Every once in a while, I pick up one of E.C.R. Lorac’s mysteries, and Martin Edwards’ introductions just add to the enjoyment. Murder By Matchlight is set in London during World War II. As Edwards’ says, it’s not only an intriguing mystery, but Lorac creates the atmosphere of London during the war, with blackouts, bombings and air raids. Edwards’ introduction prepares the reader for this setting and atmosphere.
When Bruce Mallaig’s girlfriend doesn’t show up for their dinner, he wanders to Regent’s Park in the dark. Sitting there, he can really only hear what’s going on around him. He hears someone jump a rail and stand underneath the bridge there. He hears another man arrive, and stay on the bridge, and only catches a glimpse when the man lights his cigarette with a match. But, the second time the man lights a cigarette, Mallaig spies a man’s face overhead, and hears a thud. He runs, calling for the police, but he finds a body, and then tackles the man who was under the bridge. It doesn’t take long for a policeman and a doctor to arrive. Everything is done in the dark of Regent’s Park.
By the time Scotland Yard’s Chief Inspector Macdonald from C.I.D. becomes involved in the case, the victim has been identified as John Ward. As Macdonald and his small team ask questions, he learns that John Ward doesn’t have a past. It’s going to take some digging to find the truth as houses and lives have been lost to German bombings. At one time, Macdonald even concludes a conversation as he sits in a shelter.
A week or so ago, I complained that there was no character development in a series. I don’t expect it in E.C.R. Lorac’s books. These books are about the mystery, not the lead character. In this one, Lorac does allow Macdonald to express views about looking for a killer even though the victim might be slimy. Most of all, Murder By Matchlight is a carefully laid out police procedural that shows how the team carefully interviewed one person after another to find a killer. Edwards is right. It’s an engrossing World War II mystery that sets the stage in a London in the dark.
Murder By Matchlight by E.C.R. Lorac. Poisoned Pen Press/Sourcebooks, 2019. ISBN 9781464210938 (paperback), 240p.
FTC Full Disclosure – I bought a copy of the book.
I can only imagine the enormous relief Londoners felt when the war was over, their city did not have to be in total darkness at night, and they could stop worrying about being killed by bombs as they slept, I’ve never considered before how much more difficult blackouts must have made the work of the police at night.
It was fascinating, Sandy. I never considered that either. Imagine having to depend on sound instead of sight. The police are so careful in this book to only use their torches inside if they can. The whole book created that atmosphere.
Sounds good. A friend gave me a copy he got at Bouchercon and it is waiting on the shelf at home, so maybe I’ll get to it sooner than later. I agree on Edwards’s introductions to these. There was a long short story with a similar plot in an Arthur Crook story by Anthony Gilbert, in where the fog hid the murder. I believe it was also set during a WWII blackout, if not the Blitz. Atmosphere can really add to the enjoyment of these books.
Jeff, Martin Edwards said this is considered one of Lorac’s best. I thought it was excellent.