to report that he and his housekeeper are both missing. Inspector Bond suspects Clarke herself is Lestrange, trying to call attention to herself as the author of the bestselling crime story, The Charterhouse Case. But, Bond can’t prove or disprove Clarke’s story.
Clarke’s story puts the police in a difficult situation. After his initial investigations, Bond turns to Chief Inspector Warner of the CID for assistance. The disappearance of another author, and a fire in a distant cottage, all add to the confusion. As Warner jollies Bond through the case, the two still take the investigation seriously.
As always, Edwards’ introductions to the British Library Crime Classics are informative and interesting. Although the Golden Age mysteries are not known for character development, and this one is a standalone, Warner, Bond, and Clarke are still well-developed characters with distinct personalities. There’s Bond, trying to prove his own viewpoint. Warner has a sense of humor, and he’s willing to analyze every side of the case. Clarke is a mysterious figure to the police. Is she telling the truth? Her earlier behavior convinces Bond she is not.
Death of an Author is one of my favorite books by E.C.R. Lorac. I’m slowly working through the ones that have already been published by Poisoned Pen Press in this country, reprinted from the British Library Crime Classics.
Death of an Author by E.C.R. Lorac. Poisoned Pen Press/Sourcebooks, 2024. ISBN 9781464216268 (paperback), 238p.
FTC Full Disclosure – I requested a copy from the publisher, with no promise of a positive review.
So this wasn’t one of her series books, then? Martin Edwards always has informative introductions.
No, it wasn’t, Jeff. Different police, and I liked them. But, she switched publishers soon after, so that’s Edwards’ guess as to why she didn’t write about them again.
This is a great reminder, Lesa. My mother (the librarian!) was a big ECR Lorac fan, and I don’t think I’ve read a single one. I’ll try this one.
This is a good one to try, Kim. Complex plot, two interesting police officers, and I think you’ll like the comments about female and male authors.